Retail politics: Josh Hawley and Walmart clash after senator vows to object to electors

Republican Sen. Josh Hawley called out Walmart after the company’s Twitter account rebuked him for announcing his intention to object to the Electoral College certification.

Hawley announced on Wednesday his plan to object during the Jan. 6 joint session of Congress, and Walmart’s brand account responded by calling him a “#soreloser,” according to a screenshot of the tweet.

The now-deleted tweet reads: “Go ahead. Get your 2 hour debate. #soreloser.” Kyle Plotkin, Hawley’s chief of staff, tweeted at Walmart asking if the company can “explain this one?”

“The tweet was mistakenly posted by a member of our social media team who intended to publish this comment to their personal account,” Casey Staheli, Walmart’s senior manager, told the Washington Examiner. “We have removed the post and have no intention of commenting on the subject of certifying the electoral college. We apologize to Senator Hawley for this error and any confusion about our position.”

Hawley responded to Walmart, saying: “Thanks ⁦@Walmart⁩ for your insulting condescension. Now that you’ve insulted 75 million Americans, will you at least apologize for using slave labor?”

He added: “Or maybe you’d like to apologize for the pathetic wages you pay your workers as you drive mom and pop stores out of business.”

During the joint congressional meeting, Congress will certify President-elect Joe Biden’s presidency. Under the rules of the Electoral Count Act, which dates back to 1887, an objection will only be heard if a member of both chambers each object in writing. If that happens, the chambers will each hold a two-hour debate, and they will then vote to accept or reject the challenged electoral votes, Politico reported.

Hawley became the first senator to confirm his intention to object despite Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s insistence that his caucus not support the challenge. Several House Republicans have said they plan to challenge it. Biden is set to be inaugurated on Jan. 20, 2021.

Congress members objecting during this certification step is not unprecedented. Democrats have attempted this maneuver twice since the turn of the century, but neither was successful because a member of the Senate did not sign on to either.