States of Denial: Tracking Election Deniers in Key State Legislatures
Updated March 13, 2024
Voters elect more than 7,000 state legislators across the United States. In a system like ours, where elections are run by individual states, that means state legislators have immense power to determine voting procedures and shape how elections are administered. Among the many laws they take up in any given year are those governing elections. When they serve in state legislatures, Election Deniers can leverage this power to erode our democracy—and do so outside the spotlight of national politics.
This resource identifies the Election Deniers serving as legislators in seven states—Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin—using data collected by States United Action and the McCourtney Institute for Democracy. These seven states were the focal points of the effort to overturn the 2020 presidential election. As a result, they also became centers of the Election Denier movement, and hotbeds of election lies and misinformation.
In total, we found that 201 sitting legislators in these seven states are Election Deniers.
Understanding The Threat
In some state legislatures, Election Deniers are a substantial political force: They make up a third of the Arizona legislature and nearly half of the Pennsylvania Senate. In other states, Election Deniers represent a much smaller share of the legislature. But even in small numbers, Election Deniers in state legislatures can have outsized impact. Some serve in leadership positions. Others sit on committees that can introduce, shape, suppress, or kill election-related bills.
Regardless of the positions they hold in their respective legislatures, Election Deniers in recent years have introduced or cosponsored numerous bills that would add barriers to voting, enable investigations of voters, promote election conspiracy theories, make it harder for nonpartisan election officials to do their jobs, or otherwise interfere with the routine functioning of elections.
In Arizona in 2023, an Election Denier legislator sponsored a bill that would have allowed for full hand counts of ballots, which subject election results to human error and fatigue. Another Election Denier legislator offered a bill that would make ballot images and voters’ personal information public. In Pennsylvania, Election Deniers sponsored and cosponsored a bill requiring the state to create a hotline for election fraud, which is practically nonexistent. In Wisconsin, seven Election Deniers cosponsored a constitutional amendment proposing to restrict funding for election offices by banning donations. These are just a few examples of many. And even when bills like these fail, they erode public confidence in elections and allow election disinformation to spread.
Some Election Deniers in state legislatures have taken their efforts even further. After the 2020 election, state legislators were among those who supported President Trump’s attempt to overrule the decision of the voters and remain in power. And three Election Deniers who are now state legislators joined the effort outright by serving as fake electors—signing their names to official-looking documents falsely claiming that Trump was the rightful winner in their states.
This combined record shows that Election Deniers in state legislatures are a threat to current and future elections, either by their actions as legislators, by promoting disinformation and conspiracy theories, or by their demonstrated failure to respect legitimate election results.
Arizona
In Arizona, 31 Election Deniers serve in the state legislature, making up 34% of the 90-person body and part of the leadership in both chambers.
Nearly one-third of the members of the Arizona House of Representatives—18 legislators—are Election Deniers. 11 of them ran unopposed in their last election, and 7 were new to the chamber in 2023.
In the Arizona Senate, 13 Election Deniers make up 43% of the chamber. 3 ran uncontested in their last election, and 9 of them were new to the body in 2022.
Election Deniers in Leadership
Election Deniers also hold critical positions of power within both chambers of the legislature, which allows them to influence how elections are run.
In the House, 2 Election Deniers hold party leadership roles, 5 are committee chairs, and 5 are vice chairs of election-related committees.
In the Senate, 2 Election Deniers hold party leadership roles, 6 are committee chairs, and 6 are vice chairs of election-related committees.
Key Examples
Election Deniers make up nearly half of the Arizona House’s Municipal Oversight & Elections Committee and half of the Senate Elections Committee—and in each, they hold the chair and vice chair positions. These committees were instrumental in passing Arizona’s SB 1471, which could have opened the door to full hand counts of ballots, a method that increases errors and delays. The bill was later vetoed by Gov. Katie Hobbs.
Other bills sponsored or cosponsored by Election Denier legislators in Arizona would have made voters’ personal information public, made ballot images public, blocked the canvass of some election results, limited the use of ballot tabulators, and added barriers to mail voting.
Two Election Denier legislators from Arizona were fake electors in 2020. They signed an official looking document declaring themselves “duly elected and qualified” electors for Trump, even though President Biden had carried the state.
You can find out how many Election Deniers represent Arizona in Congress, and where they hold and are running for statewide office in the state, on ElectionDeniers.org.
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Rep. Selina Bliss - District 1
Rep. Bliss could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Arizona House Appropriations Committee
- Arizona House Judiciary Committee (vice chair)
You can view evidence of Rep. Bliss’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Quang Nguyen - District 1
Rep. Nguyen could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Arizona House Appropriations Committee
- Arizona House Judiciary Committee (chair)
You can view evidence of Rep. Nguyen’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Justin Wilmeth - District 2
Rep. Wilmeth could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- None
You can view evidence of Rep. Wilmeth’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Joseph Chaplik - District 3
Rep. Chaplik could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Arizona House Appropriations Committee (vice chair)
You can view evidence of Rep. Chaplik’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Alexander Kolodin - District 3
Rep. Kolodin could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Arizona House Judiciary Committee
- Arizona House Municipal Oversight & Elections Committee (vice chair)
You can view evidence of Rep. Kolodin’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. David Cook - District 7
Rep. Cook could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- None
You can view evidence of Rep. Cook’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Travis Grantham - District 14
Rep. Grantham could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Arizona House Rules Committee (chair)
- Arizona House Ways & Means Committee
Rep. Grantham is also a member of the Arizona House leadership. He is the House Speaker Pro Tempore.
You can view evidence of Rep. Grantham’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Jacqueline Parker - District 15
Rep. Parker could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Arizona House Municipal Oversight & Elections Committee (chair)
You can view evidence of Rep. Parker’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Rachel Jones - District 17
Rep. Jones could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Arizona House Government Committee
- Arizona House Municipal Oversight & Elections Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Jones’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Gail Griffin - District 19
Rep. Griffin could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Arizona House Rules Committee (vice chair)
You can view evidence of Rep. Griffin’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Tim Dunn - District 25
Rep. Dunn could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Arizona House Appropriations Committee
- Arizona House Government Committee (chair)
You can view evidence of Rep. Dunn’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Kevin Payne - District 27
Rep. Payne could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Arizona House Government Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Payne’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. David Livingston - District 28
Rep. Livingston could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Arizona House Appropriations Committee (chair)
- Arizona House Ways & Means Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Livingston’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Beverly Pingerelli - District 28
Rep. Pingerelli could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- None
You can view evidence of Rep. Pingerelli’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Steve Montenegro - District 29
Rep. Montenegro could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Arizona House Government Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Montenegro’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Austin Smith - District 29
Rep. Smith could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Arizona House Municipal Oversight & Elections Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Smith’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Leo Biasiucci - District 30
Rep. Biasiucci could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Arizona House Judiciary Committee
- Arizona House Rules Committee
Rep. Biasiucci is also a member of the Arizona House leadership. He is the House Majority Leader.
