On Monday, Congress formally certified President-elect Donald Trump’s 2024 election victory, bringing him one step closer to entering office at the end of the month.
Sens. Deb Fischer, R-Neb., and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., served as vote count tellers in the Senate, while Reps. Bryan Steil, R-Wis., and Joe Morelle, D-N.Y., served on the House side.
The tellers tabulated and presented Donald Trump’s 312 electoral college votes, as well as Vice President Kamala Harris’ 226 votes.
It was the final step before Donald Trump’s inauguration on January 20.
As they entered the chamber before to the certification process, Harris and Vice President-elect JD Vance were greeted by House members with bipartisan handshakes.
Senators clasped hands with Republicans and Democrats as they entered the joint session of Congress.
The peaceful process contrasts sharply with the scene in the House chamber four years ago, when rioters protesting the 2020 election results disrupted proceedings and forced members into hiding for several hours.
Harris presided over Trump’s victory despite losing to him in the November election, which saw Republicans sweep the presidency and both houses of Congress.
Democrats and Republicans had dramatically contrasting reactions going into Monday, with politicians on the right celebrating a new era in Washington and those on the left reflecting on the terrible sights of January 6, 2021.
Lawmakers met on Capitol Hill to certify the election, despite a strong snowstorm that forced many government agencies and public schools in Washington, D.C. to close for the day.
Congressional Republican leaders had advised lawmakers to stay in the nation’s capital through the weekend to avoid potential travel complications.
When Ohio’s electoral votes were announced, Republicans in the chamber celebrated heartily, with several giving a standing ovation to Vance, who is from the state.
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