Thousands of supporters of former president Donald Trump have been trained to pressure local election officials to refuse to certify the vote ahead of the upcoming election. David Clements, a former law professor who has been promoting Trump’s baseless claims about the 2020 election, has hosted training sessions across the country. These events, known as the “Gideon 300” tour, have been attended by thousands of people in at least 40 counties in over a dozen states, including battleground states like Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania.
Clements has been traveling the country to rally Trump supporters and teach them how to pressure local leaders to withhold certification of future elections. He began focusing on polling management training after leaving his university job due to disputes with administrators. His training events include simulations of county election board meetings where he demonstrates tactics such as physically occupying the space, controlling the microphone, or surrounding someone who is filibustering to prevent their removal by law enforcement. Clements insists that he is not advocating for violence but is aiming to peacefully resolve election disputes through conversation.
This effort is not limited to Clements, as dozens of far-right advocacy groups are engaging in training election-related activists at the local or state level. Groups such as My Pillow CEO Mike Lindell’s Cause for America and the Election Integrity Network, run by former Trump lawyer Cleta Mitchell, are also involved in organizing these training sessions. Trump, who continues to falsely claim that he lost the 2020 presidential race due to fraud, has urged his supporters to turn out in large numbers in the upcoming election to prevent cheating.
Local election workers are also preparing for potential threats and confrontations leading up to the election. Threats against election officials and workers are on the rise, prompting concerns about the safety of those involved in the electoral process. Robert Pape, a professor of Political Science and director of the Chicago Project on Security and Threats at the University of Chicago, has emphasized the importance of taking these threats seriously, as they could escalate not just on Election Day but also during the tabulation and certification of vote counts.
Despite the claims of widespread fraud in the 2020 election being repeatedly debunked, Trump and his supporters continue to push forward with their accusations and preparation for the upcoming election. The focus on training activists to pressure local election officials to withhold certification is a concerning development that has the potential to escalate tensions and undermine the democratic process. Ensuring the safety and integrity of elections is crucial in upholding the principles of democracy and maintaining public trust in the electoral system.
