Congress set to confirm Biden's electoral win over Trump

President Donald Trump’s extraordinary effort to overturn presidential election is going before Congress as lawmakers convene for a joint session to confirm Electoral College vote won by Joe Biden.

typically routine proceeding Wednesday will be anything but, a political confrontation unseen since aftermath of Civil War as Trump mounts a desperate effort stay in office. president's Republican allies in House and Senate plan to object to election results , heeding supporters' plea to “fight for Trump” as he sts a rally outside White House. It's tearing party apart.

longshot effort is all but certain to fail, defeated by bipartisan majorities in Congress prepared to accept results. Biden , who won Electoral College 306-232, is set to be inaugurated Jan. 20.

“ most important part is that, in end, democracy will prevail here,” Democratic Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, among those managing proceedings, said in an interview.

joint session of Congress, required by law, will convene at 1 p.m. EST under a watchful, restless nation — months after v. 3 election, two weeks before inauguration’s tritional peaceful transfer of power and against backdrop of a surging COVID-19 pandemic.

Senate Majority Leer Mitch McConnell, who warned his party off this challenge, is expected to deliver early remarks. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, set to gavel proceedings on her side of Capitol, called it a day of "ermous historic significance." It is about “guaranteeing trust in our democratic system,” she said in a letter to colleagues.

But it is Vice President Mike Pence who will be closely watched as he presides over session.

Despite Trump’s repeated claims of voter fraud, election officials and his own former attorney general have said re were problems on a scale that would change outcome. All states have certified ir results as fair and accurate, by Republican and Democratic officials alike.

Pence has a largely ceremonial role, opening sealed envelopes from states after y are carried in mahogany boxes used for occasion, and reing results aloud. But he is under growing pressure from Trump to tip it to president’s favor, despite having power to affect outcome.

While or vice presidents, including Al Gore and Richard Nixon, also presided over ir own defeats, Pence supports those Republican lawmakers mounting challenges to 2020 outcome.

“I hope that our great vice president comes through for us," Trump said at a rally in Georgia this week. "He’s a great guy. Of course, if he doesn’t come through, I won’t like him quite as much.”

It's t first time lawmakers have challenged results. Democrats did in 2017 and 2005. But intensity of Trump's challenge is like thing in modern times, and an outpouring of current and elected GOP officials warn showdown is sowing distrust in government and eroding Americans' faith in democracy.

“re is constitutionally viable means for Congress to overturn an election,” said Sen. Tim Scott, R-S.C., anuncing his refusal to join effort on eve of session.

Still, more than a dozen Republican senators led by Josh Hawley of Missouri and Ted Cruz of Texas, along with as many as 100 House Republicans, are pressing ahe to raise objections to state results of Biden's win.

Under rules of joint session, any objection to a state’s electoral tally needs to be submitted in writing by at least one member of House and one of Senate to be considered. Each objection will force two hours of deliberations in House and Senate, ensuring a long day.

House Republican lawmakers are signing on to objections to electoral votes in six states — Arizona, Georgia, Neva, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

Arizona will likely be first to be disputed as state tallies are anunced in alphabetical order, and Cruz has said he will join House Republicans in objecting to that state.

Hawley has said he will object to election results from Pennsylvania, almost ensuring a second two-hour debate despite resistance from state's Republican senator, Pat Toomey, who said tally of Biden's win is accurate.

Sen. Kelly Loeffler may challenge results in her state of Georgia. But it’s unclear if any of or senators will object to any or state, as lawmakers were still devising a strategy.

Democrats have majority in House and Republican-led Senate is divided over issue. Bipartisan majorities in both chambers are expected to soundly reject objections.

group led by Cruz is vowing to object unless Congress agreed to form a commission to investigate election, but that seems unlikely.

Those with Cruz are Sens. Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, James Lankford of Oklahoma, Steve Daines of Montana, John Kennedy of Louisiana, Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee, Mike Braun of Indiana, Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming, Roger Marshall of Kansas, Bill Hrty of Tennessee and Tommy Tuberville of Alabama.

Trump has vowed to “fight like hell” to stay in office. He said at a rally in Georgia electors voting for Biden are "t gonna take this White House!”

Many of Republicans challenging results said y are trying to give voice to voters back home who don't trust outcome of election and want to see lawmakers fighting for Trump.

Hawley defended his role saying his constituents have been “loud and clear” about ir distrust of election. “It is my responsibility as a senator to raise ir concerns," he wrote to colleagues.

As criticism mounted, Cruz insisted his aim was “t to set aside election” but to investigate claims of voting problems. He has produced new evidence.

Both Hawley and Cruz are potential 2024 presidential contenders, vying for Trump's base of supporters.

Lawmakers are being told by Capitol officials to arrive early, due to safety precautions with protesters in Washington. Visitors, who typically fill galleries to watch landmark proceedings, will t be allowed under COVID-19 restrictions.