Amid winter storm, House Speaker asked lawmakers to stay in DC to certify election

WASHINGTON − House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., on Sunday urged lawmakers to stay in Washington D.C. to avoid a delay in certifying the 2024 presidential election results amid a major winter storm that hit the nation's capital early Monday.

"I hope we have full attendance,” Johnson said on Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures.” “We have got a big snowstorm coming to D.C. and we encouraged all of our colleagues: do not leave town, stay here.”

The Electoral Count Act requires Congress to certify presidential results on January 6 at 1 p.m., Johnson said. Donald Trump won the 2024 presidential election against Vice President Kamala Harris, who will preside over the certification.

Washington D.C. is expected to receive about 6 to 12 inches of snow, according to the National Weather Service. In addition, federal offices in Washington were closed Monday, according to the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.

While four years ago a mob of Trump supporters attempted to stop the 2020 presidential election results from being formalized, Monday’s certification process is expected to go smoothly − despite the snowstorm. 

“Whether we're in a blizzard or not, we are going to be in that chamber making sure this is done,” Johnson said. “President Trump had a mandate, a landslide…we cannot delay that certification. He deserves that.”