Tom Tiffany, the Republican nominee for governor in Wisconsin, has actively supported claims regarding the illegitimacy of the 2020 presidential election. He signed a Texas lawsuit aimed at invalidating Joe Biden's victory and voted against certifying election results on January 6, 2021. Tiffany's stance raises concerns about the potential for election deniers to oversee elections in key states for the 2028 presidential cycle. Similar candidates have emerged in other critical states such as Michigan, Georgia, Pennsylvania, Arizona, and Nevada, where Republicans have nominated individuals who have questioned the legitimacy of past elections.
Despite these concerns, election experts suggest that the risk of a stolen election remains low due to existing legal safeguards and checks within state election laws. Rebecca Green, co-director of the Election Law Program at The College of William and Mary, notes that numerous checks exist even when a single party controls the election process. Additionally, reforms to the Electoral Count Act have improved protections against election interference.
Experts acknowledge that while the potential for election deniers to disrupt the electoral process exists, the legal framework and judicial oversight provide significant barriers to such actions. However, the presence of election deniers in key positions could still undermine public confidence in the electoral system, potentially leading to further political instability.