GOP Electoral College objectors are starting to fold

Steve Daines.
(Image credit: Drew Angerer/Getty Images)

The push to object to the Electoral College certification process led by Sens. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) appears to be fizzling after President Trump's supporters breached the Capitol earlier Wednesday.

Sens. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) and Rand Paul (R-Ky.), who were already opposed to the plan, enhanced their criticism, with Paul calling it "a big mistake" and Cotton urging his colleagues — and Trump — to drop their objections.

Meanwhile, Sen. Steve Daines (R-Mont.), who was originally on board with the plan, just released a statement suggesting otherwise, apparently changing his mind after the incident. "We will not let today's violence deter Congress from certifying the election," he said.

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And Sen. Mike Braun (R-Ind.) said he thinks Wednesday's events "changed things drastically," despite objecting to Arizona's electoral votes earlier in the day.

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In the House, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) said she'll no long object to the results and encouraged Trump to do the same. There were many more representatives than senators who were prepared to object, but the upper chamber has to be involved for objections to have any life.

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Tim O'Donnell

Tim is a staff writer at The Week and has contributed to Bedford and Bowery and The New York Transatlantic. He is a graduate of Occidental College and NYU's journalism school. Tim enjoys writing about baseball, Europe, and extinct megafauna. He lives in New York City.