In the days since news outlets projected that former Vice President Joe Biden had won the presidential election, a handful of Republican senators have publicly congratulated him on his victory.
However, the vast majority of the Republican caucus has been reluctant to publicly offer their congratulations.
During an appearance on CNN’s “New Day” Tuesday, Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) said that while his colleagues have not publicly acknowledged that Biden won some will privately admit that he is the victor.
He said, “I think it is past time for Republican leaders to stand up and say, ‘We should accept the results of this election.’ And I continue to work with colleagues to urge them to do so.”
Coons went on to note that as of Tuesday morning, four Republican senators — out of the 53 senators — have publicly congratulated Biden on his victory.
“My hope is that this is the week that when that will begin to turn as it is clear there is no possible pathway for the president to overturn these results,” he added.
Watch the video below:
“Time is up for President Trump to accept the judgment of the American voters,” Sen. @ChrisCoons says. “There is no credible evidence of voter fraud, there is no credible path by which these election results can be reversed.”https://t.co/6wcMrNVdmK pic.twitter.com/OwQ4C1iOKh
— CNN This Morning with Kasie Hunt (@CNNThisMorning) November 10, 2020
When asked what he has heard in private from Republicans, he said, “Bluntly, that they accept … I mean they call me to say, ‘Congratulations. Please convey my well-wishes to the president-elect. But I can’t say that publicly yet.'”
“These are conversations best kept private,” he said.
Coons was asked when he thought more Republican senators may publicly congratulate Biden, he said, “My job here, I think, is to continue to urge them privately to do the right thing.”
He continued, “And to help the President accept reality and to help their caucus stand up publicly because frankly, the transition is going to be chaotic at best if it doesn’t get moving very soon. It should be underway already.”
As of 12:30 p.m. EST on Tuesday, Republican Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Mitt Romney (Utah), and Ben Sasse (Neb.) have offered their congratulations to Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.
Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) suggested that until the results are certified and the Electoral College votes, it is too early to declare a winner.