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After losing the 2020 election, former President Donald Trump spewed an onslaught of disinformation as to why victory was "stolen" from him through Democrats engaging in widespread election fraud. Like his pre-election efforts to sow doubt in American election security and voting by mail, Trump rattled off delusion after delusion without providing any proof of his deranged election fantasies.
But a significant portion of his base believed the conspiracy theories, and eventually a mob of pro-Trump extremists stormed the United States Capitol in a deadly failed insurrection, hoping to overthrow the peaceful transfer of power.
Sadly, Trump continues to peddle the delusion that he, a historically unpopular President, is the legitimate winner of the 2020 election. As a result, every election henceforth that doesn't go the way of the Republican candidate can be smeared as another instance of voter fraud to supporters still buying the absurdity.
Take a recent exchange on the conservative Fox News network, where pundits were discussing the California recall election, for which voting is already underway.
Democratic governor Gavin Newsom is hoping enough Californians vote against the recall in order to keep his position, while a crowded pool of mostly Republican candidates, such as conservative radio host Larry Elder, are hoping to take his place.
Polls indicate that Newsom is narrowly favored to survive the recall, but that hasn't stopped far-right provocateur Tomi Lahren from once again exploiting delusions of voter fraud to appease the base that made her relevant.
Watch below.
Fox hosts and personalities are already setting the stage to blame voter fraud if Newsom prevails in the California recall -- it seems like this is now the right-wing media playbook for every election\n\nLahren: "The only thing that will save Gavin Newsom is voter fraud"pic.twitter.com/6OvTlnb9MU— Lis Power (@Lis Power) 1631035309
Lahren said:
"The only thing that will save Gavin Newsom is voter fraud. So, as they say, stay woke. Pay attention to the voter fraud going on in California, because it's gonna have big consequences not only for that state, but for upcoming elections."
It's unclear what "voter fraud" Lahren was referring to. One city council election in California was upended after a candidate won by one vote, but three improper ballots were discovered.
The chances of enough voter fraud in a statewide election to sway the election are nonexistent. Nevertheless, California officials and activists alike are working to dispel the myth of voter fraud.
Meanwhile, Lahren's rehearsed paranoia was met with widespread criticism.
When the recall fails it will not be because of \u201cvoter fraud.\u201d The reason why Republicans fail over and over in this state is because they do not reflect the values of Californians. Until the @CAGOP comes to grip and changes they\u2019ll continue to lose.#definitionofinsanityhttps://twitter.com/lispower1/status/1435292232462921733\u00a0\u2026— Chad Mayes (@Chad Mayes) 1631043437
How do you live with yourself when you lie for a living. What is the going price for a soul in 2021. What will it take for something to be done about FOX?https://twitter.com/lispower1/status/1435292232462921733\u00a0\u2026— Phyllis Young (@Phyllis Young) 1631042395
Anti-American. Fox News is setting up the U.S. to crumble.\n\nRupert Murdoch will be remembered as the destroyer of English-speaking democracies.https://twitter.com/lispower1/status/1435292232462921733\u00a0\u2026— The Intellectualist (@The Intellectualist) 1631043827
My god this is stupid. California is solid blue. Literally the only way Republicans win is for Democrats to stay home. IOW, literally, the only way Republicans can win is via voter suppression and fraud. (Not happening.)https://twitter.com/LisPower1/status/1435292232462921733\u00a0\u2026— Markos Moulitsas (@Markos Moulitsas) 1631042287
Gavin Newsom up in the polls which means Republicans are declaring voter fraud in the California Recall election. \n\nNazi Barbie Tomi Lahren already giving the conservative media echo chamber ammunition for future talking points. \n\n#CArecall #VoteNo #VoteNoOnTheRecallhttps://twitter.com/lispower1/status/1435292232462921733\u00a0\u2026— TopTrevor (@TopTrevor) 1631042068
If \u201cvoter fraud\u201d exists in California, how did we end up with right wing extremists Michele Steele, Young Kim, Mike Garcia representing swing seats? \n\nCA is overwhelmingly Democratic. These right wing grifters have no shame in trying to sell a lie that is completely false.https://twitter.com/lispower1/status/1435292232462921733\u00a0\u2026— Jon Ramos (@Jon Ramos) 1631040990
Trump's cries of voter fraud—and the right's embrace of them—have set a dangerous precedent.
We don\u2019t really have a democracy anymore if 1 of 2 sides plays this card for every electionhttps://twitter.com/lispower1/status/1435292232462921733\u00a0\u2026— Orange Wagon (@Orange Wagon) 1631044113
They already know the answer to every loss now that Rump\u2019s ego has fueled a hard, dug-in position that the only lost election is a stolen election. \nHis inability to accept loss and having built a party apparatus that supports his every whimper is what led to Jan 6thhttps://twitter.com/lispower1/status/1435292232462921733\u00a0\u2026— Paul Warren (@Paul Warren) 1631044890
This is grossly irresponsible and a stress test of the First Amendment.https://twitter.com/LisPower1/status/1435292232462921733\u00a0\u2026— Dave Min (@Dave Min) 1631044164
The cutoff date to vote in the California recall election is September 14.