Associated Press
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — The conservative Texas Republican leader who pledged bounties to those who prove fraud at the polls has paid a liberal Democratic poll watcher who reported illegal voting by a Pennsylvania Republican.
Tipster Eric Frank deposited a $25,000 check from Texas Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick's campaign this week, and Patrick may be on the hook for more bounties, The Dallas Morning News reported Thursday .
Frank reported Ralph Thurman, a 72-year-old registered Republican, after seeing him vote twice on Election Day, once for himself and once for his son, who was a registered Democrat. Frank told The News that he would have reported anyone he saw voting illegally, regardless of party. Having come from a family of Democratic operatives, however, he said he sees the irony of the situation.
"It's my belief that they were trying to get cases of Democrats doing voter fraud. And that just wasn't the case," Frank said. "This kind of blew up in their face."
Patrick campaign spokesman Allen Blakemore did not immediately return messages seeking comment.
Five voting fraud cases from last year's elections are being prosecuted in Pennsylvania, with four of the suspects Republican, The Philadelphia Inquirer reported Wednesday. The cases undercut assertions by Patrick and other Republicans that voter fraud cost Donald Trump re-election last year.
Patrick set aside $1 million to reward information leading to voter fraud arrests and convictions but said nothing about how to claim the rewards. Then Thurman pleaded guilty last month to repeat voting and was sentenced to three years' probation and barred from voting for four years, The Inquirer reported. Frank contacted The News to learn how to file a claim, and The News contacted Patrick spokesman Blakemore, who said he would handle the claim.
Frank said that, as a poll worker, he worries about voter fraud now that he has seen it in action. However, he said the attention on Democrats is misplaced.
"(Republicans) need to look within their party and not focus so closely on fraud on the Democratic side," he said.
States with the most liberals
States with the most liberals
Throughout centuries and across continents, the political meaning of liberalism has evolved to represent a very different set of principles than it once did.Â
Researchers determined the first time the term "liberal" was used in a political manner was around 1769 by Scottish economist Adam Smith, who applied the word to discussions about trade as well as policy. To believe in liberal principles, for Smith, was to strive for natural liberty—or the right for any person to pursue their own interests as long as they stayed in the lines of the law. Today in America some are proud to call themselves liberal while others attach negative connotations to the word. Supporters of modern liberalism believe it represents the want for government to assist in political and social change, but critics of liberalism often feel it is a threat to their own way of life.Â
Stacker ranked each state first by the percentage of residents who identify as liberals and then by the percentage of the state's voters who voted for Joe Biden in the 2020 presidential election, using data from Gallup , 270toWin , and the Cook Political Report's 2020 National Popular Vote Tracker .Â
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#50. Mississippi
- Residents who consider themselves liberal: 12%
- Residents who consider themselves moderate: 29%
- Presidential election outcome between 1964-2020: voted Democratic 1 times (out of 15)
- Votes cast for Joe Biden in 2020: 539,508 (41.1%)
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#49. South Dakota
- Residents who consider themselves liberal: 13%
- Residents who consider themselves moderate: 37%
- Presidential election outcome between 1964-2020: voted Democratic 1 times (out of 15)
- Votes cast for Joe Biden in 2020: 150,471 (35.6%)
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#48. Alabama
- Residents who consider themselves liberal: 14%
- Residents who consider themselves moderate: 34%
- Presidential election outcome between 1964-2020: voted Democratic 1 times (out of 15)
- Votes cast for Joe Biden in 2020: 849,624 (36.6%)
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#47. Arkansas
- Residents who consider themselves liberal: 15%
- Residents who consider themselves moderate: 38%
- Presidential election outcome between 1964-2020: voted Democratic 4 times (out of 15)
- Votes cast for Joe Biden in 2020: 423,932 (34.8%)
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#46. Utah
- Residents who consider themselves liberal: 15%
