Rep. Andy Harris, the newly elected chairman of the House Freedom Caucus, recently suggested that North Carolina’s Republican-controlled state Legislature should consider awarding the state’s electors to Donald Trump before all votes are counted. In a video posted on social media, Harris stated that due to difficulties faced by residents in voting in North Carolina counties hit by Hurricane Helene, it would be reasonable for the state Legislature to convene a joint session to allocate the state’s electors on Election Day. This proposal was in response to a suggestion made by pro-Trump activist Ivan Raiklin at a Maryland county Republican Party dinner.
During the Q&A session, Harris expressed support for the idea of convening the Legislature in North Carolina due to the potential disenfranchisement of voters in certain counties. He suggested that in such cases, it may be necessary to ensure that every legal vote is counted and not disregarded. However, he also questioned how similar arguments could be made in other states without it appearing as a purely partisan power play. Harris later clarified that his comments were taken out of context and emphasized the importance of counting every legal vote.
Harris, who was elected as the chairman of the Freedom Caucus last month, has been involved in the GOP’s efforts to challenge the results of the 2020 election. He attended a White House meeting in December 2020 where President Trump and House Republicans discussed strategies to overturn the election results. At the Lincoln-Reagan dinner, Raiklin proposed the idea of calling on state legislatures in various states, including North Carolina, to convene and allocate their electoral votes early to ensure transparency and prevent any fraudulent activities in the election.
Raiklin also suggested that popular figures like Joe Rogan, Elon Musk, and Tucker Carlson could support this initiative, given that Republican legislatures control enough electoral votes to potentially sway the outcome. The proposal aimed to address concerns about voter fraud and irregularities in the electoral process, with the suggestion that live streaming the allocation of electors could provide transparency for the entire world to witness. Democrats quickly criticized Harris and others for supporting the idea of allocating electoral votes before the election has concluded.
Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut highlighted the Republican goal of making Donald Trump president regardless of the election outcome. The proposal raised questions about the integrity of the electoral process and the potential for partisan manipulation of the results. Harris’s comments and the broader discussion at the Lincoln-Reagan dinner underscored the ongoing debate and controversy surrounding election integrity and the political dynamics in the aftermath of the 2020 election. The push to involve state legislatures in the allocation of electoral votes highlights the deepening divide between Democrats and Republicans on issues related to election laws and procedures.
