Final month, Michigan voters rendered their verdict on Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson, sending her again to Lansing for a second time period to supervise the state's elections. She comfortably defeated her Donald Trump-backed opponent by 14 share factors.
And but, Benson informed CBS Information, threats from election deniers that began after the 2020 election haven't stopped.
"It nonetheless goes. I imply, it ebbs and flows. Usually occasions when the previous president speaks or says one thing or levies an accusation, there's an uptick," Benson mentioned, including that folks nonetheless present as much as her workplace in teams sometimes.
"It is exhausting. And it is exhausting as a result of I've a lot religion and data that our elections are safe. And that is the heartbreaking a part of it," Benson mentioned. She blamed "lies and misinformation" for mobilizing dangerous actors.
Benson and Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger joined CBS Information chief Washington correspondent Main Garrett for this week's episode of "The Takeout," which was recorded on the Biltmore Lodge in Miami, Fla.
Raffensperger, a Republican, additionally received reelection this fall, two years after then-President Trump lobbied him to "discover 11,780 votes" in Georgia within the aftermath of the 2020 election. Raffensperger quickly confronted a barrage of loss of life threats. Somebody broke into his daughter-in-law's home. His spouse Tricia obtained textual content messages threatening sexual violence.
Two years on, Raffensperger informed Garrett these types of threats have tapered off. Nonetheless, he mentioned, "you attempt to not let your guard down."
Raffensperger attributes the anger and division within the nation to financial disparity and grievance politics. "After we work on, you recognize, enhancing everybody's financial lifeboat, then it will dissipate. However proper now, we're going by means of some very difficult seas and persons are harassed," Raffensperger mentioned.
In 2022, midterm voters rejected among the highest-profile elections deniers, however of the 308 Republican candidates for statewide or federal workplace who raised doubts in regards to the validity of the 2020 presidential election, 188 received their races.
Benson predicted it might take a "multiyear effort" to stamp out these unfounded claims. "What 2022 confirmed is 2 issues. One, that voters are prepared to step up and struggle for his or her democracy and vote accordingly once they perceive the rights and the freedoms which can be on the poll…It additionally confirmed that we are going to have extra folks in 2024 on the sphere, so to talk, defending our democracy — extra secretaries of state who now will professionally but in addition doubtlessly aggressively defend the outcomes of the election," Benson mentioned.
Raffensperger views the 2022 election as a referendum on denialism. "My large takeaway is candidate high quality actually issues and I feel critical occasions require critical candidates. And so I feel in 2024, hopefully there will be a stronger search for candidates that actually communicate to the true points that voters are dealing with."
Govt producer: Arden Farhi
Producers: Jamie Benson, Jacob Rosen, Sara Cook dinner and Eleanor Watson
CBSN Manufacturing: Eric Soussanin
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