Updated Jan 7, 2021 - Politics & Policy

Congress rejects GOP challenge to Pennsylvania electoral vote

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Photo: Caroline Brehman/Getty Images

Congress in the wee hours of Thursday morning voted down an objection made in joint session to certifying Pennsylvania's Electoral College votes.

Why it matters: Prior to Wednesday’s mob violence in the U.S. Capitol, over a dozen senators said they would object to certifying some states' results. But multiple senators have since withdrawn their support for those objections.

  • The Senate vote on the Pennsylvania objection was 92-7. The House vote was 282-138.
  • Late Wednesday night, the House and Senate voted down an objection to Arizona's electoral votes.
  • House Republicans' objections to the electoral votes of Georgia, Michigan and Nevada failed to receive Senate support in joint session, meaning they could not be debated.

The bottom line: Electoral College votes are counted state-by-state and in alphabetical order.

  • Pennsylvania is expected to be the last state to receive an objection with joint support.
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