¶ The Election Fairness Institute (EFI) Is A Home To Election Deniers And Grifters Looking To Profit Off Of The MAGA Base
SUMMARY: Election Denier Mark Finchem’s Election Fairness Institute (EFI) claims to be looking at “defects in the elections process,” however as Votebeat describes, they are a Finchem-run nonprofit that “posts untrue statements about elections on its website.”
EFI’s leadership includes election deniers Mark Finchem, Heather Hobbs, Seth Keshel, Matthew McKean:
- Following the 2020 presidential election, Mark Finchem spread false claims about the 2020 presidential election having been stolen from Trump. Finchem attended the “Stop The Steal” rally, lied about how close he got to the Capitol, and later argued “antifa infiltrators” had been identified as causing damage during the January 6 riot. After Finchem lost the race for Arizona Secretary of State in 2022, he called the election’s legitimacy into question repeatedly on Twitter. Finchem has been identified as a member of anti-government extremist organizations, including the Oath Keepers. On an episode of the X22 report, Finchem thanked the Qanon show’s audience for donations to EFI, saying listeners were “giving $20 a month faithfully, on a recurring contribution scale” and “keeping the Election Fairness Institute on track.”
- Heather Hobbs, a director at EFI, works for the conspiratorial John Birch Society (JBS). She also wrote on her website that she’s involved in “rescue missions” at America’s southern border and “detaining members of the cartel" to prevent drug smuggling. Hobbs’ primary focus is anti-abortion work, which she highlights heavily on her website.
- Seth Keshel, a director at EFI, began spreading election lies after contacting Michael Flynn on LinkedIn. Later, Keshel published an analysis claiming that former president Donald Trump won the 2020 presidential election. Keshel is an Army veteran who joined a group of election denialists known as the “bad news bears” that fed supposed evidence to Trump attorneys after the 2020 election. Currently, he is described as an election denial “influencer” who is available for speaking engagements.
- In 2022, Matthew McKean, who has been a director at EFI, was listed among the wealthiest donors to Mark Finchem, and in a recent filing, EFI disclosed that McKean is a director of the organization. McKean is listed as the co-founder and CEO of Frontier Applied Sciences and Frontieras North America. On Twitter, McKean claims to be a part of a macroeconomic think tank that believes the United States will break up into four countries.
In July 2023, EFI announced the Project Stinger cooperative agreement as a part of the Institute’s effort to fundraise. The project partners with a local businessman from South Carolina, Todd Gerhart, who capitalizes on MAGA hype to sell honey in Trump-shaped bottles. He also used an Ohio train derailment that spilled chemicals as an opportunity to sell his product, saying 25% of profits would go to the three fire departments involved. Gerhart also promises to donate a portion to MAGA causes, such as Mike Lindell and EFI.
In press releases, EFI has supported election policies such as a resolution restricting the use of election machines and legislation mandating that equipment be made in the United States, which Arizona lawmakers were considering. EFI supports these efforts despite loopholes and the lack of manufacturers that can meet the requirements, as well as the reduced accuracy of hand counts.
EFI and its leadership pose a threat to our democracy and Arizonans’ right to vote.
¶ Learn More about the Election Fairness Institute (EFI)
- EFI: Run by Far-Right Extremists Promoting Election Fraud Conspiracies
- Aug 2023: Mark Finchem Acknowledges QAnon Show's Audience for Supporting EFI with Monthly Donations
- EFI Founder Mark Finchem: Election Denier, Oath Keeper, Claims 2017 Charlottesville as 'Deep State' Operation
- EFI Director Heather Hobbs: Anti-Abortion Activist, John Birch Society Member with Alleged 'Rescue Missions' at U.S.-Mexico Border
- Seth Keshel of EFI: Spreads Election Lies Post-Michael Flynn Contact, Claims Trump Won 2020 Election
- EFI's July 2023 Fundraising Spike: Launches Project Stinger with 'Make Honey Great Again' Owner Todd Gerhart, a MAGA Donor
- EFI's 990 Forms Show No Director Pay Since 2018; Finchem's Campaign Paid $250 to Pathway Corp for Research in Aug 2018
- EFI Since 2018: Led by Hobbs, Kenshal, Stevens, Finchem, Reports Minimal Revenue in Annual 990 Forms
- Seth Keshel's Blog: Mark Finchem Receives Board-Approved Stipend, EFI Fundraising Aims for Events and Travel
- EFI Advocates for Voting Machine Bans, 'Made in USA' Rules Despite No US Makers, Hand-Count Inaccuracies
- 2022: Matthew Mckean, Top Donor to Mark Finchem, EFI Director, Claims Macroeconomic Think Tank Role on Social Media