Wed Sep 25 10:00:00 UTC 2024: ## Democratic Group Launches $5 Million Legal Fund to Defend Secretaries of State Against Post-Election Lawsuits

**WASHINGTON, D.C.** – In anticipation of a wave of legal challenges following the upcoming November election, the Democratic Association of Secretaries of State (DASS) is launching a $5 million legal fund to support top election officials in key states.

The group, which has been actively campaigning for Democratic secretaries of state, plans to initially focus on providing financial support to officials in Maine, Michigan, North Carolina, and Nevada. The DASS says it may expand its reach to other states as needed and could increase its spending if fundraising proves successful.

This initiative is a direct response to former President Donald Trump’s unfounded claims of voter fraud in the 2020 election, which led to numerous lawsuits challenging the results. The group believes that a similar scenario is likely to unfold after this year’s election.

“This is us trying to help our people but also help democracy,” said Travis Brimm, the DASS executive director. “We have a bunch of pro-democracy secretaries of state that we want to support. We know a lot of them are going to get sued.”

The four initial states were selected based on the DASS’s belief that state laws would allow them to effectively allocate funds to support the secretaries of state.

The targeted states are all considered critical battlegrounds in the 2024 presidential election. Michigan, North Carolina, and Nevada are key states for the presidential contest, while Michigan and Nevada also host competitive Senate races. Additionally, North Carolina has a crucial gubernatorial election.

Maine, despite leaning Democratic, is of interest due to its Electoral College system, which awards votes based on the overall winner and the winner of each congressional district. Trump is once again targeting Maine’s 2nd Congressional District, which he won in 2016 and 2020.

This move by the DASS highlights the potential for increased legal challenges surrounding the upcoming election. The group’s proactive approach aims to ensure that Democratic-led election officials have the resources to effectively defend their administration of the election process.

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