New Election, Same Lie

In 2022, States United began tracking Election Deniers—those who falsely claimed that President Trump won the 2020 election or actively undermined the results of that election—that were running for statewide offices that have power over elections.

Many of the Election Deniers running in 2022 lost. Our own research found that by denying the 2020 results, those candidates paid a penalty at the ballot box. In some races, that penalty was the difference between winning and losing.

But in the years since, the election denial movement didn’t go away. With Trump’s return to power, the movement is more powerful than ever. Election Deniers are embedded in the White House, throughout the federal government, and, once again, running for state offices with power over elections.

Our new data released this week shows that six months out from this year’s midterm elections, there are Election Deniers running for statewide and congressional offices in at least half of all states across the country.

It’s important that voters know which candidates on their ballot will stand up for the integrity of American elections, especially since the winners of this year’s midterms will run and certify future elections. A good way to test for that is whether they stood up for free and fair elections in the past.

You can explore all the data at ElectionDeniers.org.

This Week in Democracy

• States United Action is tracking Election Deniers running for office in this year’s midterm elections. New data published this week on ElectionDeniers.org shows that candidates who have denied past election results are on the ballot in races for governor, attorney general, secretary of state, or Congress in half of all states across the country.

  “We’re six months out from the general election and Trump is already using election lies as a loyalty test,” said States United Research Director Kelly Rader. “As the midterm cycle progresses, our research will give voters a clear, data-driven view of whether candidates will stand up for our free and fair elections.”

  ➡️ EXPLORE: ElectionDeniers.org

• A federal judge in Georgia denied Fulton County’s legal effort to recover its 2020 election records seized by the FBI in January. The county is likely to appeal.

  The Justice Department also demanded information about every election worker and volunteer who helped administer the 2020 election in Georgia. The department’s demand came in a grand jury subpoena. Fulton County asked the judge in a court filing to dismiss the subpoena, writing that its purpose “is to target, harass, and punish the President’s perceived political opponents.”

  ➡️ READ: What’s Breaking Through About the Trump Administration’s 2020 Election Investigation

• Officials from Wayne County, Michigan, responded to the Justice Department’s demands for the county’s 2024 election records. Cathy M. Garrett, the county clerk, told Assistant U.S. Attorney General Harmeet Dhillon that not only does Michigan law forbid her from turning over election records to the department without the permission of a state board, but her office no longer has the records.

  ➡️ READ: Michigan Delivered an Accurate Election in 2020. DOJ Is Once Again Leaning on Disproven Claims.

• An appeals court heard arguments in Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s appeal of a judge’s order blocking disciplinary measures against U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly. Hegseth sought to punish Kelly, a retired U.S. Navy captain, for reminding members of the military and intelligence community that they have an obligation to refuse illegal orders in a video published late last year. Reports indicate that the judges seem likely to dismiss Hegseth’s appeal.

  States United and Protect Democracy represented more than 70 former military leaders and Vet Voice Foundation in filing a brief in the appeal, urging the court to uphold the ruling blocking the punitive measures against Kelly. Hegseth’s actions, if allowed to stand, “would chill public participation by veterans around the country,” the group wrote in the brief.

  ➡️ MORE: About our brief

• In an interview, acting U.S. Attorney Todd Blanche once again defended the idea of deploying armed federal immigration agents to voting locations, even though it would likely be illegal to do so under federal and state law—not to mention unpopular with voters: States United polling shows that Americans do not want agents at the polls in November.

  ➡️ READ: What’s Breaking Through About Deploying Federal Agents to Polling Places

• A federal trade court struck down more of Trump’s tariffs in a case brought by state attorneys general and importers. The court ruled that the president misused a federal law as the legal justification for the tariffs.

  “This is a win for both affordability and the rule of law,” Washington state Attorney General Nick Brown said in a statement. “It’s American consumers and businesses that have ultimately paid for the president’s illegal tariff campaign. The court’s order will encourage more parties to challenge this illegal executive overreach.”

  ➡️ READ: Sharing the Facts About the Limits of Presidential Power on Tariffs

State of the States

In Illinois, the state police department opened an investigation into the killing of a man by federal agents in September during the surge of immigration enforcement known as Operation Midway Blitz.

The investigation comes after the Illinois Accountability Commission, created by Gov. JB Pritzker, released its report last week detailing federal agents’ misconduct during their operations.

The man, Silverio Villegas González, was killed in Franklin Park, a suburb of Chicago. Franklin Park police asked state police to investigate after the commission’s report was released.

Federal agents have since decreased operations in Chicago, though some are still active. White House Border Czar Tom Homan said this week that the Trump administration will continue its deportation efforts.

➡️ READ: What’s Breaking Through About Federal Law Enforcement Tactics