Trump-Biden transition updates: Trump pushes voter conspiracies at Ga. rally

The president was in Georgia to campaign for the senatorial runoff races.

Last Updated: December 7, 2020, 11:41 AM EST

President Donald Trump is slated to hand over control of the White House to President-elect Joe Biden in 45 days.

Dec 06, 2020, 8:23 PM EST

Biden expected to nominate California AG Xavier Becerra for HHS secretary

President-elect Joe Biden is expected to announce California Attorney General Xavier Becerra as his nominee for secretary of Health and Human Services in the coming days, according to three sources familiar with his plans. 

The selection of Becerra, who served 12 terms in Congress and was a member of House Democratic leadership before his appointment to replace Kamala Harris as California's top law enforcement official, comes as Biden's campaign has faced criticism from the Congressional Hispanic Caucus and Latino advocacy groups about the diversity of his future cabinet.

Becerra, who has taken on the Trump administration over immigration, health care, gun control and environmental rules in over 100 lawsuits, was thought to be a potential attorney general nominee for Biden, or even a successor to Harris in the Senate next year. 

The Congressional Hispanic Caucus encouraged Biden's senior aides to consider Becerra for that post, and New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham for the role of Health and Human Services secretary, in a call earlier this week, where members criticized Biden's transition over leaks regarding Lujan Grisham being offered another post in the incoming administration. 

Should he be confirmed by the Senate, Becerra would take a leading role in the Biden administration's coronavirus response efforts. 

Becerra, the son of Mexican immigrants, would be the first Latino to lead the department, and the second Latino nominated to serve in Biden's cabinet, after Alejandro Mayorkas, a Cuban immigrant and Biden's pick to lead the Department of Homeland Security.

A Biden transition spokesperson declined to comment on the planned announcement. Becerra's office did not immediately respond to messages seeking comment.

-ABC News' Benjamin Siegel, Katherine Faulders and Molly Nagle.

Dec 06, 2020, 5:05 PM EST

Durbin says focus should be on coronavirus relief, not election results

As many Republicans refuse to accept a Biden victory, Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., said the focus should be on the coronavirus relief package.

“Joe Biden is going to be sworn in as the next president," he said on ABC's "This Week" Sunday. "I hope we don’t get embroiled in that debate further."

In a separate interview, however, Sen. Mike Braun, R-Ind., refused to acknowledge Biden's election win, despite the mounting legal losses and Republican-led states certifying results in the Democrat's favor.

"We've got a process and I think we have been going through it since the election, and it's going to play itself out," Braun told ABC News Chief Anchor GeorgeStephanopoulos.

Dec 06, 2020, 10:42 AM EST

Raffensperger: 'We as Republicans didn't turn out enough voters'

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said he was disappointed that Trump didn't win in Georgia, but said there's been no evidence of systemic fraud.

"At the end of the day, we as Republicans didn't turn out enough voters. Our office, as secretary of state, is really just to look at what those votes totals were, and we report the results. And that's why it gets back to the state party (that) didn't do their job, didn't raise enough money and didn't turn out enough people," Raffensperger told ABC News Chief Anchor George Stephanopoulos on "This Week." Sunday.

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is interviewed on "This Week."
5:13

'The people of Georgia spoke in this election': Georgia secretary of state

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger is interviewed on "This Week."

Dec 05, 2020, 9:06 PM EST

Trump pushes Loeffler, Perdue among criticism of presidential election

In a meandering, nearly two-hour speech -- speckled with baseless claims of voter fraud, misleading statements about court cases and assertions he will be serving a second term -- President Donald Trump pushed for Georgians to get out on Jan. 5 for the runoff election that could determine control of the Senate.

With 48 Democrats (and liberal independents) and 50 Republicans, wins from Sens. Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue would lock up another two years of GOP control. If their opponents, Rev. Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, respectively, win then Vice President-elect Kamala Harris would cast the deciding vote.

"Georgia patriots must show up and vote for these two incredible people," Trump said. "And I'm telling you, they're two of the finest people you'll ever meet. We can fight for the presidency and fight to elect our two great senators."

Republican Sens. David Perdue and Kelly Loeffler look on ahead of President Donald Trump hosting a campaign event with Perdue and Loeffler at Valdosta Regional Airport in Valdosta, Ga., Dec. 5, 2020.
Dustin Chambers/Reuters

Trump spoke out against Republicans boycotting the runoff, saying the "radical left" would win if that happened.

The president tied the Democratic candidates to regular conservative targets like Sen. Elizabeth Warren, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and even Beto O'Rourke. He also repeatedly attacked Stacey Abrams, a former Georgia governor candidate, who helped organize Democratic voters and swing the state blue.

At one point, Trump even went on a tangent saying he did not want to attend the rally and didn't like helping other people. Oddly, he never explained what changed his mind.

"David and Kelly called and said, 'Will you do a rally?' I said, 'Not really,'" Trump regaled the crowd, referring to staffers coming to him to ask about doing the rally. "I said -- when they asked -- I don't do it for other people. It's a lot of work to do a rally."

President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally for Senate Republican candidates, Sen. Kelly Loeffler, R-Ga., and Sen. David Perdue, R-Ga., at Valdosta Regional Airport, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2020, in Valdosta, Ga.
Evan Vucci/AP

Loeffler and Perdue were finally invited on stage to speak over an hour into the president's rally. Each spoke for only a minute or two before Trump took the microphone again.

Trump then went back to discussing the alleged transgressions against him in the presidential race. He went on to show a lengthy video of right-wing news media touting already debunked claims of fraud.