WASHINGTON — During yesterday’s January 6th hearing both Arizona House Majority Leader Rusty Bowers and Michigan Senate Majority Leader Mike Shirkey attempted to distance themselves from the continued attacks on our democracy. Despite telling the Congressional Select Committee investigating the January 6th Insurrection that they rejected former President Trump’s attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election, both oversaw anti-democratic action in their legislatures following President Biden’s win. Since the 2020 election, under Bowers’ leadership, Arizona House Republicans passed nearly a dozen anti-voter bills. And despite his testimony, Bowers has expressed his continuing support for Donald Trump and said he would vote for him again. In Michigan, Mike Shirkey has called the insurrection a “hoax” and utilized his connection to extremist militia groups for political gain while overseeing his Republican colleagues push election conspiracies.
“Hundreds of state Republicans helped pave the way for January 6th and continue to attack American democracy to this day,” said DLCC President Jessica Post. “Republican leaders emboldened the over 500 GOP lawmakers that signed on to amicus briefs, letters, or resolutions calling to overturn the 2020 presidential election, as they continue to pass legislation that undermines Americans’ freedom to vote. This year, state Democrats all across the map are running to beat GOP insurrectionists at the polls and hold Republicans accountable for attacking our democracy.”
The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee was the first and only entity committed to identifying, tracking, and condemning the more than 700 Republican state lawmakers who aided and abetted Trump’s attempt to overturn the 2020 presidential election and continue to normalize anti-democratic extremism. The committee’s GOP of Hall of Shame: Sedition Edition tracks these lawmakers and candidates and ensures that every voter understands the GOP’s role in the insurrection and the Republican attempt to overturn free and fair elections.
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