Pennsylvania
A free, public tool identifying and examining the impact of election deniers serving in local offices working on election administration. Learn more about our election threat criteria here.
105 public officials in Pennsylvania have credibly participated in election denial activities.
Just in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives, they represent 34.31% of the state’s constituents.
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69
Pennsylvania House of Reps.Election deniers in the State House risk enacting laws that can undermine fair voting processes and democratic integrity.
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20
Pennsylvania State SenatorsElection deniers as senators may pass biased laws and endorse appointees that erode electoral integrity and democratic principles.
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14
County CommissionersElection deniers as commissioners or council members may misuse public funds or interfere illegally in elections, ultimately compromising election integrity.
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1
County SheriffElection-denying sheriffs could misuse law enforcement authority, compromising fair legal processes and public trust in justice.
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1
County Board of ElectionsThe County Board of Elections is responsible for overseeing the electoral process, managing voter registration, deciding meeting agendas, and voting on motions that impact thousands across the county. Having a denier in this crucial role has the potential to undermine election integrity and impact the voting rights of voters in the county.
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In 2020, President Joe Biden won Pennsylvania by 80,555 votes.
6,915,283 voters cast ballots in Pennsylvania for President.
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In 2022, Governor Josh Shapiro won Pennsylvania by 791,301 votes.
5,366,179 voters cast ballots in Pennsylvania for Governor.
Pennsylvania voter turnout by county
Pennsylvania voter turnout by county
4 pieces of election threat legislation
Pennsylvania election threats have introduced legislation that would make it difficult to vote. Here are 4 bills you should know about:
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HR 1094
A Resolution that disputes the 2020 Pennsylvania election results, citing changes to mail-in voting rules and irregularities, and calls for the withdrawal of the election's certification.
Cosponsored by 16 Election Threats:
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HB 1800
Proposes extensive amendments to the Pennsylvania Election Code, including defining legislative election authority, establishing a Bureau of Election Audits, enhancing election security, and specifying rights and duties related to voting procedures.
Cosponsored by 30 Election Threats:
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HB 700
Would eliminate no-excuse mail-in voting, threatening the voting ability of nearly 3 million Pennsylvania voters who vote by mail.
Cosponsored by 12 Election Threats:
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SB 106
This bill includes two constitutional amendments directly related to election administration: firstly, “a requirement for providing valid identification prior to voting, and secondly, “a requirement that the auditor general conduct independent audits of elections and election results.” Voter ID requirements like the one included in SB 106 has the potential to suppress the vote of marginalized groups, such as those who are low-income or disabled.
Cosponsored by 7 Election Threats:
Election Threats
37% are in favor of anti-democratic legislation
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David G. Argall
State Senator | District 29
Evidence of Election Denialism
Argall signed over ten letters disputing the validity of the 2020 election, including a letter to Former U.S. Vice President Pence encouraging him to halt certification of the election and letters to Inspector General of Pennsylvania Lucas Miller and Attorney General of Pennsylvania Josh Shapiro in December 2020 calling for an independent review of the election.
Argall has been outspoken about the potential of fraud and corruption during the 2020 election, and was one of several GOP lawmakers who met with Audit the Vote PA activists at the Capitol in 2021.
Potential Impact
Argall co-sponsored SB 878 which, if passed, makes it more difficult to vote by mail by changing application deadlines, eliminating the permanent mail-in-list, and several other provisions.
Argall also co-sponsored SB 106 which includes two constitutional amendments directly related to election administration: firstly, “a requirement for providing valid identification prior to voting, and secondly, “a requirement that the auditor general conduct independent audits of elections and election results.” This Bill was signed in July 2022.
Candidacy
Running for reelection in 2024Selected Sources
Argall won 106,205 votes in his most recent election in 2020. He ran unopposed. -
Ryan P. Aument
State Senator | District 36
Evidence of Election Denialism
Signed letters to Attorney General of PA, Josh Shapiro, and Inspector General of PA, Lucas Miller in December 2020 calling for an independent review of the 2020 Election.
Potential Impact
These actions perpetuate baseless claims of election fraud, potentially increasing public skepticism and eroding confidence in democratic institutions and the legitimacy of election outcomes.
Co-sponsored SB 1, which failed to pass in 2023. This amendment proposed stringent voter ID requirements risk disenfranchising certain groups, particularly minorities, the elderly, and low-income individuals, who may face difficulties in obtaining necessary photo identification.