You can view evidence of Rep. Biasiucci’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. John Gillette - District 30
Rep. Gillette could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Arizona House Government Committee (vice chair)
You can view evidence of Rep. Gillette’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. Ken Bennett - District 1
Sen. Bennett could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Arizona Senate Appropriations Committee
- Arizona Senate Elections Committee (vice chair)
You can view evidence of Sen. Bennett’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. Shawnna Bolick - District 2
Sen. Bolick could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- None
You can view evidence of Sen. Bolick’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. John Kavanagh - District 3
Sen. Kavanagh could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Arizona Senate Appropriations Committee (chair)
- Arizona Senate Elections Committee
- Arizona Senate Judiciary Committee (vice chair)
You can view evidence of Sen. Kavanagh’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. Wendy Rogers - District 7
Sen. Rogers could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Arizona Senate Elections Committee (chair)
- Arizona Senate Government Committee (vice chair)
- Arizona Senate Judiciary Committee
You can view evidence of Sen. Rogers’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. David Farnsworth - District 10
Sen. Farnsworth could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Arizona Senate Appropriations Committee
- Arizona Senate Government Committee
- Arizona Senate Transportation, Technology, and Missing Children Committee (chair)
You can view evidence of Sen. Farnsworth’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. Warren Petersen - District 14
Sen. Petersen could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Arizona Senate Rules Committee (chair)
You can view evidence of Sen. Petersen’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. Jake Hoffman - District 15
Sen. Hoffman could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Arizona Senate Appropriations Committee (vice chair)
- Arizona Senate Government Committee (chair)
- Arizona Senate Transportation, Technology, and Missing Children Committee
You can view evidence of Sen. Hoffman’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. Justine Wadsack - District 17
Sen. Wadsack could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Arizona Senate Appropriations Committee
- Arizona Senate Government Committee
- Arizona Senate Judiciary Committee
You can view evidence of Sen. Wadsack’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. David Gowan - District 19
Sen. Gowan could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- None
You can view evidence of Sen. Gowan’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. Anthony Kern - District 27
Sen. Kern could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Arizona Senate Appropriations Committee
- Arizona Senate Judiciary Committee (chair)
- Arizona Senate Transportation, Technology, and Missing Children Committee
You can view evidence of Sen. Kern’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. Frank Carroll - District 28
Sen. Carroll could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Arizona Senate Transportation, Technology, and Missing Children Committee (vice chair)
You can view evidence of Sen. Carroll’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. Janae Shamp - District 29
Sen. Shamp could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Arizona Senate Government Committee
You can view evidence of Sen. Shamp’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. Sonny Borrelli - District 30
Sen. Borrelli could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Arizona Senate Elections Committee
- Arizona Senate Rules Committee (vice chair)
Sen. Borrelli is also a member of the Arizona Senate leadership. He is the Senate Majority Leader.
You can view evidence of Sen. Borrelli’s Election Denial here.
Tracking Gaps
During our review of Arizona legislators, there was not enough available data to definitively assess Election Denial beliefs or actions of 4 House members and 4 state senators, either because of gaps in their recorded online activity after the 2020 election or because they generally lack a public presence online across social media and local news coverage.
Georgia
In Georgia, 33 Election Deniers serve in the General Assembly, making up 14% of the body. Election Deniers also make up part of the leadership in the Senate.
In the Georgia House of Representatives, 18 Election Deniers make up 10% of the chamber. 12 of them ran unopposed in their last election, and 1 was new to the chamber in 2023.
In the Georgia Senate, 15 Election Deniers make up 27% of the chamber. 9 of them ran uncontested in their last election, and 3 were new to the body in 2023.
Election Deniers in Leadership
Election Deniers also hold critical positions of power within both chambers of the state legislature, which allows them to influence how elections are run.
In the House, 1 Election Denier is a committee chair. In the Senate, 4 Election Deniers hold party leadership roles, 3 are committee chairs, and 3 are committee vice-chairs in election-related committees.
Key Examples
Six Election Deniers in the Georgia legislature cosponsored a bill, later signed into law, that restricted funding for election offices by expanding a prohibition on private donations.
The Assembly’s Election Deniers have also engaged in dangerous election-denying activities outside the legislature. Five members of the House and 10 members of the Senate supported a lawsuit that attempted to overturn lawful election results in other states. One senator served as a fake Georgia presidential elector in the seven-state scheme that sought to overturn Trump’s loss in 2020.
You can find out how many Election Deniers represent Georgia in Congress, and where they hold and are running for statewide office in the state, on ElectionDeniers.org.
