Members Of Oklahoma Delegation Speak On Electoral College Vote

At least one of Oklahoma’s U.S. Senators and two U.S. Representatives from northeastern Oklahoma intend to formally object to the certification of electoral votes.

Congress will meet at noon Wednesday in a joint session that is typically a routine step of finalizing the election results.

Oklahoma Senator James Lankford announced Saturday he’s joined Texas Senator Ted Cruz in a plan to refuse to vote unless the Senate establishes an Electoral Commission to conduct an audit of results from several states.

President Trump has claimed he won Pennsylvania, Georgia and Arizona, but state officials have certified Joe Biden as the winner of all three.

Representative Markwayne Mullin and Representative Kevin Hern both plan to object, as well.

“I believe it is my duty to stand with my fellow Members in raising concerns about the unlawful actions of these states and to help in their efforts,” Hern said in a statement on campaign letterhead.

State Senator Kevin Matthews, a Democrat from Tulsa, criticized Lankford and Hern for supporting an effort to dispute election results that have already been reviewed multiple times. 

"I think that type of support for this ridiculousness is really disappointing," Matthews said. “I am surprised that anyone would go so far as to delay or stop a free and fair election. That's extremely disappointing to me.”

Senator Inhofe has not publicly announced if he will formally object to the election certification but has so far supported the president’s efforts to dispute the election.

“He has every right to use all legal means to ensure that the election November 3rd was an honest election,” Inhofe said in a video posted to Twitter.

Oklahoma voted overwhelmingly for President Trump, and the results have not been questioned. Republicans are planning a protest rally Wednesday in Oklahoma City to coincide with the action in Congress.

Rallies are also planned in Washington D.C.