Republican leaders in Lee, Collier support Trump’s efforts in Georgia election

President Donald Trump’s phone call with Georgia’s secretary of state is being heard nationwide. Trump continues to assert elections in certain states for the 2020 presidential election were unfair.

The effort to support the president is heating up in Florida, and we looked at what that means in Southwest Florida in particular.

Republican Party leaders in Collier County and Lee County are not happy with Florida U.S. Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott. One went so far as to say Rubio needs to resign. Some local Republicans say, if you don’t speak up now, you don’t support the president.

A dozen Republican senators say they will object to certifying President-elect Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory. Not among them Rubio and Scott.

“I think that they should,” said Jonathan Martin, the chairman for the Lee County Republican Party. “I think that they should raise concerns, raise an objection, and raising the objection doesn’t mean Donald Trump is going to stay in power for four years. Raising an objection means there’s going to be a discussion.”

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnel doesn’t want that discussion and warned his fellow Republicans not to join the effort.

“If Mitch McConnel is saying that it’s tough because politicians are going to have to have their vote put on the record, I think if those politicians don’t like that, they should find another job,” Martin said.

This republican fight among the ranks comes just days after the president’s personal attempt to overturn the election. His hour-long phone call with Georgia’s secretary of state to find more votes is making headlines around the world.

“So look, all I want to do is this. I just want to find 11,780 votes, which is one more than we have because we won the state,” Trump is heard saying during the phone call. “You know what they did, and you’re not reporting it. That’s a, you know, that’s a criminal, that’s a criminal offense. And you know, you can’t let that happen.”

“Well, Mr. President, the challenge that you have is the data you have is wrong,” said Bradford Jay Raffensperger (R) Georgia secretary of state.

Martin defended the president. Martin says Trump is not trying to change the results of the election but trying to ensure the election we had was fair.

“I think the president has every right to advocate for his position for himself,” Martin said. “I don’t think that creating votes is good for either side. It doesn’t sound like the president was trying to get anybody to create votes.”

Joann Debartolo, who is on the committee for the Collier County Republican Party, told us she’s not surprised Sen. Rubio is not speaking up. That’s why she is calling for him to resign. As for Sen. Scott, she remains unsure.

In a statement to us, the office of Sen. Scott, said he, “is reviewing his options and will announce his decision at the appropriate time.”