Sen. Kelly Loeffler (R-Ga.) is being confronted on President Donald Trump’s claims surrounding the 2020 presidential election.
Loeffler is facing a Jan. 5 Senate runoff election, and during Sunday’s debate against her Democratic challenger, Rev. Raphael Warnock, she was asked if she agrees with Trump alleging the election was rigged.
Instead of directly answering questions on Trump’s allegations about the election, Loeffler dodged the questions multiple times, according to Mediaite.
She was asked by Atlanta Journal-Constitution political reporter Greg Bluestein, “President Trump opened his election rally last night by falsely claiming he won Georgia. He didn’t. According to certified state election results he lost the state by 12,000 votes. Do you stand by his narrative that the election was rigged and do you support his demand for Governor Kemp to call a special session to overturn the results?”
She, however, said, “It’s vitally important that Georgians trust our elections process, and the president has every right to every legal recourse, and that’s what’s taking place.”
Loeffler was then asked again, “Senator, do you believe the election was rigged?” to which she responded, “Look, Greg, it’s very clear that there were issues in this election.”
See Loeffler’s comments below:
Kelly Loeffler won't affirm the reality that Trump's loss wasn't rigged, but instead pivots to bashing socialism pic.twitter.com/01UVQfg1Ku
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) December 7, 2020
Additionally, Loeffler was asked about Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) coming under attack from Trump. She, however, did not say if she agrees with the attacks.
“I’m making sure that Georgians know what’s at stake on January 5th,” Loeffler said during the debate.
Following her remark, she was asked based on that comment if she is then presuming “President Trump has lost.” She responded by saying that the Senate majority is “at stake.”
Watch the videos below:
WARNOCK: Did Donald Trump lose the election?
LOEFFLER: President Trump has every right to use every legal recourse available. pic.twitter.com/1M68MnlQyO
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) December 7, 2020
Q: If everything is at stake on January 5th, that would presume that President Trump has lost. Is that what you're saying?
— Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) December 7, 2020
LOEFFLER: You know, what's at stake is the Senate majority. pic.twitter.com/Qt9BynRWCh
Trump campaigned on Saturday for Loeffler and Sen. David Perdue (R-Ga.), who are both facing runoff elections. While Loeffler debated Warnock on Sunday, Perdue’s Democratic challenger Jon Ossoff debated an empty podium — Perdue has refused to debate.
During the rally, Trump repeated his unsubstantiated claims that there was widespread voter fraud in the election. The president has refused to concede the election.
“They cheated and they rigged our presidential election but we will still win it,” Trump said. “And they’re going to try and rig this election too.”
The Georgia runoff elections will determine what party has the majority in the U.S. Senate. Republicans need one seat to keep control of the Senate.
