In the two weeks since the general election, only four Republican senators have been willing to say that President-elect Joe Biden defeated President Donald Trump.
Republican Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), Mitt Romney (Utah), and Ben Sasse (Neb.) have been willing to congratulate the former vice president on his electoral victory.
Meanwhile, the majority of Congressional Republicans have been reluctant to declare Biden the winner of the election. Some have begun to admit that Trump may not be president for another four years. However, they suggest it is too early to declare the winner.
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) admitted that Biden is the president-elect. On Monday, he was asked about reports that Biden is considering appoint Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) to be his director of national intelligence.
He responded, “Well, that’ll be the president-elect’s decision obviously.”
Trump has continued to claim without evidence that there was widespread fraud in the election that cost him his re-election bid.
While his campaign has filed several legal challenges to the results, experts say it is unlikely that the challenges will change enough votes to alter the outcome of the election.
As the president and his allies have refused to acknowledge the outcome of the election, they have been facing increasing calls to admit that Biden won.
Former National Security Adviser John Bolton urged Republicans to “acknowledge the reality that Biden is the president-elect.”
“They may not like it, but the country deserves to give him the preparation he needs. A gracious president who kept the country’s interest first would acknowledge that,” he added.
Shortly after news outlets projected Biden as the winner, several Republican governors released statements to congratulate him on his victory. And on Thursday, Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine (R) said, “I think that we need to consider the former vice president as the president-elect. Joe Biden is the president-elect.”
DeWine’s decision to call Biden the president-elect did not go over well with Trump, who appeared to call for him to face a primary challenge in 2022.
In a tweet, Trump asked, “Who will be running for Governor of the Great State of Ohio?”
Who will be running for Governor of the Great State of Ohio? Will be hotly contested!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 16, 2020
He added, “Will be hotly contested!”