usatoday--2020-12-15--Trump campaign files lawsuit over New Mexico election, objecting to ballot drop boxes

ALBUQUERQUE – On the very day that New Mexico electors met in Santa Fe to formally cast New Mexico 's electoral votes for president , President Donald Trump 's campaign filed a lawsuit over New Mexico 's use of drop boxes in the 2020 elections .
The federal lawsuit claims that New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver violated state election code by permitting voters to deposit completed absentee ballots in drop boxes at voting locations rather than handing them to the location 's presiding judge in person .
Drop boxes were installed around the state this fall using @ @ @ @ @ @ @ an effort to reduce numbers of voters congregating at voting locations in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic .
The Republican Party of New Mexico sued over the state 's use of drop boxes in October , demanding video monitoring for all drop boxes and accusing two county clerks of lax security measures .
The party withdrew its complaint after Toulouse Oliver 's office reiterated previously issued guidance to county clerks on their use .
More : New Mexico GOP focused on questioning Biden 's election The lawsuit argues that the drop boxes @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as `` secured containers '' under the law .
The complaint asks the court to order a delay in certifying New Mexico 's electoral vote , which took place Monday , and mandate a statewide canvass of New Mexico 's absentee ballots , including investigations into every voting location where a drop box was implemented .
The Trump campaign also seeks to segregate all absentee ballots deposited in drop boxes and for those voters to be contacted to confirm that they , a family member or a caretaker dropped it off personally , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ box ballots '' or even all the absentee votes cast in a particular county .
More : Hawaii becomes final state to cast ballots in Electoral College as Biden tops Trump The lawsuit repeats a recurring theme of the campaign 's dozens of lawsuits challenging election results around the country , none of which have prevailed , in which the campaign argues that insufficient security measures allow ample opportunity for voter fraud , without providing specific instances of alleged fraud as evidence .
A Trump-appointed federal judge in Pennsylvania dismissed a lawsuit over @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , calling the case `` speculative '' without evidence of fraud , and remarking , `` the job of an unelected federal judge is n't to suggest election improvements , especially when those improvements contradict the reasoned judgment of democratically elected officials . ''
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and vice-presidential nominee Kamala Harris won New Mexico 's popular vote by nearly 11 percentage points in the Nov. 3 election , securing him the state 's five Electoral College votes .
The state canvassing board certified the vote on Nov. 24 , when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the election results turned up `` very minor findings '' such as hand counting and voting system errors .
More than 40 percent of the 928,230 ballots cast were reported to be absentee ballots .
On Monday , appointed electors met in all U.S. states to formally cast their presidential ballots .
In Santa Fe , electors from the state Democratic Party met at the capitol building to cast the state 's votes for Biden and Harris .
Alex Curtas , a spokesman for Toulouse Oliver , said the Secretary of State @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the complaint but said , `` This lawsuit appears to be yet another attempt by the outgoing Trump Administration to silence the voices of lawful voters throughout the country . ''
Curtas argued that when it withdrew its complaint about the drop boxes in October , `` the state GOP acknowledged that drop boxes are legal under New Mexico law and that it was absolutely appropriate for the Secretary of State to provide this safe and efficient option for voters to make their voice heard in the 2020 General Election .
`` @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New Mexico 's electoral votes were cast for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris , Donald Trump is making a desperate attempt to undermine our lawful election in New Mexico predicated on a misunderstanding of election laws , '' Curtas said , adding that he expected a `` swift dismissal '' of the complaint .
Yet the state GOP , in a news release , reiterated its claim that Toulouse Oliver `` allowed drop boxes to be used outside precinct boundaries without proper supervision . ''
“ We have questioned these drop boxes and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of State seems to make up her own rules and allows violations to happen in this past election .
To allow these actions to happen stains our election integrity and our very democracy , '' state GOP chairman Steve Pearce said in a statement .
GOP electors met at the state capitol on Monday as well to cast ballots for Trump in case `` as we await a final resolution '' of the electoral vote , the party said .
Meanwhile , a petition to impound ballots cast in Bernalillo County , filed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ with the backing of the state party , is proceeding in state district court .
Under statute , candidates have a right to impound tally sheets , registration certificates , paper ballots and other documents for review following an election .
Garcia Holmes , who lost a challenge to Democratic U.S. Rep. Debra Haaland in New Mexico 's 1st congressional district on Nov. 3 , was granted access by the court on Monday for a team of up to six representatives to inspect hundreds of thousands of ballots cast there .
The Associated @ @ @ @ @ @ @ D'Ammassa can be reached at 575-541-5451 , adammassa @ lcsun-news.com or @ AlgernonWrites on Twitter .

Trump campaign files lawsuit over New Mexico election, objecting to ballot drop boxes
Show Caption Hide Caption Electoral College vote hands Trump loss he won't accept Facing a loss in the Electoral College, Trump's allies have shifted their focus to Jan. 6, when Congress will count the electoral votes. Staff video, USA TODAY
ALBUQUERQUE – On the very day that New Mexico electors met in Santa Fe to formally cast New Mexico's electoral votes for president, President Donald Trump's campaign filed a lawsuit over New Mexico's use of drop boxes in the 2020 elections.
The federal lawsuit claims that New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver violated state election code by permitting voters to deposit completed absentee ballots in drop boxes at voting locations rather than handing them to the location's presiding judge in person.
Drop boxes were installed around the state this fall using federal funding from the CARES Act in an effort to reduce numbers of voters congregating at voting locations in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Republican Party of New Mexico sued over the state's use of drop boxes in October, demanding video monitoring for all drop boxes and accusing two county clerks of lax security measures. The party withdrew its complaint after Toulouse Oliver's office reiterated previously issued guidance to county clerks on their use.
More: New Mexico GOP focused on questioning Biden's election
The lawsuit argues that the drop boxes should be subject to the same requirements as "secured containers" under the law.
The complaint asks the court to order a delay in certifying New Mexico's electoral vote, which took place Monday, and mandate a statewide canvass of New Mexico's absentee ballots, including investigations into every voting location where a drop box was implemented.
Electoral College vs. the popular vote, explained President Trump and President George W. Bush won the electoral vote during the election, but not the popular vote. How does the electoral college work? Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
The Trump campaign also seeks to segregate all absentee ballots deposited in drop boxes and for those voters to be contacted to confirm that they, a family member or a caretaker dropped it off personally, and the invalidation of "illegal drop box ballots" or even all the absentee votes cast in a particular county.
More: Hawaii becomes final state to cast ballots in Electoral College as Biden tops Trump
The lawsuit repeats a recurring theme of the campaign's dozens of lawsuits challenging election results around the country, none of which have prevailed, in which the campaign argues that insufficient security measures allow ample opportunity for voter fraud, without providing specific instances of alleged fraud as evidence.
A Trump-appointed federal judge in Pennsylvania dismissed a lawsuit over drop boxes in that state in October, calling the case "speculative" without evidence of fraud, and remarking, "the job of an unelected federal judge isn't to suggest election improvements, especially when those improvements contradict the reasoned judgment of democratically elected officials."
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden and vice-presidential nominee Kamala Harris won New Mexico's popular vote by nearly 11 percentage points in the Nov. 3 election, securing him the state's five Electoral College votes.
The state canvassing board certified the vote on Nov. 24, when Toulouse Oliver reported that a regular audit of the election results turned up "very minor findings" such as hand counting and voting system errors. More than 40 percent of the 928,230 ballots cast were reported to be absentee ballots.
On Monday, appointed electors met in all U.S. states to formally cast their presidential ballots. In Santa Fe, electors from the state Democratic Party met at the capitol building to cast the state's votes for Biden and Harris.
Alex Curtas, a spokesman for Toulouse Oliver, said the Secretary of State's office had not yet been served with the complaint but said, "This lawsuit appears to be yet another attempt by the outgoing Trump Administration to silence the voices of lawful voters throughout the country."
Curtas argued that when it withdrew its complaint about the drop boxes in October, "the state GOP acknowledged that drop boxes are legal under New Mexico law and that it was absolutely appropriate for the Secretary of State to provide this safe and efficient option for voters to make their voice heard in the 2020 General Election.
"Now, on the same day that New Mexico's electoral votes were cast for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, Donald Trump is making a desperate attempt to undermine our lawful election in New Mexico predicated on a misunderstanding of election laws," Curtas said, adding that he expected a "swift dismissal" of the complaint.
Yet the state GOP, in a news release, reiterated its claim that Toulouse Oliver "allowed drop boxes to be used outside precinct boundaries without proper supervision."
“We have questioned these drop boxes and the entire election process where the Secretary of State seems to make up her own rules and allows violations to happen in this past election. To allow these actions to happen stains our election integrity and our very democracy," state GOP chairman Steve Pearce said in a statement.
GOP electors met at the state capitol on Monday as well to cast ballots for Trump in case "as we await a final resolution" of the electoral vote, the party said.
Meanwhile, a petition to impound ballots cast in Bernalillo County, filed by Republican congressional candidate Michelle Garcia Holmes with the backing of the state party, is proceeding in state district court.
Under statute, candidates have a right to impound tally sheets, registration certificates, paper ballots and other documents for review following an election.
Garcia Holmes, who lost a challenge to Democratic U.S. Rep. Debra Haaland in New Mexico's 1st congressional district on Nov. 3, was granted access by the court on Monday for a team of up to six representatives to inspect hundreds of thousands of ballots cast there.
The Associated Press contributed to this story.
Read the Trump campaign's federal complaint here:
Algernon D'Ammassa can be reached at 575-541-5451, adammassa@lcsun-news.com or @AlgernonWrites on Twitter.


