Election fraud hysteria persists in Washington, and Pierce County takes center stage
For true believers of the election fraud narrative, it doesn’t matter that more than nine months have gone by since the 2020 election. Or that more than eight months have passed since the November election was certified in Washington state, with representatives from both parties spot checking paper ballots against machine counts.
It doesn’t matter that most everyone else — including state Republican leaders — have accepted Joe Biden as president and Jay Inslee as governor, shortcomings and all. Or that no proof of malfeasance has been produced that would change results in any state, much less ours, where Donald Trump lost by 785,000 votes and GOP governor candidate Loren Culp lost by 545,000 votes.
Or that reckless fraud claims have the power to undermine democracy, alienating younger generations whose confidence in American institutions is already fragile.
What really matters to these fundamentalists is the zeal they bring to the cause, which they won’t stop preaching no matter how false their gospel and self-contained their echo chamber.
All the quasi-religious trappings were on display Sunday in Snohomish County. That’s where four of Washington’s most conservative legislators hosted a handful of guest speakers and a congregation of hundreds for a lively mix of anti-fraud, anti-vax tub thumping. They filled a church that gained notoriety last year for openly flouting Inslee’s COVID-19 crowd directives.
Headliner Seth Keshel, a national fraud theorist and retired Army captain, said it looked like an old-fashioned tent revival meeting. At least Keshel was accurate on that point. The Texan’s drop-in visit also yielded claims of election rigging, “cheat by mail,” a random joke insulting University of Washington students and a misstatement that Pierce County is home to the Washington state Capitol.
Ours was one of four counties that Keshel tried to smear with implications, but no evidence, of widespread ballot mischief. Look at those 77,000 extra votes Biden won in Pierce County compared to Hillary Clinton in 2016, he said, flashing numbers on a screen. The accompanying boos and shouts were some of the loudest of the evening.
Never mind that 2020 was a record turnout election featuring same-day voter registration for the first time in Washington. Or that it also produced 51,000 more local votes for Trump than in 2016. Or that the higher tallies on both sides reflected Washington’s population growth and political composition.
Also declared more than once Sunday: the idea that fighting fraud is a divine call to action. “Stop being scared! Speak the truth! God will defend you!” yelled Tim Tooker of Puyallup after being handed the microphone. Tooker, a Republican precinct committee officer, was filmed last summer in a scuffle that broke the wrist of a Black Lives Matter activist.
There was even an altar call of sorts at the end, courtesy of Rep. Robert Sutherland, R-Granite Falls. “We’re going to take back our state and our county and our country!” he shouted amid a standing ovation. “We can’t lose with you guys, but we need every one of you! Do you vow to stick with us?”
Sutherland was joined on stage by three other state representatives: Vicki Kraft of Vancouver and Bob McCaslin and Rob Chase of Spokane County. They’re convinced that an independent forensic audit would reveal all truth, despite the months-long Cyber Ninja circus still underway in Arizona.
They held Sunday’s 3 1/2-hour event under the pretense of a public hearing, though the public had less than 15 minutes to speak at the end.
House minority leader J.T. Wilcox has appropriately distanced himself from this dangerous narrative. But the South Sound Republican should go further and condemn the tactics of his caucus’ fringe members.
Make no mistake, our election system isn’t error free. But there are right and wrong ways to address one’s fears and concerns about purported voting irregularities.
The right way: Volunteer to be an election observer. Track your ballot through the validation process. Bring evidence of problems directly and as quickly as possible to elections officials such as Pierce County Auditor Julie Anderson.
And if you’re still not satisfied, elect determined, even-tempered officials who will pursue change through constitutionally governed democratic institutions.
The wrong way: Continue to stoke echo-chamber hysteria over a long-settled election.
Responsible GOP leaders must do all they can to tamp it down.
News Tribune editorials reflect the views of our Editorial Board and are written by opinion editor Matt Misterek. Other board members are: Stephanie Pedersen, News Tribune president and editor; Matt Driscoll, local columnist; and Jim Walton, community representative. The Editorial Board operates independently from the newsroom and does not influence the work of news reporting and editing staffs. For questions about the board or our editorials, email matt.misterek@thenewstribune.com
This story was originally published August 17, 2021 at 2:00 PM.