In Mesa, Arizona, a group of self-proclaimed “America First” enthusiasts, Republican faculty members, and a Christian nationalist pastor have been distributing burgers and hot dogs to voters in Phoenix on Tuesday – but only to those who cast their ballots in favor of former President Donald Trump.
The cookout took place approximately 100 yards away from a polling station, raising significant concerns about its legality.
The event was orchestrated by the extreme-right Faculty Republicans United organization, in collaboration with the Patriot Party of Arizona. The vote count began steadily once polls opened at the Mesa Conference Center. Self-proclaimed Groypers, a moniker coined by followers of white nationalist Nick Fuentes, have been distributing scorching hot dogs, juicy burgers, and refreshing cold drinks to those in need. As the grill master, Pastor David MacLellan, a Christian nationalist and chaplain for the Patriot Gathering of Arizona, enthusiastically subscribed to.
MacLellan reveals that they are offering complimentary hot dogs and hamburgers to individuals actively making a positive impact by voting for Trump.
Isaiah, a self-identified groyper who declined to reveal his final name, revealed that the group was exclusively serving Trump supporters, but stressed that the meals were open to all, including those willing to reevaluate their political stance.
Offering meals to voters at a polling location contravenes federal regulations, effectively compromising the integrity of the electoral process.
It is not only unlawful to provide solely to voters for one candidate, but also impermissible to limit distribution to voters alone.
According to Rick Hasen, a law professor at UCLA, making electoral information accessible to everyone, including children and non-voters, is crucial to avoid violating federal regulations against vote buying.
The Arizona Secretary of State’s office, responsible for setting guidelines for poll place behavior, declined to comment on our request.
The Faculty Republicans Unite group was founded in 2018 by Rick Thomas, a member of the Patriots of Arizona. Thomas explained to WIRED that his decision to establish the organization stemmed from his discontent with the existing Republican study group at Arizona State University.
The group coalesced around a shared enthusiasm for Trump, with Thomas noting their distinctly pro-Trump bent. “We’re American first; we’re MAGA.”
While not all members of the Faculty Republican United are part of Fuentes’ group, there is a crucial overlap, according to Isaiah’s instructions to WIRED.
While Thomas characterizes the group as relatively moderate, online evidence suggests otherwise; the Faculty Republicans United’s website lists two extremely anti-Semitic texts: “The Protocols of the Elders of Zion” alongside Henry Ford’s “The International Jew.”
One colleague from the Climatic Research Unit, Kevin Deacon, had recently passed away.
According to Nick Martin, an investigative journalist tracking extreme groups in Arizona, “There are explanations for why Faculty Republicans United have been condemned by numerous GOP organisations.” He is also the editor of a online publication. The organisation in question advises its affiliates to study thoroughly a collection of defunct and discredited texts replete with racial prejudices and unfounded conspiratorial notions. Their visitor audio system has featured speakers from a broad range of far-right factions, including white nationalists, neo-Nazis, conspiracy theorists promoting the debunked Pizzagate narrative, obscure political candidates and, less frequently, occasional representatives from mainstream Republican circles.