- Residents who consider themselves moderate: 40%
- Presidential election outcome between 1964-2020: voted Democratic 1 times (out of 15)
- Votes cast for Joe Biden in 2020: 560,282 (37.6%)
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#45. Louisiana
- Residents who consider themselves liberal: 15%
- Residents who consider themselves moderate: 35%
- Presidential election outcome between 1964-2020: voted Democratic 3 times (out of 15)
- Votes cast for Joe Biden in 2020: 856,034 (39.9%)
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#44. South Carolina
- Residents who consider themselves liberal: 16%
- Residents who consider themselves moderate: 37%
- Presidential election outcome between 1964-2020: voted Democratic 1 times (out of 15)
- Votes cast for Joe Biden in 2020: 1,091,541 (43.4%)
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#43. West Virginia
- Residents who consider themselves liberal: 17%
- Residents who consider themselves moderate: 31%
- Presidential election outcome between 1964-2020: voted Democratic 7 times (out of 15)
- Votes cast for Joe Biden in 2020: 235,984 (29.7%)
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#42. Idaho
- Residents who consider themselves liberal: 17%
- Residents who consider themselves moderate: 37%
- Presidential election outcome between 1964-2020: voted Democratic 1 times (out of 15)
- Votes cast for Joe Biden in 2020: 287,021 (33.1%)
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#41. Tennessee
- Residents who consider themselves liberal: 17%
- Residents who consider themselves moderate: 34%
- Presidential election outcome between 1964-2020: voted Democratic 4 times (out of 15)
- Votes cast for Joe Biden in 2020: 1,143,711 (37.5%)
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#40. Indiana
- Residents who consider themselves liberal: 17%
- Residents who consider themselves moderate: 38%
- Presidential election outcome between 1964-2020: voted Democratic 2 times (out of 15)
- Votes cast for Joe Biden in 2020: 1,242,413 (41.0%)
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#39. Alaska
- Residents who consider themselves liberal: 17%
- Residents who consider themselves moderate: 38%
- Presidential election outcome between 1964-2020: voted Democratic 1 times (out of 15)
- Votes cast for Joe Biden in 2020: 153,778 (42.8%)
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#38. Wyoming
- Residents who consider themselves liberal: 18%
- Residents who consider themselves moderate: 31%
- Presidential election outcome between 1964-2020: voted Democratic 1 times (out of 15)
- Votes cast for Joe Biden in 2020: 73,491 (26.6%)
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#37. North Dakota
- Residents who consider themselves liberal: 18%
- Residents who consider themselves moderate: 41%
- Presidential election outcome between 1964-2020: voted Democratic 1 times (out of 15)
- Votes cast for Joe Biden in 2020: 114,902 (31.8%)
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#36. Oklahoma
- Residents who consider themselves liberal: 18%
- Residents who consider themselves moderate: 35%
- Presidential election outcome between 1964-2020: voted Democratic 1 times (out of 15)
- Votes cast for Joe Biden in 2020: 503,890 (32.3%)
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#35. Montana
- Residents who consider themselves liberal: 18%
- Residents who consider themselves moderate: 38%
- Presidential election outcome between 1964-2020: voted Democratic 2 times (out of 15)
- Votes cast for Joe Biden in 2020: 244,786 (40.5%)
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#34. Kansas
- Residents who consider themselves liberal: 18%
- Residents who consider themselves moderate: 38%
- Presidential election outcome between 1964-2020: voted Democratic 1 times (out of 15)
- Votes cast for Joe Biden in 2020: 570,323 (41.6%)
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#33. Georgia
- Residents who consider themselves liberal: 19%
- Residents who consider themselves moderate: 35%
- Presidential election outcome between 1964-2020: voted Democratic 4 times (out of 15)
- Votes cast for Joe Biden in 2020: 2,473,633 (49.5%)
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#32. Kentucky
- Residents who consider themselves liberal: 20%
- Residents who consider themselves moderate: 35%
- Presidential election outcome between 1964-2020: voted Democratic 4 times (out of 15)
- Votes cast for Joe Biden in 2020: 772,474 (36.2%)
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#31. Missouri
- Residents who consider themselves liberal: 20%
- Residents who consider themselves moderate: 34%
- Presidential election outcome between 1964-2020: voted Democratic 4 times (out of 15)
