Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 26, 2021

CONTACT: press@secure-democracy.org

Republicans & Local Election Officials Speak Out Against Partisan Elections Investigations

As calls for partisan investigations of the 2020 election continue from former President Trump and his allies based on unfounded conspiracy theories, Republican leaders and election officials are rejecting calls for and warning against starting more wasteful, politically-motivated Arizona-style election reviews.

ARIZONA

Former Governor Jan Brewer (R): “I think they should maybe just call it quits. I don’t think that it’s going to serve any purpose. It’s not going to change the election. The votes have been certified. Biden is the president. It’s not changing. I say move on.”

State Senator Paul Boyer (R): “Who wouldn’t support an audit? But the way they’re doing it, it’s embarrassing. It makes me embarrassed to be a state senator at this point...I feel like we’re in this fantasy land. I still have yet to see any evidence [of fraud], and I don’t think it’s coming.”

State Senator Michelle Ugenti-Rita (R): “I wanted to review our election processes and see what, if anything, could be improved. Sadly, it’s now become clear that the audit has been botched.”

Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer (R): “The rules for Maricopa County are meant to ensure expert, nonpartisan administration of the county’s election. They are good rules. They promote confidence in the process. The Cyber Ninjas are unchecked by sensible rules that promote accuracy and fairness. This is extremely troubling. Whatever the Ninjas ultimately produce should be greeted with extreme skepticism.”

Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Chair Jack Sellers (R): “It’s clear the people hired by Arizona Senate leadership to supposedly bring integrity to our elections are instead just bringing incompetence...What we heard today represents an alternate reality that has veered out of control since the November General Election. Senate leadership should be ashamed they broadcast the half-baked theories of the “Deep Rig” crowd to the world today.”

FLORIDA

Secretary of State Laurel Lee (R): “Florida’s election in 2020 was accurate, transparent, and conducted in compliance with Florida law. Florida has already conducted both pre and post elections audits, and we are confident in the security and integrity of our 2020 election results.”

Manatee County Supervisor of Elections Mike Bennett (R): “They’re auditing because they were hoping for this big fraud that they hope that they can find, and I don’t think it’s there. It’s really a shame of what they’re having to go through out there, but I don’t expect that in Florida.”

GEORGIA

Gabriel Sterling, Chief Operating Officer at the office of the Georgia Secretary of State (R): “This “audit” in Arizona is another step in undermining confidence in elections. This process is neither transparent nor, likely, legal. Any “findings” will be highly suspect now that chain of custody has been violated by partisan actors.”

MICHIGAN

State Senator Ed McBroom (R): "Most of the rigorous debate over additional audits comes from fears surrounding the technology used and its vulnerabilities as allegedly demonstrated in Antrim County. Without any evidence to validate those fears, another audit, a so-called forensic audit, is not justifiable."

Cheboygan County Commissioner Michael Newman (R): “There is no information or gain that can be made from this audit. Things will stand as they are.”

NEVADA

Office of Secretary of State Barbara Cegavske (R): “The Civil Rights Act of 1960 requires state and local election officials to maintain, for 22 months after the conduct of an election for federal office, ‘all records and papers’ relating to any ‘act requisite to voting in such election. A decision to transfer or release custody of voting records to a third-party auditor would potentially violate this provision of federal law.”

PENNSYLVANIA

Former Congressman Charlie Dent (R): “Most of the Republicans I know, at the very least, have misgivings and, at worst, are like me and realize this is just really a blunder of epic proportions. Why bring the Arizona clown show to Pennsylvania?”

Former Congressman Jim Greenwood (R) and former PA Secretary of Administration Murray Dickman (R): “Most Pennsylvania Republican State Senators seem hell bent to follow in the unguided footsteps of their brethren in Arizona into Trump lunacy land to perform a so-called “forensic audit” of the 2020 election. The Commonwealth Republican Leadership should reject such a crazy idea.”

State Senator Dan Laughlin (R): "The current attempt to discredit the 2020 election results runs headlong into an unmistakable truth. Donald Trump lost Pennsylvania because Donald Trump received fewer votes."

State Senator Cris Dush (R): “I agree with and support the [Tioga] county commissioners’ decision to not release the election materials at this time and in this manner. Additionally, I have full confidence that the elections in Tioga County were run exceptionally well and no one who works for the county is attempting to hide anything.”

Philadelphia City Commissioner Al Schmidt (R): “The 2020 General Election was already audited - twice. What Mastriano is requesting isn’t an actual audit at all, nor does it address his complaints which are about election procedures/decisions by the PA Supreme Court and PA Department of State...We have an obligation to protect the custody of all of our voting equipment and will not give that equipment to a third party, especially as it will result in its decertification.”

York County President Commissioner Julie Wheeler (R): "That's a lot of money that we don't have, that's not in the budget...That's going to be a burden that's placed on our taxpayers in order to get new machines."

Tioga County Commissioner Erick Coolidge (R): “I would rather we spent time or money in arenas that change the quality of life of those we represent.”

Tioga County Solicitor Chris Gabriel (nonpartisan): “This is not a political issue for us. This is a nuts and bolts local government issue. We just want to be able to run our elections...We are therefore following the Secretary's directive because we have a responsibility to ensure that our citizens can vote in the next election. That is not political, it is simply our job.”

TEXAS

County and District Clerks Association of Texas President Lisa Johnson (R): “It’s really frustrating to see them continually make elections more difficult to hold without feeling like you’re being attacked by certain people.”

Bexar County Elections Administrator Jacquelyn Callanen (nonpartisan): “People are looking to be relevant. But the November elections were safe and secure.”

WISCONSIN

State Senator Kathy Bernier (R): “Having another separate investigation...I don’t think would be fruitful.”

This media release was originally compiled and sent on July 26, 2021 and updated on September 13, 2021.

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About Secure Democracy

Secure Democracy is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that works to improve election integrity across the United States. We educate policymakers and the public about what it takes to safeguard our voting systems. We collaborate with state leaders, election administrators, election integrity experts, and allies to ensure that all eligible citizens have the freedom to vote how they choose.