Michigan AG Nessel Backs Recount of Democratic Convention Votes After Her Own Were Misrecorded

Michigan Democratic Attorney General Dana Nessel supports a push to recount all votes from the state's Democratic convention, after learning her own votes were improperly tallied.

The Michigan Democratic Party held its convention on Sunday, April 19. More than 6,000 delegates gathered to vote on candidates for statewide offices, including secretary of state, attorney general and university board of trustees members, ahead of the November general election. State Sen. Sylvia Santana called for an independent audit of the convention's elections. She said an investigation she led found material errors with the voting systems.

Nessel wrote in a statement that she learned right after the convention the Election Buddy app did not correctly attribute her votes or her congressional district. She notified the impacted candidates and the state party chair. Nessel backed Santana's call for an independent audit.

Nessel rejected any false equivalency between problems in the Democratic Party's internal voting systems and statewide elections. Those who traffic in election conspiracies will seek any opportunity to undermine public confidence in our elections, she wrote. While an audit is warranted here, these results have no bearing on the veracity of state-run elections.

The internal dispute comes as Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and her administration push back against a Justice Department request for Wayne County's 2024 voter data. The Trump administration request is part of a probe into alleged voter fraud in the county.

Santana, who lost her bid for the Michigan State University Board of Trustees, filed a 53-page complaint on the convention's voting process. She alleged 200 individuals cast votes remotely, which violates convention rules. Former U.S. House candidate Cathy Albro had told The Detroit News she voted in the electronic system from home.

Santana's investigation found 302 voters not on the master voter list. It also found 208 voters registered to the same number with at least one other voter. Votes were incorrectly tallied or not tallied at all, the investigation alleged.

Oakland County Prosecutor Karen McDonald, seeking the party's attorney general nomination, lost to Washtenaw County Prosecutor Eli Savit by a 59% to 41% vote. McDonald posted on Facebook calling for an independent audit and backing Santana's complaint.

After reviewing the results of the MDP Endorsement Convention, it became clear that votes were incorrectly recorded, people voted who were not onsite, and some votes were not recorded at all, McDonald wrote. I strongly support Senator Santana’s request for an independent audit, and urge my Democratic colleagues across the state to support it as well. It is critical that every voter and every campaign have confidence in the vote.

The Michigan Democratic Party told Fox News Digital that candidates have until the end of May 4 to submit appeals. A spokesperson said appeals are reviewed through an independent process by an Appeals Committee. The committee will review submissions and determine next steps. The party is committed to a fair and independent process.

The Michigan Republican Party criticized the Democrats over the voter fraud allegations. Losing candidates are taking legal action against the Democrat Party, claiming the election was stolen from them after an investigation revealed hundreds of ineligible voters took part in their recent endorsement convention, the MI GOP posted on X. Democrats can't even secure their own internal elections. What a mess!