Candidacy
Up for reelection in 2026Selected Sources
In 2022 Ryan P. Aument won with 60.06% of the votes, defeating his opponent Michael Miller, who received 39.94% of the votes. -
Jacob D. Banta
State Representative | District 4
Evidence of Election Denialism
Banta has shared social media posts claiming that widespread voter fraud took place in 2020.
Potential Impact
Elected officials sharing unsubstantiated claims that the 2020 election was stolen on social media undermines the public trust in elections and could lead to a depressed voter turnout in future elections.
Candidacy
Running for reelection in 2024Selected Sources
Ran against Chelsea Oliver (Democrat) in 2022 and received over 61% of the votes or 16,375 -
Camera Bartolotta
State Senator | District 46
Evidence of Election Denialism
Signed letter to Attorney General of PA, Josh Shapiro, in December 2020 calling for an independent review of the 2020 Election.
Signed letter to Inspector General of PA, Lucas Miller, in December 2020 calling for an independent review of the 2020 Election.
Has made public statements on social media calling into question the integrity of the 2020 election results.
Potential Impact
These actions perpetuate baseless claims of election fraud, potentially increasing public skepticism and eroding confidence in democratic institutions and the legitimacy of election outcomes.
Co-sponsored SB 1, which failed to pass in 2023. This amendment proposed stringent voter ID requirements risk disenfranchising certain groups, particularly minorities, the elderly, and low-income individuals, who may face difficulties in obtaining necessary photo identification.
Candidacy
Up for reelection in 2026Selected Sources
In 2022 Camera Bartolotta ran unopposed and was re-elected, winning 100% of the votes, totaling 78,289 votes. -
Kerry A. Benninghoff
Majority Leader, House of Representatives, State Representative | District 171
Evidence of Election Denialism
Benninghoff signed a letter to the Pennsylvania Congressional Delegation asking them to “object, and vote to sustain such objection, to the Electoral College votes received from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania during the Joint Session of Congress on January 6, 2021”, as well as letters to Inspector General of Pennsylvania Lucas Miller and Attorney General of Pennsylvania Josh Shapiro in December 2020 calling for an independent review of the election.
Benninghoff was also outspoken in calling into question the integrity of the Pennsylvania election, and joined GOP legislators in PA in “calling for the 2020 election results to be audited prior to certification by the Pennsylvania Department of State.”
Potential Impact
As a state representative and house majority leader, Benninghoff has considerable influence over the law in Pennsylvania. His actions carry the risk of diminishing public confidence in democratic processes, compromising election integrity, and establishing a harmful precedent for the conduct expected of government officials.
Candidacy
Running for reelection in 2024Selected Sources
Benninghoff won 19,028 votes (72%) in his most recent election in 2022. He won 11, 613 more votes than his opponent, a Democrat named Robert Zeigler (28%) -
Aaron Bernstine
State Representative | District 8
Evidence of Election Denialism
Bernstine signed letters disputing the validity of the 2020 election, including a letter to Former U.S. Vice President Pence encouraging him to halt certification of the election and letters to Inspector General of Pennsylvania Lucas Miller and Attorney General of Pennsylvania Josh Shapiro in December 2020 calling for an independent review of the election.
Signed a letter to the PA Congressional Delegation, encouraging them to “object, and vote to sustain such objection, to the Electoral College votes received from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania during the Joint Session of Congress on January 6, 2021.”
Tweeted in support of halting election certification until a “legislative-led audit” was complete
Potential Impact
One of several Republican lawmakers who filed a lawsuit challenging PA’s mail-in voting law, “calling it unconstitutional and asking for it be thrown out.” 2.6M voters in Pennsylvania (38%) voted by mail or absentee ballot in 2020. If this lawsuit were successful, the voting rights of thousands across Pennsylvania would be jeopardized.
Candidacy
Running for reelection in 2024Selected Sources
Bernstine won 25,702 votes (100%) in his most recent election in 2022. He ran unopposed. -
Timothy R. Bonner
State Representative | District 17
Evidence of Election Denialism
He supported Texas v. Pennsylvania which was a Supreme Court case filed in December of 2020 that aimed to prevent Georgia, Michigan, and Pennsylvania from certifying their 2020 election results because Texas argued that changes to those states’ election procedures in reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic allegedly violated the Constitution.
