Today's Brief
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SourcesNPR News
US Politics
Election deniers seek certifying offices in 23 states ahead of 2026
Candidates who rejected past results are pursuing roles that directly certify future elections, raising stakes for how 2026 and 2028 outcomes are administered.
23
states with election-denying candidates seeking certification roles
The facts · bedrock
A new report finds candidates who have denied prior election results are running in 23 states for offices that play a direct role in certifying elections. Five of those states are presidential swing states. Among the candidates is U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona, who is running for governor and voted against certifying the 2020 presidential election as a member of the House. The report ties these candidacies to roles such as governor and other state-level positions involved in election administration.
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NPR News
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How it's being framed
Same facts, different stories. We name the frame instead of pretending neutrality.
Threat-to-democracy frame
"Candidates who refused to accept the 2020 results are now seeking the very offices that certify elections, putting the machinery of American democracy at risk of being captured by people who have already shown they will reject outcomes they dislike."
Voter-accountability frame
"Officials who challenged the 2020 certification are running openly on that record across nearly half the country, asking voters in swing states and beyond to elevate them into roles overseeing how ballots are counted and certified."