Four Secretaries of State Report Receiving Death Threats Following 2020 Election

Four secretaries of state have come forward to reveal that they have been receiving death threats for simply doing their jobs, which include overseeing elections, since Donald Trump left office in 2021. During an interview on Meet the Press, Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes described these threats as “domestic terrorism.”

Fontes, along with secretaries of state from Michigan, Georgia, and Pennsylvania, shared their experiences of receiving threats and the impact it has had on their lives. Fontes mentioned that he has even prepared “go bags” in case he needs to flee his home and has coordinated with neighbors and family to watch his children if he has to leave.

Michigan’s Secretary of State, Joyce Benson, stated that these threats are meant to “delegitimize democracy” and instill fear in election officials and voters. The threats began following the 2020 election, fueled by Trump’s false claims of election fraud.

Georgia’s Secretary of State, Brad Raffensperger, who famously stood up to Trump’s pressure to overturn the election results, shared that the threats against his family have been particularly disturbing. His wife, Tricia, received threatening messages after he refused to subvert democracy on behalf of Trump.

In response to these threats, Attorney General Merrick Garland launched an Elections Threats Task Force in 2021 to address and combat violence and intimidation against election workers. Despite the threats and challenges, Fontes emphasized that elections in the US are secure and that they will continue to provide good elections for all voters across the country.