At least one-third of Republican candidates planning to run for Congress next year have “embraced” former President Donald Trump’s false claims about the 2020 election, report says.
According to The Washington Post, at least one-third of the nearly 700 Republicans who have filed initial paperwork with the Federal Election Commission to run for Congress have said they support the former president’s “false claims about his defeat.”
A total of 136 of them are current members of Congress who voted against the certification of President Joe Biden’s electoral victory.
The outlet noted of the nearly 600 lawmakers who sided with Trump’s claims, 500 are up for reelection this year or next. The majority of them signed legal briefs or resolutions challenging Biden’s win.
Jena Griswold, the Democratic secretary of state in Colorado, said, “What’s really frightening right now is the extent of the effort to steal power over future elections.”
She added, “That’s what we’re seeing across the nation. Literally in almost every swing state, we have someone running for secretary of state who has been fearmongering about the 2020 election or was at the insurrection. Democracy will be on the ballot in 2022.”
Trump has offered his support to candidates challenging Republican lawmakers and officials who have voiced their opposition to his claims.
In June, Trump announced his endorsement for Alaska Republican Senate candidate Kelly Tshibaka, opposing Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska).
“Lisa Murkowski is bad for Alaska,” Trump said in the statement.
Murkowski voted to impeach Trump following the January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.
In March, Trump endorsed Rep. Jody Hice (R-Ga.) for Georgia secretary of state after current Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger refused to give into Trump’s pressure to overturn the state’s 2020 election results.
“Unlike the current Georgia Secretary of State, Jody leads out front with integrity,” Trump said. “Jody will stop the Fraud and get honesty into our Elections!”
