Pete Hoekstra: “We are afraid that [Democrats] will steal some votes to make sure that [Rogers] doesn’t win.”
LANSING — The Detroit News reported today that Mike Rogers and the “top Michigan Republican” are spreading even more dangerous election conspiracy lies, alleging that Democrats “will steal some votes” in the Senate race.
The Detroit News notes that Hoekstra’s comments “could shine light on the GOP’s approach to the upcoming election” as Republicans “echo false claims” ahead of the election.
This follows other reports of Rogers “mischaracteriz[ing]” the “voting process for Michiganders” as he casts more “election skepticism,” saying it’s “‘really very concerning for us.’” Rogers has “avoid[ed] discussion about the 2020 vote.” The Washington Post notes that Rogers “told a Detroit News columnist that he expected cheating this fall and Republicans needed ‘an overwhelming win so there’s no question about our victory’” and refuses to “directly address whether he believes Biden won in 2020.”
“Pete Hoekstra and Michigan Republicans are continuing to spread dangerous election conspiracy theories and undermine our democracy. It’s clear Republican leaders don’t believe Mike Rogers is capable of winning this race on his own, and instead they want to push lies at the expense of Michigan and our democracy,” said Michigan Democratic Party Chair Lavora Barnes.
Read Detroit News’ reporting on Pete Hoekstra “echo[ing] false claims” about the U.S. Senate election:
Detroit News: Top Michigan Republican already warns of a stolen election
- Pete Hoekstra, chairman of the Michigan Republican Party, told the crowd at a fundraiser Monday that he was concerned Democrats “will steal some votes“ in a potentially close U.S. Senate race this fall, according to a recording obtained by The Detroit News.
- Hoekstra’s comments could shine light on the GOP’s approach to the upcoming election and echoed false claims, from some in the party, of widespread voter fraud after Michigan’s 2020 presidential race, which GOP nominee Donald Trump lost to Democrat Joe Biden.
- Multiple election officials described Hoekstra’s claim as false Thursday, and Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum, a Democrat, said similar remarks were “unsafe” for election workers and democracy.
- Hoekstra, Republican U.S. Senate candidate Mike Rogers and state House Minority Leader Matt Hall, R-Richland Township, appeared at a fundraiser Monday night in Farmington Hills for the Michigan Republican Party. At the event, Hoekstra said Rogers knows how to win close races, mentioning his 2000 victory in a U.S. House election by 111 votes.
- “We don’t recommend that this cycle,” Hoekstra then said, according to the recording. “If it gets that close, we are afraid that they will steal some votes to make sure that he doesn’t win.”
- It wasn’t clear what Hoekstra was referring to or what evidence he had that Democrats would “steal some votes.”
- During a press conference Thursday, Genesee County Clerk Domonique Clemons said some individuals were alleging the election would be stolen even before people knew who would be on the ballot.
- Clemons noted that election equipment is tested in public before elections and clerks, poll workers from both parties and challengers help ensure the process has integrity.
- “That process here in Michigan is safe. It is secure. And it’s efficient,” Clemons said. “It’s under constant review, constant scrutiny and again, open to the public at every single step.”
See also: Heartland Signal: FACT CHECK: Mike Rogers mischaracterizes voting process for Michiganders without photo IDs, Washington Post: In top races, Republicans try to stay quiet on Trump’s false 2020 claims.
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