Democracy & Rule of Law · Report · File No. 261112-968
Arizona Republican tells GOP to drop election lies as Trump again questions results
A Maricopa County official urged fellow Republicans to stop spreading false fraud claims after the Democratic midterm wins. Researchers say denialism has less support than in 2020, but Trump's posts are reviving it.
Every quote in this story (2) was matched word for word against its source. How we work
The day after Democrats won sweeping midterm victories, a Republican county official in Arizona told his own party to stop spreading false claims about elections. Maricopa County Supervisor Thomas Galvin spoke at a Board of Supervisors meeting. Maricopa County includes Phoenix 1.
To my fellow Republicans who have been trafficking in these lies for the last six years, you need to stop
Arizona has been a center of fraud conspiracy theories. After Donald Trump lost in 2020, state lawmakers pursued an audit in Maricopa County. It found no evidence of fraud 1.
Trump changes course
As the size of the Republican losses became clear last week, Trump first pledged to accept the results. Over the weekend he shared posts on Truth Social from people who were suspicious of the outcome 1.
By Monday he was more explicit. He wrote, "Does anybody really believe that this ‘Election’ was honest. How could the Polls be so wrong???" Stateline reported that polls before the election largely favored Democrats, though some understated their support 1.
From Channel GOPTrump dodges rigged-election question, calls Massie loserDonald Trump · 525 plays · captioned, with the source named
Gabriel Sterling, a Republican and former Georgia election official, said he was pleased by Trump's first response. He added that he took it with a grain of salt, because "he can go 180 in an hour" 1. Sterling is now a senior fellow at the Secure Democracy Foundation, a nonprofit focused on strengthening elections 1.
Less traction than in 2020
Researchers say election rumors have spread far less than they did in 2020. Kate Starbird, a University of Washington professor who studies online disinformation, said talk of rigged elections jumped on X after Trump's posts. She said "hardcore" deniers have been pushing theories all week 1.
I’m still pretty confident that the ingredients for a full-fledged election denialism movement are not in place
Starbird said there were no street protests like the ones that began within days of the 2020 vote 1. Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon, a Democrat, said he has seen fewer denial claims than in past cycles 1.
Some Trump allies are repeating doubts. Kari Lake, Trump's nominee for ambassador to Jamaica, suggested without evidence that the numbers did not add up. Mike Lindell, the former MyPillow chief executive, called for a full recount 1.
Still, nearly all high-ranking elected Republicans have acknowledged the losses. Vice President JD Vance blamed the war with Iran and has not repeated Trump's comments. House Speaker Mike Johnson said the "people have spoken" 1. Newsweek reported that Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene blamed the president for the losses 2.
Why it matters
Trust in elections is high on both sides right now. A Pew Research Center survey taken in September and October found 90% of Republican-backing registered voters and 91% of Democratic-backing voters had some confidence their community's elections would be well run 1.
That matters because trust can erode quickly when a president casts doubt on a result. Past denial claims also carried costs. Fox News settled Dominion Voting Systems' defamation suit in 2023 for $787.5 million 1.
Researchers and officials are now watching whether Trump leads Republicans toward false fraud claims or toward ordinary explanations, such as voter dissatisfaction and weak campaign messages 1.
The Record
Republish this story on your site or in your newsletter
Any site, blog or newsletter may run this story free of charge. Keep the credit line and its link to the original, do not sell it, and edit only for length or house style (the full terms). Photos carry their own licenses, noted under each photo on this page, so use the text alone unless a credit says otherwise.
Paste it into your editor's HTML view. The one-pixel image at the end tells our newsroom the story ran; it stores no reader data.
Sources
- Stateline, “Election denialism losing steam as Trump flip flops on accepting midterm results” (2026-11-11). stateline.org/2026/11/11/repub/election-denialism-losing-ste
- Newsweek, “Trump’s Midterm Blow: The Conversation” (2026-11-11). newsweek.com/trumps-midterm-blow-the-conversation-12692779
Found an error? Tell the newsroom. Corrections are noted at the top of the story.
More from the files
Peanut the squirrel's former owner is held by ICE after Republicans made him a cause
Daniela Bittner, who owned Peanut with her husband, is in immigration detention and could be sent to Germany. Her husband says it stems from a paperwork error. Republicans, including JD Vance, had used the squirrel's death to attack government overreach.
Nikki Haley says she won't run for president in 2028, widening GOP field
The former South Carolina governor ruled out a 2028 bid a little over a week after Republican midterm losses. Her exit leaves the Republican succession fight more open.
Poll: 45% of MAGA supporters say their movement lost in the midterms
A Politico poll taken after the election finds nearly half of self-described MAGA voters call their own movement a loser. It is a sign of doubt in the Republican base after Democrats won both chambers of Congress.
Delivered free to your door*
The Morning Edition
One short email at 7 a.m. Eastern: the day's top files, one clip worth your time, and the race to watch. Plain English, large type, no clutter.
*Your inbox. Free. Unsubscribe with one click, any time.