usatoday--2020-12-14--Inside America's ICUs, the sacrifices of health care workers never cease

Front-line health care workers were the first to receive the newly approved Pfizer coronavirus vaccine on Monday , and that was as it should be .
In a holiday season marred by a rising tide of COVID , the giving and sacrifices of medical staff in intensive care units across the country never stop .
They care for us 24 hours a day , seven days a week .
Most Americans ca n't see this generosity .
It unfolds amid a sense of isolation — despite a teeming number of patients — where every ICU door is shut , every @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nurse or doctor is encased in a respirator or mask , face shield , gown and gloves so they appear as astronauts tending the untouchable and unembraceable .
Those fighting for their next breath .
`` Am I gon na die ? ''
a terrified woman in an Illinois intensive care unit asked nurse Luisa Alog Penepacker , according to accounts gathered by The Washington Post .
The nurse struggled to find the words .
`` Not on my watch , '' she finally responded .
And it was n't on her watch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ death toll from COVID is at 300,000 , with daily deaths averaging nearly 2,500 in the past week .
That means that in the time it took to read these paragraphs , someone in America died from the disease .
`` We 're not trained to deal with that much death and in that rapid a sequence over such a long period of time , '' says Dr. Susan Bailey , president of the American Medical Association .
She worries about burnout among her colleagues .
Coronavirus vaccination : 5 ways to increase @ @ @ @ @ @ @ While the first batches of vaccines are going into the arms of health care workers and nursing home residents in December , it will be months before adequate numbers of Americans are vaccinated and coronavirus spread is halted .
In the meantime , the front lines of this war are in the ICUs , and an analysis of federal health data revealed that a third of Americans live in areas where there is a critical shortage of intensive care beds .
The governor of New Mexico announced that ICUs are full across the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ hospitals are effectively rationing care because staff is straining to keep pace with the influx of patients .
Large medical systems are shifting personnel between states to hard-hit facilities .
Hospitals are outbidding one another for temporary health care workers .
Retired nurses and doctors are bravely re-assuming duties .
And , as last resorts , regional medical leaders are appealing to federal emergency and health officials for embeds from the U.S. Public Health Service , Department of Veterans Affairs and U.S. military .
Column : Let 's make a COVID vaccine deal @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thank Trump for Operation Warp Speed This kind of all-hands approach could be extended even further .
The Trump administration should lift work restrictions on some 10,000 physicians in the country on H-1B visas who , for example , risk deportation if they get sick .
Officials should expedite the immigration status of 15,000 foreign nurses whose cases have been stalled by consulate closures and backlogs .
And Congress could pass legislation re-allocating 40,000 unused green-card slots to allow foreign doctors and nurses permanent residency status .
If President Donald Trump ca n't @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , it should be among the first orders of business for the Biden administration , which will take office Jan. 20 , when strains on the nation 's critical care workers are expected to be peaking .
A growing number of `` Heroes Work Here '' signs are sprouting outside hospitals across the nation .
That 's appropriate .
But there are more tangible ways for Americans to express gratitude for these medical workers .
They could redouble now all-too-familiar steps that are a small sacrifice by comparison : Wear a mask , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ this holiday season .
This saves lives .
It also could diminish strain on the embattled American health workers who , by their ceaseless toil , truly embody the spirit of Christmas .

Inside America's ICUs, the sacrifices of health care workers never cease Our View: Medical professionals are working under tremendous strains. Thanking them is appropriate. So is giving them the first vaccines. But they need reinforcements.
Front-line health care workers were the first to receive the newly approved Pfizer coronavirus vaccine on Monday, and that was as it should be. In a holiday season marred by a rising tide of COVID, the giving and sacrifices of medical staff in intensive care units across the country never stop. They care for us 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Most Americans can't see this generosity. It unfolds amid a sense of isolation — despite a teeming number of patients — where every ICU door is shut, every room has negative airflow, and every nurse or doctor is encased in a respirator or mask, face shield, gown and gloves so they appear as astronauts tending the untouchable and unembraceable. Those fighting for their next breath.
"Am I gonna die?" a terrified woman in an Illinois intensive care unit asked nurse Luisa Alog Penepacker, according to accounts gathered by The Washington Post. The nurse struggled to find the words. "Not on my watch," she finally responded.
And it wasn't on her watch. It was later.
The national death toll from COVID is at 300,000, with daily deaths averaging nearly 2,500 in the past week. That means that in the time it took to read these paragraphs, someone in America died from the disease.
"We're not trained to deal with that much death and in that rapid a sequence over such a long period of time," says Dr. Susan Bailey, president of the American Medical Association. She worries about burnout among her colleagues.
Coronavirus vaccination: 5 ways to increase trust and persuade Americans to get vaccinated
While the first batches of vaccines are going into the arms of health care workers and nursing home residents in December, it will be months before adequate numbers of Americans are vaccinated and coronavirus spread is halted.
In the meantime, the front lines of this war are in the ICUs, and an analysis of federal health data revealed that a third of Americans live in areas where there is a critical shortage of intensive care beds. The governor of New Mexico announced that ICUs are full across the state. And, in Utah, hospitals are effectively rationing care because staff is straining to keep pace with the influx of patients.
Remedies are few.
Large medical systems are shifting personnel between states to hard-hit facilities. Hospitals are outbidding one another for temporary health care workers. Retired nurses and doctors are bravely re-assuming duties. And, as last resorts, regional medical leaders are appealing to federal emergency and health officials for embeds from the U.S. Public Health Service, Department of Veterans Affairs and U.S. military.
Column: Let's make a COVID vaccine deal: You admit Biden won, we thank Trump for Operation Warp Speed
This kind of all-hands approach could be extended even further. The Trump administration should lift work restrictions on some 10,000 physicians in the country on H-1B visas who, for example, risk deportation if they get sick. Officials should expedite the immigration status of 15,000 foreign nurses whose cases have been stalled by consulate closures and backlogs. And Congress could pass legislation re-allocating 40,000 unused green-card slots to allow foreign doctors and nurses permanent residency status.
If President Donald Trump can't bring himself to take these emergency steps, it should be among the first orders of business for the Biden administration, which will take office Jan. 20, when strains on the nation's critical care workers are expected to be peaking.
A growing number of "Heroes Work Here" signs are sprouting outside hospitals across the nation. That's appropriate. But there are more tangible ways for Americans to express gratitude for these medical workers. They could redouble now all-too-familiar steps that are a small sacrifice by comparison: Wear a mask, maintain social distancing and refrain from gathering this holiday season.
This saves lives. It also could diminish strain on the embattled American health workers who, by their ceaseless toil, truly embody the spirit of Christmas.


usatoday--2020-12-14--First woman of color elector in Nebraska casts Electoral College vote for Joe Biden

WASHINGTON – The first woman of color to serve as a presidential elector in Nebraska cast her vote on Monday for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris .
The state 's electors met in a hearing room in the state Capitol , and though the formal vote was quick and generally subdued , when it was announced that McKesson had cast her vote , loud applause filled the room .
McKesson , who is Black , is first woman of color to serve as an elector in Nebraska , according to the Omaha World-Herald , and she cast a single vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Live : Joe Biden passes threshold to win the Electoral College with one state left to vote “ I am beyond thrilled to have cast the electoral vote for President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris , ” McKesson said .
“ Hard work and dedicated supporters assisted in electing Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as our new leadership .
I am confident we will see the change that is needed to heal our nation.
” McKesson 's vote was doubly historic , as she voted for Harris to become the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to be vice president .
McKesson told CNN casting her ballot for the first woman of color on a presidential ticket `` meant so much . ''
`` It meant so much for many women who every day fight this good fight to make sure that our democracy is not taken for granted .
And so to be able to cast that vote for Kamala Harris today , it meant the world to me .
And I 'm just so happy that I was able to do that , especially here in Nebraska @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the four Trump electors this year are women , McKesson is the first woman in Nebraska to cast an electoral vote for a Democratic candidate .
Though President Donald Trump won nearly 59 % of the vote in Nebraska , only four of the state 's five electors voted for him because it is one of two states , along with Maine , that does not award its electors based on a winner-take-all system .
Though two electors go to the winner of the popular vote in the state , Nebraska 's @ @ @ @ @ @ @ winner of each of its congressional districts Almost all of the state 's electors have historically gone to Republicans , with the exception of President Barack Obama 's victory during his first campaign .
And Nebraska ’ s 2nd Congressional District , which is includes Omaha and its suburbs , has a history of being competitive .
Then-Sen. Obama , with Biden as his running mate , won Nebraska 's 2nd District in 2008 , making history in a state that had never split its electoral votes until then .
Monday 's vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cast an Electoral College vote for a Democratic candidate .
Biden and Harris are expected to receive 306 electoral votes on Monday , topping 232 for Trump , once all the electors have cast their ballots — including all of the states where Trump and his legal team have contested the results .
More : A look at what several state supreme courts said about rejecting attempts to overturn Biden 's election win The electoral votes will then be counted at a special joint session of Congress on Jan 6. before Biden and @ @ @ @ @ @

