President Donald Trump is seeking to halt vote counting, filing lawsuits in multiple states.
The president was straightforward on Thursday, declaring on Twitter, “STOP THE COUNT!”
His remarks come as Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden inches closer to the 270 Electoral Votes mark to win the White House, though it is still a race that is too close to call, as of Thursday morning.
STOP THE COUNT!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) November 5, 2020
In contrast, Biden has said, “Every vote must be counted.”
Every vote must be counted. pic.twitter.com/kWLGRfeePK
— Joe Biden (@JoeBiden) November 5, 2020
Biden said in remarks on Wednesday in Delaware, “Now after a long night of counting, it’s clear that we’re winning enough states to reach [the] 270 electoral votes needed to win the presidency.”
He added, “I’m not here to declare that we’ve won. But I am here to report that when the count is finished we believe will be the winners.”
Meanwhile, the Trump campaign has filed lawsuits in Michigan and Pennsylvania seeking to stop vote counting. The Supreme Court is allowing Pennsylvania to count absentee ballots received three days after Election Day. In Michigan, the Trump campaign demanded “to review those ballots which were opened and counted while we did not have meaningful access.”
His campaign also sought to pause vote count in Georgia. Additionally, Trump’s reelection campaign also made known it will request a recount in Wisconsin.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf (D) pushed back on the lawsuit against his state, saying on Wednesday at a press conference, “It goes against the most basic principles of our democracy. It takes away the right of every American citizen to cast their vote and to choose our leaders.”
The governor added, “Our election officials at the state and local level should be free to do their jobs without fear, without intimidation, without attacks. These attempts to subvert the democratic process are simply disgraceful… I’m going to fight like hell to protect the vote of every Pennsylvanian.”
After Trump suggested early Wednesday during remarks at the White House that he wants “all voting to stop” and that “we don’t want them to find any ballots at [4 a.m.] and add them to the list,” he received push back. During those remarks, the president also prematurely and falsely declared victory.
Former New Jersey Chris Christie (R) said early Wednesday of Trump’s election remarks, “There’s just no basis to make that argument tonight. There just isn’t.”
Additionally, Biden’s campaign blasted Trump, saying in a statement that the comments are “outrageous, unprecedented, and incorrect.”