There were many protesters but few faithless electors as Donald Trump won the Electoral College vote on Monday, ensuring that the billionaire will become America’s 45th president.
Trump surpassed the 270 electoral votes needed from 538 electors casting their ballots, in a day of normally ceremonial voting that drew attention amid intense social media pressure and protests in state capitols.
Despite a last-minute push by outside progressive and Libertarian groups, there was no rebellion. In fact, most of the “faithless” electors appeared to be Hillary Clinton defectors in Washington state, with three voting for former secretary of State Colin Powell and one for Faith Spotted Eagle, a Native American an environmental activist. Two Texas GOP electors went rogue and didn’t vote for Trump.
The meetings, which occur more than a month after the Nov. 8 election, are typically a formality. This year, Trump critics mounted a vocal campaign appealing to the Republican electors pledged to vote for him. The official results of the vote will be announced before Congress on Jan. 6, although the results from each state were released throughout the day Monday.
