House GOP debates Electoral College vote

House GOP lawmakers debated their challenging the Electoral College votes during a roughly 2 1/2-hour conference meeting at the Capitol on Tuesday morning. 

The meeting comes just one day before conservatives are slated to object to the results in certain swing states, a move that has divided the conference. 

Lawmakers described the debate as productive and cordial despite the huge differences between some Republicans.

“I thought everybody there had thought through where they were and why,” House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said. “Nobody was attacking anyone, everyone was laying out some of the strongest arguments I saw on all sides. Very productive.”

Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.), who is opposed to objecting to the results, laid out the election process in Michigan, where President-elect Joe Biden won the vote by more than 150,000 votes.

Upton said there were no cases of fraud that would overturn the result in Michigan, pushing back on unsubstantiated claims by the Trump campaign and its supporters that have been rejected by courts and state officials in Michigan.

Rep. Mo Brooks (R-Ala.), who is leading the efforts in the House, announced his plans to challenge the results last month, arguing that Congress, not the courts, should hold jurisdiction over the matter. 

A number of GOP senators have said they will challenge results in various states, including Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.). 

There has been more support for challenging the results of the election among House Republicans than Senate Republicans, but the effort doesn’t have enough support in either chamber to be successful. 

And the divide has also been worrying Republicans.

Rep. Tom Reed (R-N.Y.) told The Hill on Monday it was clear to him there was no evidence of widespread fraud that would change the result of the election.

“At this point in time, I don’t see where that is coming to light. And I think it’s time for us to sincerely search our souls and as leaders here of the country, rather than potentially pander to folks that are very upset. I think maybe it’s time to have an honest conversation with them and to understand their frustration and anger,” he said.