- Votes cast for Joe Biden in 2020: 1,253,014 (41.4%)
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#30. Texas
- Residents who consider themselves liberal: 20%
- Residents who consider themselves moderate: 36%
- Presidential election outcome between 1964-2020: voted Democratic 3 times (out of 15)
- Votes cast for Joe Biden in 2020: 5,259,126 (46.5%)
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#29. New Mexico
- Residents who consider themselves liberal: 20%
- Residents who consider themselves moderate: 37%
- Presidential election outcome between 1964-2020: voted Democratic 8 times (out of 15)
- Votes cast for Joe Biden in 2020: 501,614 (54.3%)
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#28. Iowa
- Residents who consider themselves liberal: 21%
- Residents who consider themselves moderate: 39%
- Presidential election outcome between 1964-2020: voted Democratic 7 times (out of 15)
- Votes cast for Joe Biden in 2020: 759,061 (44.9%)
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#27. North Carolina
- Residents who consider themselves liberal: 21%
- Residents who consider themselves moderate: 33%
- Presidential election outcome between 1964-2020: voted Democratic 3 times (out of 15)
- Votes cast for Joe Biden in 2020: 2,684,292 (48.6%)
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#26. Arizona
- Residents who consider themselves liberal: 21%
- Residents who consider themselves moderate: 36%
- Presidential election outcome between 1964-2020: voted Democratic 2 times (out of 15)
- Votes cast for Joe Biden in 2020: 1,672,143 (49.4%)
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#25. Nebraska
- Residents who consider themselves liberal: 22%
- Residents who consider themselves moderate: 38%
- Presidential election outcome between 1964-2020: voted Democratic 1 times (out of 15)
- Votes cast for Joe Biden in 2020: 374,583 (39.4%)
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#24. Ohio
- Residents who consider themselves liberal: 22%
- Residents who consider themselves moderate: 35%
- Presidential election outcome between 1964-2020: voted Democratic 6 times (out of 15)
- Votes cast for Joe Biden in 2020: 2,679,165 (45.2%)
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#23. Florida
- Residents who consider themselves liberal: 22%
- Residents who consider themselves moderate: 36%
- Presidential election outcome between 1964-2020: voted Democratic 5 times (out of 15)
- Votes cast for Joe Biden in 2020: 5,297,045 (47.9%)
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#22. Nevada
- Residents who consider themselves liberal: 23%
- Residents who consider themselves moderate: 38%
- Presidential election outcome between 1964-2020: voted Democratic 7 times (out of 15)
- Votes cast for Joe Biden in 2020: 703,486 (50.1%)
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#21. Michigan
- Residents who consider themselves liberal: 23%
- Residents who consider themselves moderate: 38%
- Presidential election outcome between 1964-2020: voted Democratic 9 times (out of 15)
- Votes cast for Joe Biden in 2020: 2,804,040 (50.6%)
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Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
#20. Wisconsin
- Residents who consider themselves liberal: 24%
- Residents who consider themselves moderate: 37%
- Presidential election outcome between 1964-2020: voted Democratic 10 times (out of 15)
- Votes cast for Joe Biden in 2020: 1,630,866 (49.4%)
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#19. Pennsylvania
- Residents who consider themselves liberal: 24%
- Residents who consider themselves moderate: 36%
- Presidential election outcome between 1964-2020: voted Democratic 10 times (out of 15)
- Votes cast for Joe Biden in 2020: 3,459,923 (50.0%)
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#18. Virginia
- Residents who consider themselves liberal: 24%
- Residents who consider themselves moderate: 37%
- Presidential election outcome between 1964-2020: voted Democratic 5 times (out of 15)
- Votes cast for Joe Biden in 2020: 2,413,568 (54.1%)
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#17. Delaware
- Residents who consider themselves liberal: 24%
- Residents who consider themselves moderate: 43%
- Presidential election outcome between 1964-2020: voted Democratic 10 times (out of 15)
- Votes cast for Joe Biden in 2020: 296,268 (58.7%)
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#16. Minnesota
- Residents who consider themselves liberal: 25%
- Residents who consider themselves moderate: 37%
- Presidential election outcome between 1964-2020: voted Democratic 14 times (out of 15)
