Georgia's Republican secretary of state, Brad Raffensperger, has emerged as one of the crucial distinguished villains of the 2020 presidential election within the eyes of those that imagine Donald Trump's false claims that President Joe Biden received due to voter fraud.
Regardless of voting for Trump and donating to his reelection marketing campaign, Raffensperger has confronted threats, in addition to a barrage of public assaults and insults from the previous president and his supporters. When Georgians go to the polls on Might 24 to forged ballots within the state's primaries, Raffensperger will go head-to-head with Trump-endorsed Consultant Jody Hice, who goals to take his job managing the state's elections.
Raffensperger likes to tout his expertise as a enterprise proprietor and his coaching as an engineer, in addition to all of the methods he believes he is made Georgia's elections higher and safer. However Hice not too long ago referred to as him "a catastrophe." The secretary of state then shot again, calling Hice a "liar" for spreading misinformation in regards to the 2020 election.
Raffensperger hopes that his message about "integrity" and the necessity to "comply with the regulation, comply with the Structure" resonates with voters. When Trump infamously referred to as him in January 2021, pressuring him to "discover" sufficient votes to flip Georgia's election in his favor, the secretary of state responded with details and information. As he campaigns for reelection, he is doing the identical to push again in opposition to what he sees as Hice's misinformation and to tell voters who could also be confused by the entire baseless allegations a couple of fraudulent election.
Newsweek spoke with Raffensperger by cellphone on Wednesday about his reelection marketing campaign, his plans to maintain Georgia's elections safe going ahead and why he is aware of for sure that the 2020 outcomes have been correct below his watch, despite the fact that they did not produce the result he personally hoped for. The interview has been edited for brevity and readability.
You are working for reelection in opposition to a Trump-backed candidate within the GOP major. A lot of this election has been targeted on the claims that the 2020 election was fraudulent. Past pushing again in opposition to these false claims, as you've gotten, what are you promising to do for Georgia voters?
I am the one candidate within the Republican major that's preventing noncitizen voting. I am ensuring that solely Americans can vote in our elections. Actually, I used to be onstage in a debate about two weeks in the past. Jody Hice mentioned, in a debate, that noncitizen voting wasn't his highest precedence. It is my highest precedence.
Additionally, I am the one candidate with actual enterprise expertise. I constructed an organization from the bottom up whereas Jody Hice has lived off the taxpayers the previous seven years. And I've efficiently outlawed poll harvesting, launched a verifiable paper poll, audited an election. Now we cross-check our registrations with different member states which might be members of the digital registration data heart, so we have now clear, verifiable paper ballots.
And so we have completed an terrible lot, and we will proceed to work exhausting to ensure we have now secure and safe elections—but additionally guarantee that solely People vote in our elections.
New York Metropolis not too long ago allowed some noncitizens to vote in native elections. They're typically taxpayers, authorized, nonpermanent residents. What's your problem with permitting that?
You must be an American citizen to be on a jury. Logically, it solely is sensible that you simply'd need to be an American citizen to be on a authorities or fee authority. Logically, it's important to be an American citizen to be voting in our elections. Eighty p.c of all Georgians imagine that solely Americans needs to be voting in our elections—all elections up and down the road. We have now a lawful course of for individuals to develop into Americans, and when you develop into an American citizen, you then earn that proper to vote. We needn't devalue citizenship by permitting noncitizens to be voting in our elections. It is so simple as that.
Earlier this week, Congressman Hice, your high GOP opponent, mentioned you have been "a catastrophe" and also you shot again by saying he is "mendacity" in regards to the 2020 election. What's it wish to run in opposition to an opponent whose marketing campaign is basically constructed on a wholly false premise?
He is a dishonest individual as a result of he continues to lie. He is been mendacity for 18 months. He mentioned that there are voters who lack confidence within the processes. That is as a result of he is been spreading disinformation for 18 months. He mentioned initially that there was 10,315 lifeless folks that voted. There's only a complete of 4. After which they jumped over to the following factor and say there's 66,000 underage voters. There was zero. After which they mentioned that there was hundreds of felons. There was lower than 74. Then they mentioned that there was 2,423 nonregistered voters. There was zero.
