The typically ceremonial process of Congress formally tallying the Electoral College votes on Wed…

The typically ceremonial process of Congress formally tallying the Electoral College votes on Wednesday will instead serve as a stress test of American democracy.
President TrumpDonald TrumpWarnock defeats Loeffler in Georgia Senate runoffThe Memo: Georgia voters deliver blow to TrumpEric Trump warns of primary challenges for Republicans who don’t object to election resultsMOREs push for congressional Republicans to try to overturn his election loss to President-elect Joe BidenJoe BidenThe Memo: Georgia voters deliver blow to TrumpWarnock win puts Democrats within reach of Senate majorityEric Trump warns of primary challenges for Republicans who don’t object to election resultsMORE is sure to fail, but not without a long, drawn-out brawl expected to last into the night or possibly Thursday.
Here are the top five things to watch during the proceedings that kick off Wednesday at 1 p.m. 
How many Republicans will vote to challenge Bidens victory? 
In the Senate, a majority of Republicans are expected to follow Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnellAddison (Mitch) Mitchell McConnellThe Memo: Georgia voters deliver blow to TrumpOn The Money: Wall Street zeros in on Georgia runoffs | Seven states sue regulator over ‘true lender’ rule on interest rates | 2021 deficit on track to reach .3 trillionTrump pressure campaign splits 2024 GOP contendersMOREs (R-Ky.) lead and not support challenging results of the Electoral College, although his leadership team isnt whipping the votes. 
Thirteen Senate Republicans are expected to back some number of challenges.
But its another story in the House, where Republicans are hoping to erase Democrats historically thin majority in next years midterm elections and retake control by galvanizing Trumps base. 
Upwards of 100 House Republicans are expected to join the effort led by Rep. Mo BrooksMorris (Mo) Jackson BrooksHouse GOP debates Electoral College voteDC braces for pro-Trump protests amid Electoral College challengeMcCarthy says he supports effort to challenge Electoral College resultsMORE (R-Ala.) to overturn the results of the Electoral College. And in contrast to McConnell, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthyKevin Owen McCarthyTulsi Gabbard blasts new House rules on gender neutral language as ‘height of hypocrisy’House GOP debates Electoral College voteMcMorris Rodgers floats vacating Speaker’s chair over Democrat’s in-person vote after COVID diagnosisMORE (R-Calif.) has signaled he backs the push.
GOP Conference Chairwoman Liz CheneyElizabeth (Liz) Lynn CheneyHoyer says Trump Georgia call likely criminal, wants ‘serious’ investigationMcMorris Rodgers floats vacating Speaker’s chair over Democrat’s in-person vote after COVID diagnosisObama warns of threats to ‘fundamental principles of our democracy’ after Trump Georgia callMORE (Wyo.) is the highest-ranking House Republican to oppose the Electoral College challenge, siding with conservatives like Reps. Chip RoyCharles (Chip) Eugene RoyPelosi warns lawmakers to social distance after many flout guidelinesThe Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – Trump’s new phone call controversy, Georgia runoffs headline big weekChip Roy challenges seating of House members from six presidential battleground statesMORE (Texas) and Thomas MassieThomas Harold MassieTrump Georgia call divides House GOPCoalition of 7 conservative House Republicans says they won’t challenge election resultsHillicon Valley: Texas, other states bring antitrust lawsuit against Google | Krebs emphasizes security of the election as senators butt heads | Twitter cracks down on coronavirus vaccine misinformationMORE (Ky.) who are also frustrated with the fractures Trump is causing in his final days in office.
I think Trumps diminishing his influence with this at the end. If he could have said, you know, we lost, we’re going to keep our coalition together, we’re going to come back stronger in four years whether I run for president or not, we’re going to have influence. But instead, it feels like he’s just blowing up not the GOP but his own movement by putting them through this at the end, Massie told reporters. 
In any case, both the House and Senate are expected to reject the challenges whether most Republicans join in the bipartisan majorities or not. 
Which states will Republicans challenge? 
At least one lawmaker from each chamber must object to a given states results in order to trigger up to two hours of debate and a vote. 
House Republicans are pushing to object to the Electoral College votes in six key swing states: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. 
But so far, Senate Republicans have only indicated plans to object to three states: Sen. Ted CruzRafael (Ted) Edward CruzAre Republicans tilting at windmills with their electoral challenge?More than 170 top business executives urge Congress to certify Biden’s winTrump election fight puts Pence in no-win situationMORE (Texas) to Arizona, Sen. Josh HawleyJoshua (Josh) David HawleyAre Republicans tilting at windmills with their electoral challenge?Police say protest outside Hawley home not ‘that big of a deal’More than 170 top business executives urge Congress to certify Biden’s winMORE (Mo.) to Pennsylvania and Sen. Kelly LoefflerKelly LoefflerWarnock defeats Loeffler in Georgia Senate runoffThe Memo: Georgia voters deliver blow to TrumpWarnock win puts Democrats within reach of Senate majorityMORE (Ga.) to her home state. 
Progress made. NEED more! Brooks tweeted on Tuesday afternoon. STILL NEED SENATORS FOR MI NV WI! America – urge your senators to fight voter fraud & election theft!
The Trump campaigns legal challenges in those states which have all been certified by election officials have almost entirely failed without sufficient evidence of voter fraud.
How will Trumps Georgia call play into the debate? 
The audio published by The Washington Post three days before Wednesdays debate of Trump pressuring the Georgia secretary of state to find enough votes to overturn his defeat has only made it harder for Republicans to back the effort. 
