Top AZ Republicans to GOP: Halt Election Conspiracy Theories Now

Pro-Trump protesters gather in front of the U.S. Capitol Building on Jan. 6, 2021. Trump supporters gathered in the nation’s capital to protest the ratification of President-elect Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory over President Trump in the 2020 election. A pro-Trump mob later stormed the Capitol, breaking windows and clashing with police officers. Five people died as a result. Photo by Brent Stirton | Getty Images

Some prominent Arizona Republicans are preparing for a challenging endeavor to restore voter confidence in the state’s elections.

“It’s going to be tough,” former Gov. Jan Brewer told the Arizona Mirror. Brewer serves on the board of the newly created Democracy Defense Project, a bipartisan organization aimed at bolstering faith in the electoral system.

“Designed to counter attempts to undermine and sow distrust in election integrity, the Democracy Defense Project’s board members will speak up when these instances arise and publicly defend those who uphold the rule of law,” the project stated in its launch announcement.

The initiative, launched on June 25, coincides with heightened scrutiny and conspiracy theories surrounding Arizona’s election systems, particularly in Maricopa County, after a temporary election worker allegedly stole a ballot tabulator key on June 20. The theft was quickly discovered, and the suspect was arrested the next day.

Despite the swift action, conspiracy theories about the theft continue to spread. Former U.S. Congressman Matt Salmon, another board member heading the organization’s operations in Arizona, joined the effort to combat election misinformation.

Many Arizona Republicans still claim, without evidence, that the 2020 election was stolen from Trump and that the 2022 election was similarly rigged. U.S. Senate candidate Kari Lake and others have continued to challenge the results through repeated, unsuccessful court challenges.

Salmon expressed skepticism about the seriousness of these lawsuits. “I lost interest after the 45th lawsuit,” he said. “I think it’s more about maintaining media presence and fundraising than affecting real change.”

Brewer and Salmon agree on the importance of restoring confidence in elections. However, Brewer believes it’s a factual issue, while Salmon suspects some claims are made to appease followers rather than based on genuine belief.

Salmon highlighted that election denialism isn’t exclusive to Republicans, pointing out that Democrats like Hillary Clinton had questioned election outcomes in the past. However, Clinton’s challenges did not ignite the same level of action as Trump’s claims.

Both Brewer and Salmon cited the immediate arrest of the ballot key thief as proof of stringent security measures. Maintaining election integrity remains their focus, and they hope their work fosters a peaceful transition of power, regardless of who wins in November.

“We don’t want another repeat of Jan. 6,” Brewer emphasized. Salmon noted that accepting election results is crucial for moving forward, citing his own experience losing a close governor race in 2002 without contesting the result.

Brewer acknowledged the difficulty in winning back trust from those entrenched in conspiracy theories. “It’s hard to convince people once they go down that path,” she said. “It takes a lot of trusted voices to speak out and provide the facts.”

Both also pointed to problematic rhetoric within their party, including a recent controversial comment by Shelby Busch, Maricopa County Republican Committee First Vice Chair. Brewer called for accountability and an apology for the offensive remark.

The Democracy Defense Project is also active in other swing states, including Georgia, Nevada, New Hampshire, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, aiming to restore election confidence nationwide.

***CORRECTION: This story has been corrected to reflect that the Democracy Defense Project launched on June 25 and that the tabulator key theft happened on June 20.***