Then they mentioned, "Nicely, have a look at this video Rudy Giuliani offered in a state Senate committee assembly." Everybody debunked that. In the meantime, it has been a yr and a half and it is on the market.
Many individuals do not understand that President Trump handpicked Bobby Christine, the U.S. lawyer from [Georgia's] Southern District, who then changed [Byung J. "BJay" Pak] when he resigned. So Bobby Christine, handpicked by President Trump, checked out that and he was quoted by [The Atlanta Journal-Constitution] that he thought there was gonna be one thing there. And that was one of many first circumstances that they dismissed.
In the meantime, Hice continues to unfold this misinformation, disinformation. So, due to this fact, I simply need to say, Jody Hice is a liar.
Whatever the reality, numerous Republican voters in Georgia and throughout the nation do imagine that Trump received the election in 2020 and that Biden solely received by fraud...
Nicely, as a result of one of many issues that I do once I discuss to individuals, I say the highest line from the election of 2020 is that 28,000 Georgia voters skipped the presidential poll and but they voted down-ballot in different races. The Republican congressmen collectively obtained 33,000 extra votes than President Trump.
And for those who add up all of the votes of the Georgia state senators that ran in 2020, collectively they obtained 400,000 extra votes than President Trump. And that is why President Trump got here up brief. Each single allegation we have investigated. I wrote a letter to Congress and I wrote a e book, and see they're trying backwards.
The problem that we're dealing with proper now could be that [Democratic gubernatorial candidate] Stacey Abrams at this time, within the U.S. federal courthouse with Honest Combat Motion, is making an attempt to cease us from doing citizenship verification when individuals register to vote. Nicely, if you cannot do citizenship verification, then how are you aware that you do not have non-People on the rolls?
Jody Hice has been in Congress for eight years. He is accomplished nothing on election integrity measures. He was there for eight years, however he is accomplished nothing. Election safety has been my primary precedence
A variety of the Republican Social gathering has realigned round this perception in regards to the 2020 election, what many name "the Large Lie." Does that concern you, that a lot of Republican politics is now about these false election claims?
My job is to talk the reality, and I am an engineer. I like details. I like numbers, and we at all times comply with up. We comply with the regulation, we comply with the Structure, and we comply with the numbers. We have been doing that since day one. And so I am the primary one to do that one hundred pc citizenship verification. I am the primary one which requested for a constitutional modification in order that solely People vote.
We have additionally instituted verifiable paper ballots so we are able to audit any race. We are able to show that the machines do not flip the votes once we do a one hundred pc hand recount. And that is what we confirmed in 2020. That's only a primary grade-school mathematical logic. That if the machine will get one reply and you then do a hand recount of the machine rely and also you have a look at the human-readable texts to get the identical reply, and lots of counties did, it reveals you these are the outcomes. And the machines didn't flip the votes. And now I've gotten handed photograph ID for all absentee ballots.
The proof is within the numbers as a result of Heritage [Foundation] has simply ranked Georgia, for the very first time below my watch, we have been ranked primary for election integrity. The secretary of state has by no means been ranked primary for election integrity within the state of Georgia. So whereas persons are speaking, I am out doing.
On the subject of the election reforms in Georgia, particularly after the 2020 election, numerous the power behind that appeared to be pushed by these false claims from Trump and a few Republicans. You've got been largely supportive of these measures. Are you able to clarify why?
As a result of once I ran in 2018, I mentioned, "We have to have photograph ID for all types of voting." And that is what I received. Through the pandemic, I arrange for the primary time ever a web based portal. I could not go any farther than that as a result of I needed to keep throughout the construction of the regulation that we had proper then.
