As Trump continues to promote baseless conspiracy theories about the election and his campaign’s legal “strategy” is dealt blow after blow in the courts, prominent Republican officials are acknowledging his defeat and that Joe Biden will become president on January 20th. 

Republican elected officials from across the country have accepted reality and congratulated President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris for their victory. 

• Ohio Governor Mike DeWine: “Look, I think that we need to consider the former vice president as the President-elect. Joe Biden is the President-elect.”

• Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker: “I congratulate President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris on their victory. This has been a long and divisive campaign, but now it is critical for us all to focus on the very real and immediate challenges facing this nation.”

• Utah Governor-elect Spencer Cox: “Abby and I wish a heart-felt congratulations to @JoeBiden and @KamalaHarris on the election call today. Thank you for your commitment to unite us all. We pray for you and promise to work with you to benefit the people of Utah.”

• Maryland Governor Larry Hogan: “Congratulations to President-elect Biden. Everyone should want our president to succeed because we need our country to succeed. We have great challenges ahead of us as a country. Now more than ever, we need to come together as Americans.”

• Vermont Governor Phil Scott: “I want to congratulate President-elect Biden and Vice President-Elect Harris. I also want to recognize this historic moment as we see the first ever woman, and the first ever person of color, reach the U.S. vice presidency. It is my greatest hope they will be successful in uniting our country and leading us forward through these difficult times.”

• Governor Chris Sununu: “Joe Biden is the President-Elect”

• Senator Mitt Romney: “Ann and I extend our congratulations to President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. We know both of them as people of good will and admirable character. We pray that God may bless them in the days and years ahead.”

• Senator Ben Sasse: “Melissa and I congratulate the next president, Joe Biden, and the next vice president, Kamala Harris.”

• Senator Pat Toomey: “We’re on a path it looks likely that Joe Biden is going to be the next president of the United States. It’s not a hundred percent certain but it is quite likely and so I think a transition process ought to begin.”

• Senator Susan Collins: “First, I would offer my congratulations to President-elect Biden on his apparent victory – he loves this country, and I wish him every success. Presidential transitions are important, and the President-elect and the Vice-President-elect should be given every opportunity to ensure that they are ready to govern on January 20th.”

• Senator Lisa Murkowski: “I congratulate President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris and will be ready to work with their administration when it takes office. While we will not always agree, I will partner with them, when possible, to do what is right for Alaska—just as I will continue to emphasize collaboration and bipartisanship with my colleagues in a narrowly divided Senate.”

• Representative Adam Kinzinger: “Sofia and I extend our Congratulations to Joe Biden and Kamala Harris. Our nation deserves two competing parties who can work together when possible, and compete honorably when not.”

• Representative Paul Mitchell: “Congratulations to President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris. This election was hard-fought by both candidates and ultimately the voters chose them for the job. America now looks to you to lead our country and unite us for the common good.”

Former Republican officials have also spoken out and accepted the outcome of the election. 

• Former President George W. Bush: “I just talked to the President-elect of the United States, Joe Biden. I extended my warm congratulations and thanked him for the patriotic message he delivered last night. I also called Kamala Harris to congratulate her on her historic election to the vice presidency. Though we have political differences, I know Joe Biden to be a good man, who has won his opportunity to lead and unify our country.”

• Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice: “Congratulations President-elect @JoeBiden and Vice President-elect @KamalaHarris, and to the American people who voted in record numbers showing the strength and vibrancy of our democracy.”

• Former Senator Jeff Flake: “Congratulations, President-Elect Biden for a hard won victory. Arizona has chosen well.”

A growing number of Republicans have publicly urged the Trump administration to formally begin the transition process and allow President-elect Biden and Vice President-elect Harris to access classified briefings. 

• Bloomberg: “Republican Senators Marco Rubio and Mitt Romney joined mounting calls for the GSA to ascertain Biden as the president-elect, warning that extended delays in the formal transition of power put the nation’s security at risk. ‘There’s a very likely prospect that there will be a change in administration,’ Romney, a senator from Utah, told reporters Monday. ‘For the purposes of smooth transition and national security, we have a national interest in the transition proceeding as rapidly as can be done.’”

• CNN: “Two top GOP senators told CNN on Thursday that Joe Biden should have access to classified briefings, the latest indication that Republicans acknowledge the President-elect is likely on his way to the White House despite President Donald Trump’s refusal to accept the results. ‘I would think — especially on classified briefings — answer is yes,’ said Sen. Chuck Grassley of Iowa, who as president pro tempore is the most senior Republican in the chamber. Senate Majority Whip John Thune of South Dakota also told CNN that Biden should have access to classified briefings.”

• CNN: Oklahoma Republican Sen. James Lankford said Wednesday that he will intervene if the Trump administration has not allowed President-elect Joe Biden access to presidential daily intelligence briefings by the end of the week, one of the first rights of a presidential candidate after winning the election. ‘There is no loss from him getting the briefings and to be able to do that,’ Lankford told radio station KRMG, noting that he sits on the Senate Oversight Committee and that he’s already started engaging on this issue.”

• Senator Susan Collins: “President-elect Biden should be receiving intelligence briefings right now”

• Kansas City Star’s Bryan Lowry: “.@RoyBlunt to reporters on Capitol Hill on whether Biden should be receiving intelligence briefings: ‘Yes.’”