Pelosi names House Democratic leaders for Electoral College debate

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) named four lawmakers to serve as the Democratic leaders in the House ahead of the expected debate Wednesday over the Electoral College results. 

Pelosi said in a letter to colleagues that Reps. Zoe Lofgren (Calif.), Jamie Raskin (Md.), Adam Schiff (Calif.) and Joe Neguse (Colo.) will lead House Democrats after possibly 140 House Republicans and at least 13 Senate Republicans join to object to the Electoral College’s margin of 306-232 for President-elect Joe Biden.

The four lawmakers and the Democratic heads of state delegations “have been working on our Democratic presentation of the Constitutional, historical and thematic justification for respecting the will of the people,” Pelosi wrote.

“On the Floor of the House, we will have a civics lesson about protecting the integrity of our democracy.  Priority to speak has been given to state delegation Members from states that are expected to face a challenge,” she said.

Results from Arizona, Georgia and Pennsylvania are expected to be objected to, though other states could have their results challenged. 

Congress’s quadrennial certification of the Electoral College results is often a sleepy affair, but it is being thrust into the spotlight this year as President Trump launches a pressure campaign urging GOP lawmakers to object to the results. 

If at least one House member and one Senate member object to the results, the chambers will split up and debate the objections. While several lawmakers in both chambers are objecting, overwhelming majorities are expected to shoot down the challenges. 

Still, Democrats have torn into Republicans for what they say is an effort to undermine the country’s tradition of a peaceful transition of power. 

“Tomorrow is about guaranteeing trust in our democratic system.  As Members of Congress, we all have a responsibility to uphold the principle: the people are sovereign and that they hold the power to choose their leaders through the ballot box.  I am confident that Democrats will honor this responsibility, with unity, patriotism and dignity For The People,” Pelosi said.