A Good Day for Democracy
States United Democracy Center
A bipartisan organization advancing free, fair, and secure elections. Democracy needs back-up, that's where we come in.
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A Good Day for Democracy
It was the biggest trend of this election year: Across the country, 141 Election Deniers ran for governor, attorney general, or secretary of state. Each of them had undermined trust in our elections. Each of them wanted the power to oversee elections in the future.
Many were sent packing in the primaries—often by Republican incumbents who refused to endorse the Big Lie. But dozens advanced to the general election. Election Deniers were on the ballot in?more than half the country .
On Tuesday, voters had the final say. And they made clear that they?believe in free and fair elections. They won’t accept statewide officials who ignore the will of the people and pick the winners themselves.
Election Deniers were rejected in state after state, including a clean sweep in races for statewide offices that oversee elections in Michigan, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin.
“You showed up because you saw our democracy was on the brink of existence,” Wisconsin Gov.?Tony Evers?told supporters ?after he fended off an Election Denier challenge. “And you decided to do a damn thing about it.”
As of early Friday, out of 94 races this year for governor, attorney general, and secretary of state, only five non-incumbent Election Deniers had won their races,?according to States United Action . Nine others were already sitting elected officials in red states.
It was a resounding win for democracy. Of course, even one Election Denier is too many. And scores of other Election Deniers did win races for Congress and in state legislatures. The lies these candidates spread?did real damage , and that can’t be left unaddressed. We must continue telling the truth and combatting the lies about our election system and election officials who are conducting free, fair, secure elections in the face of threats.
So the fight goes on. Not just in two years, but now. When Election Deniers hold office and try to ignore the will of the people and break the law, we must hold them accountable—shining a light on what they say and do, calling them out, and taking them to court.
We can do that while still celebrating the overwhelming judgment of the American people: They’re fed up with the lies about our elections. They want the will of the people to prevail. This week, we can all be grateful that it did.
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State of the States
In Arizona, Election Denier candidates made irresponsible claims about the election while the votes were still being counted. Abraham Hamadeh, running for attorney general,?tried to claim victory ?before the results were clear. Kari Lake, the Election Denier running for governor, talked about “cheaters and crooks ” in her Election Night speech. And Mark Finchem, a candidate for secretary of state, floated?unfounded ?conspiracy theories ?about the count.
In Georgia, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich must appear before the special grand jury investigating interference in the 2020 election,?a judge ruled . Fani Willis, the Fulton County district attorney, is seeking Gingrich’s testimony as part of a wide-ranging investigation into efforts by Trump allies to overturn the election results in Georgia. In?a petition to the judge ?overseeing the special grand jury, Willis said that Gingrich was involved in a plan to run TV ads that relied on false claims of election fraud. She said her request was based on information made public by the House January 6 Select Committee. Separately, a South Carolina judge said in a written order this week that Mark Meadows, the former White House chief of staff, must testify before the special grand jury.
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In the News
The New York Times:?Election Denial Didn’t Play as Well as Republicans Hoped . By Nick Corasaniti, Reid J. Epstein and Jonathan Weisman
“The voters stepped up to defend democracy,” said?Joanna Lydgate, the chief executive of?States United Action, a nonpartisan election group. “In most places, Americans decisively rejected election deniers who wanted power over their votes.”
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TIME:?Election Deniers Were Among the Biggest Losers of the 2022 Midterms . By Charlotte Alter
“When it comes to the statewide positions that control our elections, Americans pretty decisively rejected the election deniers who wanted power of their votes,” says?Joanna Lydgate, CEO of?States United Action. “Really very few of these folks have been successful.”
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WBUR:?Election deniers: The winners and losers . Here & Now?
“Here & Now's Peter O'Dowd talks with?Joanna Lydgate, president of the non-profit?States United Action, which has been tracking these election deniers seeking to hold office and have the power to run future elections.”
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The Washington Post:?Key election deniers concede defeat after disputing Trump’s 2020 loss . By Emma Brown and Amy Gardner
“In a number of cases, the losing candidates conceded their races Wednesday, opting not to follow a precedent that Trump had set and that scholars had feared could become a troubling new norm of American democracy.”
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The Associated Press:?VoteCast: Inflation top concern, but democracy a worry too . By Josh Boak and Hannah Fingerhut
“Just as Republicans had hoped, high inflation was the top consideration for voters in the midterm elections, AP VoteCast shows. But the survey reveals that a core issue for President Joe Biden, the survival of democracy, also weighed heavily on voters’ minds, as control of Congress — and a choice between sharply contrasting visions of America — hung in the balance.”
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Vox:?The midterms showed American democracy won’t go down without a fight . By Zack Beauchamp
“…Republicans who denied the legitimacy of the 2020 election seem to have performed particularly poorly. At the state level, where the actual power to disrupt future elections lies, Democrats are very close to running the table. … When you combine these results with Georgia, where Republican Gov. Brian Kemp and Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger held on despite resisting Trump’s attempt to alter the vote total in 2020, the picture for 2024 suddenly looks far rosier for small-d democracy than expected.”
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The Arizona Republic:?Despite judge’s order, Cochise County officials proceed with plans for a full hand count of ballots . By Mary Jo Pitzl
“Cochise County officials are proceeding with a hand count of every ballot cast in Tuesday's election, despite a court ruling that bars them from doing so. Meanwhile, the Board of Supervisors on Wednesday authorized its attorney to appeal that ruling to the Arizona Supreme Court, complicating the timeline for when — or if — the controversial count would actually happen.”
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Reuters:?Arizona, Nevada election officials count ballots under high security . By Tim Reid and Ned Parker
“Arizona and Nevada security officials remained on high alert on Wednesday for election-related protests and allegations of voter fraud, as they prepared for days of ballot counting to determine final results in key races for governor and U.S. Senate.”
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Detroit Free Press:?Michigan has unofficial 2022 election results. Here's what happens next. By Clara Hendrickson
“Once counties have certified their results, the state board reviews the vote totals from all 83 counties in Michigan and certifies statewide races and those races that cross county lines. This year, the Board of State Canvassers has until Nov. 28 to certify the midterm election results. Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson said she predicts quick resolution if a county fails to certify its results or the state board deadlocks.”
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Video of the Week!
HBO’s “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver” cited States United in a?breakdown of election subversion of all kinds . The episode aired before this week’s midterms, but it includes themes that remain as threats to our democracy.
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About the States United Democracy Center
The States United Democracy Center is a nonpartisan organization advancing free, fair, and secure elections. We focus on connecting state officials, law enforcement leaders, and pro-democracy partners across America with the tools and expertise they need to safeguard our democracy. We are more than a think tank—we are an action tank. And together, we are committed to making sure every vote is counted, every voice is heard, and every election is safe. To learn more, visit?www.statesuniteddemocracy.org .
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. To learn more, visit?www.statesuniteddemocracy.org/states-united-action.
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Graduate student in Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Iowa.
2 年I did my share of door-to-door, poll watching, and signature comparisons. I honestly felt that my presence changed the behavior of some other people around me on election day. Although the results came short of what I wanted, every election I learn more and make note of adjustments to make for next time.
Contact Tracer and Case Investigator at Public Consulting Group
2 年I have read a couple of these postings and they are excellent. I have to admit that I heaved a sigh of deep relief as I saw the election results pour in on Tuesday. Our democracy is safe - for the moment. The lessons from 2020 and 2022 are simple and straightforward. Democracy is fragile and it takes vigilance and hard work to maintain it. Those who tried to destroy democracy have not disappeared. They will be back and we have to be ready for them.