First woman of color elector in Nebraska casts Electoral College vote for Joe Biden
Show Caption Hide Caption Electoral College vs. the popular vote, explained President Trump and President George W. Bush won the electoral vote during the election, but not the popular vote. How does the electoral college work? Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
WASHINGTON – The first woman of color to serve as a presidential elector in Nebraska cast her vote on Monday for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.
Precious McKesson cast the 2nd Congressional District's vote Biden.
The state's electors met in a hearing room in the state Capitol, and though the formal vote was quick and generally subdued, when it was announced that McKesson had cast her vote, loud applause filled the room.
McKesson, who is Black, is first woman of color to serve as an elector in Nebraska, according to the Omaha World-Herald, and she cast a single vote to represent Nebraska's 2nd Congressional District.
Live: Joe Biden passes threshold to win the Electoral College with one state left to vote
“I am beyond thrilled to have cast the electoral vote for President-Elect Joe Biden and Vice President-Elect Kamala Harris,” McKesson said. “Hard work and dedicated supporters assisted in electing Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as our new leadership. I am confident we will see the change that is needed to heal our nation.”
McKesson's vote was doubly historic, as she voted for Harris to become the first Black woman and South Asian woman to be vice president. McKesson told CNN casting her ballot for the first woman of color on a presidential ticket "meant so much."
"It meant so much for many women who every day fight this good fight to make sure that our democracy is not taken for granted. And so to be able to cast that vote for Kamala Harris today, it meant the world to me. And I'm just so happy that I was able to do that, especially here in Nebraska," she said.
While two of the four Trump electors this year are women, McKesson is the first woman in Nebraska to cast an electoral vote for a Democratic candidate.
Splitting electoral votes
Though President Donald Trump won nearly 59% of the vote in Nebraska, only four of the state's five electors voted for him because it is one of two states, along with Maine, that does not award its electors based on a winner-take-all system.
Though two electors go to the winner of the popular vote in the state, Nebraska's remaining three electors are awarded to the winner of each of its congressional districts
More: Nebraska and Maine's district voting method
Almost all of the state's electors have historically gone to Republicans, with the exception of President Barack Obama's victory during his first campaign. And Nebraska’s 2nd Congressional District, which is includes Omaha and its suburbs, has a history of being competitive.
Then-Sen. Obama, with Biden as his running mate, won Nebraska's 2nd District in 2008, making history in a state that had never split its electoral votes until then. Monday's vote was only the second time Nebraska has cast an Electoral College vote for a Democratic candidate.
An emotional @MsPMcKesson as the first African American Elector in Nebraska casting her vote for the first African American VP @KamalaHarris. #ElectoralCollege #ne2 #Jomaha pic.twitter.com/uBVunMePm3 — Jane Fleming Kleeb (@janekleeb) December 14, 2020
Biden and Harris are expected to receive 306 electoral votes on Monday, topping 232 for Trump, once all the electors have cast their ballots — including all of the states where Trump and his legal team have contested the results.
More: A look at what several state supreme courts said about rejecting attempts to overturn Biden's election win
The electoral votes will then be counted at a special joint session of Congress on Jan 6. before Biden and Harris are inaugurated Jan. 20.
Contributing: William Cummings


usatoday--2020-12-15--Michigan U.S. Rep. Paul Mitchell leaves Republican Party over 'unacceptable' election claims

U.S. Rep. Paul Mitchell of Michigan left the Republican Party on Monday , saying in a letter to officials that it was `` unacceptable for political candidates to treat our election system as though we are a third-world nation and incite distrust of something so basic as the sanctity of our vote . ''
Mitchell 's comments and decision came as electors met in Lansing and across the U.S. on Monday to formally elect Democratic nominee Joe Biden as the president-elect based on the outcome of the Nov. 3 election .
President Donald Trump and his allies have continued to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , however , alleging that fraud or corruption in Michigan and several other battleground states despite having no evidence of widespread instances of either .
The letter and Mitchell 's decision was first reported by CNN .
Mitchell , who was already set to leave Congress next month after declining to run for a third two-year term this year , had been one of the few Republicans in Congress to say that Biden had won the election and that Trump needed to accept it .
Mitchell sent the letter asking that his party @ @ @ @ @ @ @ McDaniel , the chairwoman of the Republican National Committee , and Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California , the party 's leader in the U.S. House .
Michell 's term ends Jan. 3 with the seating of a new Congress .
With his decision , he becomes the second Republican member of Michigan 's current congressional delegation to abandon the party .
In July 2019 , Rep. Justin Amash of Cascade Township , who also did not run for re-election this year , left the party and later became a Libertarian after calling for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Michigan 's 16 members of the Electoral College cast their votes for Biden , who won the popular vote in the state by more than 150,000 votes despite Trump 's specious claims to the contrary .
Trump and his allies have argued that what they 've deemed as irregularities in the vote count in Detroit should have stopped the vote from being certified and the electors from being seated .
But every court which that has considered the allegations has found them to be legally lacking or not credible .
Mitchell said he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ active Republican Party supporter , raising hundreds of thousands of dollars and contributing from his personal wealth .
He also said he agreed that there were some `` disconcerting aspects to this election '' and the possibility some fraudulent votes were cast .
`` Steps must be taken , by each state , to audit election results , validate ballots and process and report findings to ensure that every legal vote counts , '' he said , adding such a process should be undertaken throughout Michigan .
`` However , the president and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ substantive evidence of fraud or administrative failure on a scale large enough to impact the outcome of the election . ''
`` Ronna , you know Michigan politics well .
President Trump did not lose Michigan because of Wayne County , but rather he lost because of dwindling support in areas including Kent and Oakland County , both previous Republican strongholds , '' Mitchell continued .
Mitchell noted that any candidate is entitled to request a recount and pursue legal challenges but the president had failed to prove his case .
`` If @ @ @ @ @ @ @ unfounded conspiracy theories and 'stop the steal ' rallies without speaking out for our electoral process , which the Department of Homeland Security said was 'the most secure in American history , ' our nation will be damaged , '' he said .
`` I believe that raw political considerations , not constitutional or voting integrity concerns , motivate many in party leadership to support the 'stop the steal ' efforts , which is extremely disappointing to me , '' he added .
Contact Todd Spangler attspangler @ freepress.com .
Follow him on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ politics and sign up for ourelections newsletter .

Michigan U.S. Rep. Paul Mitchell leaves Republican Party over 'unacceptable' election claims The Republican congressman, who is leaving in January, is going independent, saying it's "unacceptable" for Trump and others to "incite distrust" in elections
Show Caption Hide Caption Georgia official calls on Trump to 'stop inspiring' death threats over election A Georgia election official called on President Trump to condemn and "stop inspiring" recent threats of violence over the election. Associated Press, USA TODAY
U.S. Rep. Paul Mitchell of Michigan left the Republican Party on Monday, saying in a letter to officials that it was "unacceptable for political candidates to treat our election system as though we are a third-world nation and incite distrust of something so basic as the sanctity of our vote."
Mitchell's comments and decision came as electors met in Lansing and across the U.S. on Monday to formally elect Democratic nominee Joe Biden as the president-elect based on the outcome of the Nov. 3 election. President Donald Trump and his allies have continued to try to sow doubt on the results, however, alleging that fraud or corruption in Michigan and several other battleground states despite having no evidence of widespread instances of either.
More: Michigan's Electoral College delegates cast all 16 votes for Joe Biden, Kamala Harris
The letter and Mitchell's decision was first reported by CNN. Mitchell, who was already set to leave Congress next month after declining to run for a third two-year term this year, had been one of the few Republicans in Congress to say that Biden had won the election and that Trump needed to accept it.
Mitchell sent the letter asking that his party affiliation be changed to independent to Ronna McDaniel, the chairwoman of the Republican National Committee, and Rep. Kevin McCarthy of California, the party's leader in the U.S. House.
Michell's term ends Jan. 3 with the seating of a new Congress. With his decision, he becomes the second Republican member of Michigan's current congressional delegation to abandon the party. In July 2019, Rep. Justin Amash of Cascade Township, who also did not run for re-election this year, left the party and later became a Libertarian after calling for Trump's impeachment.
On Monday, Michigan's 16 members of the Electoral College cast their votes for Biden, who won the popular vote in the state by more than 150,000 votes despite Trump's specious claims to the contrary.
Trump and his allies have argued that what they've deemed as irregularities in the vote count in Detroit should have stopped the vote from being certified and the electors from being seated. But every court which that has considered the allegations has found them to be legally lacking or not credible.
Mitchell said he was a supporter of Trump and an active Republican Party supporter, raising hundreds of thousands of dollars and contributing from his personal wealth. He also said he agreed that there were some "disconcerting aspects to this election" and the possibility some fraudulent votes were cast.
"Steps must be taken, by each state, to audit election results, validate ballots and process and report findings to ensure that every legal vote counts," he said, adding such a process should be undertaken throughout Michigan. "However, the president and his legal team have failed to provide substantive evidence of fraud or administrative failure on a scale large enough to impact the outcome of the election."
"Ronna, you know Michigan politics well. President Trump did not lose Michigan because of Wayne County, but rather he lost because of dwindling support in areas including Kent and Oakland County, both previous Republican strongholds," Mitchell continued.
Mitchell noted that any candidate is entitled to request a recount and pursue legal challenges but the president had failed to prove his case. "If Republican leaders collectively sit back and tolerate unfounded conspiracy theories and 'stop the steal' rallies without speaking out for our electoral process, which the Department of Homeland Security said was 'the most secure in American history,' our nation will be damaged," he said.
"I believe that raw political considerations, not constitutional or voting integrity concerns, motivate many in party leadership to support the 'stop the steal' efforts, which is extremely disappointing to me," he added.
Contact Todd Spangler at tspangler@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @tsspangler. Read more on Michigan politics and sign up for our elections newsletter.


