Trump Certified as President, Faith Spotted Eagle Gets a Vote
But some House Democrats tried unsuccessfully to block some votes.
— -- A joint session of Congress certified the electoral vote Friday afternoon, officially ending the 2016 presidential race and electing Donald Trump the next president of the United States.
Trump was projected to get 306 electoral votes after the popular vote, but two electors defected, giving him 304 — still more than the 270 needed to win the presidency.
Two Trump electors from Texas cast their ballots instead for Ohio Gov. John Kasich and former Rep. Ron Paul.
Hillary Clinton was supposed to receive 232 electoral votes, but five electors defected, including one from Washington state who cast a ballot for Faith Spotted Eagle, a Native American leader from South Dakota who has led the opposition to the controversial Dakota Access oil pipeline. Four others cast their votes for former Secretary of State Colin Powell and Sen. Bernie Sanders.
Several House Democrats attempted to protest some of the electoral votes, though none were successful, because no U.S. senators joined the complaints.
"There is no debate. There is no debate," Vice President Joe Biden said repeatedly, banging his gavel over members who continued trying to speak. "It is over," he said at one point, visibly frustrated.
Protesters shouted in the gallery as Biden tried to announce the result of the vote.
Final certified tally:
Donald Trump, 304
Hillary Clinton, 227
Colin Powell, 3
John Kasich, 1
Ron Paul, 1
Bernie Sanders, 1
Faith Spotted Eagle, 1