McConnell Warns GOP To Stop Fighting Election Results

With the Georgia Senate runoffs in mind, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell warns GOP senators to stay away from further challenging the Electoral College tally this January 6. Earlier, the Kentucky Republican senator recognized the election victory of Democrats Joe Biden and Kamala Harris for the Presidency and Vice Presidency. 

RELATED:  McConnell Congratulates Biden On His Election Victory

Publicly and privately, McConnell told Republican senators not to engage in President Donald Trump’s continued refusal to concede the elections. The president also kept alleging that massive fraud occurred during his reelection bid and that the fight will continue. 

Private Caucus 

During a private caucus Tuesday, McConnell warned the GOP senators to stay away from contesting the Electoral college results. Congress will conduct an official tally on January 6, and this offers a chance for Senators or House members to give their objections. McConnell explained to his colleagues that challenging the results would force Republicans to take a “terrible vote.” There, they will have to stand up to President Donald Trump and vote the challenge down. 

Senate Majority Whip John Thune (R-SD) and Senator Roy Blunt (R-Mo) agreed with McConnell’s reasoning. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) said that nobody objected to the Majority Leader’s reasoning. She said, “There wasn’t any pushback to it. There wasn't anyone saying: oh wait a minute. That didn’t occur.”

After the Electoral College

The day before, the Electoral College officially voted for Joe Biden as President-elect. Within the same day, McConnell acknowledged Democrat Joe Biden as the President-elect in his floor remarks for the first time. McConnell first gave tribute to Trump’s endless accomplishments before congratulating Biden. He said “I want to congratulate President-elect Joe Biden. Then, he added: “Many of us had hoped the presidential election would yield a different result. But our system of government has the processes to determine who will be sworn in on Jan. 20. The Electoral College has spoken.” Afterward, McConnell followed up his public remarks by privately warning GOP senators to let the matter pass.

Republican’s concerns show the difficult position the GOP is currently in. The party is facing increasing pressure to continue supporting Trump and his insistence that he won the elections. Party officials want the Republican voter base engaged as the crucial Georgia runoff elections approach. Which party wins Georgia gets to control the Senate majority. Meanwhile, McConnell wants to steer his party members away from a tough vote. Once a complaint reaches the floor, each Senator will be asked to go on record on whether he supports Trump or not. In addition, Vice President Mike Pence will preside the debate, which would also publicly test his loyalty.

It’s Different in the House 

While McConnell warns GOP senators, House Republicans have no problem wanting to challenge the Electoral College on January 6. Hardliner Representative Mo Brooks (R-Al) hoped that McConnell’s warnings are “fake news.” He said in an interview that he finds it “unfathomable that anyone would acquiesce to election theft and voter fraud because they lack the courage to take a difficult vote on the House or Senate floor.” He added: “Last time I checked, that’s why we were elected to Congress.”Brooks plans to challenge the results once the January 6 session opens.

If a Senator joins the House challenge, both chambers will need to vote on the election. Senator Tommy Tuberville (Al) is eyed as the Senate GOP member to join Representative Brooks. Tuberville did not join McConnell’s conference call, so Senate Republicans have no idea where he stands.

Georgia Runoffs

Republicans who already conceded the elections to Biden are more worried about their chances in the Georgia runoff election on January 5. The cracks in the GOP are widening, as sides remain polarized on whether to move on after Trump or stay with him until he gets what he wants. Predictably, McConnell worries more about his arena, the Senate.  If the two incumbent GOP senators, David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler, get knocked out, Democrats will control the Senate. That will make the Dems unchallenged in the White House, the Senate, and in Congress. 

In all fairness, the Majority Leader stood with Trump through thick and thin during the last four years. On Tuesday, he made the choice to ensure his survivability by acknowledging that Trump lost and Biden won. If he continues to echo Trump’s call to resist, he may find himself at the wrong end of the coming Biden presidency. At the same time, he can avoid a Trump loyalty check within Congress that can further polarize the GOP.

Watch the CNBC TV breaking news where Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell recognizes Joe Biden, Kamala Harris’s victory 42 days after the elections:

Rightfully, Mitch McConnell warns the GOP of an impending implosion within the Party given their different opinion. Do you agree that the GOP should stop contesting the Electoral College results at this point? Or, should Trump’s fight continue? Let us know what you think by sharing your comments below.