Joe Biden was elected president of the United States on Nov. 7, 2020, defeating Donald Trump by a margin of 7.1 million votes and 74 electoral votes. Over the nearly two years since, Trump has been relentless in claiming the election was stolen from him amid widespread voter fraud.
These allegations have led to multiple high-profile investigations, recounts, and audits – and each one has failed to produce any compelling evidence to support the former president’s claims. Days after Biden’s electoral victory, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, a division of the Department of Homeland Security, declared the 2020 election to be the most secure in American history. And as recently as July 2022, a group of prominent conservative officials released a report concluding there was “absolutely no evidence of widespread fraud” in the 2020 election.
Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary, claims of a stolen election remain a rallying cry for many in the GOP, in addition to Trump himself. As the midterm elections draw near, there are nearly a dozen Republican candidates running for the U.S. Senate who have expressed doubt over, or denied outright, the legitimacy of the 2020 election. If they win in November, they will join eight sitting U.S. senators who have made similar claims – some of whom were on the ballot in 2020 and owe their political power to the results of the very election they condemn.
Reviewing public statements of political leaders compiled by Bloomberg, 24/7 Wall St. identified the U.S. senators and senatorial candidates who believe in election fraud. Many of the statements on this list were made in days and weeks leading up to the January 6 attack on the United States Capitol.
The politicians on this list have made statements that range in significance. Some have sympathized with the concerns of election deniers in their constituency, while others have gone so far as to allege that Biden’s presidency is illegitimate. They have used these statements to garner support from their base, and from Trump himself. (Here is a look at the companies bankrolling Congress members who did not certify the election.)
While this strategy has been largely effective in primary races across the country, whether or not it holds up in a general election remains to be seen. (Here is a look at America’s least popular senators.)
Click here to see politicians who got behind the stolen election lie.
1. Katie Britt, G.O.P. candidate for U.S. Senate in Alabama
> Election 2022: Running against Will Boyd (D) to fill the senate seat that will be vacated by Sen. Richard Shelby (R)
“I have said from the beginning we have to get to the bottom of 2020 so people have that confidence.” – Katie Britt, in the March 25, 2022 episode of Alabama Public Television’s Capitol Journal.
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2. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R) of Alabama
> Current term ends: 2027
“The election results are out of control. It’s like the whistle has blown, the game is over, and the players have gone home, but the referees are suddenly adding touchdowns to the other team’s side of the scoreboard.” – Sen. Tommy Tuberville, in a tweet posted Nov. 5, 2020.
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3. Kelly Tshibaka, G.O.P. candidate for U.S. Senate in Alaska
> Election 2022: Running against incumbent Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R) and candidate Patricia Chesbro (D)
“I think that the allegations that came up in the 2020 election just simply haven’t been looked into.” – Kelly Tshibaka, in an April 13, 2021 interview with David Brody on The Water Cooler.
4. Blake Masters, G.O.P. candidate for U.S. Senate in Arizona
> Election 2022: Running against incumbent Sen. Mark Kelly (D)
“I think Trump won in 2020.” – Blake Masters in a campaign ad.
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5. Sen. Rick Scott (R) of Florida
> Current term ends: 2025
“I’ve heard from constituents across Florida and across the country and I’ve listened to their concerns about the way this election was carried out.” – Sen. Rick Scott in a statement issued on Jan. 6, 2021.
6. Herschel Walker, G.O.P. candidate for U.S. Senate in Georgia
> Election 2022: Running against incumbent Sen. Raphael Warnock (D)
“Lin Wood’s tweets are eye opening along with Country wide election fraud. America needs a total cleansing only @realDonaldTrump can do with the help of TRUE PATRIOTS.” – Herschel Walker in a tweet posted on Jan. 4, 2021.
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7. Sen. Roger Marshall (R) of Kansas
> Current term ends: 2027
“The Electoral College is only as strong as the states who are entrusted to follow election laws.” – Sen. Roger Marshall in a tweet posted on Jan. 2, 2021.
