Republican lawmakers who supported at least one objection
8
Senators
139
House members
How members of Congress voted on counting the electoral college vote
Congress has completed the count of electoral college votes, with Vice President Mike Pence declaring President-elect Joe Biden the winner early Thursday morning.
Congress completed their count of electoral college votes early Thursday morning, affirming President-elect Joe Biden’s win. Republican objections to some states did not prevail, but did succeed in drawing out a process that is usually a formality and forced Republican lawmakers to choose between honoring the choice of the voters or standing with President Trump.
How lawmakers voted on objections to electoral vote counts
Senate | House | |
---|---|---|
Arizona | ||
Pennsylvania |
Debate was suspended Wednesday afternoon after a pro-Trump mob breached the U.S. Capitol. Following the unprecedented and violent disruption, a handful of Republicans reversed course on planned objections.
President Trump has refused to concede the election. His campaign and others have gone to court in six states, where Biden’s total margin is more than 312,000, to challenge certain ballots or the certification of the vote — and have lost more than 50 cases, including at the Supreme Court.
[Congress affirms Biden’s presidential win following riot at U.S. Capitol]
Here is how members of Congress voted:
Supported objection 147
Opposed 377
Did not vote 8
These lawmakers supported at least one objection to counting Biden’s electoral votes.
These lawmakers did not support any objections.
These lawmakers did not vote on any objections.
Cruz led a letter with 10 other Republican senators and senators-elect who said they will reject electors from certain states won by Biden, citing unsubstantiated allegations of voter fraud and calling for an emergency 10-day audit of the results. Read more »
Hawley announced Wednesday that he will object next week when Congress convenes to certify the electoral college vote before Biden’s victory is cemented Read more »
Hyde-Smith backed objections of Arizona and Pennsylvania's vote counts. Read more »
Kennedy objected to the Arizona count, but not Pennsylvania. He previously joined a letter with 10 other Republican senators and senators-elect who said they will reject electors from certain states won by Biden, citing unsubstantiated allegations of voter fraud and calling for an emergency 10-day audit of the results. Read more »
Lummis, who previously said she planned to object to the counting of some electoral votes, objected to the Pennsylvannia count, but not Arizona. Read more »
Marshall joined a letter with 10 other Republican senators and senators-elect who said they will reject electors from certain states won by Biden, citing unsubstantiated allegations of voter fraud and calling for an emergency 10-day audit of the results. He won the Senate seat in November. Read more »
Scott, who previously said he planned to object to the counting of some electoral votes, objected to the Pennsylvannia count, but not Arizona.
Tuberville joined a letter with 10 other Republican senators and senators-elect who said they will reject electors from certain states won by Biden, citing unsubstantiated allegations of voter fraud and calling for an emergency 10-day audit of the results. He won the Senate seat in November. Read more »
Bentz objected to the Pennsylvania count, but not Arizona. Read more »
"I need to have some answers. The people of my district have to have answers,” Carl said on an Alabama-based radio show. Read more »
Chabot objected to the Pennsylvania count, but not Arizona.
Foxx objected to the Pennsylvania count, but not Arizona. Read more »
"I'm going to fight with the others in Congress who are going to challenge this. We're going to keep fighting until every legal vote is counted and only legal votes are counted." Read more »
Graves objected to the Pennsylvania count, but not Arizona.
Keller objected to the Pennsylvania count, but not Arizona. Read more »
Kustoff objected to the Pennsylvania count, but not Arizona.
Meuser objected to the Pennsylvania count, but not Arizona. Read more »
Mooney objected to the Pennsylvania count, but not Arizona.
Murphy objected to the Pennsylvania count, but not Arizona. Read more »
Owens objected to the Pennsylvania count, but not Arizona Read more »
Pence objected to the Pennsylvania count, but not Arizona.
Schweikert objected to the Pennsylvania count, but not Arizona.
Smucker objected to the Pennsylvania count, but not Arizona. Read more »
Stefanik objected to the Pennsylvannia count, but not Airzona. She tweeted on Jan. 4: “I am committed to restoring the faith of the American people in our elections - that they are free, fair, secure, and according to the United States Constitution.” Read more »
Stewart objected to the Pennsylvania count, but not Arizona. He previously tweeted, "Until we have resolved the issues surrounding voting irregularities, ballot integrity and security, and the implementation of state election laws, I can not, in good conscience, uphold the oath I took to protect and defend our constitution by voting to certify the election." Read more »
Thompson objected to the Pennsylvania count, but not Arizona. Read more »
Van Duyne objected to the Pennsylvania count, but not Arizona.
