Congress certifies Trump's victory in presidential election

WASHINGTON — New York lawmakers cast their votes for Democrat Kamala Harris as Congress convened amid a snowstorm Monday to certify Republican Donald Trump’s Electoral College victory in last year’s presidential election.

The ceremonial reading of each state’s electoral votes for either Trump or Harris proceeded without interruption or objections in the House chamber, where senators joined House members in a process that took just 35 minutes.

Harris, carrying out her duties as vice president, announced the final tally: "Donald J. Trump has received 312 votes" — prompting a Republican standing ovation and cheers — "Kamala D. Harris has received 226 votes" — leading to applause by Democrats.

Before Congress met for the electoral count, Trump posted on Truth Social: "CONGRESS CERTIFIES OUR GREAT ELECTION VICTORY TODAY — A BIG MOMENT IN HISTORY. MAGA!"

Trump will be sworn as president on Jan. 20 at a ceremony at the Capitol building, ending the four years of the Biden-Harris administration.

The required constitutional certification of Trump’s election as president took place among heightened security at the Capitol building, where armed NYPD officers joined other police behind a tall black fence in response to the 2021 electoral vote riot by Trump’s followers.

The New York electors cast votes for Harris after she won the state with 56% of the nearly 8.2 million votes cast on Nov. 5, about a million more than for Trump, according to the New York State Board of Elections official canvass.

The Electoral College met as flags stood at half-staff, a day before the Capitol building will host the lying in state on Tuesday and Wednesday of the late President Jimmy Carter, who served from 1977 to 1981 and died at age 100 on Dec. 29.

Trump continues to deny he fairly lost the 2020 election, while President Joe Biden and Democrats declared they have accepted their defeat at the polls last year and have worked to ensure a peaceful transfer of power.

Yet Democrats repeatedly sought to remind the public about the disruption of the electoral count for Biden four years ago by Trump supporters who broke into the Capitol building after overrunning and injuring scores of Capitol Police and chanting to hang Vice President Mike Pence and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.).

"If it weren't for Jan. 6, 2021, today would be a very uneventful day," said Rep. Tom Suozzi (D-Glen Cove) after the counting of electoral votes.

"It's always been important throughout our 200-year history," Suozzi told Newsday. "But it's gone by as a footnote every four years because it was just normal to certify the election."

Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-Bayport) said in a statement: "Today, Congress fulfilled its responsibility by voting to certify the results of the 2024 election. I look forward to working with the incoming Trump Administration on behalf of Long Islanders."

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) scheduled a commemoration of those who died during the 2021 assault on the Capitol near the door where rioters first broke in on the Senate’s first floor hallway.

In a Washington Post opinion piece Sunday, Biden urged Americans to remember the violence of Trump’s followers four years ago after they broke into the Capitol and battled Capitol Police. More than 1,250 people pleaded guilty or were convicted in connection with the Capitol siege, though Trump has discussed the possibility of pardons.

"But on this day, we cannot forget," Biden said in the op-ed. "We should commit to remembering Jan. 6, 2021, every year. To remember it as a day when our democracy was put to the test and prevailed. To remember that democracy — even in America — is never guaranteed."

Harris, like Democrat Al Gore in 2001 and Republican Richard Nixon in 1961, had to oversee the certification of her rival’s victory and her own defeat as she performed the duties of vice president.

Ahead of the Electoral College vote, Harris posted on the social media site X that the peaceful transfer of power is a "sacred obligation" that distinguishes the United States’ democracy from "a monarchy or tyranny.".

"As we have seen, our democracy can be fragile," she wrote. "And it is up to each one of us to stand up for one of our most cherished principles, and make sure that in America our government always remains of the people, by the people and for the people."