Pennsylvania certified its state election results on Tuesday, officially declaring Joe Biden winner of the state’s presidential race. The announcement comes one day after President Donald Trump vowed to “keep fighting” the election results.
Gov. Tom Wolf made the announcement in a tweet on Tuesday morning, saying, “Today @PAStateDept certified the results of the November 3 election in Pennsylvania for president and vice president of the United States. As required by federal law, I’ve signed the Certificate of Ascertainment for the slate of electors for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.”
Today @PAStateDept certified the results of the November 3 election in Pennsylvania for president and vice president of the United States.
As required by federal law, I’ve signed the Certificate of Ascertainment for the slate of electors for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.
— Governor Tom Wolf (@GovernorTomWolf) November 24, 2020
Wolf also thanked the state’s election officials, who he said have been under “constant attack” amid the contested results.
Pennsylvania’s certification after Michigan also certified its election results and declared Biden winner on Monday, and Georgia also did so on Friday.
A judge ruled against the Trump campaign’s legal challenge in Pennsylvania late last week. The Trump campaign appealed, however, requesting urgent consideration from the 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia to challenge the state’s election results.
The Trump campaign’s challenge in Pennsylvania focuses on seven Democratic-majority counties in which they allege mail-in ballots were mishandled.
After Michigan certified its results on Monday, Trump campaign legal adviser Jenna Ellis said in a statement, “Certification by state officials is simply a procedural step. We are going to continue combatting election fraud around the country as we fight to count all the legal votes. Americans must be assured that the final results are fair and legitimate.”
Also late Monday, Trump had authorized the General Services Administration to proceed with transition proceedings for the incoming Biden administration, and vowed to “keep fighting” the contested results.
“I want to thank Emily Murphy at GSA for her steadfast dedication and loyalty to our Country. She has been harassed, threatened, and abused – and I do not want to see this happen to her, her family, or employees of GSA. Our case STRONGLY continues, we will keep up the good fight, and I believe we will prevail!” Trump said in the tweet. “Nevertheless, in the best interest of our Country, I am recommending that Emily and her team do what needs to be done with regard to initial protocols, and have told my team to do the same.”
GSA Administrator Emily Murphy said in a letter to the Biden campaign, “I have the ability … to make certain post-election resources and service available to assist in the event of a presidential transition. … and because of recent developments involving legal challenges and certifications of election results, am transmitting this letter today to make those resources and services available to you.”