usatoday--2020-12-15--Texas electors condemn Supreme Court, call on battleground states to name alternate electors

AUSTIN — Texas members of the Electoral College on Monday called on state legislatures in four battleground states carried by President-elect Joe Biden to appoint alternative slates of electors .
The Texas electors passed the resolution , which also slammed the U.S. Supreme Court for dismissing a Texas challenge to presidential election results , after casting all 38 of their votes for President Donald Trump .
Trump won 52.1 % of the Texas vote to 46.5 % for Biden and thus was expected to win the state electoral college vote .
Trump , however , lost several key states , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Biden .
On Friday , the Supreme Court turned away an effort by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to block Georgia , Michigan , Pennsylvania and Wisconsin from certifying President-elect Joe Biden ’ s victory .
A resolution authored by elector Mark Ramsey , an oil and gas engineer , condemned the court and criticized the election as a `` clearly unconstitutional process . ''
The resolution called for lawmakers in the four battleground states to set aside the election results and appoint their own electors .
It also called for the congressional @ @ @ @ @ @ @ those `` unconstitutionally appointed electors . ''
`` When other countries have faced massive election fraud , the end result has been a collapse of rights , a collapse of the economy and an inevitable slide to tyranny , '' Ramsey said in support of his resolution .
His resolution , he said , was meant to show how the U.S. `` can again be a shining light and not take a destructive pathway . ''
The resolution passed 34-4 , after electors decided to strip away language condemning `` the moral cowardice @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elector argued such language would make the Texas electors appear `` childish , impertinent and angry . ''
The Electoral College is the group of presidential electors required by the Constitution to form every four years for the sole purpose of electing the president and vice president .
It has 538 members , with the number apportioned to each state based on its number of representatives in the House plus one for each senator .
The District of Columbia gets three , despite the fact that the home to Congress has no vote @ @ @ @ @ @ @ elector candidate in Texas , a person must be nominated as a political party 's elector candidate in accordance with party rules or named as an elector candidate by an independent or write-in candidate for president , according to state law .
Texas law does n't require electors to back the candidate who got the most popular votes in the state .
There is a party pledge to that effect , but no law .
Four years ago , two electors deviated from that pledge : Stephen Christopher Suprun Jr. of Dallas voted @ @ @ @ @ @ @ instead of Donald Trump , and Bill Greene voted for former U.S. Rep. Ron Paul , even though he was n't a candidate for president that year .
That vote came a month after an East Texas elector resigned from the Electoral College because he said he could not cast his ballot for Trump .
`` I do not see how Donald Trump is biblically qualified to serve in the office of the presidency , '' Art Sisneros , a welding supply salesman , wrote at the time .

Texas electors condemn Supreme Court, call on battleground states to name alternate electors
Show Caption Hide Caption Electoral College vote hands Trump loss he won't accept Facing a loss in the Electoral College, Trump's allies have shifted their focus to Jan. 6, when Congress will count the electoral votes. Staff video, USA TODAY
AUSTIN — Texas members of the Electoral College on Monday called on state legislatures in four battleground states carried by President-elect Joe Biden to appoint alternative slates of electors.
The Texas electors passed the resolution, which also slammed the U.S. Supreme Court for dismissing a Texas challenge to presidential election results, after casting all 38 of their votes for President Donald Trump.
Trump won 52.1% of the Texas vote to 46.5% for Biden and thus was expected to win the state electoral college vote. Trump, however, lost several key states, giving the national Electoral College victory to Biden.
Electoral College vs. the popular vote, explained President Trump and President George W. Bush won the electoral vote during the election, but not the popular vote. How does the electoral college work? Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
On Friday, the Supreme Court turned away an effort by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to block Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin from certifying President-elect Joe Biden’s victory.
A resolution authored by elector Mark Ramsey, an oil and gas engineer, condemned the court and criticized the election as a "clearly unconstitutional process."
The resolution called for lawmakers in the four battleground states to set aside the election results and appoint their own electors. It also called for the congressional delegations of those states to object to those "unconstitutionally appointed electors."
"When other countries have faced massive election fraud, the end result has been a collapse of rights, a collapse of the economy and an inevitable slide to tyranny," Ramsey said in support of his resolution.
His resolution, he said, was meant to show how the U.S. "can again be a shining light and not take a destructive pathway."
The resolution passed 34-4, after electors decided to strip away language condemning "the moral cowardice" of the Supreme Court after another elector argued such language would make the Texas electors appear "childish, impertinent and angry."
The Electoral College is the group of presidential electors required by the Constitution to form every four years for the sole purpose of electing the president and vice president.
It has 538 members, with the number apportioned to each state based on its number of representatives in the House plus one for each senator. The District of Columbia gets three, despite the fact that the home to Congress has no vote in Congress.
To become a presidential elector candidate in Texas, a person must be nominated as a political party's elector candidate in accordance with party rules or named as an elector candidate by an independent or write-in candidate for president, according to state law.
Texas law doesn't require electors to back the candidate who got the most popular votes in the state. There is a party pledge to that effect, but no law.
Four years ago, two electors deviated from that pledge: Stephen Christopher Suprun Jr. of Dallas voted for Ohio Gov. John Kasich, instead of Donald Trump, and Bill Greene voted for former U.S. Rep. Ron Paul, even though he wasn't a candidate for president that year.
That vote came a month after an East Texas elector resigned from the Electoral College because he said he could not cast his ballot for Trump.
"I do not see how Donald Trump is biblically qualified to serve in the office of the presidency," Art Sisneros, a welding supply salesman, wrote at the time.


usatoday--2020-12-15--Coronavirus live updates: 300K dead; Health care workers across US get first COVID-19 vaccine doses