Sen. Marsha BlackburnMarsha BlackburnTrump pressure campaign splits 2024 GOP contendersBlackburn: ‘Everyone has said’ Trump call was ‘not a helpful call’Graham: Electoral College challenge ‘a political dodge’MORE (R-Tenn.), who is backing the challenge in the Senate, acknowledged during a Fox News interview that Trumps conversation was not a helpful call.
Rep. Adam KinzingerAdam Daniel KinzingerTrump Georgia call divides House GOPPerdue defends Trump over call pressuring Georgia secretary of stateGeorgia elections board member says Trump could be charged for soliciting election fraud MORE (R-Ill.) warned his GOP colleagues considering objecting to the results that you cannot in light of this do so with a clean conscience.
Democrats, meanwhile, are sure to bring up the call during debate to defend the Electoral College results, particularly any objection to Georgia where Biden won by 11,779 votes.
Top Democrats, including House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam SchiffAdam Bennett SchiffPelosi names House Democratic leaders for Electoral College debateUS intel agencies blame Russia for massive SolarWinds hackOcasio-Cortez says Trump’s Georgia call is an impeachable offenseMORE (Calif.) and House Majority Whip James Clyburn (S.C.), have suggested Trumps actions were potentially criminal or even impeachable.
More than 90 Democrats have signed onto a resolution introduced by Rep. Hank JohnsonHenry (Hank) C. JohnsonOcasio-Cortez says Trump’s Georgia call is an impeachable offenseGeorgia Democratic lawmaker to seek censure of Trump over Raffensperger callCOVID-19 could complicate Pelosi’s path to Speaker next yearMORE (D-Ga.) to censure Trump for trying to reverse the election results in Georgia. 
2024 politics to take center stage
Republicans considered potential presidential contenders will be at the center of Wednesdays drama.
Hawley and Cruz are both viewed as possible candidates in 2024 as they lead the charge catering to Trumps wishes, while on the other side are senators like Sens. Tom CottonTom Bryant CottonTrump pressure campaign splits 2024 GOP contendersTrump raises pressure on Pence, incorrectly stating he could throw out electorsThe Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – Georgia election day is finally here; Trump hopes Pence ‘comes through for us’ to overturn resultsMORE (Ark.) and Ben SasseBen SasseTrump pressure campaign splits 2024 GOP contendersThe GOP must stop Americans from believing elections are riggedRepublican infighting on election intensifiesMORE (Neb.) who have argued against challenging the presidential election results. 
Then theres Trump himself, who has hinted at launching another presidential campaign after he leaves the White House on Jan. 20.
Perhaps the potential 2024 contender in the toughest position is Vice President Mike PenceMichael (Mike) Richard PenceTrump attorney Jay Sekulow refutes claims of Pence authority over electorsTrump election fight puts Pence in no-win situationPence aide pushes back on Navarro claim that VP could delay election certificationMORE, who as president of the Senate will be tasked with overseeing Congresss counting of the Electoral College votes. 
That ceremonial role means that Pence will have to formally announce Bidens election victory of Trump once the count concludes.
But Trump is forcing Pence into a final loyalty test by pressuring him to challenge Bidens win, even though the vice president doesnt have the power to do so. 
I hope Mike Pence comes through for us, I have to tell you, Trump said during a rally in Georgia this week. Of course, if he doesn’t come through, I won’t like him as much.
How does Congress handle the threats of COVID-19 and protests?
An unexpected House floor vote on Sunday night that resulted in lawmakers of both parties crowding together in clear violation of social distancing guidelines showed that theyre still struggling with health measures nearly a year into the pandemic.
A day later, Rep. Kay GrangerNorvell (Kay) Kay GrangerGOP Rep. Kevin Brady tests positive for COVID-19The Hill’s Morning Report – Presented by Facebook – Georgia election day is finally here; Trump hopes Pence ‘comes through for us’ to overturn resultsOvernight Health Care: Trump officials debate cutting Moderna dose in half to speed up COVID-19 vaccination | Cuomo says more contagious coronavirus variant found in upstate New York | Amazon, JP Morgan, Berkshire Hathaway health care venture to disbandMORE (R-Texas) announced that she had tested positive for COVID-19 after arriving in Washington despite a lack of symptoms. 
We continue to urge members to come vote and leave, and not spend time on the floor if they are not needed on the floor. But that hasn’t always worked as well as wed like and we continue to admonish members to observe that, House Majority Leader Steny HoyerSteny Hamilton HoyerHoyer says Trump Georgia call likely criminal, wants ‘serious’ investigationHouse approves rules package for new CongressChip Roy challenges seating of House members from six presidential battleground statesMORE (D-Md.) acknowledged on Tuesday.
The Capitol physician and Sergeant at Arms issued a memo stating that House floor access on Wednesday will be limited to members scheduled to speak and are otherwise encouraged to remain in their offices unless called to vote.
The Sergeant at Arms issued a separate memo this week advising members and staff to arrive early and use the underground tunnels to move about the Capitol complex in anticipation of protests and extensive street closures. The Capitol Police will also have additional personnel on duty to boost its security presence.
Trump has repeatedly encouraged his supporters to protest in the nation’s capital on Wednesday, worrying local officials that there could be potentially violent clashes in the streets. 
The Proud Boys and members of other armed right-wing organizations also have committed to participating in demonstrations. Trump has said he will make an appearance before his supporters on Wednesday.