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More than 210 Republicans who questioned the 2020 election have won seats in the U.S. House and Senate and in state races for governor, secretary of state and attorney general, according to results as of 7 a.m. on Wednesday.
More than 30 of them have denied President Biden’s victory outright.
A vast majority of the winners have not denied the 2020 results entirely, but have sown doubt in other ways.
This article will be updated to include final results and other developments.
Spreading lies, misinformation and doubt about the 2020 election have proven to be a winning strategy for many Republicans across the United States.
The midterm victories of those candidates are a sign that election skepticism is not a fleeting fad. It has taken root in the Republican mainstream, ahead of the 2024 election.
About the data The Republicans shown here were among the more than 370 election skeptics identified by The Times. Read the methodology.
The Times recently examined statements made by Republican candidates in all 50 states to track how skepticism of the 2020 election had permeated the Republican Party, despite the lack of evidence of any widespread voter fraud. The analysis identified more than 370 candidates who cast doubt in some way on the 2020 election.
Of those skeptics in the Times analysis, more than half have won their races, according to results so far, and most of them were elected to House seats. More than 100 of the winners questioned the 2020 election within this past year, long after Donald J. Trump’s defeat — another indication of the message’s longevity.
Most election skeptics sowed doubt, The Times found, by suggesting, sometimes again and again, that there were irregularities or unresolved questions about the way the election was conducted, or by saying that further investigation was needed.
Joe Biden won 7 million more votes and 74 more electors than Mr. Trump did in the last presidential election. Judges across the nation rejected attempts by Mr. Trump and his allies to dispute the results.
More than 170 Skeptics Elected in House
With results still pending, more than a third of the newly elected House has questioned or denied the 2020 election. More than two dozen explicitly said the last election was stolen or rigged, but the vast majority sowed doubt in other ways.
House Republican winner said the 2020 election was stolenHouse Republican winner questioned the 2020 election in other waysWinner is a Democrat, or a Republican for which The Times found no evidenceResults pending
Most of the election skeptics who will serve in the House next year are incumbents who objected to the 2020 Electoral College results, supported a lawsuit to throw out results in four states or spread falsehoods in other public statements. Some did all three.
About half of skeptics who are newcomers have said the 2020 election was stolen or rigged, including Anna Paulina Luna of Florida, who will represent the 13th District in Florida, and Russell Fry, who won the Seventh district in South Carolina.
“It is very clear that it was rigged,” Mr. Fry said about the 2020 election.
House Republican newcomer said the 2020 election was stolenHouse Republican newcomer questioned the 2020 election in other ways
A vast majority of states will have one or more Republicans who cast doubt on the 2020 election.
House Republican winners who questioned the 2020 election
| Idaho |
2 |
100% |
| West Virginia |
2 |
100% |
| Wyoming |
1 |
100% |
| North Dakota |
1 |
100% |
| South Dakota |
1 |
100% |
| Tennessee |
8 |
88% |
| Alabama |
6 |
85% |
| South Carolina |
6 |
85% |
| Oklahoma |
4 |
80% |
| Missouri |
6 |
75% |
| Kansas |
3 |
75% |
| Mississippi |
3 |
75% |
| Utah |
3 |
75% |
| Kentucky |
4 |
66% |
| Louisiana |
4 |
66% |
| Nebraska |
2 |
66% |
| Florida |
18 |
64% |
| Georgia |
9 |
64% |
| Texas |
22 |
57% |
| Ohio |
8 |
53% |
| North Carolina |
7 |
50% |
| Arkansas |
2 |
50% |
| Virginia |
5 |
45% |
| Minnesota |
3 |
37% |
| Delaware |
0 |
0% |
| Hawaii |
0 |
0% |
| Massachusetts |
0 |
0% |
| New Hampshire |
0 |
0% |
| Rhode Island |
0 |
0% |
| Vermont |
0 |
0% |
Note: Only states where all seats have been called are shown.
More than a Dozen Skeptics Elected in the Senate
The 16 Republican skeptics elected so far include several who have outright denied the 2020 election, including J.D. Vance, who will replace retiring Senator Rob Portman of Ohio.
“I think the election was stolen from Trump,” Mr. Vance said during a Republican primary debate in March.
Republican winner said the 2020 election was stolenRepublican winner questioned the 2020 election in other waysWinner is a Democrat, or a Republican for which The Times found no evidenceResults pendingNo election held
Nearly Two Dozen Skeptics Elected to State Offices
More than 20 Republicans who won state races for governor, secretary of state and attorney general have questioned the 2020 election, including Gov. Kay Ivey of Alabama, who was re-elected to another term.
In April 2022, she said “the fake news, big tech and blue-state liberals stole the election from President Trump.”
Republican winner said the 2020 election was stolenRepublican winner questioned the 2020 election in other waysWinner is a Democrat, or a Republican for which The Times found no evidenceResults pendingNo election held