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Rep. Mitchell Horner - District 3
Rep. Horner could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Georgia House Intragovernmental Coordination Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Horner’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Jason Ridley - District 6
Rep. Ridley could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Georgia House Appropriations Committee
- Georgia House Ways and Means Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Ridley’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Rick Jasperse - District 11
Rep. Jasperse could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Georgia House Appropriations Committee
- Georgia House Rules Committee (secretary)
- Georgia House Technology and Infrastructure Innovation Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Jasperse’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Mitchell Scoggins - District 14
Rep. Scoggins could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Georgia House Judiciary Committee
- Georgia House Special Rules Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Scoggins’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Trey Kelley - District 16
Rep. Kelley could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Georgia House Judiciary Committee
- Georgia House Ways and Means Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Kelley’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Martin Momtahan - District 17
Rep. Momtahan could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Georgia House Appropriations Committee
- Georgia House Special Rules Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Momtahan’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Lee Hawkins - District 27
Rep. Hawkins could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Georgia House Appropriations Committee
- Georgia House Rules Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Hawkins’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Emory Dunahoo Jr. - District 31
Rep. Dunahoo could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Georgia House Appropriations Committee
- Georgia House Special Rules Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Dunahoo’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. David Clark - District 100
Rep. Clark could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- None
You can view evidence of Rep. Clark’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Trey Rhodes - District 124
Rep. Rhodes could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Georgia House Special Rules Committee
- Georgia House Ways and Means Committee (secretary)
You can view evidence of Rep. Rhodes’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Mark Newton - District 127
Rep. Newton could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Georgia House Appropriations Committee
- Georgia House Rules Committee
- Georgia House Ways and Means Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Newton’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. David Knight - District 134
Rep. Knight could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Georgia House Appropriations Committee
- Georgia House Rules Committee
- Georgia House Ways and Means Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Knight’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Vance Smith - District 138
Rep. Smith could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Georgia House Appropriations Committee
- Georgia House Ways and Means Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Smith’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Dale Washburn - District 144
Rep. Washburn could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Georgia House Appropriations Committee
- Georgia House Ways and Means Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Washburn’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Robert Dickey - District 145
Rep. Dickey could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Georgia House Appropriations Committee
- Georgia House Ways and Means Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Dickey’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Bill Werkheiser - District 157
Rep. Werkheiser could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Georgia House Appropriations Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Werkheiser’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Steven Meeks - District 178
Rep. Meeks could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Georgia House Appropriations Committee (secretary)
- Georgia House Intragovernmental Coordination Committee
- Georgia House Ways and Means Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Meeks’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Steven Sainz - District 180
Rep. Sainz could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Georgia House Appropriations Committee
- Georgia House Governmental Affairs Committee
- Georgia House Special Rules Committee (chair)
- Georgia House Technology and Infrastructure Innovation Committee
- Georgia House Ways and Means Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Sainz’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. Billy Hickman - District 4
Sen. Hickman could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Georgia Senate Appropriations Committee
- Georgia Senate Finance Committee (secretary)
You can view evidence of Sen. Hickman’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. Russ Goodman - District 8
Sen. Goodman could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- None
You can view evidence of Sen. Goodman’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. Carden Summers - District 13
Sen. Summers could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- None
You can view evidence of Sen. Summers’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. Marty Harbin - District 16
Sen. Harbin could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Georgia Senate Government Oversight Committee (chair)
You can view evidence of Sen. Harbin’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. Blake Tillery - District 19
Sen. Tillery could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Georgia Senate Appropriations Committee (chair)
- Georgia Senate Finance Committee
- Georgia Senate Government Oversight Committee (vice chair)
- Georgia Senate Reapportionment and Redistricting Committee
You can view evidence of Sen. Tillery’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. Brandon Beach - District 21
Sen. Beach could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Georgia Senate Appropriations Committee
- Georgia Senate Assignments Committee
- Georgia Senate Finance Committee
- Georgia Senate Reapportionment and Redistricting Committee
- Georgia Senate Rules Committee
You can view evidence of Sen. Beach’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. Lee Anderson - District 24
Sen. Anderson could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Georgia Senate Appropriations Committee
- Georgia Senate Rules Committee
You can view evidence of Sen. Anderson’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. Ricky Williams - District 25
Sen. Williams could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Georgia Senate State and Local Governmental Operations Committee
You can view evidence of Sen. Williams’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. Greg Dolezal - District 27
Sen. Dolezal could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Georgia Senate Appropriations Committee (vice chair)
- Georgia Senate Assignments Committee
- Georgia Senate Finance Committee
- Georgia Senate Reapportionment and Redistricting Committee
- Georgia Senate Rules Committee
You can view evidence of Sen. Dolezal’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. Matt Brass - District 28
Sen. Brass could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Georgia Senate Rules Committee (chair)
You can view evidence of Sen. Brass’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. Randy Robertson - District 29
Sen. Robertson could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Georgia Senate Appropriations Committee
- Georgia Senate Government Oversight Committee (secretary)
- Georgia Senate Reapportionment and Redistricting Committee
- Georgia Senate Rules Committee
- Georgia Senate State and Local Governmental Operations Committee
Sen. Robertson is also a member of the Georgia Senate leadership. He is the Senate Majority Whip.
You can view evidence of Sen. Robertson’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. Jason Anavitarte - District 31
Sen. Anavitarte could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Georgia Senate Appropriations Committee
- Georgia Senate Finance Committee
- Georgia Senate Government Oversight Committee
- Georgia Senate Reapportionment and Redistricting Committee
- Georgia Senate Rules Committee
You can view evidence of Sen. Anavitarte’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. Shawn Still - District 48
Sen. Still could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Georgia Senate State and Local Governmental Operations Committee (vice chair)
You can view evidence of Sen. Still’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. Steve Gooch - District 51
Sen. Gooch could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Georgia Senate Appropriations Committee
- Georgia Senate Assignments Committee
- Georgia Senate Finance Committee
- Georgia Senate Judiciary Committee
- Georgia Senate Reapportionment and Redistricting Committee
- Georgia Senate Rules Committee
Sen. Gooch is also a member of the Georgia Senate leadership. He is the Senate Majority Leader.
You can view evidence of Sen. Gooch’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. Colton Moore - District 53
Sen. Moore could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Georgia Senate Government Oversight Committee
You can view evidence of Sen. Moore’s Election Denial here.
Tracking Gaps
During our review of Georgia legislators, there was not enough available data to definitively assess Election Denial beliefs or actions of 13 House members and 0 state senators, either because of gaps in their recorded online activity after the 2020 election or because they generally lack a public presence online across social media and local news coverage.
Michigan
In Michigan, 32 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. None of them ran unopposed in their last election, and 9 were new to the chamber in 2023.
In the Michigan Senate, 10 Election Deniers make up 26% of the chamber. None of them ran uncontested in their last election, and 3 were new to the body in 2023.
Election Deniers in Leadership
Election Deniers also hold critical positions of power within both chambers of the state legislature, which allows them to influence how elections are run.
In the House, 2 Election Deniers hold party leadership roles and 3 are vice chairs of election-related committees.
In the Senate, 6 Election Deniers hold party leadership roles and 2 are vice chairs of election-related committees.
Key Examples
Five members of the Michigan legislature supported the fake-elector scheme that sought to overturn Trump’s loss in seven states, according to documents uncovered by the U.S. House January 6 Select Committee. One Election Denier in the Michigan House went further, traveling to Washington, D.C., and attending a Stop the Steal rally on Jan. 5, 2021. That member’s wife—who is awaiting trial for her role in the fake-elector scheme—organized buses for Trump supporters to travel to Washington on Jan. 6.
You can find out how many Election Deniers represent Michigan in Congress, and where they hold and are running for statewide office in the state, on ElectionDeniers.org.
