Stefanik mum, so far, on Biden win

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WWNY) - North country congresswoman Elise Stefanik had not, as of mid-morning Monday, publicly acknowledged Joe Biden’s victory in the race for president.

Stefanik wasn’t alone. The New York Times reported Republican leaders and many party lawmakers have yet to publicly accept Biden’s victory “out of apparent deference to President Trump, who continued to refuse to concede.”

We reached out to Stefanik’s spokeswoman Monday morning and will update this story if she responds with answers to our questions.

Former Vice-President Biden has, unofficially, 290 electoral votes, far more than the 270 required for victory.

On her official Twitter account, Stefanik mentioned November is “Military Family Month.” On the Twitter account for her campaign, Stefanik’s tweets concern the number of Republican women who won seats in congress - Stefanik was instrumental in securing their victory.

The only apparent reference to President Trump is a November 6 tweet which reads, in part, “Count every LEGAL ballot.”

Her campaign Facebook page repeats the same messages.

The decision of the vast majority of Republicans to not extend congratulations to Biden is a sharp break with tradition, in which the losing side offers statements of praise for the victor. Those statements - even though they’re mostly done by rote - are public signals that the presidential campaign is over, and that government will continue as normal.

The New York Times reported Monday that "Republicans' silence suggested that even in defeat, Mr. Trump maintained a powerful grip on his party and its elected leaders, who have spent four years tightly embracing him or quietly working to avoid offending him or his loyal base.

“For many prominent Republicans, the president’s reluctance to accept the election results created a dilemma, making even the most cursory expression of support for Mr. Biden seem like a conspicuous break with Mr. Trump.”

Also Monday, the Washington Post reported the administrator of the General Services Administration, appointed by President Trump, is refusing to sign the necessary paperwork to allow the Biden transition team to formally begin its work within the government.

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