Congressional leaders, including a host of Republicans, bluntly rejected a suggestion from President Donald Trump that the general election be delayed due to COVID-19.
The widespread dismissal of Trump’s idea likely doomed any chances of it becoming a reality as changing the date of the election is a power that rests with Congress, experts say.
The top Republican in the House, Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., told reporters at his weekly press conference he understood the president’s concerns about mail-in voting, “but never in the history of the federal elections have we ever not held an election and we should go forward with our election.”
And on the Senate side, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., told local Kentucky TV station WNKY the election would be held on November 3 regardless of the situation.