Voters in battleground states largely rejected candidates who embraced false fraud claims about the 2020 election. Significantly, election deniers running for secretary of state — a key election administration position — generally performed worse than statewide candidates from the same party. In other words, the results make it clear that voters really don’t want election deniers in charge of our elections.
It looks like the 2022 midterms will be the most expensive ever. Small-dollar donors contributed at record levels, but megadonors still overwhelmingly outspent them. A stunning stat from our new midterms fundraising analysis: just 21 of the biggest donor families gave more than 3.7 million small donors combined — $783 million. But voters' support for new campaign finance reforms in several states shows it doesn’t have to be this way.
This year’s judicial elections also saw record spending, reflecting the growing importance of state high courts in the wake of recent Supreme Court decisions curtailing federal rights. While the vast majority of states elected or reelected justices that will maintain the status quo, new court majorities in Ohio and North Carolina could impact state laws regarding abortion access and voting rights.
Polling showed crime was a major issue for voters this year. But the outcomes of numerous races for prosecutors’ and sheriff’s offices showed that painting an opponent as “soft on crime” was far from a guaranteed ticket to victory. It’s an encouraging sign of the growing bipartisan support for criminal justice reform.
The Pentagon has spent two decades using covert, little-understood “security cooperation authorities” to wage war overseas while both the public and Congress remain in the dark. A new Brennan Center report examines the histories and legal frameworks of these programs and what reforms are needed to increase transparency and prevent abuse.
Virtual Event
A Close Look at the ‘Independent State Legislature Theory’ Wednesday, November 30, 6–7:15 p.m. ET
Join this live virtual panel event for a discussion of the so-called “independent state legislature theory,” front and center in Moore v. Harper, one of this Supreme Court term’s most watched cases. Prominent scholars and practitioners will take on the constitutional underpinnings of the independent state legislature theory, the historical origins of the relevant constitutional clauses, and the challenges that a Supreme Court decision endorsing this theory would present for our democracy. RSVP today.
Produced in partnership with the New York City Bar Association.
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So far this year, at least 7 states have enacted 10 laws to make voting more difficult, and at least 12 states have enacted 19 laws to expand access to the vote. Learn more and follow the Brennan Center on TikTok >>