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Rep. Jamie Thompson - District 28
Rep. Thompson could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- None
You can view evidence of Rep. Thompson’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Dale Zorn - District 34
Rep. Zorn could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Michigan House Local Government and Municipal Finance Committee (minority vice chair)
You can view evidence of Rep. Zorn’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Steve Carra - District 36
Rep. Carra could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- None
You can view evidence of Rep. Carra’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Brad Paquette - District 37
Rep. Paquette could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Michigan House Local Government and Municipal Finance Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Paquette’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Matt Hall - District 42
Rep. Hall could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- None
Rep. Hall is also a member of the Michigan House leadership. He is the House Minority Leader.
You can view evidence of Rep. Hall’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Rachelle Smit - District 43
Rep. Smit could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Michigan House Elections Committee (minority vice chair)
You can view evidence of Rep. Smit’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Ann Bollin - District 49
Rep. Bollin could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Michigan House Appropriations Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Bollin’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Robert Bezotte - District 50
Rep. Bezotte could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Michigan House Local Government and Municipal Finance Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Bezotte’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Matt Maddock - District 51
Rep. Maddock could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- None
You can view evidence of Rep. Maddock’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Douglas Wozniak - District 59
Rep. Wozniak could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Michigan House Judiciary Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Wozniak’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Andrew Beeler - District 64
Rep. Beeler could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- None
You can view evidence of Rep. Beeler’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Gina Johnsen - District 78
Rep. Johnsen could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Michigan House Judiciary Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Johnsen’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Angela Rigas - District 79
Rep. Rigas could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- None
You can view evidence of Rep. Rigas’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Luke Meerman - District 89
Rep. Meerman could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- None
You can view evidence of Rep. Meerman’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Bryan Posthumus - District 90
Rep. Posthumus could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Michigan House Government Operations Committee (minority vice chair)
Rep. Posthumus is also a member of the Michigan House leadership. He is the House Minority Floor Leader.
You can view evidence of Rep. Posthumus’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Pat Outman - District 91
Rep. Outman could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Michigan House Judiciary Committee
- Michigan House Energy, Communications, and Technology Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Outman’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Tom Kunse - District 100
Rep. Kunse could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- None
You can view evidence of Rep. Kunse’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Curt VanderWall - District 102
Rep. VanderWall could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- None
You can view evidence of Rep. VanderWall’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. John Roth - District 104
Rep. Roth could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- None
You can view evidence of Rep. Roth’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Ken Borton - District 105
Rep. Borton could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Michigan House Appropriations Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Borton’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Neil Friske - District 107
Rep. Friske could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- None
You can view evidence of Rep. Friske’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Gregory Markkanen - District 110
Rep. Markkanen could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- None
You can view evidence of Rep. Markkanen’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. Joseph Bellino - District 16
Sen. Bellino could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- None
Sen. Bellino is also a member of the Michigan Senate leadership. He is the Senate Associate President Pro Tempore.
You can view evidence of Sen. Bellino’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. Jonathan Lindsey - District 17
Sen. Lindsey could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Michigan Senate Oversight Committee
You can view evidence of Sen. Lindsey’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. Lana Theis - District 22
Sen. Theis could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Michigan Senate Appropriations Committee
Sen. Theis is also a member of the Michigan Senate leadership. She is the Senate Assistant Minority Floor Leader.
You can view evidence of Sen. Theis’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. Jim Runestad - District 23
Sen. Runestad could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Michigan Senate Civil Rights, Judiciary, and Public Safety Committee (minority vice chair)
You can view evidence of Sen. Runestad’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. Dan Lauwers - District 25
Sen. Lauwers could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Michigan Senate Government Operations Committee
Sen. Lauwers is also a member of the Michigan Senate leadership. He is the Senate Minority Floor Leader.
You can view evidence of Sen. Lauwers’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. Kevin Daley - District 26
Sen. Daley could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Michigan Senate Local Government Committee
You can view evidence of Sen. Daley’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. Roger Victory - District 31
Sen. Victory could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- None
Sen. Victory is also a member of the Michigan Senate leadership. He is the Senate Minority Whip.
You can view evidence of Sen. Victory’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. Jon Bumstead - District 32
Sen. Bumstead could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Michigan Senate Appropriations Committee (vice chair)
You can view evidence of Sen. Bumstead’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. Rick Outman - District 33
Sen. Outman could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Michigan Senate Appropriations Committee
Sen. Outman is also a member of the Michigan Senate leadership. He is the Senate Assistant Minority Leader.
You can view evidence of Sen. Outman’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. Michele Hoitenga - District 36
Sen. Hoitenga could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Michigan Senate Local Government Committee (minority vice chair)
You can view evidence of Sen. Hoitenga’s Election Denial here.
Tracking Gaps
During our review of Michigan legislators, there was not enough available data to definitively assess Election Denial beliefs or actions of 2 House members and 0 state senators, either because of gaps in their recorded online activity after the 2020 election or because they generally lack a public presence online across social media and local news coverage.
Nevada
In Nevada, 2 Election Deniers serve in the state legislature, making up 3% of the 63-person body and part of the leadership in the Senate.
1 Election Denier makes up 2% of the Nevada Assembly. He was new to the chamber in 2022.
1 Election Denier makes up 5% of the Nevada Senate. He, too, was new to their chamber in 2022.
Election Deniers in Leadership
1 Election Denier also holds a critical position of power within the State Senate—a party leadership role—which allows them to influence how elections are run.
Key Examples
Both Election Deniers in the Nevada Assembly promoted the lie that Trump was the rightful winner of the 2020 election. Each serves on his chamber’s Judiciary Committee, giving both Election Deniers a say in selecting state judges, who may hear election cases.
Both Election Deniers also cosponsored bills in 2023 that would have created special state law enforcement units to investigate suspected election crimes or irregularities. Both bills failed. Bills such as these have been a recurring feature of the Election Denier movement. Even when they fail, they perpetuate the myth of rampant election fraud.
You can find out how many Election Deniers represent Nevada in Congress, and where they hold and are running for statewide office in the state, on ElectionDeniers.org.
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Assemblyman Ken Gray - District 39
Assemblyman Gray could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Nevada Assembly Judiciary Committee
You can view evidence of Assemblyman Gray’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. Jeff Stone - District 20
Sen. Stone could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Nevada Senate Judiciary Committee
Sen. Stone is also a member of the Nevada Senate leadership. He is the Senate Co-Minority Whip.
