Biden Certified as Winner in Pennsylvania and Nevada, Recounts and Lawsuits Continue in Wisconsin and Other States

Strategic Insights -

A day after the federal government recognized Democrat Joe Biden as the "apparent winner" of the national presidential contest, he was certified Tuesday as the winner in both Pennsylvania and Nevada, with recounts and lawsuits continuing in Wisconsin and other states. Biden's team is already working on getting him access to the Presidential Daily Brief and planning a meeting between his staff and the Trump administration team overseeing the response to the coronavirus. The certification of the election results marks a significant milestone in the transition of power after President Donald Trump resisted for weeks.

Key Takeaways:

  • Biden was certified as the winner in Pennsylvania, with 3.46 million votes, and Nevada, with 3.33 million votes, amidst ongoing recounts and lawsuits in Wisconsin and other states.
  • A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit that lacked evidence and offered "strained legal arguments without merit and speculative accusations" by the Trump campaign in Pennsylvania.
  • The Wisconsin Supreme Court is being asked to block certification of the presidential election results in favor of Biden, even as a recount is ongoing.
  • Republican Attorney Erick Kaardal, representing a conservative group called the Wisconsin Voters Alliance and a host of Republican voters, filed the lawsuit in the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
  • The lawsuit also rehashes a claim that Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg tried to "illegally circumvent Wisconsin absentee voting laws" through grants awarded by a nonprofit center he funds.
  • The certification of the election results does not stop several lawsuits pending in state and federal courts, including bids by two Republican congressional candidates and a state Senate challenger to obtain re-votes in those races.

Statistics:

  • 3.46 million votes in Pennsylvania for Biden and Harris.
  • 3.38 million votes in Pennsylvania for Trump and Pence.
  • 79,000 votes in Pennsylvania for Libertarian Jo Jorgensen.
  • 3 million Wisconsin voters who cast a ballot in the presidential election.
  • 2.82 million active registered voters in Nevada.
  • 1.4 million votes cast in Nevada.

Sources:

  • Associated Press - "Biden certified as winner in Pennsylvania and Nevada as recount, lawsuits continue in Wisconsin"
  • Pennsylvania Department of State - "Certificate of Ascertainment" sent to the national archivist in Washington with the slate of electors who support Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris.
  • Nevada Supreme Court - Decision Approving the State's Final Canvass of the Nov. 3 Election, awarding six electoral votes from Nevada to Biden.