A Michigan-based technology company with ties to prominent conservative figures in the United States has been linked to support for Alberta separatist movements, raising questions about the role of U.S. political operatives in Canadian provincial affairs.
One of the key founders of the firm, known as 10X Votes, has publicly expressed strong views favoring Alberta’s separation from Canada. On July 1, 2026, the individual posted on social media that he hoped it would be the last year Alberta remained part of Canada and advocated for the U.S. to annex the province. This founder, identified as Mr. Born, is an outdoorsman and commercial real estate agent from Grand Rapids, Michigan, and stepson of J.C. Huizenga, a major Republican donor and founder of National Heritage Academies, a conservative charter school network in the U.S.
10X Votes employs data-driven strategies aimed at increasing voter turnout among conservative and MAGA-aligned populations. By harvesting state voter lists and combining them with extensive demographic and interest-based information—such as religious affiliation and hunting license data—the software enables users to identify likely Republican voters who have not been voting regularly. For example, Mr. Born cited that out of approximately 783,000 hunting licenses sold annually in Michigan, 330,000 holders had not voted, representing a significant untapped conservative electorate. The software encourages activists to mobilize these non-voters by providing semi-public access to relevant data, effectively multiplying the impact of each vote in local elections.
The initiative is led in Michigan by political organizer Lance Griffin, who promotes 10X Votes at Republican events and has publicly described the software as a tool to counter perceived demographic and cultural shifts in the state, including an increasing Muslim population. Griffin has made statements dismissing the need for support beyond a core conservative Christian base, indicating a targeted approach to election victories. At a 2024 Republican delegate training, he reportedly presented the message that votes from non-Christians, independents, and minorities were not essential for winning elections.
Critics emphasize the potentially divisive implications of these strategies. Justin Mendoza, executive director of Progress Michigan, a left-leaning advocacy group, acknowledged that 10X Votes contributed to Donald Trump’s narrow 2024 victory in Michigan. Mendoza noted that the software initially escaped scrutiny but now warrants closer examination given its influence on electoral outcomes.
Efforts to obtain comment from 10X Votes founders about their involvement with Alberta separatists were unsuccessful. Mr. Born declined to discuss the company or its stance, stating, “There is no secrecy. We’re just not talking to the press.” Mr. Griffin, who exhibits an anti-Canadian sentiment on social media through satirical images targeting Canada, also did not respond to multiple requests for comment concerning their interest in Alberta politics.
The connections between U.S.-based far-right electoral technology and a Canadian separatist movement highlight a cross-border entanglement in political activism, underscoring the expanding reach of data-driven partisan strategies beyond domestic elections.