Butler County Democratic Party volunteers Saturday protest U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly's continued efforts to dispute November's election results Saturday at Butler Commons. Organizers gathered at intersection of Route 228 and Route 19 near the Butler Commons. Protests were also held in Cranberry Township Saturday and at Butler's Diamond Park Friday.

Around two dozen or so Butler County Democratic Party members took to the streets over the weekend to show their opposition to U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly, R-16th, and his efforts to challenge November's election results.

Some protestors questioned the Butler congressman's focus on the election rather than the needs of his constituents during the coronavirus pandemic. Others expressed fear that his continued challenges could undermine trust in future U.S. elections.

Some even carried signs calling for Kelly, who won a sixth term in Congress on Nov. 3, to step down.

“Kelly is trying to nullify the election,” Ron Lalonde of Harmony said, standing along Route 228 at the intersection of Route 19 in Cranberry Township. “This shouldn't be normalized. They are trying to destroy democracy.”

A staunch supporter of President Donald Trump, Kelly has been a lead plaintiff in legal attempts to upend the results of last month's election, which have declared Democrat Joe Biden the winner of the presidency.On Nov. 21, he sued in Pennsylvania appellate courts to have the 2.5 million mail-in ballots thrown out, arguing that the state legislature lacked authority to act on its own in 2019 when it expanded the availability of remote voting.But ultimately, the state Supreme Court nixed the suit, ruling that Kelly and his fellow plaintiffs waited too long to bring the legal action.Kelly next went to the U.S. Supreme Court, which on Dec. 8 rejected his bid for an emergency appeal on the same election challenge.On Dec. 11, he and seven other Republicans filed a writ of certiorari, asking the nation's highest court to hear their argument that the state's no-excuse, mail-in law — known as Act 77 — is unconstitutional.The anti-Kelly protest Saturday started with a gathering at Butler Commons in Butler Township with a second protest along Route 228. Roughly 20 to 30 local Democrats took part in the Butler event with a smaller number moving to Cranberry.

Protesters were greeted by a combination of honks for support and occasional expletive-laden support for Trump — mostly from younger motorists.Jennifer Graham-Rainey, a lifelong Republican who switched parties following the 2016 election, said Kelly's latest actions are another reminder of the direction she says her former party has gone.“They lost their honor and integrity,” Graham-Rainey said, questioning whether her tax dollars were being used to fund Kelly's lawsuit.“That's why I'm out here,” she said.Butler County Democratic Party chairwoman Catherine Lalonde organized Saturday's protest. She said that she, too, is concerned about the nation's ability to move forward and questioned Kelly's priorities, saying she believes the congressman and other Republicans are continuing their election challenges to maintain the support of Trump voters.“It's incited millions to believe the election was a fraud,” she said, calling for people to accept the results. “Even (Attorney General) Bill Barr has come out and said there is no evidence.”Another smaller anti-Kelly protest occurred Friday at Diamond Park in downtown Butler.

Butler Democratic Party chair Katherine Lalonde (right) joins protesters objecting to U.S. Rep. Mike Kelly's continued efforts to challenge mail-in balloting policy at a protest in Cranberry Saturday. Organizers held protest at Butler Commons and at the intersection of Route 228 and Route 19. A smaller protest also occured at Butler's Diamond Park Friday.

Protestors gathered in Diamond Park Friday afternoon to protest Republican Congressman Mike Kelly's attempt to dismiss mail-in ballots.