You can view evidence of Sen. Stone’s Election Denial here.
Tracking Gaps
During our review of Nevada legislators, there was not enough available data to definitively assess Election Denial beliefs or actions of 3 Assembly members and 4 state senators, either because of gaps in their recorded online activity after the 2020 election or because they generally lack a public presence online across social media and local news coverage.
New Mexico
In New Mexico, 3 Election Deniers serve in the state legislature, all in the House of Representatives. They make up 3% of the entire 112-person legislative body and 4% of the House. 2 of them ran unopposed in their last election, and 1 was new to the chamber in 2023.
Key Examples
One Election Denier in the New Mexico House spread disinformation after Trump lost the 2020 presidential election, telling supporters on Facebook to “FIGHT. LIKE. HELL.”
You can find out how many Election Deniers represent New Mexico in Congress, and where they hold and are running for statewide office in the state, on ElectionDeniers.org.
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Rep. John Block - District 51
Rep. Block could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- New Mexico House Government, Elections & Indian Affairs Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Block’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Cathrynn Brown - District 55
Rep. Brown could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- New Mexico House Appropriations & Finance Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Brown’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Randall Pettigrew - District 61
Rep. Pettigrew could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- New Mexico House Appropriations & Finance Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Pettigrew’s Election Denial here.
Tracking Gaps
During our review of New Mexico legislators, there was not enough available data to definitively assess Election Denial beliefs or actions of 12 House members and 4 state senators, either because of gaps in their recorded online activity after the 2020 election or because they generally lack a public presence online across social media and local news coverage.
Pennsylvania
In Pennsylvania, 86 Election Deniers serve in the General Assembly, making up 34% of the 253-person body and part of the leadership in both chambers.
Election Deniers make up nearly a third—64 members—of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. 38 of them ran unopposed in their last election, and 1 was new to the House in 2022.
Election Deniers also make up nearly half—22 members—of the Pennsylvania Senate. 3 of them ran uncontested in their last election, and 4 were new to the Senate in 2022.
Election Deniers in Leadership
Election Deniers also hold critical positions of power in both chambers of the state legislature, which allows them to influence how elections are run.
In the House, 3 Election Deniers hold party leadership roles. 7 are chairs of election-related committees, and 1 is a vice chair.
In the Senate, 5 Election Deniers hold party leadership roles. 6 are chairs of election-related committees, and 6 are vice chairs.
Key Examples
Pennsylvania has more Election Deniers in the legislature than any other state we analyzed. They make up more than 80% of the Senate Republican caucus and hold a majority of seats on several of the most important committees that handle election matters, and hold leadership positions within those committees.
In 2023, 15 Election Deniers in the Pennsylvania House sponsored or cosponsored a bill that would have created a vaguely defined annual audit for elections, only in the county that is home to Philadelphia. Other bills sponsored or cosponsored by Election Deniers would have appointed a special election prosecutor and stiffened the penalties for dozens of election crimes. All of these bills failed.
You can find out how many Election Deniers represent Pennsylvania in Congress, and where they hold and are running for statewide office in the state, on ElectionDeniers.org.
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Rep. Jake Banta - District 4
Rep. Banta could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Pennsylvania House Local Government Committee
- Pennsylvania House State Government Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Banta’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Bradley Roae - District 6
Rep. Roae could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Pennsylvania House State Government Committee (minority chair)
You can view evidence of Rep. Roae’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Parke Wentling - District 7
Rep. Wentling could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Pennsylvania House Local Government Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Wentling’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Aaron Bernstine - District 8
Rep. Bernstine could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- None
You can view evidence of Rep. Bernstine’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Marci Mustello - District 11
Rep. Mustello could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Pennsylvania House Appropriations Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Mustello’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Joshua Kail - District 15
Rep. Kail could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Pennsylvania House Rules Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Kail’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Tim Bonner - District 17
Rep. Bonner could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee
- Pennsylvania House State Government Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Bonner’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Mindy Fee - District 37
Rep. Fee could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Pennsylvania House Rules Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Fee’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Brett Miller - District 41
Rep. Miller could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Pennsylvania House Consumer Protection, Technology & Utilities Committee
- Pennsylvania House Local Government Committee (minority secretary)
- Pennsylvania House State Government Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Miller’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Keith Greiner - District 43
Rep. Greiner could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- None
You can view evidence of Rep. Greiner’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Valerie Gaydos - District 44
Rep. Gaydos could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Pennsylvania House Government Oversight Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Gaydos’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Bud Cook - District 50
Rep. Cook could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- None
You can view evidence of Rep. Cook’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Ryan Warner - District 52
Rep. Warner could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Pennsylvania House Appropriations Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Warner’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. George Dunbar - District 56
Rep. Dunbar could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Pennsylvania House Committee On Committees
- Pennsylvania House Rules Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Dunbar’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Eric Nelson - District 57
Rep. Nelson could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Pennsylvania House Appropriations Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Nelson’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Eric Davanzo - District 58
Rep. Davanzo could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Pennsylvania House State Government Committee (minority secretary)
You can view evidence of Rep. Davanzo’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Leslie Rossi - District 59
Rep. Rossi could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- None
You can view evidence of Rep. Rossi’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Jim Struzzi II - District 62
Rep. Struzzi could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Pennsylvania House Appropriations Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Struzzi’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Donna Oberlander - District 63
Rep. Oberlander could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Pennsylvania House Rules Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Oberlander’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. R. Lee James - District 64
Rep. James could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Pennsylvania House Local Government Committee (minority chair)
You can view evidence of Rep. James’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Kathy Rapp - District 65
Rep. Rapp could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- None
You can view evidence of Rep. Rapp’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Brian Smith - District 66
Rep. Smith could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- None
You can view evidence of Rep. Smith’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Martin Causer - District 67
Rep. Causer could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- None
You can view evidence of Rep. Causer’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Clint Owlett - District 68
Rep. Owlett could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Pennsylvania House Appropriations Committee
- Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Owlett’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Carl Metzgar - District 69
Rep. Metzgar could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- None
You can view evidence of Rep. Metzgar’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. James Rigby - District 71
Rep. Rigby could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Rigby’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Mike Armanini - District 75
Rep. Armanini could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- None
You can view evidence of Rep. Armanini’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Stephanie Borowicz - District 76
Rep. Borowicz could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- None
You can view evidence of Rep. Borowicz’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Jesse Topper - District 78
Rep. Topper could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Pennsylvania House Rules Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Topper’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Louis Schmitt Jr. - District 79
Rep. Schmitt could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Pennsylvania House Appropriations Committee
- Pennsylvania House State Government Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Schmitt’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. James Gregory - District 80
Rep. Gregory could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- None
You can view evidence of Rep. Gregory’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Richard Irvin - District 81
Rep. Irvin could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- None
You can view evidence of Rep. Irvin’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Joe Hamm - District 84
Rep. Hamm could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Hamm’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. David Rowe - District 85
Rep. Rowe could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Rowe’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Perry Stambaugh - District 86
Rep. Stambaugh could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- None
You can view evidence of Rep. Stambaugh’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Rob Kauffman - District 89
Rep. Kauffman could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee (minority chair)
- Pennsylvania House Rules Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Kauffman’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Paul Schemel - District 90
Rep. Schemel could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee
- Pennsylvania House State Government Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Schemel’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Dan Moul - District 91
Rep. Moul could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- None
You can view evidence of Rep. Moul’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Dawn Keefer - District 92
Rep. Keefer could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Pennsylvania House State Government Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Keefer’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Mike Jones - District 93
Rep. Jones could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- None
You can view evidence of Rep. Jones’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Steven Mentzer - District 97
Rep. Mentzer could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- None
You can view evidence of Rep. Mentzer’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. David Zimmerman - District 99
Rep. Zimmerman could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- None
You can view evidence of Rep. Zimmerman’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Bryan Cutler - District 100
Rep. Cutler could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Pennsylvania House Committee On Committees
- Pennsylvania House Rules Committee (minority chair)
Rep. Cutler is also a member of the Pennsylvania House leadership. He is the House Minority Leader.
