House, Senate Reject Challenge to Biden Arizona Win

As Mike Pence condemns the violence
By Newser Editors,  Newser Staff
Posted Jan 6, 2021 7:26 PM CST
Updated Jan 6, 2021 10:24 PM CST
Senate Is Back: 'This Is Still the People's House'
In this image from video, Vice President Mike Pence speaks as the Senate reconvenes after protesters stormed into the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021.   (Senate Television via AP)

Congress did indeed return to work Wednesday night after the afternoon violence in DC. The Senate was gaveled back into session shortly after 8pm, about six hours after pro-Trump protesters forced them to flee the Capitol. "Let's get back to work," Vice President Mike Pence told senators after condemning the day's violence, per ABC News. The House also returned, with the goal of finishing the task of certifying the electoral college results in a matter of hours. “Violence never wins," Pence said from the dais, reports the Washington Post. "Freedom wins. And this is still the people’s house.”

The first order of business was to finish up debating the challenge already raised to Arizona's results, and the Senate overwhelmingly rejected the objection in a 93-6 vote. The AP notes that those 6 votes came from Republicans, but noted other GOP senators (it names Steve Daines of Montana, Mike Braun of Indiana, and Kelly Loeffler of Georgia) who had indicated they would join them changed their minds after the storming of the Capitol. The House followed suit, 303-121. It's possible that no further challenges will emerge, or at least fewer challenges than originally planned. Sen. Josh Hawley indicated he would object to the Electoral College results in Pennsylvania as he previously said he would. (More Congress stories.)

Get breaking news in your inbox.
What you need to know, as soon as we know it.
Sign up
Get the news faster.
Tap to install our app.
X
Install the Newser News app
in two easy steps:
1. Tap in your navigation bar.
2. Tap to Add to Home Screen.

X