Michigan has become ground zero for the GOP’s continued threat against our democracy. The following Republican candidates for the state legislature either attended the insurrection, took active steps to overturn the presidential election results, or spread conspiracy theories undermining confidence in our election system. Now, these MAGA Republicans have their eyes set on keeping control of the state legislature to sabotage future elections in order to hold on to power.
WORST OF THE WORST
Diane Saber:
Running for HD-12
- Attended the January 6th Insurrection in Washington, DC
- Claimed Democrats and RINOs set up January 6th to make President Trump look bad
- Continues to use her campaign’s social media to share election conspiracy theories
Matt Maddock: Running for HD-51
- Attended the January 6th Insurrection in Washington DC
- Endorsed by former President Trump to lead the Michigan GOP House caucus and has promised not to let Trump down
- Signed onto legal efforts to block Michigan and other states from certifying their election results in an attempt to overturn the 2020 election results
- Married to Meshawn Maddock, who also attended the January 6th insurrection and is currently serving as co-chair of the state Republican Party
- Both Maddocks were involved in the false elector plot in Michigan; Meshawn Maddock as one of the false electors, and Matt Maddock, who joined members of the group attempting to access the state capitol
- Signed a January 5th open letter calling on Mike Pence to delay certifying the election
- Months after the election was over, joined calls for a 50-state audit of the 2020 presidential election and possible decertification of the results
- Signed a letter to the Michigan Secretary of State demanding a full audit of the state’s election results and citing false accusations of fraud, claiming they could not be ignored
- Signed a letter in June 2022 demanding the Michigan Attorney General investigate the baseless claims made in the conspiracy theory “documentary” 2000 Mules
Angela Rigas:
Running for HD-79
- Attended the January 6th Insurrection in Washington DC and called it a “highlight of my life”
- Said she is proud to be called an insurrectionist and terrorist
- Endorsed by former President Donald Trump who cited her efforts to expose voter fraud
- Told reporters “I absolutely do not believe me or any other individual” should apologize for assembling on January 6th
Michelle Smith: Running for HD-58
- Made election conspiracies part of her campaign’s platform as a first-time candidate and claimed the extent of the fraud is still unknown
- Supported a baseless, Republican-led election audit to challenge the results of the election
Norm Shinkle: Running for HD-73
- Refused to certify the 2020 election results as a member of the state board of canvassers
- Supported delaying the certification for election audits based on conspiracy theories
Michele Lundgren: Running for HD-9
- One of Michigan’s “false electors” who signed documents declaring Trump the winner in an attempt to overturn the election results
- Subpoenaed and questioned by the FBI in June
MORE THREATS
Lynn Afendoulis, HD-81
- Signed a letter to the Michigan Secretary of State demanding a full audit of the state’s election results and citing false accusations of fraud, claiming they could not be ignored
Mike Aiello, HD-61
- Used social media to spread election conspiracy theories, including baseless claims about rigged voting machines and illegal ballots
- Supported failed gubernatorial candidate Ryan Kelly who has since been arrested by the FBI for his role in January 6th
Andrew Beeler, HD-64
- Signed a letter in June 2022 demanding the Michigan Attorney General investigate the baseless claims made in the conspiracy theory “documentary” 2000 Mules
Joseph Bellino, SD-16
- Signed a letter to the Michigan Secretary of State demanding a full audit of the state’s election results and citing false accusations of fraud, claiming they could not be ignored
Robert Bezotte, HD-50
- Signed a letter in June 2022 demanding the Michigan Attorney General investigate the baseless claims made in the conspiracy theory “documentary” 2000 Mules
Ann Bollin, HD-49
- Signed a letter to the Michigan Secretary of State demanding a full audit of the state’s election results and citing false accusations of fraud, claiming they could not be ignored
Ken Borton, HD-105
- Signed a January 5th open letter calling on Mike Pence to delay certifying the election
- Signed a letter in June 2022 demanding the Michigan Attorney General investigate the baseless claims made in the conspiracy theory “documentary” 2000 Mules
Jon Bumstead, SD-32
- Signed a letter to the Michigan Secretary of State demanding a full audit of the state’s election results and citing false accusations of fraud, claiming they could not be ignored
Steve Carra, HD-36
- Has introduced legislation to designate January 6th as “Remembrance Day”
- Signed onto legal efforts to block Michigan and other states from certifying their election results in an attempt to overturn the 2020 election results
- Signed a January 5th open letter calling on Mike Pence to delay certifying the election
- Months after the election was over, joined calls for a 50-state audit of the 2020 presidential election and possible decertification of the results
- Signed a letter in June 2022 demanding the Michigan Attorney General investigate the baseless claims made in the conspiracy theory “documentary” 2000 Mules
Kevin Daley, SD-26
- Signed a letter calling on Congress to look into “credible allegations” of election misconduct during the January 6th certification vote
- Signed a letter to the Michigan Secretary of State demanding a full audit of the state’s election results and citing false accusations of fraud, claiming they could not be ignored
Andrew Fink, HD-35
- Attended a Stop The Steal rally at the Michigan state capitol on January 6th
Annette Glenn, SD-35
- Refused to directly answer a question about President Biden 2020 election victory, instead discussing “concerns” about the contest
Matt Hall, HD-42
- Signed a letter in June 2022 demanding the Michigan Attorney General investigate the baseless claims made in the conspiracy theory “documentary” 2000 Mules
Mike Hoadley, HD-97
- Endorsed by former President Trump
Michele Hoitenga, SD-36
- Signed onto legal efforts to block Michigan and other states from certifying their election results in an attempt to overturn the 2020 election results
