Tom Tiffany, the Republican nominee for governor in Wisconsin, has actively supported claims regarding the illegitimacy of the 2020 presidential election. He signed onto a Texas lawsuit aimed at invalidating Joe Biden's victory and voted against certifying election results on January 6, 2021. Tiffany has expressed intentions to overturn Wisconsin's election results and has endorsed an FBI investigation into state elections. The potential for election deniers to oversee elections in key states raises concerns about the integrity of future electoral processes.
In addition to Wisconsin, election deniers have been nominated in critical states such as Michigan, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Arizona, and Nevada. If these candidates win, they could influence the administration of elections in states pivotal to the outcome of the 2028 presidential election. Experts suggest that while the risk of election manipulation exists, state laws and judicial oversight provide significant protections against such actions. Rebecca Green, co-director of the Election Law Program at the College of William and Mary, noted that there are numerous checks on the power of officials overseeing elections.
Despite the challenges, there remains a possibility that an election denier could affect the outcome of a close election. Rick Hasen, an election law expert at UCLA, emphasized the need for vigilance without succumbing to alarmism. The structure of election administration, which often involves bipartisan participation, makes it difficult for any single official to manipulate the process.
While the legal framework is designed to prevent election theft, the potential for election deniers to undermine public confidence in electoral integrity remains a concern. The 2022 reform to the Electoral Count Act introduced additional safeguards, but the political landscape continues to evolve. The long-term impact of election deniers on the electoral system and public trust in elections is still uncertain, with the potential for future crises if confidence in electoral processes is not restored.