Wittman objected to the Pennsylvania count, but not Arizona. Read more »
Blackburn, who previously said she planned to object to the counting of some electoral votes, did not do so on the Arizona or Pennsylvania objection. Read more »
Braun, who previously said he planned to object to the counting of some electoral votes, did not do so on the Arizona or Pennsylvania objection. Read more »
After protestors stormed the Capitol, Daines reversed his intention to reject electors from certain states won by Biden. "We will not let today's violence deter Congress from certifying the election," Daines said in a statement. Read more »
Hagerty, who previously said he planned to object to the counting of some electoral votes, did not do so on the Arizona or Pennsylvania objection. Read more »
Johnson who previously said he planned to object to the counting of some electoral votes, did not do so on the Arizona or Pennsylvania objection. Read more »
Lankford, who previously said he planned to object to the counting of some electoral votes, did not do so on the Arizona or Pennsylvania objection. Read more »
Loeffler rescinded her objection to the certification of electors after protestors interrupted debate, saying "the events that have transpired today have forced me to reconsider, and I cannot now in good conscience object to the certification of these electors."
“My loyalty is to the Constitution and to the people of Wyoming," Barrasso said in statement. "Allowing certified electoral votes to be counted is my sworn duty. It is also consistent with the Constitutional authority of each state to certify their electors for president." Read more »
Blunt called Biden the "president-elect" after the electoral college vote. “We’ve now gone through the constitutional process and the electors have voted, so there’s a president-elect,” the Missouri senator said. Read more »
"Not one of the lawsuits filed found evidence of widespread fraud or irregularities that would have changed the outcome of the election. Similarly, not a single state's outcome changed as a result of requested recounts. Objecting to certified electoral votes submitted by the states will have no impact on the result of the election either," Boozman said in a Jan. 5 statement. "We cannot erode the ideals that generations of Americans have fought to protect simply because we do not like the outcome of the election."
Burr said “no” on Friday when Politico asked if he would join Hawley's effort to object to Biden's election. Read more »
“Several of my congressional colleagues have made clear their plans to object to counting certified electoral votes from certain states. I will oppose their effort because the will of voters in each state—not political considerations or the individual preferences of senators and representatives—must determine the winner of the presidential election." Read more »
Cassidy joined a bipartisan group of 10 senators in a statement reasserting Biden's victory. “The 2020 election is over. All challenges through recounts and appeals have been exhausted. At this point, further attempts to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the 2020 Presidential election are contrary to the clearly expressed will of the American people and only serve to undermine Americans’ confidence in the already determined election results. The voters have spoken, and Congress must now fulfill its responsibility to certify the election results. In two weeks, we will begin working with our colleagues and the new Administration on bipartisan, common sense solutions to the enormous challenges facing our country. It is time to move forward.” Read more »
"It's not an effort that I'm going to support. And right now, I'm going to go get sworn in to my fifth term, making history as the first Republican woman senator ever to be elected to a fifth term, and making Maine history by being the first Maine senator since popular election to be elected to a fifth term. So I'm gonna enjoy that for a bit first."
“There’s good constitutional and other legal grounds to say: You had your day in court, 60 different lawsuits in state courts, you had a chance to appeal those to the Supreme Court, and as I read the law once a state certifies its electoral vote it's conclusive," Cornyn told Politico on Jan. 1. Read more »
Cotton said in a Jan. 3 statement he supports a commission to study the 2020 election, but not congressional attempts to overturn electoral college results. "The Founders entrusted our elections chiefly to the states — not Congress. They entrusted the election of our president to the people, acting through the Electoral College — not Congress. And they entrusted the adjudication of election disputes to the courts — not Congress. ... Thus, I will not oppose the counting of certified electoral college votes on January 6." Read more »
"In light of these concerns, I will not object to the Electoral College votes when they are counted, and – unless overwhelmingly persuasive evidence is presented before the Senate when we debate the objections – I will not vote to reject the results." Read more »
In a Dec. 4 letter to a constituent shared with The Post, Fischer said, "I look forward to working with President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris to keep our nation safe, update our infrastructure, and provide opportunities to families." Fischer recently said she was not impressed by Trump’s conspiracy theories. “He can say whatever he wants. ... If I was bothered by everything that everyone around here says, I couldn’t come back.”