The United States is now marking a wrenching 300,000 deaths from COVID-19 .
After becoming the first country to cross that threshold Monday , the U.S. is in store for a lot more pain .
Experts fear the nation is heading inexorably toward the next milestone of surpassing the total of American fatalities in World War II – about 405,000 – even as vaccines come to distribution sites across the country .
A weeks-long surge in coronavirus transmission has led to an average of more than 210,000 new infections and nearly 2,500 deaths a day this month .
Despite the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. is still battling overcrowded hospitals and shrinking ICU capacity .
But there is hope down the line .
Health care workers across the United States received the first doses of a COVID-19 vaccine Monday , a landmark step in the country 's fight against the coronavirus pandemic .
A nurse in New York City became the first person in that state – and likely the nation – to receive a dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine , the only one so far authorized in the U.S to combat the coronavirus .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Sandra Lindsay , the critical care nurse at New York 's Long Island Jewish Medical Center , after she received the shot .
Vaccinations also occurred in North Carolina , Rhode Island , Florida , Ohio and several other states .
A total of 145 sites were to receive vaccines Monday , 425 on Tuesday and 66 on Wednesday , Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said .
📈 Today 's numbers : The U.S. has reported more than 16.4 million cases and 300,500 deaths , according to Johns Hopkins University @ @ @ @ @ @ @ million cases and nearly 1.62 million deaths .
📰 What we 're reading : We 're answering your questions about the vaccine , like : What are the side effects ?
Can you still get sick ?
Is it safe during pregnancy ?
Get the answers here .
This file will be updated throughout the day .
For updates in your inbox , subscribe to The Daily Briefing newsletter .
West Virginia Gov .
Jim Justice became one of the first top elected officials in the country to receive a coronavirus shot on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ as safe as can be.
” He and aides received the injections even though the state ’ s rollout is supposed to prioritize giving the highly sought-after doses to health care workers and people in long-term care centers .
Justice has said West Virginia does not expect to receive enough doses in the initial few weeks of rollout to fully cover the over 100,000 people who work in health care , live or work in long-term care centers , or are first responders and public health officials .
Wearing a mask , he @ @ @ @ @ @ @ from a state pharmacy board official and promptly received an adhesive bandage — and a sticker .
Marty Wright , the head of the West Virginia Health Care Association , said he “ applauded ” the governor 's move .
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and Surgeon General Jerome Adams were on hand at George Washington University Hospital in Washington , D.C. , to witness doctors and nurses get the first shots of the vaccine .
Five health care workers at the hospital received initial doses of the vaccine developed by @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , the first authorized in the U.S. to combat COVID-19 .
“ To be 11 months into this world pandemic and to be here at George Washington to see doctors and nurses , the heroic frontline health care workers , receive this protection , it ’ s a momentous event , ” Azar said outside the hospital .
Hospitals nationwide began receiving vaccine shipments Monday and started to immunize employees , and Azar said more vaccine should become available later this week after the FDA reviews another candidate made by Moderna .
Azar @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccine to vulnerable populations and highlighting the independent checks that show the vaccine is safe and effective .
“ The process has integrity to it based on science , evidence and the law , ” Azar said .
More than 300K dead from COVID-19 in the US Robert Redfield , director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , warned the country could reach 450,000 fatalities before Feb. 1 , days short of the one-year anniversary of the first known COVID-19 death in the U.S .
The 300,000 mark came and went @ @ @ @ @ @ @ being distributed across the nation .
An influential model from the University of Washington ’ s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation predicts more than 460,000 deaths by March 1 , with or without a rapid vaccine rollout .
By comparison , about 405,000 American service members perished in World War II over nearly four years .
“ The way the number of infections has been growing so fast , it ’ s hard to believe we won ’ t be at half a million deaths , ” said Dr. John Swartzberg , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ vaccinology at the University of California-Berkeley .
More vaccines coming soon , Operation Warp Speed says Operation Warp Speed officials alluded to a highly likely FDA authorization of a second COVID-19 vaccine soon , from Moderna , though HHS Secretary Alex Azar reiterated at a Monday briefing that it would only be authorized “ if it meets FDA ’ s rigorous standards.
” Moncef Slaoui , Operation Warp Speed ’ s science advisor , said that `` this week , possibly Tuesday , the packet of technical information about the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine @ @ @ @ @ @ @ information will be reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration ’ s external advisory committee , the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee , or VRBPAC , on Thursday .
The Moderna vaccine showed almost 95 % efficacy against disease and 100 % efficacy against severe disease , Slaoui said .
He also noted there are two other COVID-19 vaccines in Phase 3 clinical trials .
Mass vaccination is the key to stopping COVID-19 , said Moncef Slaoui , Operation Warp Speed ’ s science advisor , encouraging the public to listen @ @ @ @ @ @ @ `` Vaccines on the shelf are useless , ” he said .
“ Unless the majority of us get vaccinated , we will not be able to control this pandemic . ''
HHS Secretary Alex Azar urged Americans to continue to socially distance and wear masks in the weeks and months ahead until the country achieves herd immunity , which may take at least 70 % of the public being vaccinated .
A critical care nurse in New York City received the what was likely the nation 's first shot of the Pfizer/BioNTech @ @ @ @ @ @ @ care workers cheering and Gov .
Andrew Cuomo watching via livestream .
`` I 'm ready .
Let 's do this , '' Sandra Lindsay said before she received the shot after 9 a.m. in Queens .
Those in the room applauded after Lindsay was given the shot .
The nurse said she felt `` relieved '' and that she wanted to `` instill public confidence that the vaccine is safe . ''
`` I hope this marks the beginning to the end of a very painful time in our history , '' @ @ @ @ @ @ @ arrive at Tennessee hospitals until Thursday Tennessee officials say the first shipments of COVID-19 vaccine wo n't arrive at hospitals until Thursday , days after some facilities expected to being vaccination , as Tennessee falls behind other states in a race to protect health care workers from the virus .
The Tennessee Department of Health announced the first allotment of Pfizer 's two-dose vaccine — an early shipment of 975 doses — arrived Monday and will be held in reserve as a `` backup supply . ''
The state 's primary supply of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and arrive at `` 28 sites covering 74 Tennessee hospitals '' on Thursday , according to a news release from the health department .
Many area hospitals were prepared to begin administering the vaccine on Tuesday , in hopes they could begin earlier .
Vaccinations began Monday in some smaller Southern cities like Jonesboro , Arkansas , and Jackson , Mississippi .
Craig Boener , a spokesman for Vanderbilt University Medical Center , said the hospital had prepared to start vaccinations on Tuesday `` at the earliest '' but had been instructed to @ @ @ @ @ @ @ first six Ohioans were injected with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine Monday at Ohio State University 's Wexner Medical Center following a celebratory countdown .
The first doses of the vaccine arrived in a brown UPS truck at the medical center around 9:15 a.m. , and Gov .
Mike DeWine and his wife Fran DeWine waited outside the loading docks for the truck 's arrival .
The medical center set up rows of tables inside its Biomedical Research Tower as vaccine recipients were seated at each table and injected with the vaccine as workers @ @ @ @ @ @ @ center immunized around 30 high-risk frontline healthcare workers Monday morning .
Ohio State received 975 doses of the Pfizer vaccine Monday .
The first doses of a COVID-19 vaccine were administered in Canada on Monday as the country joined the U.S. and U.K. as the first Western nations to begin vaccinations .
Anita Quidangen , a worker at a long-term home , received the first shot in Toronto as front-line workers were first in line to receive the vaccine .
Ontario received 6,000 doses of Pfizer ’ s COVID-19 vaccine Sunday night .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ care homes will be the first to receive the vaccine .
Louisiana doctor calls getting vaccine 'an honor and a privilege' Louisiana rolled out its vaccinations by delivering shots to health care workers at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans Monday morning .
“ It is a great day .
It 's a day that we have been preparing for planning for and praying for , for about nine months now , ” Governor John Bel Edwards said at the hospital .
Dr. Leo Seoane , Ochsner ’ s Chief Academic Officer , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Pfizer vaccine at Ochsner ’ s New Orleans Medical Center Monday morning , which he said was particularly meaningful as a Cuban-American given the virus ’ disproportionate impact on African-Americans and Latinos .
“ It 's been an incredible morning , like everyone says , it is historic , ” Seoane said .
“ As a Cuban-American and a first generation immigrant to this country , it 's really an honor and a privilege to be part of the solution for something that we know has been so impactful for Hispanic community.
” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to show vaccine is safe , effective Dr. Jason Smith , the chief medical officer at University of Louisville Health , became the first person in Kentucky on Monday to receive a dose of the new COVID-19 vaccine .
Gov .
Andy Beshear was on hand to watch as Smith , who is a trauma surgeon , two nurses and two other doctors prepared to receive the vaccine that had arrived at University of Louisville about an hour earlier .
Smith said he hopes people will be willing to take the vaccine as @ @ @ @ @ @ @ believe this is a safe and effective vaccine , ” he said .
“ I volunteered to go first because of that.
” A nurse at Tampa General Hospital in Florida was the state 's first person to receive the vaccine Monday .
Dr. Charles Lockwood , Dean of the University of South Florida College of Medicine , said this was an exciting , historic moment .
The only thing he could think of that came close was when watching astronaut Neil Armstrong step on the moon .
`` This is our magical @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
States and local hospital administrations confirmed Monday they were receiving COVID-19 vaccines .
The Texas Department of State Health Services said 19,500 doses of the vaccine were headed to four sites in Houston , Dallas , San Antonio and Austin .
Iowa , Nevada and South Dakota also confirmed they had received their shipments .
Here are other places where the vaccine has been delivered : • In Wisconsin , UW Health said its first doses were in ultra-cold storage freezers and would be administered to employees Monday afternoon .
• Colorado @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a FedEx driver delivered 975 vials , with Gov .
Jared Polis signing for the package .
• Minnesota Gov .
Tim Walz was also present to see his state 's first vaccines being delivered .
• Florida Gov .
Ron DeSantis said he `` had the privilege '' to sign for his state 's FedEx package of the first 20,000 Pfizer doses .
• Hospitals in Maine and Massachusetts said they had received their vaccines as well .
NYC indoor dining ban takes effect , full shutdown may come soon A renewed @ @ @ @ @ @ @ New York City on Monday as officials try to slow the spread of the virus in what was once the epicenter of the U.S. outbreak .
Gov .
Andrew Cuomo announced the restriction last week as New York City and the surrounding area have seen a steady uptick in new cases over the fall .
The ban limits the already beleaguered restaurant industry to takeout and outdoor dining only .
Mayor Bill de Blasio also said Monday that `` a full shutdown '' could be on the horizon in the coming weeks if @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 's hospitals .
`` This kind of momentum that the disease has right now , we ’ ve got to stop it before it causes too much damage , too much pain , '' de Blasio said on CNN 's `` New Day . ''
• In your inbox : Stay up to date with the latest news on the coronavirus pandemic from the USA TODAY Network .
Sign up for the daily Coronavirus Watch newsletter .
• Tips for coping : Every Saturday and Tuesday we 'll be in your inbox , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ little bit of solace in these difficult times .
Sign up for Staying Apart , Together .
• On Facebook : A lot is still unknown about the coronavirus .
But what we do know , we 're sharing with you .
Join our Facebook group , Coronavirus Watch , to receive daily updates in your feed and chat with others in the community about COVID-19 .