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8. Sen. John Kennedy (R) of Louisiana
> Current term ends: 2023 (Seeking re-election)
“By any measure, the allegations of fraud and irregularities in the 2020 election exceed any in our lifetimes.” – Sen. John Kennedy in a statement issued on Jan. 2, 2021.
9. Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith (R) of Mississippi
> Current term ends: 2027
“The people I represent do not believe the presidential election was constitutional and cannot accept the Electoral College decision; therefore, I cannot in good conscience support certification.” – Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith in a statement issued on Jan. 6, 2021.
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10. Sen. Josh Hawley (R) of Missouri
> Current term ends: 2025
“Millions of voters concerned about election integrity deserve to be heard. I will object on January 6 on their behalf” – Sen. Josh Hawley in a tweet posted on Dec. 30, 2020.
11. Eric Schmitt, G.O.P. candidate for U.S. Senate in Missouri
> Election 2022: Running against Trudy Busch Valentine (D) to fill the senate seat that will be vacated by Sen. Roy Blunt (R)
“Election integrity is central to our republic. And I will defend it at every turn. As I have in other cases – I will help lead the effort in support of Texas’ #SCOTUS filing today.” – Sen. Eric Schmitt in a tweet posted on Dec. 8, 2020.
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12. Adam Laxalt, G.O.P. candidate for U.S. Senate in Nevada
> Election 2022: Running against incumbent Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (D)
“There’s no question they rigged the election.” – Adam Laxalt in a September 2021 radio interview.
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13. Don Bolduc, G.O.P. candidate for U.S. Senate in New Hampshire
> Election 2022: Running against incumbent Sen. Maggie Hassan (D)
“I’ve come to the conclusion, and I want to be definitive on this: The election was not stolen.” – Don Bolduc after winning his party’s nomination in the primary, directly contradicting his previously held position that Biden stole the election from Trump,.
14. Ted Budd, G.O.P. candidate for U.S. Senate in North Carolina
> Election 2022: Running against Cheri Beasley (D) to fill the senate seat that will be vacated by Sen. Richard Burr (R)
“Millions of Americans believe there were consequential problems in November’s presidential election.” – Ted Budd in a statement issued on Dec. 22, 2020.
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15. J.D. Vance, G.O.P. candidate for U.S. Senate in Ohio
> Election 2022: Running against Tim Ryan (D) to fill the senate seat that will be vacated by Sen. Rob Portman (R)
“There were certainly people voting illegally on a large-scale basis.” – J.D. Vance in an interview published on Oct. 23, 2021 in a daily newspaper in Youngstown, Ohio.
16. Markwayne Mullin, G.O.P. candidate for U.S. Senate in Oklahoma
> Election 2022: Running against Kendra Horn (D) to fill the senate seat that will be vacated by Jim Inhofe (R)
“@realDonaldTrump has been fighting for the American people since day 1. Now it’s our turn to fight for him. #StopTheSteal #FairElections” – Markwayne Mullin in a tweet posted on Nov. 6, 2020.
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17. Jo Rae Perkins, G.O.P. candidate for U.S. Senate in Oregon
> Election 2022: Running against incumbent Sen. Ron Wyden (D)
“We will not accept that people cheated to steal the election so they could destroy These United States of America.” – Jo Rae Perkins in a tweet posted on Dec. 15, 2020.
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> Current term ends: 2025
“By any measure, the allegations of fraud and irregularities in the 2020 election exceed any in our lifetimes.” – Sen. Ted Cruz in a statement issued on Jan. 2, 2021.
19. Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R) of Wyoming
> Current term ends: 2027
“The allegations of fraud during this election were unprecedented, and left millions of Americans concerned that their votes don’t count.” – Sen. Cynthia Lummis in a statement issued on Jan. 7, 2021.
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