"Proposing a commission at this late date – which has zero chance of becoming reality – is not effectively fighting for President Trump," Graham tweeted Jan. 3. "It appears to be more of a political dodge than an effective remedy. I do look forward to hearing from and will listen closely to the objections of my colleagues in challenging the results of this election. They will need to provide proof of the charges they are making."
"Sen. Grassley has no plans to object to the electoral college vote," a representative from Grassley's team told KCCI, a Des Moines TV news outlet. "I’m going to listen to that debate on what my colleagues have to say," Grassley said on a call with reporters, according to the Des Moines Register, "and decide how to cast my vote after considering the information before me." Read more »
“The people of North Dakota do not want Congress to determine their vote, and we should not set the precedent by doing it for other states. Therefore, I do not plan to object,” Hoeven said in a Jan. 4 statement. Read more »
"My job on Wednesday is clear, and there are only two things I am permitted to do under the Constitution: ensure the electors are properly certified and count the electoral votes, even when I disagree with the outcome. To challenge a state's certification, given how specific the Constitution is, would be a violation of my oath of office -- that is not something I am willing to do and is not something Oklahomans would want me to do," Inhofe wrote in a statement.
In a letter to senators, Lee wrote, "with respect to presidential elections, there is no authority for Congress to make value judgments in the abstract regarding any state’s election laws or the manner in which they have been implemented."
“Many of us hoped that the presidential election would yield a different result, but our system of government has processes to determine who will be sworn in on Jan. 20. The electoral college has spoken,” McConnell said. “So today, I want to congratulate President-elect Joe Biden. The president-elect is no stranger to the Senate. He’s devoted himself to public service for many years.” In a conference-wide phone call in mid-December, McConnell and other GOP leaders urged Senate Republicans not to join a long-shot effort led by conservatives in the House to challenge the electoral college results when Congress formally tabulates the vote Jan. 6. Read more »
“I am a conservative Republican. Therefore, I must strictly adhere to the United States Constitution. The Constitution clearly limits the role of Congress with respect to presidential elections to the counting of electoral votes that have been certified by the states. The states, consistent with the principles of federalism and a limited national government, possess the sole authority to determine and submit their electors,” Moran said, according to the Kansas City Star. “To vote to reject these state-certified electoral votes would be to act outside the bounds of the Constitution, which I will not do.” Read more »
"I swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States and that is what I will do January 6 — just as I strive to do every day as I serve the people of Alaska. I will vote to affirm the 2020 presidential election," Murkowski said in a statement. "The courts and state legislatures have all honored their duty to hear legal allegations and have found nothing to warrant overturning the results. I urge my colleagues from both parties to recognize this and to join me in maintaining confidence in the Electoral College and our elections so that we ensure we have the continued trust of the American people." Read more »
"The vote today is not a protest; the vote today is literally to overturn the election! Voting to overturn state-certified elections would be the opposite of what states’ rights Republicans have always advocated for," Paul tweeted after a mob stormed the Capitol. Read more »
"The orderly transfer of power is a hallmark of our democracy, and although I supported President Trump, the Electoral College vote today makes clear that Joe Biden is now President-Elect." Read more »
Romney joined a bipartisan group of 10 senators in a statement that reasserted Biden’s victory. “The 2020 election is over. All challenges through recounts and appeals have been exhausted. At this point, further attempts to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the 2020 Presidential election are contrary to the clearly expressed will of the American people and only serve to undermine Americans’ confidence in the already determined election results. The voters have spoken, and Congress must now fulfill its responsibility to certify the election results. In two weeks, we will begin working with our colleagues and the new Administration on bipartisan, common sense solutions to the enormous challenges facing our country. It is time to move forward.”
“Vice President Biden is the president-elect based on the electoral count,” Rounds told Politico. Read more »
"We have a bunch of ambitious politicians who think there’s a quick way to tap into the president’s populist base without doing any real, long-term damage," Sasse said in a Dec. 30 Facebook post. "But they’re wrong – and this issue is bigger than anyone’s personal ambitions. Adults don’t point a loaded gun at the heart of legitimate self-government." Read more »
"As I read the Constitution, there is no constitutionally viable means for the Congress to overturn an election wherein the states have certified and sent their Electors," Scott said in a Jan. 5 statement. "Some of my colleagues believe they have found a path, and while our opinions differ, I do not doubt their good intentions to take steps towards stamping out voter fraud. Importantly, I disagree with their method both in principle and in practice. For their theory to work, Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats would have to elect Donald Trump president rather than Joe Biden. That it is not going to happen, not today or any other day."