However we stood up and gave voters the choice to do it with a driver's license, a web based portal to request absentee ballots. Put in your driver's license quantity, increase. We have got who you're, and we ship you your software. We despatched about—over 125,000 to 150,000 individuals used that on-line portal within the fall election. Then we put that into state regulation with the election integrity act. We led on that. We drafted most of that invoice, after which a number of issues that have been put in there...as you undergo the legislative course of, however that was primary.
Additionally accountability for Fulton County. I am the primary secretary of state to get them below a consent settlement as a result of they only had super points. I perceive we're in the midst of a pandemic. I get that. However the June 2020 major, they'd super points. Then we began doing our analysis, and this has been occurring since 1993, and each different secretary of state had simply form of turned a blind eye. I am not turning a blind eye, I've received them below consent agreements. And now we have now accountability panels. And proper now they're being reviewed. It is a bipartisan evaluate panel, and so they can substitute that board, who will then discover a new election director if they cannot run an election. So discover has been served. Little Johnny's homework is being checked, and so they received the message.
I do know a few months in the past MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell confirmed up with dozens of packing containers of what he described as affidavits. He additionally referred to as so that you can be put in jail. On the subject of the work that you simply and your workplace are doing, how do these sorts of stunts affect that? Do they hinder your means to do your job successfully?
No. My job is to comply with the regulation, comply with the Structure. If individuals have severe accusations and credible proof, then we examine. And as secretary of state, I've moved over 400 investigations over to the lawyer basic's workplace and native DAs [district attorneys] for prosecution. And that is a file quantity. We prosecute in Georgia. I be certain we have now truthful and trustworthy elections and guarantee that individuals comply with the regulation.
After the 2020 election, you talked about threats that you simply or your loved ones had obtained. Do you continue to obtain any threats at this level?
It is principally simply typically, occasionally, you get some random insults, with, you realize, grade college language or stuff I used to listen to on the job web site on a regular basis.
Within the upcoming midterms, there could probably be Republicans on the poll who've personally attacked you and promoted these false claims that you have pushed again in opposition to. As a Republican, would you continue to forged votes for them?
Nicely, I do not share who I endorse as secretary of state. As a result of because the chief election official, that is been my coverage since day one.
It is trying more and more like Trump might be the 2024 GOP presidential nominee. He hasn't introduced one other marketing campaign, and it is nonetheless greater than two years away. However whether it is Trump in 2024, are you open to voting for him?
As secretary of state, I've at all times taken the place that I do not endorse candidates throughout election season. I need everybody—because the chief election official, I do not suppose that is a place that I ought to take. So within the 2020 race, I did vote for President Trump, however I didn't endorse him. If we would not have had the problems post-2020, I would not have, maybe, let individuals know that I did vote for President Trump. However I am a conservative Republican, and, you realize, I help my model. However I do not make private statements as a result of I do not suppose it is acceptable while you're the chief election official.
Does it fear you that a presidential candidate who's so public about discrediting the nation's elections might probably be president once more?
I believe my job as secretary of state is to supply data and details, after which it is for the voter dedication—to make their choices primarily based on what they imagine the details are. And so due to this fact, you realize, I wrote a letter to Congress. I wrote a e book referred to as Integrity Counts. I have been very clear.
If individuals have a look at my file going all the best way again to 2018, once I ran again in 2018, at first of each one in every of my speeches, I mentioned, "Hello, I am Brad Raffensperger, and the rationale I am working for secretary of state is to guarantee that solely People vote in our elections and to guarantee that George is a superb place to boost a household and an incredible place to construct a enterprise."
Due to this fact, I care passionately about truthful and trustworthy elections the place solely People vote. I need to be certain we get an incredible enterprise local weather. Notably for our small- enterprise house owners as a result of if a small enterprise does nicely, our laptop communities will do nicely. And I imagine our complete state does nicely. Actually, America does nicely.
