197 Election Deniers Running for Congress or Statewide Office in 43 States

197 candidates who deny the 2020 election results are running for federal or statewide office across 43 states this November.

Across 43 states, 197 candidates who have disputed the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential election are on the ballot this November for either congressional seats or statewide offices. That figure represents a substantial presence of election deniers competing for positions of real electoral authority — not merely symbolic ones. Many of the statewide offices these candidates are seeking — such as secretary of state, attorney general, and governor — carry direct responsibility for administering elections. Winning candidates in those roles could influence how votes are counted, certified, or contested in future contests, including the 2028 presidential election. The 197 figure comes from tracking by Wired, which categorized candidates based on public statements, legal challenges, or votes they supported that questioned the validity of the 2020 results. The races span a wide geographic range, with candidates appearing on ballots in all but seven states. The November elections will determine not just who holds these offices in the near term, but potentially who oversees the machinery of American democracy heading into the next presidential cycle — a fact that has drawn attention from election law experts and voting rights advocates.

Why it matters

Statewide officeholders such as secretaries of state and governors have direct legal authority over how elections are run and certified, meaning the outcome of these races could shape the administration of the 2028 presidential election. The scale — 197 candidates across 43 states — makes this a nationwide rather than localized phenomenon.

What's next

Election results in November will determine how many election deniers gain control of offices with direct authority over future voting administration.

Key facts

• 197 election-denying candidates are on ballots this November
• They are running in 43 out of 50 states
• Candidates are competing for congressional seats and statewide offices
• Several statewide roles sought — such as secretary of state — carry direct authority over election administration
• Winning candidates could influence how elections are run in the 2028 presidential cycle

Bias & framing notes

This story comes from a single source, Wired, which itself compiled the data using its own categorization criteria for what constitutes an 'election denier.' That framing is politically loaded and contested — candidates so labeled often describe their own positions differently. No independent corroboration or methodology detail was provided in the source material, which limits confidence in the precise figure.

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