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Mike Lindell, after losing the Republican primary for Minnesota governor Tuesday by roughly 11 points, refused to concede and questioned the legitimacy of the results. His refusal echoes the same pattern of election denial that has followed him since 2020. But this is not isolated; rather, this is a troubling theme among GOP candidates across the country.
Michigan Senate GOP nominee Mike Rogers, as a congressman, pushed false claims that the 2024 election was stolen and praised Trump’s recent attacks on elections. He will now have a wide platform in a closely watched race to repeat those lies.
At least 180 candidates running for the House and Senate this cycle are election deniers. Seven are running for the Senate and, if elected, could be called upon to certify the 2028 presidential election. Election deniers are winning primaries and securing places on the ballot for federal and state offices responsible for elections.
Lies about election results are not harmless political rhetoric. Repeated often enough, these falsehoods undermine confidence in our institutions and make it harder for Americans to exercise their right to vote. Election deniers are putting our entire democratic system at risk because once they convince people that their vote cannot be trusted, people won’t vote or trust the outcome.
Researchers have found that the more often people hear a false statement, the more likely they are to believe it—the “illusory truth effect.” Familiarity can be mistaken for truth.
A lie repeated often enough can become an accepted fact and, over time, a justification for intimidation, political violence, or restricting access to the ballot. The question can shift from “Is this true?” to “What should we do about it?” We saw the devastating consequences of that thinking on January 6, 2021.
Election denial also puts election workers at risk. When voters are told elections are rigged, suspicion can turn into confrontation, harassment, and threats against the people responsible for administering them. In Maricopa County, Arizona, officials significantly increased security following unrest and threats surrounding the 2020 and 2022 elections, spending millions on additional security, equipment, and staffing.
Democracy depends on voters being able to cast their ballots freely and on election results being respected. The 2026 election is about more than just who wins. It is about whether voters, not political parties, conspiracy theories, or intimidation, will determine the outcome.
Elections have consequences.
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