Pa. certifies election results for Biden, Harris, cementing win in key 2020 battleground state

By: John L. Micek - November 24, 2020 11:20 am

Chris Cieslak, a 51 year old retired Army Lt. Col. from Pittsburgh, sits on top of a car waiting for Vice President Joe Biden to speak on Monday, Nov. 2, 2020 at a Pittsburgh drive-in rally at Heinz Field the day before the election. (Capital-Star photo by Stephen Caruso)

A day after Pennsylvania’s counties met to certify the results of the 2020 general election, the Pennsylvania Department of State followed suit for the presidential contest, Gov. Tom Wolf said in a tweet on Tuesday morning.

“Today [the Department of State] certified the results of the November 3 election in Pennsylvania for president and vice president of the United States. As required by federal law, I’ve signed the Certificate of Ascertainment for the slate of electors for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris,” Wolf wrote.

Today @PAStateDept certified the results of the November 3 election in Pennsylvania for president and vice president of the United States.

As required by federal law, I’ve signed the Certificate of Ascertainment for the slate of electors for Joe Biden and Kamala Harris.

— Governor Tom Wolf (@GovernorTomWolf) November 24, 2020

Wolf added that he wanted to “thank the election officials who have administered a fair and free election during an incredibly challenging time in our commonwealth and country’s history. Our election workers have been under constant attack and they have performed admirably and honorably.”

Again, I want to thank the election officials who have administered a fair and free election during an incredibly challenging time in our commonwealth and country's history.

Our election workers have been under constant attack and they have performed admirably and honorably.

— Governor Tom Wolf (@GovernorTomWolf) November 24, 2020

On Monday, after weeks of delay, the head of the U.S. General Services Administration announced that she’d signed the ascertainment declaring Biden the president-elect, freeing up millions of dollars in federal money, and allowing the transition to formally begin.

It's official:

Pennsylvania certifies its votes.

Biden wins by 80,000+.

Vice Presidential candidate Jeremy "Spike" Cohen sets a record for most votes received by a candidate named "Spike." (Not confirmed) pic.twitter.com/MRER3Aj1Ap

— Avi Wolfman-Arent (@Avi_WA) November 24, 2020

President Donald Trump, who lost on Nov. 3 to Biden, has said he plans to continue to fight the result in court. But the Republican’s campaign has been dealt legal setback after legal setback, including a defeat in Pennsylvania Supreme Court on Monday.

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John L. Micek

A 3-decade veteran of the news business, John L. Micek is the Pennsylvania Capital-Star's Editor-in-Chief. An award-winning political reporter, Micek’s career has taken him from small town meetings and Chicago City Hall to Congress and the Pennsylvania Capitol. His weekly column on U.S. politics is syndicated to 800 newspapers nationwide by Cagle Syndicate. He also contributes commentary and analysis to broadcast outlets in the U.S., Canada and the U.K. Micek’s first novel, “Ordinary Angels,” was released in 2019 by Sunbury Press.