Shelby said he would oppose the effort to question the tally. "At the end of the day, it's time to move on. We need the electoral college to do its work," he said. "It's an integral part of our constitution."
“It’s going down like a shot dog,” Thune said on Dec. 21 of a possible electoral college challenge. Thune has indicated that he will vote to certify Biden’s win, drawing a rebuke from Trump, who called for South Dakota Gov. Kristi L. Noem (R) to run against him in a primary. She has said she will not challenge him. Read more »
“The Framers of our Constitution made it clear that the power to certify elections is reserved to the states, not Congress," Tillis said in a Jan. 6 statement.
“I intend to vigorously defend our form of government by opposing this effort to disenfranchise millions of voters in my state and others,” Toomey said. Read more »
Wicker said he would vote to certify the results Wednesday: "I think the overwhelming weight of the evidence is that Joe Biden defeated my candidate, Donald Trump, and I have to live with it."
"I think it’s a hijack effort,” Young told protesters outside the Capitol, saying he would not join Sen. Ted Cruz in objecting. “I took an oath under God.”
“What we have seen today is unlawful and unacceptable. I have decided I will vote to uphold the Electoral College results and I encourage Donald Trump to condemn and put an end to this madness.” Read more »
“Earlier today I planed to object to some of the electors of states because I truly believed there were constitutional issues regarding states and courts changing election laws shortly before Election Day,” Waltz said. “However, with today’s despicable display of violence and intimidation on Capitol Hill we must move on to ensure a peaceful transfer of power and certify the presidential election.” Read more »
Balderson said in a statement on Jan. 6: "For as much as I had hoped that Donald Trump would continue as President for the next four years, I cannot take a vote that will set a precedent with long-term ramifications that tear the fabric of our Republic." Read more »
Brady missed the vote after testing positive for the coronavirus. Read more »
Granger missed the vote after testing positive for the coronavirus. Read more »
Salzar missed her swearing-in ceremony after testing positive for covid-19. Read more »
Valadao missed his swearing-in ceremony after testing positive for covid-19. Read more »
Supported objection 147
Opposed 377
Did not vote 8
Supported objection 147
These lawmakers supported at least one objection to counting Biden’s electoral votes.
Cruz led a letter with 10 other Republican senators and senators-elect who said they will reject electors from certain states won by Biden, citing unsubstantiated allegations of voter fraud and calling for an emergency 10-day audit of the results. Read more »
Hawley announced Wednesday that he will object next week when Congress convenes to certify the electoral college vote before Biden’s victory is cemented Read more »
Hyde-Smith backed objections of Arizona and Pennsylvania's vote counts. Read more »
Kennedy objected to the Arizona count, but not Pennsylvania. He previously joined a letter with 10 other Republican senators and senators-elect who said they will reject electors from certain states won by Biden, citing unsubstantiated allegations of voter fraud and calling for an emergency 10-day audit of the results. Read more »
Lummis, who previously said she planned to object to the counting of some electoral votes, objected to the Pennsylvannia count, but not Arizona. Read more »
Marshall joined a letter with 10 other Republican senators and senators-elect who said they will reject electors from certain states won by Biden, citing unsubstantiated allegations of voter fraud and calling for an emergency 10-day audit of the results. He won the Senate seat in November. Read more »
Scott, who previously said he planned to object to the counting of some electoral votes, objected to the Pennsylvannia count, but not Arizona.
Tuberville joined a letter with 10 other Republican senators and senators-elect who said they will reject electors from certain states won by Biden, citing unsubstantiated allegations of voter fraud and calling for an emergency 10-day audit of the results. He won the Senate seat in November. Read more »
Bentz objected to the Pennsylvania count, but not Arizona. Read more »
"I need to have some answers. The people of my district have to have answers,” Carl said on an Alabama-based radio show. Read more »
Chabot objected to the Pennsylvania count, but not Arizona.
