NEWS

Bay County Republican Party declares Biden “President-imposed," and illegitimate

PANAMA CITY — The Bay County Republican Party has declared President-elect Joe Biden as an imposed, illegitimate leader and have vowed that officials shouldn’t cooperate with his administration. 

The party’s executive committee voted on Dec. 7 to support a resolution that among other things, declares that the party won’t recognize Biden’s administration as legitimate unless President Donald Trump conceded and acknowledged that the 2020 election was fair. The resolution comes after Trump and his legal team have made multiple failed attempts in court to overturn election results in various states.

More:Northwest Florida Trump supporters join protesters at US Capitol

“What the last few years have shown is that the future of the Republican Party can be found in the State of Florida,” Debbie Wood, chairman of the Bay County Republican Party, said in a written statement after the resolution vote. “Since the Panhandle has long been the conservative backbone of the state, we have an obligation not only to our community, but to our republic, to proudly defend the values that Made America Great. Tonight's (Dec. 7) vote makes clear that the Bay County Republican Party is prepared to continue to stand with President Trump and leaders that hold the conviction to fight for the American people and our Constitution.”

Though Trump and his campaign have repeatedly claimed there has been fraud, there is no evidence of widespread voter fraud. In fact, election officials from both political parties have publicly stated the election went well, though there have been minor issues that are typical in elections, including voting machines breaking and ballots that were miscast and lost.

Trump's election challenges have been repeatedly rejected by the courts, including the U.S. Supreme Court, and even his own attorney general, William Barr, has said that no election fraud took place on a scale necessary to overturn the election.    

The Bay County resolution, which has recently circulated on the internet, was submitted by Tho Bishop, vice-chairman of the party and leader of the Bay County Republican Roundtable.

The resolution states that the Bay County Republican Party “will not consider Joseph Biden to be the legitimate winner of the 2020 election without the concession of President Donald J. Trump and his acknowledgment of a fair 2020 election.”

More:Local Republican attorney under investigation for alleged voter fraud attempt in Georgia

The resolution also states that the party would only refer to Biden’s administration for the next four years as “President-imposed” without Trump’s concession and acknowledgment of a free and fair election.

The proposed resolution adds that the party will encourage Bay County Republican officials to not cooperate with “an illegitimate Biden Administration on any matters that infringe upon the Constitutionally protected rights of our citizens.”

Bay County Republicans celebrate in 2017 during the inauguration of Donald Trump.

“The issue with this election did not start on election night, it started with the actions of state governors changing election laws at the last second … without going through the state Legislature like changes are supposed to go through,” Bishop said during a Friday phone interview.

More (2017):Bay County Republicans cheer in Donald Trump

Bishop added that it was understood that there would be an unprecedented number of votes by mail-in ballots for the election. Bishop then claimed that mail-in ballots are vulnerable to and have integrity issues — claims that have been refuted by various independent studies and government reports.

Diane Brown, communications director for the Bay County Democratic Party, said it’s disappointing and sad that so many fellow Bay County residents feel so disenfranchised.

"Since the attack on the Capitol, we hope President-elect Biden will get the opportunity to show them he will represent all Americans the same, no matter the political affiliation,” Brown said referring to the Jan. 6 invasion of the Capitol by Trump supporters.

President-elect Joe Biden speaks during an event at The Queen theater in Wilmington, Del., Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, to announce key administration posts. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Brown said that Democrats of Bay County are focused on healing and peace for residents. She said that she wants residents to unify.

"I don't think it's appropriate or relevant to get into the weeds over the results of the election," Brown said. "The courts and election officials have reviewed every complaint that has been received and has found no irregularities of significance that could impact the outcome of the election."