NOVEMBER LANDSCAPE: Nearly 200 Election Deniers Across 43 States are on Midterm Ballots

WASHINGTON — With the 2026 general election weeks away, States United Action today launched the final landscape of Election Deniers advancing in statewide and congressional elections this November. The research finds 197 Election Deniers on ballots this fall across 43 states. The analysis includes an expanded set of resources tracking the election denial movement’s growing reach: Election Denial on the Ballot: 2022 to 2026, Federal Statements: The Election Denier in Chief, and Federal Interference in Elections.

“We’re in the final sprint to this year’s midterm elections, and state and local election officials are working hard to process early ballots, finalize Election Day preparations, and ensure every eligible voter’s voice is heard. As Americans cast their ballots, we all need to be clear-eyed about the threat election denial poses to our democracy,” said Joanna Lydgate, CEO of States United Action. “The landscape may shift year after year, but the stakes remain too high to let our guard down: one Election Denier with power over our elections is one too many. Voters deserve elected officials who will defend their freedom to vote.”

The Election Denier landscape, as of October 5, 2026:

• Election Deniers are on the ballot in races for statewide or congressional office in 86% of states (43/50).
• There are 92 races for the statewide offices that oversee elections—governor, attorney general, and secretary of state—this year. At least 33 Election Deniers will be on the ballot this November in 21 states.
  • 17 Election Deniers are running for governor. 2 are incumbents.
  • 7 Election Deniers are running for secretary of state. None are incumbents.
  • 9 Election Deniers are running for attorney general. 3 are incumbents.
• There are races for 470 congressional seats this year. At least 164 Election Deniers will be on the ballot this November in 41 states.
  • 150 Election Deniers are running for U.S. House of Representatives. 115 are incumbents.
  • 14 Election Deniers are running for U.S. Senate. 4 are incumbents.
    • The winners will be among the people who will certify the 2028 presidential election results.

This update provides a broader view of the election denial movement heading into November with new resources:

• The 2022 vs. 2026 Election Denier Landscape: New analysis examining how the election denial movement has changed over time. The research finds that fewer Election Deniers are running for statewide and congressional office in this year’s midterms compared to 2022.
• Federal Statements: The Election Denier in Chief: New analysis documenting Trump’s promotion of false claims about elections since his return to office. The research shows 161 election denial-related public statements from November 14, 2024, through June 30, 2026, and breaks them down by core categories.
• Federal Interference in Elections: New resource documenting the Trump administration’s efforts to interfere in three critical parts of the election process—voter rolls, mail voting, and voting machines—and the efforts by states and local election officials to push back.

“Our 2026 research shows how deeply embedded the election denial movement is, even as fewer Election Deniers are running for office than we saw in 2022,” said Kelly Rader, Research Director at States United Action. “The numbers alone don’t tell the whole story. By providing a comprehensive analysis of who is running, what President Trump is saying, and what his administration is doing to interfere with elections, ElectionDeniers.org offers voters the full picture. The election denial movement is showing up across every facet of our democracy—from the ballot box to the White House.”

Review our full Election Denier data hub here. Our Election Denier tracking will be updated shortly after the November general election.

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About States United Action

States United Action is a nonpartisan 501(c)(4) organization with a mission to protect our elections and our democracy. We advocate for policies that protect elections and the rule of law, keep the public safe, and promote truthful information. Our mission is to protect free, fair, and secure elections administered in accordance with the law and amplify the voices of state and local officials and law enforcement leaders who share those values. For more information, visit statesunitedaction.org.