- Signed a letter in June 2022 demanding the Michigan Attorney General investigate the baseless claims made in the conspiracy theory “documentary” 2000 Mules
Pamela Hornberger, SD-12
- Signed a letter to the Michigan Secretary of State demanding a full audit of the state’s election results and citing false accusations of fraud, claiming they could not be ignored
Ruth Johnson, SD-24
- A former secretary of state who has tarnished her credibility by making misleading statements on election integrity
- As secretary of state, was willing to work with and provide data to President Trump’s phony Election Integrity Commission
Dan Lauwers, SD-25
- Signed a letter calling on Congress to look into “credible allegations” of election misconduct during the January 6th certification vote
Jonathan Lindsey, SD-17
- Endorsed by former President Trump
- Has falsely claimed that the 2020 election was “not conducted legally” and “was open to manipulation and fraud”
Michael MacDonald, SD-11
- Signed a letter to the Michigan Secretary of State demanding a full audit of the state’s election results and citing false accusations of fraud, claiming they could not be ignored
Gregory Markkanen, HD-110
- Signed onto legal efforts to block Michigan and other states from certifying their election results in an attempt to overturn the 2020 election results
- Signed a letter to the Michigan Secretary of State demanding a full audit of the state’s election results and citing false accusations of fraud, claiming they could not be ignored
- Signed a letter in June 2022 demanding the Michigan Attorney General investigate the baseless claims made in the conspiracy theory “documentary” 2000 Mules
Ed McBroom, SD-38
- Led an 8-month tax-payer-funded investigation into the election that was unable to produce evidence of widespread fraud
- Refused to provide public testimony to the January 6th Committee on his investigation
Luke Meerman, HD-89
- Signed a January 5th open letter calling on Mike Pence to delay certifying the election
- Signed a letter to the Michigan Secretary of State demanding a full audit of the state’s election results and citing false accusations of fraud, claiming they could not be ignored
Tamara Mitchell, SD-19
- Attended events promoting election conspiracy events including a local premier of the conspiracy “documentary” 2000 Mules and an “Election Integrity” summit in Detroit hosted by Trump allies
- Claims on her website to have helped coordinate a resolution titled “Full Forensic Audit for Election Accuracy & Integrity”
- Posted an advertisement from her campaign accusing Democrats of destroying the nation with election fraud
Mike Mueller, HD-72
- Signed a letter to the Michigan Secretary of State demanding a full audit of the state’s election results and citing false accusations of fraud, claiming they could not be ignored
Aric Nesbitt, SD-20
- Signed a letter to the Michigan Secretary of State demanding a full audit of the state’s election results and citing false accusations of fraud, claiming they could not be ignored
Jack O’Malley, HD-103
- Signed onto legal efforts to block Michigan and other states from certifying their election results in an attempt to overturn the 2020 election results
Pat Outman, HD-91
- Signed a letter in June 2022 demanding the Michigan Attorney General investigate the baseless claims made in the conspiracy theory “documentary” 2000 Mules
Rick Outman, SD-33
- Signed a letter calling on Congress to look into “credible allegations” of election misconduct during the January 6th certification vote
- Signed a letter to the Michigan Secretary of State demanding a full audit of the state’s election results and citing false accusations of fraud, claiming they could not be ignored
Brad Paquette, HD-37
- Signed onto legal efforts to block Michigan and other states from certifying their election results in an attempt to overturn the 2020 election results
- Signed a letter to the Michigan Secretary of State demanding a full audit of the state’s election results and citing false accusations of fraud, claiming they could not be ignored
- Signed a letter in June 2022 demanding the Michigan Attorney General investigate the baseless claims made in the conspiracy theory “documentary” 2000 Mules
Bryan Posthumus, HD-90
- Signed a letter in June 2022 demanding the Michigan Attorney General investigate the baseless claims made in the conspiracy theory “documentary” 2000 Mules
John Roth, HD-104
- Signed a letter in June 2022 demanding the Michigan Attorney General investigate the baseless claims made in the conspiracy theory “documentary” 2000 Mules
Jim Runestad, SD-23
- Signed a letter calling on Congress to look into “credible allegations” of election misconduct during the January 6th certification vote
Harry Sawicki, SD-02
- Spread false information and #StopTheSteal conspiracy theories on social media
Rachelle Smit, HD-43
- Endorsed by former President Trump
Lana Theis, SD-22
- Signed a letter calling on Congress to look into “credible allegations” of election misconduct during the January 6th certification vote
- Signed a letter to the Michigan Secretary of State demanding a full audit of the state’s election results and citing false accusations of fraud, claiming they could not be ignored
Curt Vanderwall, HD-102
- Signed a letter calling on Congress to look into “credible allegations” of election misconduct during the January 6th certification vote
Roger Victory, SD-31
- Signed a letter calling on Congress to look into “credible allegations” of election misconduct during the January 6th certification vote
Michael Webber, SD-09
- Signed a letter to the Michigan Secretary of State demanding a full audit of the state’s election results and citing false accusations of fraud, claiming they could not be ignored
Pauline Wendzel, HD-39
- Signed a letter to the Michigan Secretary of State demanding a full audit of the state’s election results and citing false accusations of fraud, claiming they could not be ignored
Douglas Wozniak, HD-59
- Signed onto legal efforts to block Michigan and other states from certifying their election results in an attempt to overturn the 2020 election results
- Signed a January 5th open letter calling on Mike Pence to delay certifying the election
Dale Zorn, HD-34
- Signed a letter calling on Congress to look into “credible allegations” of election misconduct during the January 6th certification vote
- Signed a letter to the Michigan Secretary of State demanding a full audit of the state’s election results and citing false accusations of fraud, claiming they could not be ignored