중요외신 Sen. Mitch McConnell remains silent on Joe Biden's victory. a spokesman for McConnell referred The Courier Journal to the senator's statement Friday.

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Sen. Mitch McConnell remains silent on Joe Biden's victory

Emma Austin

Louisville Courier Journal

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As Democratic leaders in Kentucky congratulated President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on their historic win Saturday, Kentucky's Republicans remained silent. 

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell didn't acknowledge Biden's victory after the former vice president's win in Pennsylvania put him above the 270 electoral votes needed to win the 2020 presidential election. 

When asked for comment, a spokesman for McConnell referred The Courier Journal to the senator's statement Friday. 

"Here's how this must work in our great country: Every legal vote should be counted," McConnell wrote in a tweet Friday morning. "Any illegally-submitted ballots must not. All sides must get to observe the process. And the courts are here to apply the laws & resolve disputes. That's how Americans' votes decide the result."

Locally:From immigration to health care, how will a Biden presidency impact Kentucky?

At a press conference in Frankfort later Friday, McConnell said he didn't have any more to say about the election, refusing to address President Donald Trump's baseless claims of voter fraud in states he lost.

Kentucky's junior senator, Rand Paul, also stayed silent on social media Saturday, though he tweeted Friday morning saying fraud in an election with millions of mail ballots is "more likely not less."

A spokesperson for Paul did not respond to an email requesting comment Saturday.

Meanwhile across the country, other Republicans have offered congratulations to Biden and Harris, including Utah Sen. Mitt Romney.

"Ann and I extend our congratulations to President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris," Romney wrote in a tweet. "We know both of them as people of good will and admirable character. We pray that God may bless them in the days and years ahead."

Also:How some Kentucky leaders are reacting to Joe Biden being named president-elect of the U.S.

Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush also offered his congratulations on Twitter.

"Congratulations to President-elect Biden," Bush wrote. "I have prayed for our President most of my adult life. I will be praying for you and your success. Now is the time to heal deep wounds. Many are counting on you to lead the way."

Trump, who is known for his divisive rhetoric, refused to concede to Biden since the race was called Saturday. The president has instead vowed to forge ahead with legal challenges in several battleground states that helped the former vice president clinch the presidency.

In a series of tweets on Saturday, Trump insisted that he won the election and repeated baseless claims of fraud, accusing Democrats of "stealing" the election — a marked departure from the comments he made four years ago when he declared victory.