More than 200 State Legislators in the ‘Fake Electors’ States Are Election Deniers

Washington, D.C. — States United Action today released new tracking that identifies Election Denier state legislators in the seven states at the center of the effort to overturn the 2020 presidential election. The research, conducted with support from the McCourtney Institute for Democracy at Penn State University, found 202 Election Deniers currently serving as state legislators in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.

“In our decentralized election system, state legislators have immense power to shape voting procedures and election administration. Election Deniers can—and are trying to—leverage this power to erode our democracy. And they’re doing it outside the spotlight of national politics,” said Joanna Lydgate, CEO of States United Action.

Election Deniers are a substantial political force in these state legislatures. In some cases, they make up more than a third of the body. Some serve in leadership positions and on committees that can introduce, shape, suppress, or kill election-related bills. And many of these Election Deniers have pushed bills that would add barriers to voting, promote election conspiracy theories, or otherwise interfere with nonpartisan election administration.

“We have to pay attention to the Election Denier movement on every front if we want voters to understand the picture,” said Thania Sanchez, SVP of Research at States United Action. “The record shows that Election Deniers in state legislatures pose a direct threat to our elections—through legislation, promotion of conspiracy theories on a public platform, and by their demonstrated failure to respect legitimate election results.”

Key Takeaways:

• 202 sitting legislators in these seven states are Election Deniers.
• In Arizona, 31 Election Deniers serve in the state legislature, making up 34% of the entire 90-person legislative body and part of the leadership in both chambers.
  • Nearly one-third of the Arizona House of Representatives—18 legislators—is made up of Election Deniers.
  • In the Arizona Senate, 13 Election Deniers make up 43% of the chamber.
• In Georgia, 33 Election Deniers serve in the General Assembly, making up 14% of the entire 236-person legislative body and part of the leadership in the Senate.
  • In the Georgia House of Representatives, 18 Election Deniers make up 10% of the chamber.
  • In the Georgia Senate, 15 Election Deniers make up 27% of the chamber.
• In Michigan, 31 Election Deniers serve in the state legislature, making up 21% of the 148-person body and part of the leadership in both chambers.
  • In the Michigan House of Representatives, 22 Election Deniers make up 20% of the chamber.
  • In the Michigan Senate, 10 Election Deniers make up 26% of the chamber.
• In Nevada, 2 Election Deniers serve in the state legislature—1 in the Assembly, and 1 in the Senate.
• In New Mexico, 3 Election Deniers serve in the state legislature, all in the House of Representatives.
• In Pennsylvania, 87 Election Deniers serve in the General Assembly, making up 34% of the entire 253-person legislative body and part of the leadership in both chambers.
  • Election Deniers make up nearly a third—64 members—of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives.
  • Election Deniers also make up nearly half—23 members—of the Pennsylvania Senate.
• In Wisconsin, 14 Election Deniers serve in the state legislature, making up 11% of the entire 132-person legislative body and part of the leadership in both chambers.
  • 10 Election Deniers make up 10% of the State Assembly.
  • 4 Election Deniers make up 12% of the State Senate.

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About States United Action

States United Action is a nonpartisan section 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization with a mission to protect our elections and our democracy. States United Action advocates for policies that protect election integrity, hold democracy violators accountable, and prevent political violence that threatens to undermine the will of the American people, and amplifies the voices of state leaders and law enforcement leaders who share these values.