Seat Senator Brewster Today!
The Republican State Senate majority is planning to act today, Tuesday January 5th, to block Senator Jim Brewster, whose reelection to the senate was certified over a week ago, from taking the oath of office.
Please use this on-line tool to contact your state senator today to ask them to stop this attempt to override the decision of the voters.
The voters of the 45th senatorial district cast their votes. The votes were counted in early November and Senator Jim Brewster won. The Republicans challenged the vote in state court. And they lost.
They challenged the vote in federal court. And they lost.
And after seven weeks—more than ample time for any other challenges to come forward—the Secretary of State certified Brewster's re-election.
Now Senate Republicans have decided to block Brewster from taking his seat until yet another federal court hears the case. There is no reason to stop Senator Brewster from being seated as this frivolous lawsuit continues.
And ultimately It’s time for the Senate Republicans to recognize reality and accept defeat. It’s time for Senate Republicans to stop undermining our democracy and give up their efforts to use their majority in the Senate to overturn the decision of the voters and silence your voice.
This is not a matter of partisanship or control over the state senate. Republicans will hold the majority in the Senate no matter who represents the 45th district. The issue here is whether the Republican Party in Pennsylvania stands in favor of democracy and the rule of law—or not.
Please use this tool to contact your state senator today.
Here are some details: Election officials in Allegheny County decided to count 2,349 ballots that were submitted without a written date on the outside but that were otherwise correct and delivered on time. In keeping with other recent decisions, the PA Supreme Court ruled that they were right to do so because the "lack of a written date on an otherwise qualified ballot is a minor technical defect that does not render it deficient.
In December, a federal judge in Pittsburgh—U.S. District Judge J. Nicholas Ranjan, a Donald Trump appointee—denied a request for a preliminary injunction and temporary restraining order that had blocked state officials from accepting Allegheny County’s election results. That was the right decision because state courts have always been regarded in our country as the ultimate arbiter of the laws of each state.
Now the Republicans are saying to wait for further federal court action before seating Senator Brewster. But there is no reason to wait! The election is over- and endless, frivolous law suits only serve to undermine our democracy.
Whether we look to Harrisburg or Washington, too many state legislators in PA seem willing to jettison the rules and overturn the decision of Pennsylvania voters to hold on to or expand their power.
At this dangerous time, all of us, no matter what our political party, must stand up and defend our representative democracy.
Use this tool to contact your state senator today to tell him to vote to seat Senator Brewster