The two Georgia senators who are facing runoff elections next week were not part of the group of Republicans who announced Saturday they will join in objections during the upcoming joint session of Congress.
The names of Sens. Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) and David Perdue (R-Ga.) were noticeably absent from the joint statement released by the group.
In an unusual occurrence only made possible by the retirement of Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.) before the end of his term, both senators representing Georgia are engaged in runoff elections because they failed to get a majority of the votes during the 2020 general election.
Republicans plan on challenging Georgia’s electoral votes, hoping to get President Donald Trump named the winner or get both sets of electors thrown out. Six other swing states are being eyed, all of which went for Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden.
Loeffler and Perdue have portrayed themselves as strong supporters of Trump. They haven’t ruled out challenging electoral votes on Jan. 6, but neither have they committed to doing so. Spokespersons for the senators didn’t respond to inquiries on Saturday.
Loeffler last month said she hadn’t yet decided whether to challenge electoral votes.
“I haven’t looked at it,” she told reporters. “January 6 is a long way out and there’s a lot to play out between now and then.”
Perdue hasn’t appeared to comment on the matter. According to an activist for Democracy who posed with him during a campaign stop, he committed to challenging electoral voters, but there was no corroboration of the claim.
Perdue’s campaign hasn’t responded to repeated requests for comment.
It’s possible Perdue won’t be part of the joint session. His term expires at noon on Jan. 3, and the seat he holds will be vacant until the runoff results are certified.
Loeffler will be there. She was appointed by Republican Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp to fill the seat held by Isakson. She‘ll remain in the seat until the results are certified; if she wins, she’ll finish the term, which extends through January 2023.
Raphael Warnock, the pastor who is challenging Loeffler, said last month that Loeffler leaving the option of challenging votes open meant she “is still refusing to acknowledge Joe Biden and [Democratic vice presidential candidate] Kamala Harris won the election.”
Biden and Harris won, Warnock said in a tweet. “It’s disrespectful to Georgia voters to say anything else.”