The Fulton County district lawyer's investigation into Trump's efforts to flip Georgia's election in his favor not too long ago chosen a grand jury. I do know you've got beforehand mentioned your workplace would cooperate with that probe. What have you ever offered that investigation to date? Have you ever personally been interviewed by these investigators?
We gave all of them the knowledge that they requested without charge to them. We offered any documentation that they needed. Some individuals have already got given interviews to them. Clearly, they're now at that part the place each witness that they bring about in they're going to herald with subpoenas, and we'll comply with the regulation and comply with the Structure. We'll simply discover out who they need to discuss to and who they'd discover of curiosity, however apart from that, they do not actually inform us. They're doing what they do. I do not know actually what that's, and also you'd have to present them a name, discover out the place they stand.
Some persons are saying that District Legal professional Fani Willis is a Democrat and that makes this a partisan investigation. Do you imagine that she'll be conducting a good and nonpartisan probe?
My job is simply to guarantee that I comply with the regulation. And as I mentioned, in the event that they want extra documentation or they ask for testimony, we'll make these individuals obtainable that may present that testimony that she so requires. As a result of we respect the regulation in our workplace.
In November, you spoke with the Home choose committee investigating January 6. Have you ever been requested for any extra data from that committee since then? Are you able to discuss briefly about what you mentioned with the committee in that interview?
No, I have never been requested for the reason that committee listening to. They'd a lot of witnesses to speak about or to speak with. So that they're different issues, however you realize what we confronted, throughout the election after which post-election, it is actually already on the market. I wrote a 10-page letter to Congress. They've it. I did let the committee know that my letter has been up to date in a single space. We mentioned that there is two lifeless individuals [who voted], and there was really 4. The allegation was there was 10,315 lifeless individuals, however there's really 4.
Apart from that, I can stand by the e book and the letter that I wrote. Integrity Counts goes by way of all of the details, and that stands by itself. There's not a lot I might actually add. There's different individuals which might be far more concerned and know numerous the small print. We'll see the place that every one goes.
You've got form of lumped Stacey Abrams' allegations of voter suppression in 2018 with Trump's false claims in 2020. Are you able to clarify that criticism of her and why you suppose Abrams' actions examine to Trump's?
In 2018, Stacy Abrams misplaced [the Georgia governor's race] by practically 55,000 votes, and she or he by no means conceded. And typically individuals say, "Nicely, sure, she did." No, she did not, as a result of when she was campaigning for the Democrat nominee for governor up in Virginia, in October of 2021, simply this previous fall, she mentioned, "Simply since you win doesn't suggest you've got received."
I perceive precisely what she's saying. And he or she's sly together with her phrases like that. Similar to when she mentioned that she was going to win with a blue wave of quote, "documented and undocumented," which implies she helps nonsense in voting.
Let's get again to your level. Her declare was primarily based on "voter suppression." However once we had depositions and lawsuits, we received one in every of her individuals to really admit below oath that it's a poll-tested technique. That was their get out to vote technique, "You've got been aggrieved. And these persons are suppressing you, and it is advisable get out to vote."
So "voter suppression" was simply poll-tested. It was an emotional hook on individuals. It wasn't primarily based on a truth, it was primarily based on "That is our get out to vote technique." After which she misplaced, and in order that was her stolen election declare. However what each [Abrams and Trump] do is that they undermine voter confidence within the course of.
A variety of Democrats are involved that if a few of these Trump-backed GOP candidates on the native and state degree win, they might assist Trump or different Republicans overturn future elections, as was tried in 2020. Do you imagine the system will stop that from taking place? Are you involved about that?
I imagine that we have now the suitable legal guidelines in place for accessibility with safety. But additionally I imagine that when you've gotten principled conservatives, corresponding to myself, run on the details, on the reality, in opposition to individuals like Jody Hice, who've been mendacity for 18 months, on the finish of the day, I will lean into the goodness of my fellow Georgians. And I absolutely anticipate that I'll prevail as secretary of state. And I will be serving right here for 4 extra years.
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