Some elected Republicans are breaking ranks with President Trump to acknowledge that President-elect Biden won the 2020 presidential election.
Why it matters: The relative sparsity of acknowledgements highlights Trump’s lasting power in the GOP, as his campaign moves to file multiple lawsuits alleging voter fraud in key swing states despite the fact that there have been no credible allegations of any widespread fraud anywhere in the U.S.
Senators:

  • Sen. Susan Collins(Maine): “I would offer my congratulations to President-elect Biden on his apparent victory. … I urge people to be patient. The process has not failed our country in more than 200 years, and it is not going to fail our country this year.”
  • Sen. John Cornyn (Texas), when asked by reporters if Biden would be the next president: “I haven’t seen anything that would change the outcome.”
  • Sen. Lisa Murkowski (Alaska): “I congratulate President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris and will be ready to work with their administration when it takes office.”
  • Sen. Mitt Romney (Utah): “Ann and I extend our congratulations to President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. We know both of them as people of good will and admirable character. We pray that God may bless them in the days and years ahead.”
  • Sen. Marco Rubio(Fla.), when asked by reporters about a new national intelligence director in the incoming Biden administration: “That’ll be the president-elect’s decision.”
  • Sen. Ben Sasse(Neb.): “Today in our house we pray for both President Trump and President-Elect Biden, that both would be wise in the execution of their respective duties during this important time in our nation.”
  • A partial acknowledgment … Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.): “If there is any chance whatsoever that Joe Biden will be the next president, and it looks like he has a very good chance, the Trump Administration should provide the Biden team with all transition materials, resources, and meetings necessary to ensure a smooth transition so that both sides are ready on day one.”
  • Sen Pat Toomey (Pa.): “President Trump has exhausted all plausible legal options to challenge the result of the presidential race in Pennsylvania. … “To ensure that he is remembered for these outstanding accomplishments, and to help unify our country, President Trump should accept the outcome of the election and facilitate the presidential transition process.”

Governors:

  • Gov. Charlie Baker (Mass.): “I congratulate President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris on their victory. This has been a long and divisive campaign, but now it is critical for us all to focus on the very real and immediate challenges facing this nation.”
  • Gov.-elect Spencer Cox (Utah): “Abby and I wish a heart-felt congratulations to @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris on the election call today. Thank you for your commitment to unite us all.”
  • Gov. Mike DeWine (Ohio): “Joe Biden is the president-elect.”
  • Gov. Larry Hogan (Md.): “Congratulations to President-elect Biden. Everyone should want our president to succeed because we need our country to succeed.”
  • Gov. Asa Hutchinson (Ark.): “I expect Joe Biden to be the next president of the United States. It was good, actually, to see President Trump tweet out ‘he won.’ I think thats the start of an acknowledgment.”
  • Gov. Phil Scott(Vt.): “I want to congratulate President-elect Biden … we must do all we can to heal our nation.”
  • Gov. Chris Sununu(N.H.): “Joe Biden is the president-elect.”

Representatives:

  • Rep. Don Bacon (Neb.): “I believe the handwriting is on the wall that Joe Biden has been elected as the next President.”
  • Rep. Will Hurd (Texas): “More unites us than divides us; we can find common ground. I hope the president-elect can embody this.”
  • Rep. Adam Kinzinger (Ill.): “Sofia and I extend our congratulations to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. Our nation deserves two competing parties who can work together when possible, and compete honorably when not.”
  • Rep. Paul Mitchell(Mich.): “Congratulations to President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris. This election was hard-fought by both candidates and ultimately the voters chose them for the job.”
  • Rep. Tom Reed (N.Y.): “We must continue to transparently count and certify all of the American people’s votes to its complete conclusion. … However, out of respect and in deference to the moment, I extend my congratulations to President-elect Biden.”
  • Rep. Denver Riggleman (Va.): “Christine and I extend congratulations and well wishes to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.”
  • Rep. Francis Rooney(Fla.): “Congratulations to [President-elect] Biden on a successful campaign. All Americans need to come together to support [President-elect] Biden. Our nation will only be successful if the new admin is.”
  • Rep. John Shimkus (Ill.): “Even though I supported his opponent, I wish President-elect Joe Biden well.”
  • Rep. Fred Upton (Mich.): “I am raising my hand and committing to working with President-elect Biden and my colleagues on both sides of the aisle in Congress.”
  • Rep. Don Young(Alaska) wished Biden well, adding: “I call on President-elect Biden to listen carefully to those who did not vote for him.”
  • Rep. John Curtis (Utah): “Until a judicial decision determines wrongdoing, Joe Biden should be acknowledged as the President-Elect.”

Of note: Non-elected Republicans that have acknowledged Biden as the next president include former President George W. Bush, former Ohio Gov. John Kasich, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and the late Arizona Sen. John McCain’s wife, Cindy McCain.
This post will continue to be updated with additional comments.