Georgia’s Secretary of State, Brad Raffensperger, criticized the House Democrats ‘attempt to overturn Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks’ (R., Iowa) victory.
Iowa’s electoral council certified Miller-Meeks’ victory by just six votes over opponent Rita Hart. However, the House has the final say on contested elections under the Constitution, so Democrats are currently conducting a review of the election that could end with Hart being declared the winner.
Raffensperger asked the Georgia Congressional delegation, including Democratic senators Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, to speak out against the House’s move.
“Georgia’s election workers … sacrificed a lot in the search for free and fair elections,” wrote Raffensperger in a letter. “I received threats and demanded constant security … My wife received sexualized threats. My grandchildren’s houses were invaded. Voters were followed home, threatened online and even had to hide simply for holding a free and fair election. “
Raffensperger continued, “In light of what Georgia has been through in the past few months … I am very alarmed that members of Congress are considering overturning the will of voters as certified by the state, however restricted.”
Raffensperger was a frequent target of criticism from former President Trump, who claimed that the Georgia elections were conducted fraudulently. Trump and his allies have failed to prove allegations of widespread fraud.
Democrats insist that their effort to overturn the Miller-Meeks victory is not comparable to Trump’s allegations of fraud. Hart’s campaign argues that there are 22 votes cast legally, but allegedly wrongly rejected, which if counted would give him a victory.
“We cannot be concerned with optics,” deputy GK Butterfield (D., NC), who is on the House panel that analyzes the election, told CNN. “We need to review the evidence and see where it takes us.”