FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 1, 2026

RightCount Calls Out ‘Inflammatory’ Election Rhetoric Following Senate Minority Leader Schumer’s Comments

Former North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory Urges Leaders in Both Parties to Support Local Election Officials and Protect Public Confidence Ahead of Midterms

RALEIGH, N.C.: RightCount, a national nonpartisan organization dedicated to protecting public confidence in American elections, today responded to remarks by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer alleging that political opponents could “steal” the upcoming midterm elections. Speaking on the battle for the Senate majority in a recent interview with Semafor, Senator Schumer claimed the outcome was a "50-50" coin flip, adding: “Two things could have us lose. One, they steal the election. … The second thing is money.”

Former North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory, State Chair for RightCount, issued the following statement calling for an end to delegitimacy rhetoric: “Chuck Schumer's comments alleging that opponents might 'steal' the upcoming midterms undermine public trust in our election process. Rather than leaning into inflammatory rhetoric, leaders of both parties should promote the good work local election officials are doing across the country to keep our elections fair and secure. All Americans should have confidence that our election systems are well-run and that the final counts are accurate.”

RightCount emphasizes that rebuilding voter confidence requires moving past partisan accusations and grounding election administration in constitutional federalism, state-led verification measures – such as photo voter ID and proof of citizenship – and strong support for local election workers.

About RightCount

RightCount is a nonpartisan organization dedicated to strengthening public confidence in American elections. By elevating constitutional federalism, state-level administration, and local accountability, RightCount works to ensure every election is secure, transparent, and accessible to voters across the nation. For more information, visit RightCount.org.

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