Former President Donald Trump, who continues his false claim that the 2020 presidential election was “rigged and stolen,” told supporters at a rally on Saturday that election integrity may be a thing of the past in the United State.
“I don’t believe we’ll ever have a fair election again,” Trump said in Warren, Michigan. “I don’t believe it.”
A majority of Republican nominees on the ballot this November for the House, Senate and key statewide offices — 299 in all — have denied or questioned the outcome of that 2020 presidential election. Many echo Trump’s false claims — all of which have been thoroughly investigated and dismissed by myriad officials and courts. Experts said the insistence on such claims, despite the lack of evidence, reflects a willingness among election-denying candidates to undermine democratic institutions when it benefits their side.
In Chatham County, some Republicans for office join deniers in saying the 2020 election didn’t produce fair results. As part of questionnaires sent to all candidates, the News + Record posed the question. You’ll find responses below.
Here’s the question posed to each Chatham candidate on contested ballots:
MIKE ROBERSON, Chatham County Sheriff: YES. I believe in the power and legitimacy of the democratic process. However, it is essential that our voting methods be fair, consistent, and inclusive in order to achieve true representation of all people, not only a select few. I believe residents shoulder an incredible responsibility and duty to vote, and there is no such thing as an insignificant election. Voters should make their voices heard at the polls at every opportunity and never take such extraordinary decision-making opportunities for granted.
MARCUS GLOBUSCHUTZ, Chatham County Sheriff challenger: YES. I can only form an opinion based on my experience. I have not observed or heard of any issues here in Chatham County or North Carolina.
ROBERT REIVES II, N.C. Representative, District 54: YES. Countless inquiries into so called election fraud have found nothing of the sort, and the narrative of a stolen election is obviously being used to undermine faith in our democratic process.
WALTER PETTY, N.C. House of Representatives challenger: (Petty did not provide a “YES” or “NO” response.) One can only speculate unless he or she knows something definitively. I can speak only to the integrity of this district and for the most part our state. Because of years of involvement here I think I can say the process here is probably the most accurate. The 2020 election is behind us, we need to focus on securing the future for our kids. (In a separate interview with the News + Record, when asked for clarification, Petty said he would accept the results of the election, but called the question divisive, part of the reason why he said he wouldn’t initially answer yes or no.)
NATALIE MURDOCK, N.C. Senator, District 20: YES.
ALVIN REED, N.C. Senate challenger: NO. There a massive amount of evidence to question the accuracy of the 2020 election and virtually none of it has been disproven. My own website transparencypetition.com proves that Trump won by 16 orders of magnitude certainty just from the low number of rejected mail in ballots.
TOM GLENDINNING, Chatham Board of Commissioners Dist. 3 candidate: NO! The district courts are denying the rights of plaintiffs across the country to hear complaints and torts.
DAVID DELANEY, Chatham Board of Commissioners Dist. 3 candidate: YES.
KATIE KENLAN, Chatham Board of Commissioners Dist. 4 candidate: (Kenlan did not provide a “YES” or “NO” response.) My neighbors here in Chatham County — indeed some of my relatives — and people I know in the community are poll workers, election workers, volunteers, and help to ensure our elections are fair and secure EVERY election cycle. The same holds true throughout this country. While it would be really convenient to answer this with a pat “yes” or “no” answer, I earnestly hope we can remember that when we hear arbitrary shouts of fraud in current rhetoric, we’re potentially seeing harm caused to our own neighbors and fellow citizens who help make our elections accurate and legitimate.
JOE GODFREY, Chatham Board of Commissioners Dist. 4 candidate: YES. Chatham County does a really good job with the election. We have an active citizen board with members from both Republican and Democrat Parties, and the Chatham County Board of Elections staff are very focused on ensuring the rule of law is followed in our local elections.
FRANKLIN GOMEZ FLORES, Chatham County Commissioner Dist. 5: YES. I believe the result was proper, but not to the extent that it should have been. I believe there was an attempt to steal the election by the former President. How many attorneys of the former president are in trouble with the law? Even those that were not yet affiliated with the former president during the 2020 election. It is 2022 and new attorneys are getting scrutinized because of the former president. What if it was your child or your spouse? I was critical of the business practices of the former president leading up to the 2016 election.
PEYTON MOODY, Chatham County Commissioner Dist. 5 challenger: NO.
DEL TURNER, Chatham Board of Education member Dist. 3: YES. The nation’s top intelligence and law enforcement agencies confirmed that the 2020 election was secure and allegations of massive voter fraud, by mail or otherwise, had no basis in fact. The Election Infrastructure Government Coordinating Council verified that no electronic voting system deleted or lost votes, changed votes or was in any way compromised. The most compelling evidence to support my answer is that 50 post-election lawsuits filed to the contrary, were emphatically rejected by the courts presided over by Republican judges. When different people from the same political party, coming from different places with different responsibilities all come to the same conclusion, it is hard to dispute that conclusion.
JESSICA WINGER, Chatham Board of Education Dist. 3 challenger: NO & YES. It is shameful that the Chatham News + Record wants to distract from the important issues facing families and children in this election by trying to re-litigate the last election and fan the flames of division. Stunts like this make average citizens distrust the media. Every minute you and your readers spend on this issue is a wasted opportunity to focus on vital matters for our children, grandchildren and loved ones.
JANE ALLEN WILSON, Chatham Board of Education member Dist. 4: YES. I believe in our democracy, and our democratic process. The results were tested again and again to the same outcome. The almost salacious perpetuation of mythology about the elections being invalid stems from ulterior motives rather than facts, and it is causing harm to our nation.
GARY LEONARD, Chatham Board of Education member Dist. 5: YES.
TIMOTHY MOORE, Chatham Board of Education Dist. 5 challenger: Did not respond
RICHARD HUDSON, N.C. Dist. 9 U.S. House of Representatives: YES. However, the Constitution is clear that only state legislatures can change election laws. In 2020, there were numerous examples of other entities modifying rules and the Supreme Court must weigh in to remove ambiguity.
BEN CLARK, N.C. Dist. 9 U.S. House of Representatives challenger: YES.