Senator-Elect Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) suggested that he may be planning to challenge the Electoral College count when Congress convenes next month, against the wishes of Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY).
“You see what’s coming,” Tuberville said, according to a shaky phone video shared by activist Lauren Windsor on Thursday. “You’ve been reading about it in the House. We’re going to have to do it in the Senate.”
BREAKING: Defying McConnell, Sen-elect Tuberville suggests he will challenge Electoral College, while stumping in Georgia pic.twitter.com/1z5wJ2ajVP
— Lauren Windsor (@lawindsor) December 17, 2020
He made the comment while stumping in Georgia this week for Sens. Kelly Loeffler (R-GA) and David Perdue (R-GA).
He did not offer any further specification, leaving it unclear if he intends to vote against the count himself. His campaign did not respond to TPM’s questions.
McConnell implored his caucus not to vote against the count on a conference call last week, warning that it would force the rest of the Republicans into the awkward position of having to cast a vote that will anger President Donald Trump. Many Republican senators have publicly dismissed the idea of voting against it.
Rep. Mo Brooks (R-AL) is planning to challenge the vote count in the House.
In order for the presiding officer to hear the challenge, at least one representative and one senator have to sign it. Then both chambers would go into a special session. For the challenge to be successful, both chambers would have to approve it by a simple majority. As that will certainly not happen in the majority-Democrat House, any challenge would be symbolic at most.
Still, defying McConnell would be bold move for Tuberville to make right out the gate. He’ll be sworn in on January 3 after defeating Sen. Doug Jones (D-AL) in November.