- Votes cast for Joe Biden in 2020: 1,717,049 (52.4%)
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#15. Rhode Island
- Residents who consider themselves liberal: 25%
- Residents who consider themselves moderate: 40%
- Presidential election outcome between 1964-2020: voted Democratic 13 times (out of 15)
- Votes cast for Joe Biden in 2020: 307,486 (59.4%)
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
#14. Colorado
- Residents who consider themselves liberal: 26%
- Residents who consider themselves moderate: 37%
- Presidential election outcome between 1964-2020: voted Democratic 6 times (out of 15)
- Votes cast for Joe Biden in 2020: 1,804,352 (55.4%)
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#13. New Jersey
- Residents who consider themselves liberal: 27%
- Residents who consider themselves moderate: 37%
- Presidential election outcome between 1964-2020: voted Democratic 9 times (out of 15)
- Votes cast for Joe Biden in 2020: 2,608,335 (57.3%)
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#12. Illinois
- Residents who consider themselves liberal: 27%
- Residents who consider themselves moderate: 36%
- Presidential election outcome between 1964-2020: voted Democratic 9 times (out of 15)
- Votes cast for Joe Biden in 2020: 3,471,915 (57.5%)
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#11. Connecticut
- Residents who consider themselves liberal: 27%
- Residents who consider themselves moderate: 38%
- Presidential election outcome between 1964-2020: voted Democratic 10 times (out of 15)
- Votes cast for Joe Biden in 2020: 1,080,680 (59.2%)
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#10. Oregon
- Residents who consider themselves liberal: 28%
- Residents who consider themselves moderate: 35%
- Presidential election outcome between 1964-2020: voted Democratic 10 times (out of 15)
- Votes cast for Joe Biden in 2020: 1,340,383 (56.5%)
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#9. Hawaii
- Residents who consider themselves liberal: 28%
- Residents who consider themselves moderate: 45%
- Presidential election outcome between 1964-2020: voted Democratic 13 times (out of 15)
- Votes cast for Joe Biden in 2020: 366,130 (63.7%)
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#8. Maryland
- Residents who consider themselves liberal: 28%
- Residents who consider themselves moderate: 39%
- Presidential election outcome between 1964-2020: voted Democratic 12 times (out of 15)
- Votes cast for Joe Biden in 2020: 1,985,023 (65.4%)
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#7. California
- Residents who consider themselves liberal: 29%
- Residents who consider themselves moderate: 36%
- Presidential election outcome between 1964-2020: voted Democratic 9 times (out of 15)
- Votes cast for Joe Biden in 2020: 11,110,250 (63.5%)
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#6. New Hampshire
- Residents who consider themselves liberal: 30%
- Residents who consider themselves moderate: 36%
- Presidential election outcome between 1964-2020: voted Democratic 8 times (out of 15)
- Votes cast for Joe Biden in 2020: 424,921 (52.7%)
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#5. New York
- Residents who consider themselves liberal: 30%
- Residents who consider themselves moderate: 35%
- Presidential election outcome between 1964-2020: voted Democratic 12 times (out of 15)
- Votes cast for Joe Biden in 2020: 5,241,957 (60.9%)
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#4. Washington
- Residents who consider themselves liberal: 31%
- Residents who consider themselves moderate: 37%
- Presidential election outcome between 1964-2020: voted Democratic 11 times (out of 15)
- Votes cast for Joe Biden in 2020: 2,369,612 (58.0%)
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#3. Vermont
- Residents who consider themselves liberal: 32%
- Residents who consider themselves moderate: 36%
- Presidential election outcome between 1964-2020: voted Democratic 9 times (out of 15)
- Votes cast for Joe Biden in 2020: 242,820 (66.1%)
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#2. Maine
- Residents who consider themselves liberal: 33%
- Residents who consider themselves moderate: 29%
- Presidential election outcome between 1964-2020: voted Democratic 10 times (out of 15)
- Votes cast for Joe Biden in 2020: 435,072 (53.1%)
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#1. Massachusetts
- Residents who consider themselves liberal: 35%
- Residents who consider themselves moderate: 38%
- Presidential election outcome between 1964-2020: voted Democratic 13 times (out of 15)
- Votes cast for Joe Biden in 2020: 2,382,202 (65.6%)
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