You can view evidence of Rep. Cutler’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Russell Diamond - District 102
Rep. Diamond could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- None
You can view evidence of Rep. Diamond’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Tina Pickett - District 110
Rep. Pickett could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Pennsylvania House Committee On Committees (minority chair)
- Pennsylvania House Rules Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Pickett’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Jonathan Fritz - District 111
Rep. Fritz could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- None
You can view evidence of Rep. Fritz’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Aaron Kaufer - District 120
Rep. Kaufer could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Pennsylvania House Consumer Protection, Technology & Utilities Committee
- Pennsylvania House Government Oversight Committee (minority chair)
You can view evidence of Rep. Kaufer’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Doyle Heffley - District 122
Rep. Heffley could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- None
You can view evidence of Rep. Heffley’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Joe Kerwin - District 125
Rep. Kerwin could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- None
You can view evidence of Rep. Kerwin’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Mark Gillen - District 128
Rep. Gillen could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- None
You can view evidence of Rep. Gillen’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. David Maloney - District 130
Rep. Maloney could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- None
You can view evidence of Rep. Maloney’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Milou Mackenzie - District 131
Rep. Mackenzie could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- None
You can view evidence of Rep. Mackenzie’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Joe Emrick - District 137
Rep. Emrick could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- None
You can view evidence of Rep. Emrick’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Ann Flood - District 138
Rep. Flood could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Pennsylvania House Appropriations Committee (minority secretary)
You can view evidence of Rep. Flood’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Craig Staats - District 145
Rep. Staats could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Pennsylvania House State Government Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Staats’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Kate Klunk - District 169
Rep. Klunk could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee (minority secretary)
- Pennsylvania House Rules Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Klunk’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Martina White - District 170
Rep. White could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Pennsylvania House Rules Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. White’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Kerry Benninghoff - District 171
Rep. Benninghoff could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- None
You can view evidence of Rep. Benninghoff’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Jack Rader - District 176
Rep. Rader could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Pennsylvania House Local Government Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Rader’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Zachary Mako - District 183
Rep. Mako could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Pennsylvania House Appropriations Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Mako’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Ryan Mackenzie - District 187
Rep. Mackenzie could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- None
You can view evidence of Rep. Mackenzie’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Torren Ecker - District 193
Rep. Ecker could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Pennsylvania House Appropriations Committee (minority vice chair)
- Pennsylvania House Judiciary Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Ecker’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Seth Grove - District 196
Rep. Grove could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Pennsylvania House Appropriations Committee (minority chair)
- Pennsylvania House Committee on Committees
- Pennsylvania House Rules Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Grove’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Barbara Gleim - District 199
Rep. Gleim could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- None
You can view evidence of Rep. Gleim’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. Scott Martin - District 13
Sen. Martin could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Pennsylvania Senate Appropriations Committee (chair)
You can view evidence of Sen. Martin’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. John DiSanto - District 15
Sen. DiSanto could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- None
You can view evidence of Sen. DiSanto’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. Scott Hutchinson - District 21
Sen. Hutchinson could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Pennsylvania Senate Finance Committee (chair)
- Pennsylvania Senate Local Government Committee
You can view evidence of Sen. Hutchinson’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. Gene Yaw - District 23
Sen. Yaw could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Pennsylvania Senate Judiciary Committee (vice chair)
- Pennsylvania Senate Rules & Executive Nominations Committee
You can view evidence of Sen. Yaw’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. Tracy Pennycuick - District 24
Sen. Pennycuick could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Pennsylvania Senate Appropriations Committee
- Pennsylvania Senate Communications & Technology Committee (chair)
- Pennsylvania Senate Finance Committee
- Pennsylvania Senate Judiciary Committee
You can view evidence of Sen. Pennycuick’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. Cris Dush - District 25
Sen. Dush could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Pennsylvania Senate Appropriations Committee
- Pennsylvania Senate Judiciary Committee
- Pennsylvania Senate Local Government Committee
- Pennsylvania Senate State Government Committee (chair)
You can view evidence of Sen. Dush’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. Lynda Culver - District 27
Sen. Culver could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Pennsylvania Senate Appropriations Committee
- Pennsylvania Senate Finance Committee
You can view evidence of Sen. Culver’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. Kristin Phillips-Hill - District 28
Sen. Phillips-Hill could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Pennsylvania Senate Appropriations Committee
- Pennsylvania Senate Communications & Technology Committee (vice chair)
- Pennsylvania Senate State Government Committee
You can view evidence of Sen. Phillips-Hill’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. David Argall - District 29
Sen. Argall could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Pennsylvania Senate Finance Committee
- Pennsylvania Senate Rules & Executive Nominations Committee
- Pennsylvania Senate State Government Committee (vice chair)
You can view evidence of Sen. Argall’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. Judith Ward - District 30
Sen. Ward could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Pennsylvania Senate Rules & Executive Nominations Committee
- Pennsylvania Senate State Government Committee
You can view evidence of Sen. Ward’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. Mike Regan - District 31
Sen. Regan could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Pennsylvania Senate Judiciary Committee
- Pennsylvania Senate Local Government Committee (vice chair)
- Pennsylvania Senate Rules & Executive Nominations Committee
You can view evidence of Sen. Regan’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. Patrick Stefano - District 32
Sen. Stefano could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Pennsylvania Senate Appropriations Committee
- Pennsylvania Senate State Government Committee
You can view evidence of Sen. Stefano’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. Doug Mastriano - District 33
Sen. Mastriano could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Pennsylvania Senate State Government Committee
You can view evidence of Sen. Mastriano’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. Greg Rothman - District 34
Sen. Rothman could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Pennsylvania Senate Appropriations Committee
- Pennsylvania Senate Communications & Technology Committee
- Pennsylvania Senate Finance Committee
You can view evidence of Sen. Rothman’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. Wayne Langerholc - District 35
Sen. Langerholc could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Pennsylvania Senate Appropriations Committee
- Pennsylvania Senate Judiciary Committee
You can view evidence of Sen. Langerholc’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. Ryan Aument - District 36
Sen. Aument could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Pennsylvania Senate Appropriations Committee
- Pennsylvania Senate Rules & Executive Nominations Committee (vice chair)
Sen. Aument is also a member of the Pennsylvania Senate leadership. He is the Senate Majority Whip.
