After Attack, Legislators Approve Biden’s Victory
By Bill Vander Weele After an attack of the nation’s capitol building, Montana’s two U.S. senators each ended voting against an objection to the electoral college vote on Wednesday, Jan. 6.
A group of riots, believed to be pro-Trump protesters, breached the U.S. Capitol just as Congress started a joint session regarding the certification of President-elect Joe Biden’s victory.
Senators began meeting again at 6 p.m., and House members convened shortly after. Objections to the votes in the states of Arizona and Pennsylvania were defeated soundly. Biden was awarded 306 Electoral College votes while President Donald Trump received 232 Electoral College votes. A total of 270 votes are needed for election.
Montana senators Jon Tester and Steve Daines each voted against the objections to the two states and the proposal to have a 10-day vote audit.
Tester, a Democrat, said in a statement on Wednesday afternoon, “I join my Republican and Democratic colleagues in condemning this despicable and dangerous attack on our democracy. The election is over - and the time for baseless objections that do nothing but undermine our Constitution is over too. Now is the time for both sides to come together to solve the pressing problems facing our nation, not rip it apart.”
After earlier announcing that he planned to vote in favor of the objection, Daines changed his vote to against the objection. The Republican said he still has some concerns about the election.
“We will not let today’s violence deter Congress from certifying the election. We must restore confidence in our electoral process,” Daines said in a press release. “We must, and we will, have a peaceful and orderly transition of power.”
Freshman Republican Congressman Matt Rosendale voted in favor of the objection.
“All Americans have the right to a fair, secure election, and should be confident that the process ensures all legitimate ballots are counted, and all fraudulent ballots are rejected,” Rosendale said in a press release. “It’s sad that Democrats and their lackeys in the media are so blinded by partisan hatred for President Trump that they’re unable to live up to the precedent they have set and take appropriate action to safeguard our elections.”
The inauguration for Biden as the country’s new president and Kamala Harris as vice president will take place on Wednesday, Jan. 20.
