A campaign sign for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris is seen on a fence at Lafayette Square in Washington, D.C. Photo by Indianz.Com (CC-BY 4.0)
Rep. Tom Cole (R-Oklahoma) and Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-Oklahoma), the two Native Republicans in Congress, have yet to publicly congratulate Democrats Joe Biden and Kamala Harris on their 2020 presidential victory.
Cole, a citizen of the Chickasaw Nation, made a generalized social media post about election fraud on the morning of November 7. The race was called for the Biden-Harris ticket shortly afterward but lawmaker has not offered any updates since.
“President Trump or any individual of any political party has every right to exhaust every option to ensure an accurate outcome for the American people,” said Cole, who won a tenth term in office on election day. “While the Presidential race remains extremely close in some states, I am confident in the U.S. election system – a system that provides mechanisms in every state for requesting a recount or raising other concerns related to official results.”
“If anyone has evidence of suspicious activity that threatens the integrity of free and fair elections, they can and should make the appropriate officials aware or challenge the issue in court,” said Cole.
Mullin, a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, was more defiant. He insisted the race isn’t over.
Voters decide who wins the election, not the media. I fully support President Trump as he continues to fight for every legal vote to be counted.
— Markwayne Mullin (@SenMullin) November 7, 2020
“Voters decide who wins the election, not the media,” Mullin said in a post from his official Congressional account on Sunday afternoon, after the race had been called for Biden. I fully support President Trump as he continues to fight for every legal vote to be counted.”
Mullin, who won re-election to a fifth term in office, followed up with a video on his political account. “Every legal vote should be counted!” he wrote.
Every legal vote should be counted! #realDonaldTrump #DonaldJTrumpJr #2020election pic.twitter.com/0ZC7NFNV82
— Markwayne Mullin (@MarkwayneMullin) November 8, 2020
A third Native Republican will be joining Cole and Mullin once the next Congress convenes in January 2021. Yvette Herrell, Cherokee citizen, hasn’t updated her social media accounts since November 6, before the race was called.
“President Trump is correct to ensure that the votes being counted are LEGAL,” Herrell said that day. “I continue to stand with our President and look forward to working with him in Congress!”