Some in Texas are calling for Senator Ted Cruz to resign after his vote objecting to Arizona's electoral votes. The measure failed, and Congress confirmed Joe Biden as the winner of the November election about 2:30 Central Time Thursday morning.
Texas' two U.S. senators voted differently on the certification of the electoral college vote Wednesday night. Both John Cornyn and Ted Cruz are Republican, but Cornyn voted against a measure to object to Arizona's electoral votes; Cruz voted in favor.
"Let me be clear, this objection is for the state of Arizona, but it is broader than that," Cruz said. "It is an objection for all six of the contested states to have a credible, objective, impartial body hear the evidence and make a conclusive determination."
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Cruz said he is not trying to overturn the election, but he says a review would restore voters' faith the in system among both Republicans and Democrats, saying the review would alleviate concerns about "the legitimacy of this and subsequent elections."
"That would benefit both sides. That would improve legitimacy of this election, and so let me urge my colleagues don't take, perhaps, the easy path," he said.
The Texas Democratic Party responded by setting up a petition calling for Cruz' resignation.
"Cruz's actions have undermined our democracy, inspired treasonous, seditious acts, and brought shame to Texas," Chair Gilberto Hinojosa wrote in a statement. "The tragic results of his actions will reverberate for generations. By leading the objection to the Electoral College certification, all the while knowing the devastating consequences, he has demonstrated he is not fit to serve in the U.S. Senate."
Hinojosa says the Justice Department should investigate Cruz, saying he acted "in bad faith by leveraging fringe theories and blatant disinformation to challenge the legitimacy of the 2020 election results and position himself in the 2024 Republican presidential primary."
U.S. Representative Joaquin Castro posted on Twitter, calling for Cruz and Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri to resign.
In Cruz' hometown of Houston, Mayor Sylvester Turner tweeted, "Texans should hold Sen. Ted Cruz accountable for this fiasco."
Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo wrote, "You fanned the flames of mistrust and history will hold you accountable for the ensuing chaos. Outrageous!"