Michigan Republican Party Chairman Pete Hoekstra told the crowd at a Monday fundraiser that he was concerned Democrats “will steal some votes” in a potentially close U.S. Senate race this fall, according to a recording obtained by The Detroit News.
Hoekstra’s comments could shine light on the GOP’s approach to the upcoming election and echoed false claims, from some in the party, of widespread voter fraud after Michigan’s 2020 presidential race, which GOP nominee Donald Trump lost to Democrat Joe Biden.
Multiple election officials described Hoekstra’s claim as false Thursday, and Ingham County Clerk Barb Byrum, a Democrat, said similar remarks were “unsafe” for election workers and democracy….
It wasn’t clear what Hoekstra was referring to or what evidence he had that Democrats would “steal some votes.”