4.9 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: October 15, 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 October 15, 2022, at least 22 Election Deniers are running for Governor in 20 states. This means that more than half of 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 October 15, 2022. The table contains candidate name, party, and whether they’ve been coded as an Election Denier using the methodology section above.
*Candidates 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 has
an active website and/or has recent filings or activity relating to the
2022 cycle as of October 2021.
Party Key
D = Democrat
R = Republican
C = Constitution
G = Green
L = Libertarian
O = Other party or no party
4 Election Deniers
This section includes press statements, news coverage including comments, or social media posts by Gubernatorial Election Denier candidates.
4.1 Alabama - Kay Ivey
Yellow Hammer News: Gov. Kay Ivey: 2020 presidential election was stolen from President Trump
4.2 Alaska - Mike Dunleavy
AP News: Alaska joins Texas lawsuit to overturn presidential election
4.4 Arizona - Kari Lake
4.5 Colorado - Danielle Neuschwanger
4.6 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
4.7 Iowa - Kim Reynolds
Bleeding Heartland: Kim Reynolds backs effort to overturn 2020 presidential election
4.8 Kansas - Derek Schmidt
The Topeka Capital-Journal: 2022 speculation begins amid election suit controversy
4.10 Massachusetts - Geoff Diehl
4.11 Maryland - Dan Cox
Maryland Matters: Del. Cox Arranged Buses to Violent Trump Rally, Calls Vice President a ‘Traitor’
4.13 Michigan - Tudor Dixon
The Detroit News: GOP gov debate: 2 of 8 Michigan candidates confirm Trump’s loss in 2020 election
4.14 New Hampshire - Karyln Borysenko
4.15 New York - Lee Zeldin
Livingston County News: Zeldin stands by 2020 election, Jan. 6 investigation votes
4.16 Oregon - Donice Smith*
*Donice Smith also goes by Donice Noelle Smith, Donice Jansen Smith, and Maggie Rose McGrath
4.17 Pennsylvania - Doug Mastriano
WHYY: How Doug Mastriano promoted election lies between Election Day and 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.
4.18 Rhode Island - Paul Rianna Jr.
4.19 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
4.20 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
4.21 Vermont - Kevin Hoyt
Facebook: January 12, 2021 - minute ~5:00
4.22 Wisconsin - Tim Michels
WisPolitics: Michels campaign: Calls for election integrity to be restored