MAGA "election integrity" candidate Gaea Powell convicted on 9 fraud counts
A Moms for Liberty activist who ran for California county clerk-recorder on an election-integrity platform is now convicted of committing election fraud herself.
What to know
- Gaea Powell, a Moms for Liberty activist who ran for San Luis Obispo County clerk-recorder on an 'election integrity' platform, was convicted on nine felony election-fraud counts.
- Charges stem from her 2022 and 2024 Arroyo Grande mayoral campaigns, including lying about her residence and unreported campaign spending; she faces up to eight years in prison.
- Powell, who represented herself at trial, denies fraudulent intent and says she will appeal.
- Commentators and social media are drawing parallels to other Trump-aligned figures — Tina Peters and Chad Bianco — previously found to have committed election-related misconduct after alleging fraud themselves.
This is proof that MAGA 'election integrity' figures are themselves the ones committing election fraud.
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“They spent years screaming about election fraud. Turns out they should’ve been looking in the mirror.”
pawbaby2.bsky.social · Bluesky ↗
“I respect the jury’s role. But I am deeply disappointed by today’s verdict. I have maintained from the beginning, and I maintain today, that I did not knowingly deceive anyone and did not act with fraudulent intent.”
Gaea Powell, Convicted former mayoral candidate · San Luis Obispo Tribune, via The New Republic ↗ · Sep 27
Gaea Powell Moms for Liberty activist, convicted candidateTina Peters Former Colorado clerk (comparison case)
Chad Bianco Former Riverside County sheriff (comparison case)
How it unfolded 2 developments, newest first · click a bar or a number to jump articlesposts
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Social media mocks conviction as self-inflicted irony
Posts on Bluesky and Mastodon circulate the story, comparing Powell to other Republicans previously convicted or sanctioned over election-related misconduct, such as Tina Peters and Chad Bianco.
“They spent years screaming about election fraud. Turns out they should've been looking in the mirror.”
— pawbaby2.bsky.social -
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Well, well, well… 😂 A MAGA “election integrity” candidate was just convicted on NINE election-fraud counts. They spent years screaming about election fraud. Turns out they should’ve been looking in the mirror. #USDemocracy newrepublic.com/post/215928/... via @newrepublic.com
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Well, that seems right. Surprise! # MAGA Candidate Convicted of # ElectionFraud https:// newrepublic.com/post/215928/ma ga-candidate-convicted-election-fraud > Turns out there is election fraud, after all. # GOP # republicans
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What kills me is that there are so many of these ideas that would be good and fine if there wasn’t an asshole somewhere mucking up the works. Voter ID when voting. Logical! You want to make sure the person voting is who they say they are. Makes sense! So let’s make the only valid ID a Driver’s License, understaff DMVs, vote by mail now requires…
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New Republic ties case to Powell's MAGA election-fraud rhetoric
The New Republic's writeup frames the conviction as ironic given Powell campaigned on Trump-aligned claims about the 'integrity of local elections.'
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first by Mastodon, 21h ago · also New Republic
1 more headline
- Surprise! MAGA Candidate Convicted of Election Fraud New Republic · 16h ago
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A Moms for Liberty candidate who ran on election integrity just got convicted on nine counts of election fraud. Join Tina Peters and Chad Bianco on the list of people who screamed the loudest about stolen elections while committing the actual crime themselves.
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Has any reasoning behind that come out? Like… why do that if you’re a D governor in a purple, trending blue state?
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background
Powell allegedly lies about residency and campaign spending — While running for mayor of Arroyo Grande, Powell swore under penalty of perjury that she lived within city limits and pledged not to raise or spend more than $2,000, then allegedly did both, according to the district attorney's office.
What people are saying 4 voices from 1 site · best of 10 · verbatim
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🤡 Moms for Liberty - Gaea Powell, a hard-charging MAGA activist & fierce advocate for "election integrity" - found guilty of nine counts of election fraud by jury
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MAGA candidate Gaea Powell convicted on 9 counts of election fraud 9/28/26
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"A county jury found Powell guilty on nine counts of election fraud last week, including lying about her residence, unlawfully registering to vote and fraudulently voting."
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More proof that Trump and his MAGA minions are the real source of election fraud. Uber-MAGA candidate and devoted Trumpist Gaea Powell ran for a key election-related position on a platform of "election integrity." She was just convicted of 9 felony counts of election fraud.