1 Overview

What we are tracking:

Announced and/or filed candidates running for Governor in 2022. We will be updating this tracker throughout the 2022 election cycle.

Methodology:

To qualify as an Election Denier, a candidate must meet one or more of the criteria below:

  • Falsely claimed former President Trump won the 2020 election instead of the legitimate winner, President Joe Biden.

  • Spread lies about the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential election in public fora, including in social media, press statements, and/or comments to press.

  • Called for a “forensic audit” of the 2020 presidential election after the results were certified and/or officially audited and/or stood up to multiple legal challenges.

  • Promoted conspiracies about the 2020 presidential election in public fora, including in social media, press statements, and/or comments to press.4

  • Took actions to undermine the integrity of the 2020 presidential election, including: filed or supported litigation seeking to overturn the results; and/or promoted/participated in a Stop the Steal sponsored/branded event or rally.

2 By the Numbers

There are 36 Governor contests in 2022.

As of January 27, 2022, at least 51 Election Deniers are running for Governor in 24 states. This means that in 2 out of 3 Governor contests include an Election Denier.

3 Governor Races in 2022

3.1 Governor Candidates

The table below includes the list of candidates that are actively running for Governor in 2022 as of January 27, 2022. The table contains candidate name, party, and whether they’ve been coded as an election denier using the methodology section above.

*Candidate with open filings from a past election cycle that do not appear to be actively running are not included in the tracker. Actively running means that a candidate has announced they are running and/or an active website and/or a recent filings or activity relating to the 2022 cycle.


4 Election Deniers

4.1 Alabama - Lynda Blanchard

Yellow Hammer News: Alabama GOP Senate candidate Lynda Blanchard: 2020 election ‘stolen from President Trump’

4.2 Alabama - Dean Odle

4.3 Alaska - Mike Dunleavy

AP News: Alaska joins Texas lawsuit to overturn presidential election

Anchorage Daily News: Gov. Dunleavy says his administration will support Texas’ effort to overturn the presidential election

4.4 Arizona - Kari Lake

4.5 Arizona - Bryan Masche

4.6 California - Laura Smith

4.7 Colorado - Laurie Clark

4.8 Florida - Ron DeSantis

Herald-Tribune: Florida Republicans rally around Trump as he claims voter fraud

AP News: GOP leaders in 4 states quash dubious Trump bid on electors

News Channel 8: Gov. DeSantis refuses to answer whether he thinks 2020 election was rigged

4.9 Florida- John Mercadante

4.10 Georgia - Vernon Jones

4.11 Georgia - David Perdue

CNN: David Perdue sues over 2020 election, further embracing disproven fraud claims

NY Times: Echoing Trump, David Perdue Sues Over Baseless Election Claims

WaPo: Opinion: David Perdue confesses he would have aided a coup. He’s not the only one.

4.12 Georgia - Kandiss Taylor

4.13 Idaho - Ed Humphreys

4.14 Idaho - Janice McGeachin

Deseret News: Trump just made an endorsement in the race for Idaho governor

Press Release: Idaho Lt. Governor, Idaho State Legislators, and Other States’ Legislators File Amicus Brief Supporting Texas Lawsuit to Ensure Election Integrity

4.15 Illinois - Cheryl Erickson

Real People USA Podcast - minute 43 onward

4.16 Illinois - Christopher Roper

News Channel 20: ‘Stop the Steal’ rally held in Springfield

Roper Live! Forensic Audit minute 19:45

4.17 Kansas - Michael Nickens

4.18 Kansas - Derek Schmidt

The Topeka Capital-Journal: 2022 speculation begins amid election suit controversy

The Topeka Capital-Journal: Kansas Attorney General Derek Schmidt distances himself from robocalls encouraging rally attendance

4.19 Maine - Paul LePage

Maine Beacon: Election, pandemic conspiracies proliferate on Maine talk radio

Radio Interview WGAN minute 2:18

Maine Beacon: LePage is running on Trump’s ‘Big Lie,’ with support from Jan. 6 participants

4.20 Massachusetts - Geoff Diehl

Boston Herald: Geoff Diehl calls for forensic audit of ‘possible irregularities’ in Massachusetts 2020 election

