Trump Victory Claims Erode As More Republican Senators Acknowledge Biden Win

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November 17, 2020

Topline

The trickle of Republican senators recognizing Joe Biden’s victory in the 2020 election sped up on Monday, with five Trump-allies in the Senate acknowledging Biden as the likely winner despite Trump’s threat of retaliation to Republicans who break with him.

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., questions State Department Special Representative for Venezuela Ambassador … [+] Elliott Abrams appears before a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2020. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

ASSOCIATED PRESS

Key Facts

In an interview with the Spokane Spokesman-Review, Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho), who often acts as Trump’s chief defender on foreign affairs, said, “This is my second transition where we move from one political party to another in the White House,” though his office later walked back his apparent acknowledgment of Biden’s win.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who has vocally supported Trump’s legal efforts to overcome his vote deficits in key states, called Biden president-elect while talking to reporters, adding “that’s what the preliminary results seem to indicate… that’s the highest likelihood at this point,” while noting Trump’s “legal claims in court.”

Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.), another staunch Trump backer who has been described as the president’s “Senate alter-ego,” told Politico, “Iit grows increasingly unlikely that a remedy would involve overturning the election.”

“Right now, it looks like it will be President Biden. We understand that,” Sen. Mike Rounds (R-S.D.) told Politico after telling NBC News the General Services Administration – which will not ascertain Biden’s win due to Trump’s refusal to concede – should allow the transition to “move forward.”

Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas), who, along with Rounds and Rubio, said the Trump administration should stop blocking Biden from receiving intelligence briefings, told CNN, “I have every confidence that come January 20th, we’re gonna inaugurate a president and I think it will probably be Joe Biden.”

Key Background

Five other Republican senators have acknowledged Biden’s win – Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Mitt Romney (R-Utah), Murkowski (R-Alaska), Ben Sasse (R-Neb.) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) – as have 10 GOP House members, six GOP governors, former President George W. Bush and former Vice President Dan Quayle. Rep. Denver Riggleman (R-Va.) and Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) have both said Republicans privately acknowledge the result.

Crucial Quote

In a text message reported by the New York Times, the National Republican Senatorial Committee told supporters, “It’s Don Jr. If the Democrats win the runoffs in Georgia, they take control of the Senate. We cannot afford to let that happen.” Given that Republicans already have 50 senate seats, the text implies Democrat Kamala Harris will be the tie-breaking vote and thus that Biden is president-elect.

Chief Critic

Trump on Monday signaled his willingness to retaliate against Republicans who break with him, tweeting, “Who will be running for Governor of the Great State of Ohio? Will be hotly contested!” The tweet is a clear rebuke of Ohio’s first-term Republican Gov. Mike DeWine, who has broken with Trump on issues like masks and mail-in voting and who, days earlier, acknowledged Biden as president-elect.

Trump Victory Claims Erode As More Republican Senators Acknowledge Biden Win

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Key Background

Crucial Quote

Chief Critic

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