Ryan W. Miller and Jordan Culver, USA TODAY

Coronavirus live updates: 300K dead; Health care workers across US get first COVID-19 vaccine doses
Show Caption Hide Caption COVID-19: US death toll reaches 300,000 A coronavirus vaccine might not be widely available until several months into 2021. Staff video, USA TODAY
The United States is now marking a wrenching 300,000 deaths from COVID-19.
After becoming the first country to cross that threshold Monday, the U.S. is in store for a lot more pain. Experts fear the nation is heading inexorably toward the next milestone of surpassing the total of American fatalities in World War II – about 405,000 – even as vaccines come to distribution sites across the country.
A weeks-long surge in coronavirus transmission has led to an average of more than 210,000 new infections and nearly 2,500 deaths a day this month. Despite the positive news on the vaccine front, the U.S. is still battling overcrowded hospitals and shrinking ICU capacity.
But there is hope down the line. Health care workers across the United States received the first doses of a COVID-19 vaccine Monday, a landmark step in the country's fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
A nurse in New York City became the first person in that state – and likely the nation – to receive a dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, the only one so far authorized in the U.S to combat the coronavirus.
"I feel hopeful today," said Sandra Lindsay, the critical care nurse at New York's Long Island Jewish Medical Center, after she received the shot.
Vaccinations also occurred in North Carolina, Rhode Island, Florida, Ohio and several other states. A total of 145 sites were to receive vaccines Monday, 425 on Tuesday and 66 on Wednesday, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said.
📈 Today's numbers: The U.S. has reported more than 16.4 million cases and 300,500 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University data. The global totals: 72.7 million cases and nearly 1.62 million deaths.
📰 What we're reading: We're answering your questions about the vaccine, like: What are the side effects? Can you still get sick? Is it safe during pregnancy? Get the answers here.
This file will be updated throughout the day. For updates in your inbox, subscribe to The Daily Briefing newsletter.
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice became one of the first top elected officials in the country to receive a coronavirus shot on Monday night, saying “it's as safe as can be.”
He and aides received the injections even though the state’s rollout is supposed to prioritize giving the highly sought-after doses to health care workers and people in long-term care centers. Justice has said West Virginia does not expect to receive enough doses in the initial few weeks of rollout to fully cover the over 100,000 people who work in health care, live or work in long-term care centers, or are first responders and public health officials.
Wearing a mask, he received a jab in his right arm from a state pharmacy board official and promptly received an adhesive bandage — and a sticker. Marty Wright, the head of the West Virginia Health Care Association, said he “applauded” the governor's move.
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar and Surgeon General Jerome Adams were on hand at George Washington University Hospital in Washington, D.C., to witness doctors and nurses get the first shots of the vaccine.
Five health care workers at the hospital received initial doses of the vaccine developed by Pfizer and its German partner, BioNTech, the first authorized in the U.S. to combat COVID-19.
“To be 11 months into this world pandemic and to be here at George Washington to see doctors and nurses, the heroic frontline health care workers, receive this protection, it’s a momentous event,” Azar said outside the hospital.
Hospitals nationwide began receiving vaccine shipments Monday and started to immunize employees, and Azar said more vaccine should become available later this week after the FDA reviews another candidate made by Moderna.
Azar also stressed the importance of getting the vaccine to vulnerable populations and highlighting the independent checks that show the vaccine is safe and effective.
“The process has integrity to it based on science, evidence and the law,” Azar said.
– Ken Alltucker
Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, warned the country could reach 450,000 fatalities before Feb. 1, days short of the one-year anniversary of the first known COVID-19 death in the U.S. The 300,000 mark came and went Monday, the first day vaccines began being distributed across the nation.
An influential model from the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation predicts more than 460,000 deaths by March 1, with or without a rapid vaccine rollout. By comparison, about 405,000 American service members perished in World War II over nearly four years.
“The way the number of infections has been growing so fast, it’s hard to believe we won’t be at half a million deaths,” said Dr. John Swartzberg, a professor emeritus of infectious diseases and vaccinology at the University of California-Berkeley.
– Jorge L. Ortiz
Operation Warp Speed officials alluded to a highly likely FDA authorization of a second COVID-19 vaccine soon, from Moderna, though HHS Secretary Alex Azar reiterated at a Monday briefing that it would only be authorized “if it meets FDA’s rigorous standards.”
Moncef Slaoui, Operation Warp Speed’s science advisor, said that "this week, possibly Tuesday, the packet of technical information about the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine will be made public.''
The information will be reviewed by the Food and Drug Administration’s external advisory committee, the Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee, or VRBPAC, on Thursday. The Moderna vaccine showed almost 95% efficacy against disease and 100% efficacy against severe disease, Slaoui said. He also noted there are two other COVID-19 vaccines in Phase 3 clinical trials.
– Elizabeth Weise
Mass vaccination is the key to stopping COVID-19, said Moncef Slaoui, Operation Warp Speed’s science advisor, encouraging the public to listen to medical experts on the subject.
"Vaccines on the shelf are useless,” he said. “Unless the majority of us get vaccinated, we will not be able to control this pandemic."
HHS Secretary Alex Azar urged Americans to continue to socially distance and wear masks in the weeks and months ahead until the country achieves herd immunity, which may take at least 70% of the public being vaccinated.
– Elizabeth Weise
A critical care nurse in New York City received the what was likely the nation's first shot of the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine Monday morning with other health care workers cheering and Gov. Andrew Cuomo watching via livestream.
"I'm ready. Let's do this," Sandra Lindsay said before she received the shot after 9 a.m. in Queens. Those in the room applauded after Lindsay was given the shot.
The nurse said she felt "relieved" and that she wanted to "instill public confidence that the vaccine is safe."
"I hope this marks the beginning to the end of a very painful time in our history," Lindsay said.
Tennessee officials say the first shipments of COVID-19 vaccine won't arrive at hospitals until Thursday, days after some facilities expected to being vaccination, as Tennessee falls behind other states in a race to protect health care workers from the virus.
The Tennessee Department of Health announced the first allotment of Pfizer's two-dose vaccine — an early shipment of 975 doses — arrived Monday and will be held in reserve as a "backup supply." The state's primary supply of about 56,000 more doses will ship Wednesday and arrive at "28 sites covering 74 Tennessee hospitals" on Thursday, according to a news release from the health department.
Many area hospitals were prepared to begin administering the vaccine on Tuesday, in hopes they could begin earlier. Vaccinations began Monday in some smaller Southern cities like Jonesboro, Arkansas, and Jackson, Mississippi.
Craig Boener, a spokesman for Vanderbilt University Medical Center, said the hospital had prepared to start vaccinations on Tuesday "at the earliest" but had been instructed to plan for a Thursday delivery.
– Brett Kelman, Nashville Tennessean
The first six Ohioans were injected with the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine Monday at Ohio State University's Wexner Medical Center following a celebratory countdown.
The first doses of the vaccine arrived in a brown UPS truck at the medical center around 9:15 a.m., and Gov. Mike DeWine and his wife Fran DeWine waited outside the loading docks for the truck's arrival.
The medical center set up rows of tables inside its Biomedical Research Tower as vaccine recipients were seated at each table and injected with the vaccine as workers moved down the rows.
The medical center immunized around 30 high-risk frontline healthcare workers Monday morning. Ohio State received 975 doses of the Pfizer vaccine Monday.
– Max Filby, The Columbus Dispatch
The first doses of a COVID-19 vaccine were administered in Canada on Monday as the country joined the U.S. and U.K. as the first Western nations to begin vaccinations.
Anita Quidangen, a worker at a long-term home, received the first shot in Toronto as front-line workers were first in line to receive the vaccine. Ontario received 6,000 doses of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine Sunday night.
In Quebec, residents of two long-term care homes will be the first to receive the vaccine.
Louisiana rolled out its vaccinations by delivering shots to health care workers at Ochsner Medical Center in New Orleans Monday morning.
“It is a great day. It's a day that we have been preparing for planning for and praying for, for about nine months now,” Governor John Bel Edwards said at the hospital.
Dr. Leo Seoane, Ochsner’s Chief Academic Officer, was among the first to get the Pfizer vaccine at Ochsner’s New Orleans Medical Center Monday morning, which he said was particularly meaningful as a Cuban-American given the virus’ disproportionate impact on African-Americans and Latinos.
“It's been an incredible morning, like everyone says, it is historic,” Seoane said. “As a Cuban-American and a first generation immigrant to this country, it's really an honor and a privilege to be part of the solution for something that we know has been so impactful for Hispanic community.”
– Andrew Capps, Lafayette Daily Advertiser
Dr. Jason Smith, the chief medical officer at University of Louisville Health, became the first person in Kentucky on Monday to receive a dose of the new COVID-19 vaccine.
Gov. Andy Beshear was on hand to watch as Smith, who is a trauma surgeon, two nurses and two other doctors prepared to receive the vaccine that had arrived at University of Louisville about an hour earlier.
Smith said he hopes people will be willing to take the vaccine as it becomes available.
“I fully believe this is a safe and effective vaccine,” he said. “I volunteered to go first because of that.”
– Deborah Yetter, Louisville Courier Journal
A nurse at Tampa General Hospital in Florida was the state's first person to receive the vaccine Monday.
Dr. Charles Lockwood, Dean of the University of South Florida College of Medicine, said this was an exciting, historic moment.
The only thing he could think of that came close was when watching astronaut Neil Armstrong step on the moon. "This is our magical Neil Armstrong moment," Lockwood said.
– Jeffrey Schweers
States and local hospital administrations confirmed Monday they were receiving COVID-19 vaccines.
The Texas Department of State Health Services said 19,500 doses of the vaccine were headed to four sites in Houston, Dallas, San Antonio and Austin.
Iowa, Nevada and South Dakota also confirmed they had received their shipments. Here are other places where the vaccine has been delivered:
In Wisconsin, UW Health said its first doses were in ultra-cold storage freezers and would be administered to employees Monday afternoon.
Colorado received its first doses Monday morning as a FedEx driver delivered 975 vials, with Gov. Jared Polis signing for the package.
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz was also present to see his state's first vaccines being delivered.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said he "had the privilege" to sign for his state's FedEx package of the first 20,000 Pfizer doses.
Hospitals in Maine and Massachusetts said they had received their vaccines as well.
How the new RNA technology is used to create the COVID-19 vaccines The COVID-19 vaccine is using new technology that has never been used before in traditional vaccines. Here's how an mRNA vaccine works. Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
A renewed ban on indoor dining took effect in New York City on Monday as officials try to slow the spread of the virus in what was once the epicenter of the U.S. outbreak.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the restriction last week as New York City and the surrounding area have seen a steady uptick in new cases over the fall. The ban limits the already beleaguered restaurant industry to takeout and outdoor dining only.
Mayor Bill de Blasio also said Monday that "a full shutdown" could be on the horizon in the coming weeks if cases put a strain on the city's hospitals.
"This kind of momentum that the disease has right now, we’ve got to stop it before it causes too much damage, too much pain," de Blasio said on CNN's "New Day."
In your inbox: Stay up to date with the latest news on the coronavirus pandemic from the USA TODAY Network. Sign up for the daily Coronavirus Watch newsletter.
Stay up to date with the latest news on the coronavirus pandemic from the USA TODAY Network. Tips for coping: Every Saturday and Tuesday we'll be in your inbox, offering you a virtual hug and a little bit of solace in these difficult times. Sign up for Staying Apart, Together.
Every Saturday and Tuesday we'll be in your inbox, offering you a virtual hug and a little bit of solace in these difficult times. On Facebook: A lot is still unknown about the coronavirus. But what we do know, we're sharing with you. Join our Facebook group, Coronavirus Watch, to receive daily updates in your feed and chat with others in the community about COVID-19.
Contributing: Associated Press


usatoday--2020-12-14--In Georgia Senate race, Loeffler and Perdue demand updated list of registered voters