Potential Impact
Bonner voted for HB 2626, SB 106 and HB 1800 that advocates for measures like the elimination of drop boxes, stricter voter ID laws, shortening the deadline to apply for mail-in ballots, and doubling the criminal penalties for election code violations. If any of these bills were to be signed into law, they would make voting in Pennsylvania more cumbersome and could reduce voter turnout.
If the Texas v. Pennsylvania case had been found in favor of Texas it would have validated claims of widespread voter fraud which would have likely reduced turnout in the next election and a constitutional crisis would have likely occurred.
Candidacy
Running for reelection in 2024Selected Sources
Ran unopposed in 2022. Got 22,001 votes -
Stephanie Borowicz
State Representative | District 76
Evidence of Election Denialism
Borowicz published social media posts questioning the validity of the 2020 election. She signed an “election integrity declaration” from the PA Patriot Coalition, a statewide network of election conspiracy groups.
She was a co-sponsor of HR 1094 that disputed the 2020 election results.
She signed onto multiple letters that called into questioning the results of the 2020 election. She supported Texas v. Pennsylvania which 2020 that aimed to prevent Georgia, Michigan, and Pennsylvania from certifying their 2020 election results and endorsed Doug Mastriano for Governor, a vocal election denier.
Potential Impact
Borowicz voted for HB 2626, SB 106 and HB 1800 that advocates for measures like the elimination of drop boxes, stricter voter ID laws, shortening the deadline to apply for mail-in ballots, and doubling the criminal penalties for election code violations. If any of these bills were to be signed into law, they would make voting in Pennsylvania more cumbersome and could reduce voter turnout.
If the governor had vacated the certification of electors, it could have led to a constitutional crisis. If any of these bills were to be signed into law, they would make voting in Pennsylvania more cumbersome and could reduce voter turnout.
If a national audit had taken place, the public’s trust in the US’s electoral process would have been undermined and it would have set a dangerous precedent for future elections.
Supported Texas v. Pennsylvania which aimed to prevent Georgia, Michigan, and Pennsylvania from certifying their 2020 election results.
If Doug Mastriano had become governor, he said he would deregister all of Pennsylvania’s voters. This would have prevented many voters from voting as not all voters would register again on time.
Candidacy
Running for reelection in 2024Selected Sources
Borowicz won 15,776 votes (67.4%) in her most recent election in 2022. She won 8,149 more votes than her opponent, a Democrat named Denise Maris (32.6%) -
Michele Brooks
State Senator | District 50
Evidence of Election Denialism
Brooks signed several letters disputing the validity of the 2020 election including one to Senator Mitch McConnell urging him to “dispute the certification until an investigation is completed” and letters to the Attorney General of PA Josh Shapiro and Inspector General Lucas Miller calling for an independent review of the election.
Potential Impact
If Senator McConnell had attempted to dispute the certification process, a constitutional crisis would likely have unfolded, throwing the ultimate outcome of the election process into doubt.
Candidacy
Likely to run for reelection in 2026Selected Sources
Brooks won 76,000 votes (73.1%) in her most recent election in 2022. She won 45,478 more votes than her opponent, a Democrat named Rianna Czech (28.7%). -
Rosemary M. Brown
State Senator | District 40
Evidence of Election Denialism
Brown supported Texas v. Pennsylvania which was a Supreme Court case filed in December of 2020 that aimed to prevent Georgia, Michigan, and Pennsylvania from certifying their 2020 election results because Texas argued that changes to those states’ election procedures in reaction to the COVID-19 pandemic allegedly violated the Constitution.
Potential Impact
Brown voted for HB 2626, SB 106 and HB 1800 that advocates for measures like the elimination of drop boxes, stricter voter ID laws, shortening the deadline to apply for mail-in ballots, and doubling the criminal penalties for election code violations. If any of these bills were to be signed into law, they would make voting in Pennsylvania more cumbersome and could reduce voter turnout.
If the Texas v. Pennsylvania case had been found in favor of Texas it would have validated claims of widespread voter fraud which would have likely reduced turnout in the next election and a constitutional crisis would have likely occurred.
Candidacy
Likely to run for reelection in 2026Selected Sources
Ran against Jennifer Shukaitis (Democrat) in 2022 and received over 55% of the votes or 53,795