Foxx objected to the Pennsylvania count, but not Arizona. Read more »
"I'm going to fight with the others in Congress who are going to challenge this. We're going to keep fighting until every legal vote is counted and only legal votes are counted." Read more »
Graves objected to the Pennsylvania count, but not Arizona.
Keller objected to the Pennsylvania count, but not Arizona. Read more »
Kustoff objected to the Pennsylvania count, but not Arizona.
Meuser objected to the Pennsylvania count, but not Arizona. Read more »
Mooney objected to the Pennsylvania count, but not Arizona.
Murphy objected to the Pennsylvania count, but not Arizona. Read more »
Owens objected to the Pennsylvania count, but not Arizona Read more »
Pence objected to the Pennsylvania count, but not Arizona.
Schweikert objected to the Pennsylvania count, but not Arizona.
Smucker objected to the Pennsylvania count, but not Arizona. Read more »
Stefanik objected to the Pennsylvannia count, but not Airzona. She tweeted on Jan. 4: “I am committed to restoring the faith of the American people in our elections - that they are free, fair, secure, and according to the United States Constitution.” Read more »
Stewart objected to the Pennsylvania count, but not Arizona. He previously tweeted, "Until we have resolved the issues surrounding voting irregularities, ballot integrity and security, and the implementation of state election laws, I can not, in good conscience, uphold the oath I took to protect and defend our constitution by voting to certify the election." Read more »
Thompson objected to the Pennsylvania count, but not Arizona. Read more »
Van Duyne objected to the Pennsylvania count, but not Arizona.
Wittman objected to the Pennsylvania count, but not Arizona. Read more »
Opposed 377
These lawmakers did not support any objections.
Blackburn, who previously said she planned to object to the counting of some electoral votes, did not do so on the Arizona or Pennsylvania objection. Read more »
Braun, who previously said he planned to object to the counting of some electoral votes, did not do so on the Arizona or Pennsylvania objection. Read more »
After protestors stormed the Capitol, Daines reversed his intention to reject electors from certain states won by Biden. "We will not let today's violence deter Congress from certifying the election," Daines said in a statement. Read more »
Hagerty, who previously said he planned to object to the counting of some electoral votes, did not do so on the Arizona or Pennsylvania objection. Read more »
Johnson who previously said he planned to object to the counting of some electoral votes, did not do so on the Arizona or Pennsylvania objection. Read more »
Lankford, who previously said he planned to object to the counting of some electoral votes, did not do so on the Arizona or Pennsylvania objection. Read more »
Loeffler rescinded her objection to the certification of electors after protestors interrupted debate, saying "the events that have transpired today have forced me to reconsider, and I cannot now in good conscience object to the certification of these electors."
“My loyalty is to the Constitution and to the people of Wyoming," Barrasso said in statement. "Allowing certified electoral votes to be counted is my sworn duty. It is also consistent with the Constitutional authority of each state to certify their electors for president." Read more »
Blunt called Biden the "president-elect" after the electoral college vote. “We’ve now gone through the constitutional process and the electors have voted, so there’s a president-elect,” the Missouri senator said. Read more »
"Not one of the lawsuits filed found evidence of widespread fraud or irregularities that would have changed the outcome of the election. Similarly, not a single state's outcome changed as a result of requested recounts. Objecting to certified electoral votes submitted by the states will have no impact on the result of the election either," Boozman said in a Jan. 5 statement. "We cannot erode the ideals that generations of Americans have fought to protect simply because we do not like the outcome of the election."
Burr said “no” on Friday when Politico asked if he would join Hawley's effort to object to Biden's election. Read more »
“Several of my congressional colleagues have made clear their plans to object to counting certified electoral votes from certain states. I will oppose their effort because the will of voters in each state—not political considerations or the individual preferences of senators and representatives—must determine the winner of the presidential election." Read more »
Cassidy joined a bipartisan group of 10 senators in a statement reasserting Biden's victory. “The 2020 election is over. All challenges through recounts and appeals have been exhausted. At this point, further attempts to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the 2020 Presidential election are contrary to the clearly expressed will of the American people and only serve to undermine Americans’ confidence in the already determined election results. The voters have spoken, and Congress must now fulfill its responsibility to certify the election results. In two weeks, we will begin working with our colleagues and the new Administration on bipartisan, common sense solutions to the enormous challenges facing our country. It is time to move forward.” Read more »
"It's not an effort that I'm going to support. And right now, I'm going to go get sworn in to my fifth term, making history as the first Republican woman senator ever to be elected to a fifth term, and making Maine history by being the first Maine senator since popular election to be elected to a fifth term. So I'm gonna enjoy that for a bit first."
