Republican lawmakers challenge Arizona votes, Pence orders debate

Republican lawmakers in both chambers led the charge against Arizona’s 11 electoral votes at a joint session of Congress on Jan. 6. Vice President Mike Pence, who presided over the meeting, has ordered debate to begin.

More than 60 Republican House members and one senator, led by Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.), objected to Arizona’s 11 ballots.

Pence said their objections were “consistent with the law” and then ordered both houses of Congress to debate the Arizona ballot. The debate will last several hours before a simple majority vote is taken.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) supported the senators who challenged the Arizona ballot. Senator Roger Marshall (R-MA) has indicated he will also join.

Congress certified the electoral votes in alphabetical order by state. Arizona, whose state name begins with an A, is at the top of several contested swing states.