Shortly before early voting got started in Georgia on Monday morning for the U.S. Senate runoff elections , the Republican candidates complained because the Board of Elections has not yet made available to the public an updated list of voter registrations .
It is “ totally unacceptable ” that they can not yet get a fully updated list , says a statement that U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler published on Twitter on Monday morning on behalf of herself and Sen. David Perdue .
A complete list of newly registered voters is not available to the Democratic candidates , either .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Although the registration data is not fully updated , available registration data has been given to the National Republican Senatorial Committee , the Georgia Elections Division said .
The NRSC works to elect Republicans to the Senate ; presumably it would share this information with its candidates .
Dec. 7 was the deadline to register to vote in this high-profile runoff election , which started Nov. 20 with mail-in balloting and ends Jan. 5 .
Republicans Loeffler and Perdue face Democratic challengers Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff , respectively .
The outcome will @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the U.S. Senate from the Republicans .
With such high stakes — and with the president and other Republicans continuing to sow fear , uncertainty and doubt about the elections — there is much attention on and tension in the Senate runoffs .
Voter registration lists released to the public have the voters ’ names , addresses , race , gender , registration dates , and last voting dates .
Political campaigns and other groups that seek to influence the elections use this information for voter outreach — to figure out which people @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
But the Loeffler-Perdue statement said the lack of a publicly available list on the first day of early voting could taint the election .
“ In-person early voting starts today , and the public remains without a full accounting of who is registered and who may attempt to cast a ballot in the runoff , ” the statement says .
“ This lack of transparency needs to be rectified immediately , or the integrity of our elections will remain threatened.
” Voter registration information is collected and processed by county election offices @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , according to the Elections Division of the Georgia Secretary of State ’ s office said .
Registrations closed a week ago and it typically takes longer than seven days for the local and state offices to finish updating the statewide registration data prior to an election , it said .
The agency this year also has stressed the importance of verifying the registrants ’ residencies .
Voters must live in Georgia in order participate in this election .
Republican President Donald Trump , who lost the general election by 12,670 votes , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the voter registration lists .
Georgia conducted two ballot recounts at Trump ’ s request , and those took staff time , the Elections Division said .
One of the recounts was conducted by hand .
Further , on Dec. 1 some counties had runoffs in three other elections : for the 5th District Congressional seat , a state Senate Democratic primary , and a district attorney seat .
The statement by Perdue and Loeffler made no reference to the added workload of the two Trump recounts or the workload of conducting the @ @ @ @ @

In Georgia Senate race, Loeffler and Perdue demand updated list of registered voters Registrations closed a week ago; the Elections Division says the job typically takes more than seven days to finish.
Show Caption Hide Caption GOP Sen. Rubio on Ga. runoffs: We need to win both U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio visited Georgia Wednesday to ask conservatives to rally around fellow GOP Sens. Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue. They face Democrats Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff in runoff races that could determine control of the Senate. (Nov. 11) AP
Shortly before early voting got started in Georgia on Monday morning for the U.S. Senate runoff elections, the Republican candidates complained because the Board of Elections has not yet made available to the public an updated list of voter registrations.
It is “totally unacceptable” that they cannot yet get a fully updated list, says a statement that U.S. Sen. Kelly Loeffler published on Twitter on Monday morning on behalf of herself and Sen. David Perdue.
A complete list of newly registered voters is not available to the Democratic candidates, either. The Democrats have not made similar complaints.
Although the registration data is not fully updated, available registration data has been given to the National Republican Senatorial Committee, the Georgia Elections Division said. The NRSC works to elect Republicans to the Senate; presumably it would share this information with its candidates.
Dec. 7 was the deadline to register to vote in this high-profile runoff election, which started Nov. 20 with mail-in balloting and ends Jan. 5.
Republicans Loeffler and Perdue face Democratic challengers Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, respectively. The outcome will determine whether the Democrats take control of the U.S. Senate from the Republicans.
With such high stakes — and with the president and other Republicans continuing to sow fear, uncertainty and doubt about the elections — there is much attention on and tension in the Senate runoffs.
‘Half-truths, misinformation’: Georgia official says Trump supporters misled
Runoffs: History, how they work, and their roots in racism As Georgia heads towards a highly anticipated runoff election, it begs the question: Why do some states have runoffs? And what's the purpose of them? Just the FAQs, USA TODAY
Suggestions of shenanigans
Voter registration lists released to the public have the voters’ names, addresses, race, gender, registration dates, and last voting dates. Political campaigns and other groups that seek to influence the elections use this information for voter outreach — to figure out which people to contact to urge them to vote.
But the Loeffler-Perdue statement said the lack of a publicly available list on the first day of early voting could taint the election.
“In-person early voting starts today, and the public remains without a full accounting of who is registered and who may attempt to cast a ballot in the runoff,” the statement says. “This lack of transparency needs to be rectified immediately, or the integrity of our elections will remain threatened.”
Voter registration information is collected and processed by county election offices and then forwarded to the state office, according to the Elections Division of the Georgia Secretary of State’s office said. Registrations closed a week ago and it typically takes longer than seven days for the local and state offices to finish updating the statewide registration data prior to an election, it said.
The agency this year also has stressed the importance of verifying the registrants’ residencies. Voters must live in Georgia in order participate in this election.
Republican President Donald Trump, who lost the general election by 12,670 votes, may have contributed to any delay with the voter registration lists.
Georgia conducted two ballot recounts at Trump’s request, and those took staff time, the Elections Division said. One of the recounts was conducted by hand.
Learn more: Georgia election fraud lawsuit dismissed, results set for second certification
Further, on Dec. 1 some counties had runoffs in three other elections: for the 5th District Congressional seat, a state Senate Democratic primary, and a district attorney seat.
The statement by Perdue and Loeffler made no reference to the added workload of the two Trump recounts or the workload of conducting the other three runoff elections.


usatoday--2020-12-14--'Awe inspiring' photos of the only total solar eclipse of 2020

The only total solar eclipse of 2020 arrived Monday .
And some lucky sky gazers in the world 's southern hemisphere witnessed what NASA describes as `` one of nature 's most awe-inspiring sights . ''
A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon fully blocks the sun and casts a shadow on Earth , creating a temporary darkness in the middle of the day .
Observers in the eclipse 's `` path of totality '' can see only the sun 's atmosphere ( or corona ) , which looks like a ring of light .
According to NASA , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a.m .
ET Dec. 14 .
Unfortunately , few people around the world were able to watch it able to watch it live — as the path of totality tracked over only parts of South America — stretching from Saavedra , Chile to Salina del Eje , Argentina .
Totality lasted up to 2 minutes and 10 seconds , weather permitting .
NASA livestreamed the event , courtesy of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and telescopes at the Observatorio Docente UC , Santa Martina .
If you do n't live in near @ @ @ @ @ @ @ the online viewing , never fear : you can check out these spectacular photos .
More : Worlds align this winter solstice .
Look for Jupiter , Saturn in December skies The next total solar eclipse will be Dec. 4 , 2021 .
Make sure to wear solar eclipse glasses for eye protection ( regular sunglasses are not sufficient ) and never look directly at the sun .
You can learn more about safety precautions here .

'Awe inspiring' photos of the only total solar eclipse of 2020
The only total solar eclipse of 2020 arrived Monday. And some lucky sky gazers in the world's southern hemisphere witnessed what NASA describes as "one of nature's most awe-inspiring sights."
A total solar eclipse occurs when the moon fully blocks the sun and casts a shadow on Earth, creating a temporary darkness in the middle of the day. Observers in the eclipse's "path of totality" can see only the sun's atmosphere (or corona), which looks like a ring of light.
According to NASA, this year's show began at 9:40 a.m. ET Dec. 14. Unfortunately, few people around the world were able to watch it able to watch it live — as the path of totality tracked over only parts of South America — stretching from Saavedra, Chile to Salina del Eje, Argentina.
Totality lasted up to 2 minutes and 10 seconds, weather permitting. NASA livestreamed the event, courtesy of the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile and telescopes at the Observatorio Docente UC, Santa Martina.
If you don't live in near the eclipse's path, or missed the online viewing, never fear: you can check out these spectacular photos.
2020 celestial events: The Geminid meteor shower, famous for producing fireballs, peaks this weekend
More: Worlds align this winter solstice. Look for Jupiter, Saturn in December skies
The next total solar eclipse will be Dec. 4, 2021.
Make sure to wear solar eclipse glasses for eye protection (regular sunglasses are not sufficient) and never look directly at the sun. You can learn more about safety precautions here.


usatoday--2020-12-15--Biden: 'Now it's time to turn the page...to heal'

Biden : 'Now it 's time to turn the page ... to heal' President-elect Joe Biden declared Monday that “ @ @ @ @ @ integrity of the nation 's elections `` remains intact , '' as electors nationwide cast @ @ @ @ @ last month ’ s election .
( Dec. 14 )

