A small contingent of prominent Republicans have begun publicly acknowledging Joe Biden as President-elect and Kamala Harris as VP-elect even as President Trump still refuses to concede and continues waging widespread and unfounded election fraud claims.
Many Republicans on Capitol Hill have yet to weigh in on Trump’s refusal to concede, while some continue to egg on the President’s bogus voter fraud allegations. Only a handful of Republicans have come out of the woodwork to gently suggest that Trump finally concede.
While Trump has refused to concede his loss to Biden, the President-elect’s transition has already hit a major snag.
General Services Administration chief Emily Murphy — a Trump appointee who has sole authority over whether Biden’s transition can officially move forward — has not signed the letter of “ascertainment,” which would allow the President-elect’s transition team to contact federal agencies or access the millions of dollars set aside for it.
Here are the Republicans who’ve outright declared that Biden is the President-elect:
Republican senators
Ann and I extend our congratulations to President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. We know both of them as people of good will and admirable character. We pray that God may bless them in the days and years ahead.
— Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) November 7, 2020
My statement on the 2020 Presidential election results: pic.twitter.com/8NY1WpaJpC
— Sen. Susan Collins (@SenatorCollins) November 9, 2020
— Sen. Lisa Murkowski (@lisamurkowski) November 8, 2020
Sen. Ben Sasse (R-NE)
Sasse congratulated Biden in an interview the Omaha World-Herald.
“Today in our house we pray for both President Trump and President-Elect Biden, that both would be wise in the execution of their respective duties during this important time in our nation,” Sasse said.
House Republicans
We have to find a way to come together, bridge divisions, and focus on solutions that help the millions who are struggling. I am raising my hand and committing to working with President-elect Biden and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in Congress to do exactly that. pic.twitter.com/EXWLWKmBdp
— Fred Upton #WearYourMask (@RepFredUpton) November 7, 2020
Congratulations to Pres-elect Biden on a successful campaign. All Americans need to come together to support Pres-elect Biden. Our nation will only be successful if the new admin is. We must work together to enact bipartisan legislation & solve the problems our country faces 1/2
— Francis Rooney (@RepRooney) November 8, 2020
It’s time to come together. America has spoken and we must respect the decision. More unites us than divides us; we can find common ground. I hope the president-elect can embody this. I wish him good luck and I wish the president a successful final few weeks. God bless the USA!
— Rep. Will Hurd (@HurdOnTheHill) November 7, 2020
— Tom Reed (@RepTomReed) November 7, 2020
Congratulations to President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris. This election was hard-fought by both candidates and ultimately the voters chose them for the job. America now looks to you to lead our country and unite us for the common good.
— Rep. Paul Mitchell (@RepPaulMitchell) November 7, 2020
Sofia and I extend our Congratulations to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. Our nation deserves two competing parties who can work together when possible, and compete honorably when not.
— Adam Kinzinger (@RepKinzinger) November 7, 2020
Republican governors
Congratulations to President-elect Biden. Everyone should want our president to succeed because we need our country to succeed. We have great challenges ahead of us as a country. Now more than ever, we need to come together as Americans.
— Governor Larry Hogan (@GovLarryHogan) November 7, 2020
I congratulate President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris on their victory.
This has been a long and divisive campaign, but now it is critical for us all to focus on the very real and immediate challenges facing this nation.
— Charlie Baker (@MassGovernor) November 7, 2020
My official statement on the presidential election: pic.twitter.com/F6AoS8lfhG
— Governor Phil Scott (@GovPhilScott) November 7, 2020
Abby and I wish a heart-felt congratulations to @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris on the election call today. Thank you for your commitment to unite us all. We pray for you and promise to work with you to benefit the people of Utah. 1/
— Spencer Cox (@SpencerJCox) November 7, 2020
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R)
DeWine clearly acknowledged that Biden won the presidential election during an interview on CNN Thursday.
“We need to consider the former vice president as the president-elect,” DeWine said. “Joe Biden is the president-elect.”
However, DeWine also told CNN on Thursday morning that Trump has a right to go to court and that as a former prosecutor, he is “a great believer in the ability to have your courts and go in to make your case and they have every right to do that and that looks like what they are trying to do.”
Other prominent Republicans
Congratulations to my dear friend and President-elect @JoeBiden Vice-President-elect @KamalaHarris. Its time to move beyond politics and toward building a stronger america. I know Joe will unify the country toward a better future.
— Cindy McCain (@cindymccain) November 7, 2020
Congratulations, President-Elect @JoeBiden
I know you will do as you promised and be a president for the whole country. pic.twitter.com/fCrbSldYki
— John Kasich (@JohnKasich) November 7, 2020
Congratulations to President-elect Biden. I have prayed for our President most of my adult life. I will be praying for you and your success. Now is the time to heal deep wounds. Many are counting on you to lead the way.
— Jeb Bush (@JebBush) November 7, 2020
Former President George W. Bush
Bush extended his “warm congratulations” to Biden in a statement. Bush said that he spoke to the president-elect and thanked him for his “patriotic” victory speech, and had also called Harris to congratulate her on her historic victory.
“I know Joe Biden to be a good man, who has won his opportunity to lead and unify our country,” Bush said. “The president-elect reiterated that while he ran as a Democrat, he will govern for all Americans. I offered him the same thing I offered Presidents Trump and Obama: my prayers for his success, and my pledge to help in any way I can.”
Former Rep. Mike Rogers (R-MI)
Although he has not directly referred to Biden as President-elect, Rogers, who chaired the House Intelligence Committee during the Obama administration, demanded that Biden should begin to receive the President’s Daily Brief.
Our adversaries aren't waiting for the transition to take place. @JoeBiden should receive the President's Daily Brief (PDB) starting today. He needs to know what the latest threats are & begin to plan accordingly. This isn't about politics; this is about national security.
— Mike Rogers (@RepMikeRogers) November 10, 2020
Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (R)
During a roundtable on ABC News on Sunday, Christie — who assisted President Trump in preparing for his disastrous first presidential debate against Biden — was asked whether Republicans are ready to work with Biden given how Trump and the majority of GOPers on Capitol Hill have yet to congratulate the President-elect on his victory.
Christie replied that it’s going to be “issue by issue” when it comes to “whether Republicans work with Democrats and vice versa,” before agreeing that GOPers can start by acknowledging Biden’s victory.
The former New Jersey governor said that he believes “there’s lots of Republicans trying to feel their way around” Trump’s refusal to concede, but suggested that the President finally do so.
“That’s why to me I think it was so important early on to say to the President: if your basis for not conceding is that there was voter fraud, then show us. Show us!” Christie said. “Because if you can’t show us, we can’t do this. We can’t back you blindly without evidence.”
