Today’s Links
Articles:
CNN – At least 10 Republican nominees for state elections chief have disputed the legitimacy of the 2020 election
Brennan Center for Justice – Financing of Races for Offices that Oversee Elections: August 2022
Center for Politics – Secretary of State Races: Election Deniers Carry GOP Banner in Several Key States
Groups Taking Action:
Brennan Center for Justice, Safeguarding Democracy Project, Campaign Legal Center
You’re listening to the American Democracy Minute, keeping YOUR government by and for the people.
For most state elections, the races for Secretary of State are not on most voters’ radar. Not this year. The pervasive Big Lie narrative that the election was stolen is being used by Secretary of State candidates to rile up the base and to raise money – on both sides of the issue.
CNN reports on Secretary of State candidates in 10 states who are, or have previously, espoused that the 2020 election was stolen. Some, like Arizona’s Mark Finchem and Massachusetts’ Rayla Campbell, are still advocating for reviews of the results, despite no legitimate evidence of irregularities.
The Brennan Center for Justice has looked at the fundraising totals in six of those ten states and reports that compared with past elections, money is pouring into Secretary of State races. In Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Minnesota, Nevada, and Wisconsin, the fundraising totals have doubled from 2018 levels to $16.3 Million dollars. Among 12 election-denying candidates, Brennan finds that they account for $7.3 million, while candidates who’ve spoken out supporting the security of elections raised $8.1 million dollars.
Stop the Steal donors like former Overstock CEO Patrick Byrne and Uline founder Richard Uihlein, are actively contributing to multiple election-denying Secretary of State races, too.
CNN and the Brennan Center’s reports can be found at AmericanDemocracyMinute.org
“Granny D said, Democracy is not something we have, it’s something we do.”
For the American Democracy Minute, I’m Brian Beihl.