North Carolina
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.
20 public officials in North Carolina have credibly participated in election denial activities.
Just in the state house, they represent 9% of the state’s constituents.
-
11
North Carolina House of RepresentativesElection deniers in the State House risk enacting laws that can undermine fair voting processes and democratic integrity.
-
4
North Carolina State SenatorsElection deniers as senators may pass biased laws and endorse appointees that erode electoral integrity and democratic principles.
-
5
North Carolina County Board of ElectionsAn election denier on the BOE may bias oversight, erode trust in voting outcomes, and threaten North Carolina’s election credibility and fairness.
-
In 2020, Former President Donald Trump won North Carolina by 74,483 votes
5,443,067 voters cast ballots in North Carolina for President.
-
In 2020, Governor Cooper won North Carolina by 248,185 votes.
5,421,395 voters cast ballots in North Carolina for Governor.
North Carolina voter turnout by county
North Carolina voter turnout by county
Election Threats
55% are in favor of anti-democratic legislation
-
John Adams
County Board Member | Montgomery County
Evidence of Election Denialism
Adams made the following comment on his Facebook account on January 10, 2021 in reference to the 2020 election results: “I hope (Trump) declares “Marshall Law” and uses the military to get to the bottom of all this cheating. They know and have the proof. If it’s going down let’s get it over with.”
Potential Impact
Government officials suggesting that the President should declare Marshall Law and use the military to investigate unsubstantiated claims of voter fraud could cause unrest and fuel paranoid thinking that could lead to dangerous events like the January 6th Insurrection.
Selected Sources
Appointed to position -
Jay Adams
State Representative | District 96
Evidence of Election Denialism
Signed on to a letter calling for a national audit of the “corrupted 2020 election because of alleged fraud and inaccuracies.”
Potential Impact
Co-sponsored HB 304 which would push the deadline for absentee ballots to be received by local boards of elections from three days after the election to the close of polls on Election Day itself. The bill would also require voters to mail or deliver their absentee ballot in person to the county board of elections office, prohibiting one-stop voting sites for ballot drop-offs.
Co-sponsored HB 303, which would reduce the number of early one-stop voting days.
Candidacy
Running for reelection in 2024Selected Sources
Adams ran unchallenged as incumbent in the general election. He received 22,016 votes. -
Ted Alexander
State Senator | District 44
Evidence of Election Denialism
Signed on to a letter calling for a national audit of the “corrupted 2020 election because of alleged fraud and inaccuracies.”
Potential Impact
Co-sponsored SB 88 which would which would only allow mail-in ballots that arrive by 7:30 p.m. on Election Day. Under current law, mail-in ballots that are postmarked by Election Day and arrive by 5 p.m. on the third day after Election Day are counted.
Candidacy
Running for reelection in 2024Selected Sources
Alexander ran unchallenged as incumbent in the general election. He received 58,525 votes. -
Warren Daniel
State Senator | District 46
Evidence of Election Denialism
Daniel made a social media post on 11/9/20 saying: “We’ll have to wait and see where the evidence of election fraud leads in multiple states that Biden allegedly “won”. Hopefully democrats will be just as concerned about voter fraud in the Pres. Election as they were in the NC 9 Congress race where a republican victory was overturned”.
Potential Impact
Elected officials questioning the validity of election results on social media undermines the public trust and could lead to reduced voter turnout.
Candidacy
Running for reelection in 2024Selected Sources
Ran against Billy Martin (Democrat) in 2022 and received over 60% of the votes or 47,709 -
Edward C. Goodwin
State Representative | District 1
Evidence of Election Denialism
Goodwin was one of several House Republicans of the state of North Carolina who signed on to a letter calling for a national audit of the “corrupted 2020 election because of alleged fraud and inaccuracies.”
