US midterm voters reject election deniers who support Trump’s false claim

Voters have rejected some of the most visceral election deniers in the US, rejecting Republican supporters of Donald Trump's stolen election lie in several key races though some critical results have yet to be called.

Democracy was on the ballot in the midterm elections, with avid participants in efforts to subvert the outcome of the 2020 presidential contest vying to gain control of how votes are conducted in their states. Several of those candidates fell short on the night.

In Pennsylvania, Doug Mastriano, the Republican candidate for governor, was convincingly defeated by his Democratic rival Josh Shapiro. Mastriano acted as Trump's front person in the state in attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential result and was present at the US Capitol on the day of the January 6 insurrection.

Pennsylvania's governor has considerable powers over elections as they choose who will be the secretary of state - the top voting official.

Several other races for secretary of state were among the most closely watched this cycle, given the prospect of anti-democratic candidates seizing control over voting procedures. That scenario has prompted jitters ahead of the 2024 presidential race in which Trump has indicated he wants to stand again.

In Michigan, all three Democrats running for statewide office beat Republicans who questioned the 2020 election results.

Governor Gretchen Whitmer was re-elected to a second term over Tudor Dixon, who declined to say Joe Biden won the state in 2020. Michigan's attorney general, Dana Nessel, also won re-election, defeating Matthew DePerno, a lawyer who became a key player in spreading election misinformation after the 2020 election. In an election night speech, Whitmer said the results affirmed "facts over lies and democracy over fascism".