“There’s good constitutional and other legal grounds to say: You had your day in court, 60 different lawsuits in state courts, you had a chance to appeal those to the Supreme Court, and as I read the law once a state certifies its electoral vote it's conclusive," Cornyn told Politico on Jan. 1. Read more »
Cotton said in a Jan. 3 statement he supports a commission to study the 2020 election, but not congressional attempts to overturn electoral college results. "The Founders entrusted our elections chiefly to the states — not Congress. They entrusted the election of our president to the people, acting through the Electoral College — not Congress. And they entrusted the adjudication of election disputes to the courts — not Congress. ... Thus, I will not oppose the counting of certified electoral college votes on January 6." Read more »
"In light of these concerns, I will not object to the Electoral College votes when they are counted, and – unless overwhelmingly persuasive evidence is presented before the Senate when we debate the objections – I will not vote to reject the results." Read more »
In a Dec. 4 letter to a constituent shared with The Post, Fischer said, "I look forward to working with President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris to keep our nation safe, update our infrastructure, and provide opportunities to families." Fischer recently said she was not impressed by Trump’s conspiracy theories. “He can say whatever he wants. ... If I was bothered by everything that everyone around here says, I couldn’t come back.”
"Proposing a commission at this late date – which has zero chance of becoming reality – is not effectively fighting for President Trump," Graham tweeted Jan. 3. "It appears to be more of a political dodge than an effective remedy. I do look forward to hearing from and will listen closely to the objections of my colleagues in challenging the results of this election. They will need to provide proof of the charges they are making."
"Sen. Grassley has no plans to object to the electoral college vote," a representative from Grassley's team told KCCI, a Des Moines TV news outlet. "I’m going to listen to that debate on what my colleagues have to say," Grassley said on a call with reporters, according to the Des Moines Register, "and decide how to cast my vote after considering the information before me." Read more »
“The people of North Dakota do not want Congress to determine their vote, and we should not set the precedent by doing it for other states. Therefore, I do not plan to object,” Hoeven said in a Jan. 4 statement. Read more »
"My job on Wednesday is clear, and there are only two things I am permitted to do under the Constitution: ensure the electors are properly certified and count the electoral votes, even when I disagree with the outcome. To challenge a state's certification, given how specific the Constitution is, would be a violation of my oath of office -- that is not something I am willing to do and is not something Oklahomans would want me to do," Inhofe wrote in a statement.
In a letter to senators, Lee wrote, "with respect to presidential elections, there is no authority for Congress to make value judgments in the abstract regarding any state’s election laws or the manner in which they have been implemented."
“Many of us hoped that the presidential election would yield a different result, but our system of government has processes to determine who will be sworn in on Jan. 20. The electoral college has spoken,” McConnell said. “So today, I want to congratulate President-elect Joe Biden. The president-elect is no stranger to the Senate. He’s devoted himself to public service for many years.” In a conference-wide phone call in mid-December, McConnell and other GOP leaders urged Senate Republicans not to join a long-shot effort led by conservatives in the House to challenge the electoral college results when Congress formally tabulates the vote Jan. 6. Read more »
“I am a conservative Republican. Therefore, I must strictly adhere to the United States Constitution. The Constitution clearly limits the role of Congress with respect to presidential elections to the counting of electoral votes that have been certified by the states. The states, consistent with the principles of federalism and a limited national government, possess the sole authority to determine and submit their electors,” Moran said, according to the Kansas City Star. “To vote to reject these state-certified electoral votes would be to act outside the bounds of the Constitution, which I will not do.” Read more »
"I swore an oath to support and defend the Constitution of the United States and that is what I will do January 6 — just as I strive to do every day as I serve the people of Alaska. I will vote to affirm the 2020 presidential election," Murkowski said in a statement. "The courts and state legislatures have all honored their duty to hear legal allegations and have found nothing to warrant overturning the results. I urge my colleagues from both parties to recognize this and to join me in maintaining confidence in the Electoral College and our elections so that we ensure we have the continued trust of the American people." Read more »
"The vote today is not a protest; the vote today is literally to overturn the election! Voting to overturn state-certified elections would be the opposite of what states’ rights Republicans have always advocated for," Paul tweeted after a mob stormed the Capitol. Read more »
"The orderly transfer of power is a hallmark of our democracy, and although I supported President Trump, the Electoral College vote today makes clear that Joe Biden is now President-Elect." Read more »
Romney joined a bipartisan group of 10 senators in a statement that reasserted Biden’s victory. “The 2020 election is over. All challenges through recounts and appeals have been exhausted. At this point, further attempts to cast doubt on the legitimacy of the 2020 Presidential election are contrary to the clearly expressed will of the American people and only serve to undermine Americans’ confidence in the already determined election results. The voters have spoken, and Congress must now fulfill its responsibility to certify the election results. In two weeks, we will begin working with our colleagues and the new Administration on bipartisan, common sense solutions to the enormous challenges facing our country. It is time to move forward.”