Biden: 'Now it's time to turn the page...to heal'
President-elect Joe Biden declared Monday that “democracy prevailed” and the integrity of the nation's elections "remains intact," as electors nationwide cast votes affirming his victory in last month’s election. (Dec. 14)
AP


usatoday--2020-12-14--Donald Trump will keep protesting, despite Electoral College vote for Joe Biden

WASHINGTON – The Electoral College has spoken , but do n't expect Donald Trump to stop complaining about the election .
Far from conceding , Trump and aides served notice Monday the Electoral College vote for Joe Biden will not silence their protests , no matter that they have no chance of reversing his loss to the president-elect .
`` WOW , '' Trump tweeted at one point during the Electoral College vote , echoing a false claim that a report `` shows massive fraud '' in the election .
Some of Trump 's congressional allies – with his backing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to Biden 's electoral votes in key states when the U.S. House and Senate vote to certify the Electoral College results on Jan. 6 .
But they lack the necessary support to void any votes , and a rising number of GOP lawmakers began describing Biden as `` president-elect '' after he clinched an Electoral College majority on Monday .
To be sure , Trump has given every indication he plans to exit the White House and make way for the Biden presidency when Inauguration Day rolls around on Jan. 20 .
Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ concede the election to Biden , and may make his 2020 election protest the cornerstone of another presidential run in 2024 .
Trump spent Monday behind closed doors , holding meetings and tweeting .
In the mid-afternoon , he signed an executive order on `` increasing economic and geographic mobility , '' but reporters were not allowed to witness .
`` We will NEVER surrender , '' said a Trump campaign fundraising text sent late Monday .
Before members of the Electoral College gathered in state capitals across the country , Trump senior @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to claim that supporters in some states were selecting their own `` alternative slate of electors . ''
Miller pledged to `` send those results to Congress '' – but there are no legal provisions for lawmakers to recognize any `` alternative slate '' of electors .
More : The Electoral College meets today in all 50 states .
Follow live updates from the rooms where it happens More : 'The moment of truth ' : The Electoral College prepares to hand Trump the loss he refuses to accept Since Election Day , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and political strategies to subvert Biden victories in the pivotal states of Pennsylvania , Michigan , Georgia , Arizona , Nevada , and Wisconsin .
None of them worked .
Trump 's team still has legal actions pending in a few states , but judges and election officials have consistently rejected their claims of voter fraud .
As members of the Electoral College met Monday , the Wisconsin Supreme Court rejected Trump 's lawsuit in that state .
The U.S. Supreme Court last week rejected a national complaint filed by Trump supporters .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ pressure Republican officials in the Biden states to submit slates of pro-Trump electors to the Electoral College , regardless of the verdict of the voters .
The legislatures refused , in part because they lacked the legal authority to take such steps .
As the Electoral College voted to seal Trump 's fate , some supporters urged him to concede at long last .
`` President Trump ’ s legal challenges have run their course , and he and the rest of the Republican Party can help the country and themselves by acknowledging @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said the editorial board of The Wall Street Journal .
Other analysts taunted Trump .
`` What time is @ realDonaldTrump concession speech tonight ?
Do n't want to miss it , '' tweeted Joe Lockhart , former press secretary to President Bill Clinton .
More : Facing Electoral College vote , Trump continues election attack , but without risks to him , experts say More : For these Trump supporters primed to disbelieve defeat , challenging the election was a civic duty In a post just after midnight on Monday , Trump @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Brian Kemp , demanding he authorize a `` signature verification '' recount and call a legislative session to authorize a pro-Trump slate of electors .
As part of the threat , Trump implied he might withhold support from two Republican senators in Georgia who face runoff elections next month , contests that will decide which party controls the U.S. Senate : `` Could be a bad day for two GREAT Senators on January 5th , '' Trump tweeted .
Throughout the day , Trump tweeted more about his election complaints that the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ and a dwindling band of allies now have their eyes set on Jan. 6 - the day Congress officially counts the Electoral College votes .
Rep. Mo Brooks , R-Ala. , said he and other Trump allies will challenge Biden electors from the key swing states like Arizona , Pennsylvania , Nevada , Georgia and Wisconsin .
But both the full House and the full Senate would have to agree to toss electors , and several Republican lawmakers have said they will not support such a plan .
Trump 's protests from the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ last another 37 days , right up to Biden 's swearing-in .
On Thanksgiving night , after a holiday teleconference with military personnel , Trump refused to say whether he would concede if the Electoral College voted for Biden .
A reporter also asked about what might happen on Inauguration Day , Jan. 20 : `` So , if the Electoral College does elect President-Elect Joe Biden , are you not going to leave this building ? ''
Trump responded : `` Certainly , I will .
Certainly , I will .
And @ @ @ @ @ @ @ that there will be a lot of things happening between now and the 20th of January .
A lot of things . ''

Donald Trump will keep protesting, despite Electoral College vote for Joe Biden
Show Caption Hide Caption Trump says he'll go if he loses Electoral College President Donald Trump said that he will leave the White House if the Electoral College formalizes President-Elect Joe Biden's victory - even as he insisted such a decision would be a “mistake.” (Nov. 27) AP
WASHINGTON – The Electoral College has spoken, but don't expect Donald Trump to stop complaining about the election.
Far from conceding, Trump and aides served notice Monday the Electoral College vote for Joe Biden will not silence their protests, no matter that they have no chance of reversing his loss to the president-elect.
"WOW," Trump tweeted at one point during the Electoral College vote, echoing a false claim that a report "shows massive fraud" in the election.
Some of Trump's congressional allies – with his backing – now say they plan to object to Biden's electoral votes in key states when the U.S. House and Senate vote to certify the Electoral College results on Jan. 6.
But they lack the necessary support to void any votes, and a rising number of GOP lawmakers began describing Biden as "president-elect" after he clinched an Electoral College majority on Monday.
To be sure, Trump has given every indication he plans to exit the White House and make way for the Biden presidency when Inauguration Day rolls around on Jan. 20.
Trump has also told aides he will never concede the election to Biden, and may make his 2020 election protest the cornerstone of another presidential run in 2024.
Trump spent Monday behind closed doors, holding meetings and tweeting. In the mid-afternoon, he signed an executive order on "increasing economic and geographic mobility," but reporters were not allowed to witness.
Throughout the day, aides echoed Trump's defiance.
"We will NEVER surrender," said a Trump campaign fundraising text sent late Monday.
Before members of the Electoral College gathered in state capitals across the country, Trump senior adviser Stephen Miller went on Fox News to claim that supporters in some states were selecting their own "alternative slate of electors."
Miller pledged to "send those results to Congress" – but there are no legal provisions for lawmakers to recognize any "alternative slate" of electors.
More: The Electoral College meets today in all 50 states. Follow live updates from the rooms where it happens
More: 'The moment of truth': The Electoral College prepares to hand Trump the loss he refuses to accept
Since Election Day, Trump and his team have devised legal and political strategies to subvert Biden victories in the pivotal states of Pennsylvania, Michigan, Georgia, Arizona, Nevada, and Wisconsin.
None of them worked.
Trump's team still has legal actions pending in a few states, but judges and election officials have consistently rejected their claims of voter fraud. As members of the Electoral College met Monday, the Wisconsin Supreme Court rejected Trump's lawsuit in that state. The U.S. Supreme Court last week rejected a national complaint filed by Trump supporters.
Trump's political strategy involved efforts to pressure Republican officials in the Biden states to submit slates of pro-Trump electors to the Electoral College, regardless of the verdict of the voters. The legislatures refused, in part because they lacked the legal authority to take such steps.
As the Electoral College voted to seal Trump's fate, some supporters urged him to concede at long last.
"President Trump’s legal challenges have run their course, and he and the rest of the Republican Party can help the country and themselves by acknowledging the result and moving on," said the editorial board of The Wall Street Journal.
Other analysts taunted Trump. "What time is @realDonaldTrump concession speech tonight? Don't want to miss it," tweeted Joe Lockhart, former press secretary to President Bill Clinton.
More: Facing Electoral College vote, Trump continues election attack, but without risks to him, experts say
More: For these Trump supporters primed to disbelieve defeat, challenging the election was a civic duty
In a post just after midnight on Monday, Trump issued another threat to Georgia Republican Gov. Brian Kemp, demanding he authorize a "signature verification" recount and call a legislative session to authorize a pro-Trump slate of electors.
As part of the threat, Trump implied he might withhold support from two Republican senators in Georgia who face runoff elections next month, contests that will decide which party controls the U.S. Senate: "Could be a bad day for two GREAT Senators on January 5th," Trump tweeted.
Throughout the day, Trump tweeted more about his election complaints that the roll-out of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Trump and a dwindling band of allies now have their eyes set on Jan. 6 - the day Congress officially counts the Electoral College votes.
Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Ala., said he and other Trump allies will challenge Biden electors from the key swing states like Arizona, Pennsylvania, Nevada, Georgia and Wisconsin. But both the full House and the full Senate would have to agree to toss electors, and several Republican lawmakers have said they will not support such a plan.
Trump's protests from the bully pulpit of the presidency will probably last another 37 days, right up to Biden's swearing-in.
On Thanksgiving night, after a holiday teleconference with military personnel, Trump refused to say whether he would concede if the Electoral College voted for Biden.
A reporter also asked about what might happen on Inauguration Day, Jan. 20: "So, if the Electoral College does elect President-Elect Joe Biden, are you not going to leave this building?"
Trump responded: "Certainly, I will. Certainly, I will. And you know that. But I think that there will be a lot of things happening between now and the 20th of January. A lot of things."