Potential Impact
As a member of the state house, Goodwin is responsible for upholding democratic ideals, and advocating for the best interest of thousands of North Carolinans. Having an election denier in a prominent position within state government has the potential to erode election integrity, public trust, and sets a dangerous precedent as to what standards we hold our elected officials to.
Candidacy
Running for reelection in 2024Selected Sources
Goodwin won 25,737 votes in his most recent election in 2022. He ran unopposed. -
Robert Hanig
State Senator | District 3
Evidence of Election Denialism
Hanig is one of several Republicans of the state of North Carolina who signed on to a letter calling for a national audit of the “corrupted 2020 election because of alleged fraud and inaccuracies.”
Potential Impact
As a state senator, Hanig’s actions as an election denier have significant consequences. Having an election denier in a prominent position within state government has the potential to erode election integrity, public trust, and sets a dangerous precedent as to what standards we hold our elected officials to.
Candidacy
Running for reelection in 2024Selected Sources
Hanig won 37,984 votes (52.5%) in his most recent election in 2022. He won 3,664 more votes than his opponent, a Democrat named Valerie Jordan (47.5%). -
Kelly Hastings
State Representative | District 110
Evidence of Election Denialism
Signed on to a letter calling for a national audit of the “corrupted 2020 election because of alleged fraud and inaccuracies.” and denied the validity of the 2020 election in multiple social media posts.
Potential Impact
If a national audit had taken place due to elected officials claiming the 2020 election was corrupt, the public’s trust in the US’s electoral process would have been undermined and election denial would have been validated on the national stage. It also would have set a dangerous precedent for future presidential elections.
Candidacy
Running for reelection in 2024Selected Sources
Kelly Hastings ran unchallenged as incumbent in the general election. He received 20,551 votes. -
Anthony Iovino
County Board Member | Burke County
Evidence of Election Denialism
Iovino promoted a statement on April 5, 2021 that read: “If they can steal an election right in front of your face, think of what they are doing behind your back.”
Potential Impact
Elected officials questioning the validity of election results on social media undermines the public trust and could lead to reduced voter turnout.
Selected Sources
Appointed to position -
Keith Kidwell
State Representative | District 79
Evidence of Election Denialism
Signed on to a letter calling for a national audit of the “corrupted 2020 election because of alleged fraud and inaccuracies.”
Attempted to access active voting machines in North Carolina by corresponding with Durham County Board of Elections.
Potential Impact
Co-sponsored HB 303, which would reduce the number of early one-stop voting days
He also co-sponsored HB 123 which would seek to pass a constitutional amendment that would limit early and in-person voting to a maximum of seven consecutive days before an election.
Co-sponsored HB 304 which would push the deadline for absentee ballots to be received by local boards of elections from three days after the election to the close of polls on Election Day itself. The bill would also require voters to mail or deliver their absentee ballot in person to the county board of elections office, prohibiting one-stop voting sites for ballot drop-offs.
Candidacy
Running for reelection in 2024Selected Sources
Kidwell ran unchallenged as incumbent in the general election. He received 26,309 votes. -
Donnie Loftis
State Representative | District 109
Evidence of Election Denialism
Loftis participated in the January 6 insurrection. He also signed on to a letter calling for a national audit of the “corrupted 2020 election because of alleged fraud and inaccuracies.”
Potential Impact
Co-sponsored HB 303, which would reduce the number of early one-stop voting days
He also co-sponsored HB 123 which would seek to pass a constitutional amendment limiting early and in-person voting to a maximum of seven consecutive days before an election.
Co-sponsored HB 304 which would push the deadline for absentee ballots to be received by local boards of elections from three days after the election to the close of polls on Election Day itself. The bill would also require voters to mail or deliver their absentee ballot in person to the county board of elections office, prohibiting one-stop voting sites for ballot drop-offs.
Candidacy
Running for reelection in 2024Selected Sources
In a two-way race in 2022, Loftis won with 18,785 votes, or 60.8% of the votes. He won 6,673 more votes than his Democratic opponent.