Pelosi sets up call on election challenge: ‘No situation matches Trump presidency’

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) in a Sunday letter told her Democratic colleagues they would discuss the process for expected challenges to the Electoral College results from House Republicans during a call on Monday.

“Over the years, we have experienced many challenges in the House, but no situation matches the Trump presidency and the Trump disrespect for the will of the people,” Pelosi wrote in her letter.

Pelosi outlined a plan for the Democratic lawmakers as they prepare to certify the Electoral College votes this week.

“If a written objection is lodged by a Member of the House and Senate, we then meet in our individual chambers for up to two hours of debate. Only then will Members be recognized to speak on the Floor. Unless both the House and Senate vote to reject the Electoral count for the state in question, the objection is rejected,” said Pelosi.

More than 100 House Republicans are expected to challenge the results of the election in various battleground states, and a dozen Senate Republicans have vowed to do so.

Each challenge would lead to a two-hour debate in both the House and Senate and a vote. It is not clear how may state results will be challenged, but Pelosi indicated it could be a long night.

She said the result would end with President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris being “officially declared the next President and Vice President of the United States,” but acknowledged this declaration might have to take place in “the middle of the night.”

“On Monday, we will have a clearer picture of how many state votes will be subject to an objection,” Pelosi said. “Our choice is not to use the forum to debate the presidency of Donald Trump. While there is no doubt as to the outcome of the Biden-Harris presidency, our further success is to convince more of the American people to trust in our democratic system.”

GOP lawmakers such as Sens. Mitt Romney (Utah), Pat Toomey (Penn.) and Lindsey Graham (S.C.) have criticized the objections from their colleagues. Romney referred to the objection as an “egregious ploy” on Saturday while Graham called the move a “political dodge.”