You can view evidence of Sen. Aument’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. Devlin Robinson - District 37
Sen. Robinson could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Pennsylvania Senate Appropriations Committee
- Pennsylvania Senate Local Government Committee
You can view evidence of Sen. Robinson’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. Kim Ward - District 39
Sen. Ward could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Pennsylvania Senate Appropriations Committee
- Pennsylvania Senate Communications & Technology Committee
- Pennsylvania Senate Finance Committee
- Pennsylvania Senate Judiciary Committee
- Pennsylvania Senate Local Government Committee
- Pennsylvania Senate Rules & Executive Nominations Committee
- Pennsylvania Senate State Government Committee
Sen. Ward is also a member of the Pennsylvania Senate leadership. She is the Senate President Pro Tempore.
You can view evidence of Sen. Ward’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. Rosemary Brown - District 40
Sen. Brown could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Pennsylvania Senate Appropriations Committee
- Pennsylvania Senate Judiciary Committee
- Pennsylvania Senate Local Government Committee (chair)
You can view evidence of Sen. Brown’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. Joe Pittman - District 41
Sen. Pittman could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Pennsylvania Senate Appropriations Committee
- Pennsylvania Senate Rules & Executive Nominations Committee (chair)
Sen. Pittman is also a member of the Pennsylvania Senate leadership. He is the Senate Majority Floor Leader.
You can view evidence of Sen. Pittman’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. Camera Bartolotta - District 46
Sen. Bartolotta could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Pennsylvania Senate Judiciary Committee
- Pennsylvania Senate Rules & Executive Nominations Committee
You can view evidence of Sen. Bartolotta’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. Michele Brooks - District 50
Sen. Brooks could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Pennsylvania Senate Communications & Technology Committee
- Pennsylvania Senate Finance Committee (vice chair)
- Pennsylvania Senate Rules & Executive Nominations Committee
You can view evidence of Sen. Brooks’s Election Denial here.
A previous version of this report listed Sen. Chris Gebhard (District 48) as an Election Denier due to posts on the social media pages for Pennsylvania Senate District 48. We have verified that those posts were created by his predecessor, former Sen. Dave Arnold, and have removed Sen. Gebhard from the tracking.
Tracking Gaps
During our review of Pennsylvania legislators, there was not enough available data to definitively assess Election Denial beliefs or actions of 4 House members, either because of gaps in their recorded online activity after the 2020 election or because they generally lack a public presence online across social media and local news coverage.
Wisconsin
In Wisconsin, 14 Election Deniers serve in the state legislature, making up 11% of the 132-person body and part of the leadership in both chambers.
10 Election Deniers make up 10% of the State Assembly. 2 of them ran unopposed in their last election, and none were new to the Assembly in 2023.
4 Election Deniers make up 12% of the State Senate. 1 of them ran uncontested in their last election, and 1 was new to the Senate in 2023.
Election Deniers in Leadership
Election Deniers also hold critical positions of power within both chambers of the state legislature, which allows them to influence how elections are run.
In the House, 1 Election Denier is a chair of an election-related committee and 2 are vice chairs.
In the Senate, 1 Election Denier holds a party leadership role, 2 are chairs of election-related committees, and 1 is a vice chair.
Key Examples
Seven Election Deniers in the Wisconsin legislature cosponsored a bill proposing a state constitutional amendment banning outside funding for election offices. Another Election Denier sponsored a bill that would have loosened the rules for who can file a complaint about a suspected election law violation to the Wisconsin Elections Commission, needlessly enabling suspicion about the state’s election processes. In addition, 15 Election Deniers in the Wisconsin legislature called on then-Vice President Mike Pence to ignore the Constitution and delay the counting of Electoral College votes on Jan. 6, 2021.
You can find out how many Election Deniers represent Wisconsin in Congress, and where they hold and are running for statewide office in the state, on ElectionDeniers.org.
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Rep. Shae Sortwell - District 2
Rep. Sortwell could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Wisconsin Assembly Judiciary Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Sortwell’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Ron Tusler - District 3
Rep. Tusler could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Wisconsin Assembly Campaigns and Elections Committee
- Wisconsin Assembly Judiciary Committee (chair)
You can view evidence of Rep. Tusler’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Janel Brandtjen - District 22
Rep. Brandtjen could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- None
You can view evidence of Rep. Brandtjen’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Gae Magnafici - District 28
Rep. Magnafici could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- None
You can view evidence of Rep. Magnafici’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Jeffrey Mursau - District 36
Rep. Mursau could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- None
You can view evidence of Rep. Mursau’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Michael Schraa - District 53
Rep. Schraa could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Wisconsin Assembly Rules Committee
- Wisconsin Assembly State Affairs Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Schraa’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Dave Murphy - District 56
Rep. Murphy could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Wisconsin Assembly Campaigns and Elections Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Murphy’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Rick Gundrum - District 58
Rep. Gundrum could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Wisconsin Assembly Local Government Committee
You can view evidence of Rep. Gundrum’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Robert Brooks - District 60
Rep. Brooks could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Wisconsin Assembly State Affairs Committee
- Wisconsin Assembly Ways and Means Committee (vice chair)
You can view evidence of Rep. Brooks’s Election Denial here.