4.21 Michigan - Donna Brandenburg

Donna Brandenburg campaign site

4.22 Michigan - Tudor Dixon

MLive: A car enthusiast, a mom of 10, a magician: Meet the 12 Republicans who want to be Michigan’s next governor

4.23 Michigan - Ryan Kelley

MLive: A car enthusiast, a mom of 10, a magician: Meet the 12 Republicans who want to be Michigan’s next governor

4.24 Michigan - Ralph Rebandt

MLive: A car enthusiast, a mom of 10, a magician: Meet the 12 Republicans who want to be Michigan’s next governor

4.25 Michigan - Bob Scott

MLive: A car enthusiast, a mom of 10, a magician: Meet the 12 Republicans who want to be Michigan’s next governor

4.26 Michigan - Garrett Soldano

4.27 Minnesota - Mike Murphy

4.28 Nebraska - Charles Herbster

Omaha World-Herald: Charles Herbster who may run for Nebraska Governor was at Trump rally before Capitol violence

Washington Post: The ‘stolen election’ energy is strong in the GOP’s early crop of 2022 candidates

Proof: January 5 Meeting at Trump International Hotel Could Hold the Key to the January 6 Insurrection

4.30 Nevada - Joey Gilbert

4.31 New York - Derrick Gibson

The City: Candidates for New York’s Next Governor: Who’s Still Running to Run This State?

Daily Beast: Fringe Republican Bets on Proud Boy Fandom in Wacky Guv Race

4.32 New York - Lee Zeldin

Livingston County News: Zeldin stands by 2020 election, Jan. 6 investigation votes

4.33 Ohio - Joe Blystone

4.34 Ohio - Jim Renacci

Jim Renacci - Newsmax: minute 1:25 and 4:50

4.35 Oklahoma - Mark Sherwood

Mark Sherwood campaign’ website:

4.36 Oregon - Mark Duncan

4.37 Oregon - Paul Romero

4.38 Pennsylvania - Lou Barletta

War Room: Episode 944 – A World Spinning Out of Control … Crisis in the Middle East and the U.S. Becoming Stalinist Russia (w/ Lou Barletta, Jim Hoft, Joe Hoft, General William G. Boykin, Mort Klein: minute 10:48

4.39 Pennsylvania - Joe Gale

PA Dems: ICYMI: REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR ATTACK EACH OTHER TO PROVE THEIR LOYALTY TO TRUMP AND THE BIG LIE

4.40 Pennsylvania - Doug Mastriano

York Daily Record: Pa. Sen. Doug Mastriano running for governor: What we know about his ties to Jan. 6

WHYY: New video appears to show State Sen. Mastriano closer to Capitol riot than he said

Newsweek: GOP State Senator Who Was at Capitol on Jan. 6 Set to Run for Pennsylvania Governor

Politico: They stormed the Capitol. Now they’re running for office.

4.41 Pennsylvania - John Ventre

York Daily Record: Analysis: The most important question wasn’t asked at first Pa. GOP debate for governor

4.42 Tennessee - Bill Lee

WPLN: Tennessee Electors Vote For Trump; Lee Still Doesn’t Recognize Biden As President-Elect

Tennessean: Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee gets Trump endorsement as right-wing attacks intensify

Tennessean: Despite no evidence of fraud, Lee, top Tennessee GOP officials decline to recognize Biden as president-elect

4.43 Texas - Greg Abbott

Houston Chronicle: Gov Abbott uses emergency power to fund $4 million audit of 2020 Texas election results

Chron: Greg Abbott makes statement on 2020 election

Vanity Fair: Greg Abbott is suddenly bending over backwrad to find 2020 election fraud

4.44 Texas - Daniel Harrison

4.45 Texas - Donald Huffines

Texas Monthly: Don Huffines Plotted Governor Run as the “Trump Guy.” Then Trump Endorsed Greg Abbott.

4.46 Texas - Chad Prather

4.47 Texas - Demetria Smith

4.48 Texas - Allen West

Spectrum News 1: Texas Republicans Plan “Stop the Steal” Weekend Rally in Dallas

Youtube: Allen West Stop The Steal Rally

4.49 Wisconsin - Adam Fischer

4.50 Wisconsin - Rebecca Kleefisch

WTAQ: Kleefisch Hoping Audits Restore Voter Confidence in Wisconsin Election Process

4.51 Wisconsin - Jonathan Wichmann