Republican Pat Toomey Calls To Start Transition, Says Biden Presidency Is ‘Quite Likely’

Plus: Here’s How Bill Gates And Other Billionaires Are Reacting To Biden’s Election Victory

TOPLINE

Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) on Tuesday became only the 13th Republican member of Congress to acknowledge Joe Biden’s projected victory in the presidential election, stating it’s “quite likely” he’ll be the next president and urging Trump to trigger the transition process.

KEY FACTS

•	“It looks likely Joe Biden is going to be the next president of the United States,” Toomey said in an interview with Pittsburgh ABC affiliate WTAE, adding that while it’s “not 100% certain,” it is “quite likely.”

•	Toomey said the transition process “ought to begin,” noting that, in the “unlikely scenario… President Trump is determined to have won this election after all,” the transition “becomes moot and it expires and it evaporates.”

•	The remarks come as President Trump has refused to concede the election to Biden despite major outlets including Forbes calling it for the former vice president on Saturday, instead launching legal efforts to try to overturn the results in key states based on unfounded claims of widespread fraud.

•	Trump’s refusal to concede has caused the administration to resist formally recognizing Biden as the president-elect, causing the General Services Administration to withhold funding and access for Biden’s transition team.

•	Toomey is one of just five senators who have publicly acknowledged Biden’s victory – though the other four offered Biden their congratulations – but Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.) and Rep. Denver Riggleman (R-Va.) have both said their GOP colleagues privately admit Biden won the election.

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CRITICAL QUOTE

Biden dismissed the importance of recognition from Republicans and the administration during remarks on Tuesday, calling it “not of much consequence” because the transition is already “well underway.”