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Rep. Chuck Wichgers - District 82
Rep. Wichgers could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- None
You can view evidence of Rep. Wichgers’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. Andre Jacque - District 1
Sen. Jacque could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Wisconsin Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee (vice chair)
- Wisconsin Senate Licensing, Constitution, and Federalism Committee (chair)
You can view evidence of Sen. Jacque’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. Daniel Knodl - District 8
Sen. Knodl could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- Wisconsin Senate Judiciary and Public Safety Committee
- Wisconsin Senate Licensing, Constitution, and Federalism Committee
- Wisconsin Senate Shared Revenue, Elections, and Consumer Protection Committee (chair)
You can view evidence of Sen. Knodl’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. Devin LeMahieu - District 9
Sen. LeMahieu could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- None
Sen. LeMahieu is also a member of the Wisconsin Senate leadership. He is the Senate Majority Leader.
You can view evidence of Sen. LeMahieu’s Election Denial here.
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Sen. Mary Felzkowski - District 12
Sen. Felzkowski could influence election-related legislation as a member of these committees:
- None
You can view evidence of Sen. Felzkowski’s Election Denial here.
Tracking Gaps
During our review of Wisconsin legislators, there was not enough available data to definitively assess Election Denial beliefs or actions of 16 House members and 1 state senator, either because of gaps in their recorded online activity after the 2020 election or because they generally lack a public presence online across social media and local news coverage.
Because of the United States’ decentralized system for election administration, no two states have identical election and voting procedures. That leaves many of the decisions that shape each state’s elections to the legislature.
For example, state legislatures have passed bills:
- Bestowing the powers of the chief election official on a particular state office or entity, such as the state election board, the secretary of state, or the lieutenant governor.
- Authorizing election administration at either the county or municipal level.
- Setting methods and time periods for voting (by mail and in person).
- Determining how election officials count ballots and certify election results.
The impetus for election legislation can come from a variety of sources: constituents, state or local election officials, community organizations, professional associations, exemplars from other states’ innovations, or investigative journalism.
How legislators shape election policy depends in part on where those legislators sit within their chambers. Chairs of policy and fiscal committees, for example, have power in deciding which bills get heard and voted out of committee and which amendments are taken up. Legislative leadership controls which bills receive a full vote; they can also exert power over amendments and round up votes for or against an election or voting bill.
Legislative leadership is also heavily involved in budget negotiations with the governor. State budgets determine funding for departments and agencies with roles in election administration. Funding, in turn, helps determine the staffing and resources for those agencies. The final budget deal is also then voted on by the full legislature.
In some states, legislators directly select or approve the state’s chief election official. For example, in Maine and New Hampshire, the secretary of state is appointed by the legislature. In Pennsylvania, the secretary of the commonwealth is appointed by the governor, subject to confirmation by the state Senate.
State legislators also regularly convene informational or investigational hearings to gather information and data from stakeholders on election or voting topics. For example, a hearing could delve into the status of implementing a new voting law, investigate the impact of a recent legal ruling on election procedures, or probe the efficacy of a department charged with voter registration.
Because U.S. elections are administered at the state and local level, state legislators have broad power to shape election administration and voting procedures. Election Deniers in the state legislature, especially when they serve in leadership or on powerful committees, can push for barriers to voting, seek to hamper election administration, and erode trust in elections and the officials who keep them free, fair, and secure.
As voters head to the polls this year to select their state legislators, they deserve to be informed about the broad election powers of state legislators. They also deserve to know which legislators can be trusted to use that power to strengthen the state’s elections, not weaken them.
This study includes the legislatures of the seven states that submitted false Electoral College votes in favor of Donald Trump in the 2020 presidential election. We then examined public information for each state legislator. Specifically, the research relied on legislators’ social media accounts, including Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), and other platforms like Truth Social and YouTube. Additionally, we reviewed legislators’ websites and news media coverage to gather information about their election-related statements and actions. This process aimed to identify any instances of election denial.
To qualify as an Election Denier, a candidate or sitting official must meet one or more of the criteria below. An Election Denier is someone who has:
- Falsely claimed former President Trump won the 2020 election instead of the legitimate winner, President Joe Biden.
- Spread lies or promoted conspiracies about the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential election or subsequent election cycles in public, including in social media, press statements, or comments to the press.*
- Refused to certify, or called on or pressured election officials to refuse to certify, the 2020 presidential election results or a race in subsequent elections based on meritless claims about election fraud, voter fraud, misinformation or lies.
- Taken action to undermine the integrity of the 2020 presidential election and/or subsequent election cycles, including:
- Filing or supporting litigation seeking to overturn the results based on conspiracies or baseless legal theories.
- Filing or supporting litigation that was sanctioned for being malicious or without merit in the aftermath of an election.
- Promoting or participating in a Stop the Steal-sponsored or branded event or rally during or following the 2020 election.
- Calling for a “forensic audit” of the 2020 presidential election or a race in subsequent elections after the results were certified, were officially audited, or stood up to multiple legal challenges.
- Refused to concede a race, or publicly supported a candidate’s refusal to concede a race, after the results were officially audited or stood up to multiple legal challenges
* Election-related conspiracies include a host of debunked claims and myths that gained momentum during the 2020 election cycle. Actions to promote conspiracies include, but are not limited to, sharing or liking videos by known election disinformation sources, such as “2000 Mules.” Actions to promote conspiracies also include, but are not limited to, knowingly amplifying baseless claims that voting machines were tampered with or were connected to the Internet, which allowed for tampering with vote totals; baseless claims that voting machines were designed to fail on Election Day; baseless claims that Dominion Voting Systems’ machines rigged the election; or proven false claims about “stolen elections” or activities that would have changed the outcome of a legitimate election.
This research was conducted in partnership with the McCourtney Institute for Democracy at Penn State University. Without the help of the McCourtney Institute, this research would not have been possible. Therefore, we thank Dr. Michael Berkman and Dr. Michael Nelson and their students, Danielle Beavers, Ally Braunsdorf, Maddie Hindman, Teresa Ousey, and Nicholas Riebel, for all their support and hard work on this project.