Kamala Harris Plans To Certify Trump’s Election Win: Report
Top Democrats have expressed no intention of contesting the certification of President-elect Donald Trump’s election victory scheduled for January 6, 2025.
“They also anticipate that Vice President Kamala Harris will lead the joint session of Congress to count Trump’s presidential electors precisely the way her predecessors have, taking no active role in the proceedings and tallying the results certified by the states. The result: a quick and simple transfer of power that will culminate on Jan. 20 when Trump takes the oath of office,” Politico reported after speaking with several top Republicans and Democrats.
“I think you’re going to have a pretty sort of normal transfer, and I think we will respect the wishes of the American people … in contrast to what happened January 6, 2021,” said Rep. Joe Morelle (D-N.Y.), the leading Democrat on the House committee that oversees elections. “I do feel like that’s worth saying over and over again.”
However, potential issues could arise, and they involve Republicans.
Since last week’s turmoil over the spending bill, conservatives have questioned whether Mike Johnson should remain as speaker.
The House vote for speaker is set for January 3, and an extended conflict could delay the process of certifying Trump’s victory.
When the new Congress convenes on January 3, its first order of business will be electing a speaker. This individual will then oversee the swearing-in of other members and establish the House’s operating rules.
Johnson was initially poised to secure a full term without difficulty. He had managed to unite his divided party, win over critics, and gather support for what he anticipated would be his first full term.
But his approach to budget negotiations and a previous deal with Democrats triggered a backlash among conservatives, with some even advocating for a new speaker. Trump also issued direct threats regarding Johnson’s role as speaker.
As expected, all Democrats are set to vote for Leader Hakeem Jeffries. If former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) sticks to his promise not to run for office again, Johnson could afford only one Republican defection.
That scenario is now a genuine concern—Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) has already announced he will vote against Johnson, and other Republicans remain undecided.
A prolonged speaker contest could last several days, casting uncertainty on whether the House will be prepared to count Electoral College votes. Additionally, there’s no clear plan for handling a situation where the fight extends beyond January 6.
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), who had objected to Trump’s first election win in 2017, noted that he hadn’t heard of any Democrats planning to object this time and believed they would act as “constitutional patriots.”
“I have not actually heard of anybody who intends to vote no,” Morelle added, “and I would certainly discourage it.”
“I’m not intending to do that again, because I think that people don’t differentiate,” said Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.). She elaborated, “I think there was a clear difference between what we did and what he does.”
“Harris will be presiding over the certification of her own defeat — a moment that is simultaneously uncomfortable and an ode to the peaceful transfer of power. She’s the third losing candidate to do so in recent history,” Politico noted.
Politico further observed, “The vice president, who serves as president of the Senate, is constitutionally required to fulfill this role, with limited exceptions. In 2000, Al Gore brushed aside Democrats’ protests to certify George W. Bush as the victor. In 2016, Biden told a handful objecting Democrats that it ‘is over’ and ushered in the first Trump presidency. And in 2020, Mike Pence resisted a crushing pressure campaign from Trump — and a violent riot — and followed in his predecessors’ footsteps.”