“Vice President Biden is the president-elect based on the electoral count,” Rounds told Politico. Read more »
"We have a bunch of ambitious politicians who think there’s a quick way to tap into the president’s populist base without doing any real, long-term damage," Sasse said in a Dec. 30 Facebook post. "But they’re wrong – and this issue is bigger than anyone’s personal ambitions. Adults don’t point a loaded gun at the heart of legitimate self-government." Read more »
"As I read the Constitution, there is no constitutionally viable means for the Congress to overturn an election wherein the states have certified and sent their Electors," Scott said in a Jan. 5 statement. "Some of my colleagues believe they have found a path, and while our opinions differ, I do not doubt their good intentions to take steps towards stamping out voter fraud. Importantly, I disagree with their method both in principle and in practice. For their theory to work, Nancy Pelosi and House Democrats would have to elect Donald Trump president rather than Joe Biden. That it is not going to happen, not today or any other day."
Shelby said he would oppose the effort to question the tally. "At the end of the day, it's time to move on. We need the electoral college to do its work," he said. "It's an integral part of our constitution."
“It’s going down like a shot dog,” Thune said on Dec. 21 of a possible electoral college challenge. Thune has indicated that he will vote to certify Biden’s win, drawing a rebuke from Trump, who called for South Dakota Gov. Kristi L. Noem (R) to run against him in a primary. She has said she will not challenge him. Read more »
“The Framers of our Constitution made it clear that the power to certify elections is reserved to the states, not Congress," Tillis said in a Jan. 6 statement.
“I intend to vigorously defend our form of government by opposing this effort to disenfranchise millions of voters in my state and others,” Toomey said. Read more »
Wicker said he would vote to certify the results Wednesday: "I think the overwhelming weight of the evidence is that Joe Biden defeated my candidate, Donald Trump, and I have to live with it."
"I think it’s a hijack effort,” Young told protesters outside the Capitol, saying he would not join Sen. Ted Cruz in objecting. “I took an oath under God.”
“What we have seen today is unlawful and unacceptable. I have decided I will vote to uphold the Electoral College results and I encourage Donald Trump to condemn and put an end to this madness.” Read more »
“Earlier today I planed to object to some of the electors of states because I truly believed there were constitutional issues regarding states and courts changing election laws shortly before Election Day,” Waltz said. “However, with today’s despicable display of violence and intimidation on Capitol Hill we must move on to ensure a peaceful transfer of power and certify the presidential election.” Read more »
Balderson said in a statement on Jan. 6: "For as much as I had hoped that Donald Trump would continue as President for the next four years, I cannot take a vote that will set a precedent with long-term ramifications that tear the fabric of our Republic." Read more »
Did not vote 8
These lawmakers did not vote on any objections.
Brady missed the vote after testing positive for the coronavirus. Read more »
Granger missed the vote after testing positive for the coronavirus. Read more »
Salzar missed her swearing-in ceremony after testing positive for covid-19. Read more »
Valadao missed his swearing-in ceremony after testing positive for covid-19. Read more »
Republican objections didn’t change the result of the joint session to count electoral votes, but did lengthen it. Some states where Trump has challenged the election’s outcome in courts received objections, which resulted in delays of more than two hours each as the chambers debated and voted to approve or reject them.
See something we missed? Let us know.
Chiqui Esteban and Mike DeBonis contributed to this report.
Correction: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that Rep. Troy Balderson (R-Ohio) and Rep. David Joyce (R-Ohio) had intended to support objections to electoral vote counts. They did not.