4.22 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
Governor Races in 2022
States United Action
Last Updated: March 1st, 2022
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.
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 March 1, 2022, at least 53 Election Deniers are running for Governor in 24 states. This means that 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 March 1, 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 as of October 2021.
4 Election Deniers
This section includes press statements, news coverage including comments, or social media posts by Secretary of State Election Denier candidates.
4.1 Alabama - Lynda Blanchard
4.2 Alabama - Dean Odle
4.3 Alaska - Mike Dunleavy
AP News: Alaska joins Texas lawsuit to overturn presidential election
4.6 Arizona - Kari Lake
4.7 Arizona - Bryan Masche
4.8 Arizona - Matt Salmon
Campaign Website: Salmon For Arizona Governor Statement On Election Audit ‘Wake-Up Call’
4.9 California - Laura Smith
4.10 Colorado - Laurie Clark
4.11 Colorado - Danielle Neuschwanger
4.12 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
4.13 Florida- John Mercadante
4.14 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.
4.15 Georgia - Kandiss Taylor
4.16 Idaho - Ed Humphreys
4.17 Idaho - Janice McGeachin
Deseret News: Trump just made an endorsement in the race for Idaho governor
4.19 Illinois - Christopher Roper
News Channel 20: ‘Stop the Steal’ rally held in Springfield
Roper Live! Forensic Audit minute 19:45
4.20 Kansas - Michael Nickens Jr.
4.21 Kansas - Derek Schmidt
The Topeka Capital-Journal: 2022 speculation begins amid election suit controversy
4.23 Massachusetts - Geoff Diehl
4.25 Michigan - Tudor Dixon
4.26 Michigan - Ryan Kelley
4.27 Michigan - Ralph Rebandt
4.28 Michigan - Bob Scott
4.29 Michigan - Garrett Soldano
4.30 Minnesota - Mike Murphy
4.31 Nebraska - Michael Connely
4.32 Nebraska - Charles Herbster
Washington Post: The ‘stolen election’ energy is strong in the GOP’s early crop of 2022 candidates
4.34 Nevada - Michele Fiore
4.35 Nevada - Joey Gilbert
4.36 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
4.37 New York - Lee Zeldin
Livingston County News: Zeldin stands by 2020 election, Jan. 6 investigation votes
4.38 Ohio - Joe Blystone
4.39 Ohio - Ron Hood
4.42 Oregon - Mark Duncan
4.43 Oregon - Amber Richardson
4.44 Oregon - Paul Romero
4.45 Pennsylvania - Lou Barletta
4.46 Pennsylvania - Joe Gale
4.47 Pennsylvania - Doug Mastriano
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.
4.48 Pennsylvania - John Ventre
4.49 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
4.50 Texas - Greg Abbott
Chron: Greg Abbott makes statement on 2020 election
Vanity Fair: Greg Abbott is suddenly bending over backwrad to find 2020 election fraud
4.51 Wisconsin - Adam Fischer
4.52 Wisconsin - Rebecca Kleefisch
WTAQ: Kleefisch Hoping Audits Restore Voter Confidence in Wisconsin Election Process
4.53 Wisconsin - Timothy Ramthun
Associated Press: Wisconsin election conspiracy theorist running for governor