Growing number of GOP lawmakers back Electoral College challenge

A growing number of House Republicans say they will challenge the results of the 2020 presidential election when Congress meets to certify the Electoral College results on Jan. 6.

The latest Republican to say he will do so is Rep.-elect Madison Cawthorn (N.C.), who will be a part of the House when it convenes in early January.

He implored other Republicans to also challenge the results in a video message.

“I have a message for all other Republicans across the country,” Cawthorn said. “If you are not on the record calling for fair, free and just elections now and in the future, I will come to your district and I will fund a primary opponent against you.”

Not doing this to help my career in Washington, in fact this will most likely harm it. But no one should go to Washington as a career. Go there to serve the people. And on behalf of the people I am contesting this election based on constitutional violations by key states. pic.twitter.com/puDmUZAbaw

— Madison Cawthorn (@CawthornforNC) December 21, 2020

There is no evidence the results of the last election showing President-elect Joe Biden defeating President Trump by more than 70 electoral votes and more than 7 million votes overall was unfair, and efforts by Trump and his allies to reverse the outcome have gone nowhere in the courts.

The effort in the House is also doomed to failure, as it will not be possible for supporters to secure a majority vote given Democratic control of the lower chamber, and the fact that a number of Republicans also object to the effort first launched by Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.). 

But Trump has encouraged the effort, and a number of House Republicans, likely with an eye on getting attention from the most powerful Republican in the country, have said they will join Brooks.

Over a dozen lawmakers led by Brooks met with Trump on Monday to discuss objecting to the certification of Biden’s victory.

They included Rep. Jody Hice (R-Ga.), who said on Twitter that he would lead an objection to Georgia’s electors.  

Big meeting today with @realDonaldTrump, @VP, the President’s legal team, @freedomcaucus and other Members of Congress.

I will lead an objection to Georgia’s electors on Jan 6.

The courts refuse to hear the President’s legal case.

We’re going to make sure the People can!

— Rep. Jody Hice (@CongressmanHice) December 22, 2020

Rep. Brian Babin (R-Texas) said on Monday that he would object to the results if Congress does not investigate voter fraud by Jan. 6, and wrote a letter to congressional leadership demanding action.

Confidence in our elections must be restored. If Congress doesn’t act, on Jan 6 I’ll object to the electoral college vote submissions on the House floor on behalf of the millions of Americans, myself included, who don’t trust the validity of this election. https://t.co/wC86vzPx45

— Brian Babin (@RepBrianBabin) December 21, 2020

Roughly 20 other Republicans signed on to Babin’s letter. 

Meanwhile, Rep. Ted Budd (R-N.C.) tweeted on Tuesday that he plans to object to the results, saying “#WethePeople will keep fighting for @realDonaldTrump.”

Yes, I plan to object on January 6th.

MILLIONS of Americans saw what I saw:

– Voter safeguards removed
– No signature verification
– Outdated voter rolls
– Ballots accepted after Election Day
– Poll watchers denied access
#WeThePeople will keep fighting for @realDonaldTrump.

— Rep. Ted Budd (@RepTedBudd) December 22, 2020

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has asked senators not to join the efforts, and Senate Majority Whip John Thune (R-S.D.) said on Monday that it would “go down like a shot dog.”

If no senator joins Brooks, there will not be a vote and debate in either chamber. But it’s unclear whether Brooks will get one senator to back his effort.

Sen.-elect Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.) has suggested that he will back it.