Updated Nov 30, 2020 - Politics & Policy
Wisconsin, Arizona certify Biden's victories
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Arizona and Wisconsin officials confirmed the presidential election results in their states, formalizing President-elect Joe Biden's victories in the key battlegrounds.
Why it matters: The moves deal yet another blow to President Trump's efforts to block or delay certification in key swing states that he lost.
The state of play:
- Arizona’s certification came the same day that Trump's personal attorney Rudy Giuliani appeared before the GOP-controlled State Legislature to ask lawmakers to overturn the election results, citing baseless claims of widespread election fraud.
- Arizona's Republican Gov. Doug Ducey was among the officials presiding over the state's certification on Monday.
- Biden beat Trump in Arizona by more than 10,000 votes. The state has 11 electoral votes.
- Arizona also certified Democrat Mark Kelly's win over Republican Sen. Martha McSally. Kelly will be sworn in as a U.S. senator on Wednesday.
- In Wisconsin, Ann Jacobs, the chairwoman of the Wisconsin Elections Commission, signed a document Monday afternoon declaring Biden the winner. The document will now go to the governor.
- Jacobs has previously described the statement of canvass as the certification of the results, but the commission's administrator, Meagan Wolfe, said on Monday that the commission does not issue certificates of election for presidential candidates, per the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
- "In a possible nod to the threatened litigation, the commission called Jacobs’ action a 'determination,' rather than certification, even though earlier this year and in prior elections it has called such action certification," AP noted.
- The declaration came a day after the state finished two recounts requested by the Trump campaign.
- Biden won Wisconsin by more than 20,000 votes. Recounts in the state's most populous and liberal areas — Dane and Milwaukee counties — netted him an additional 87 votes. The state has 10 electoral votes.
- Jacob’s declaration starts a five-day window for Trump to file a lawsuit, which he said Saturday he planned to do.
What they’re saying:
- Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs said, “This election was conducted with transparency, accuracy and fairness in accordance with Arizona’s laws and election procedures — despite numerous unfounded claims to the contrary.”
- Wisconsin's Jacobs said, “I am now signing it as the official state determination of the results of the Nov. 3, 2020, election and the canvass."
What to watch: States are required to certify their results before the Electoral College meets on Dec. 14.
Go deeper: Trump challenges cement Biden triumph
Editor's note: This story has been updated with Wisconsin's determination.
