Nearly a dozen GOP senators say they will object to electoral college results

Texas’ Sen. Ted Cruz, at a rally for Georgia Sen. Kelly Loeffler on Saturday, has joined Republicans who plan to resist formalizing President-elect Joe Biden’s victory. Nearly a dozen Republican senators signaled Saturday that they would challenge the electoral college results next week, a last measure of their full devotion to a defeated president that has frustrated Senate GOP leaders and exacerbated concerns about the health of American democracy. In a letter explaining their plan, the Republican senators — three are up for reelection next year, and Cruz and Hawley harbor presidential aspirations — refer to Congress’ formal role as “the lone constitutional power remaining to consider and force resolution of the multiple allegations of serious voter fraud.” Such allegations, born not of evidence but of Trump’s deep denial, have dissolved upon scrutiny, however, and multiple recounts, audits and investigations have failed to produce signs of fraud that would have altered the results of any state’s election. “Allegations of fraud by a losing campaign cannot justify overturning an election,” the senator added, noting that his colleagues “fail to acknowledge that these allegations have been adjudicated in courtrooms across America and were found to be unsupported by evidence.” The lawmakers involved, who are mostly questioning the validity of electoral tallies in predominantly Black urban centers, also referred to the Compromise of 1877 as “precedent,” noting that Congress resolved the disputed 1876 presidential election with a commission like the one they’re seeking. 2 Republican, for predicting that any effort to challenge the electoral college results would “go down like a shot dog.” The outgoing president suggested that South Dakota‘s governor challenge Thune in a primary next year.