Michigan Republican statehouse candidate Rylee Linting, right, with state Rep. Jim DeSana (R-Carleton) in Wyandotte, Mich. on June 21, 2024. (Photo via Rylee Linting for State Representative on Facebook)

Rylee Linting, the GOP candidate for Michigan’s 27th State House District seat, has openly embraced some of the most blatant election deniers in the state and the country in her campaign.

The 22-year-old youth vice chair of the Michigan Republican Party has positioned herself mainly as a culture warrior that aims to “hold liberal universities accountable for their actions” with “indoctrination” and fight against vaccine mandates. She also comes from Turning Point Action, the advocacy arm of far-right activist Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point USA.

But despite not speaking much on it, she has accepted endorsements of some of the most prominent 2020 election deniers in the state. She accepted the endorsement of state Rep. Jim DeSana (R-Carleton), who last year tried and failed to impeach Attorney General Dana Nessel for prosecuting the 16 fake Republican electors that tried to overturn the 2020 presidential election. While running for youth vice chair last year, she accepted the endorsement of Linda Lee Tarver, a Republican activist who in 2020 filed a lawsuit attempting to overturn the state’s electoral win for President Joe Biden.

She praised and spoke at an event with Patrick Byrne, one of the main fundraisers and pushers of 2020 conspiracy theories and election subversion attempts. And according to a 2023 Daily Beast report, she spoke favorably of Matt DePerno, the failed GOP attorney general candidate who was being investigated for (and is now indicted for) alleged felony tampering of election equipment during the 2020 election.

Linting’s campaign did not immediately respond for comment.

By associating herself with election deniers, Linting is aligning with a faction of the Republican Party that continues to question the legitimacy of the 2020 election despite multiple investigations and audits confirming its integrity.

Her stance on this issue could be a double-edged sword. On one hand, it resonates with a vocal minority of voters who remain unconvinced by the official results and believe in widespread election irregularities. These voters are likely to support Linting’s campaign, seeing her as a champion of their concerns. On the other hand, her continued support for election denialism risks alienating moderate Republicans, independents, and even some Republicans who view such rhetoric as damaging to the party’s credibility and democratic institutions.

The outcome of the 27th District election could serve as a significant marker for the future direction of the Michigan Republican Party, particularly regarding its stance on election integrity and the broader state of democracy in the U.S.

Linting is facing off with incumbent state Rep. Jaime Churches (D-Downriver), who is currently favored to win reelection.