As with many conspiracy theories, QAnon started on the fringe of society in online message boards and other sites.
However, QAnon is starting to drift more and more mainstream following a number of high-profile primary wins by candidates who have shown support for the theory.
Marjorie Taylor Greene is the latest person who looks certain to take a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives after beating her opponent Dr. John Cowan in the heavily Republican Georgia's 14th Congressional District, having publicly backed the conspiracy theory.
QAnon, which originated on infamous online message board site 4Chan, centers around an unfounded claim that Donald Trump is waging a secret war against the "deep state" and high-profile Satan-worshipping pedophiles.
Supporters of the theory say the claims stem from a person or person known as "Q" who has knowledge about security clearance within the U.S. government.
Here are a number of candidates who have shown some support for QAnon.
Marjorie Taylor Greene
In a video from 2017, Marjorie Taylor Greene praised whoever was behind QAnon as a "patriot."
She added: "He is someone that very much loves his country, and he's on the same page as us, and he is very pro-Trump.
"Now there's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take this global cabal of Satan-worshiping pedophiles out, and I think we have the president to do it."
Greene has also been criticized for her Islamaphobic comments, including referring to the 2018 midterms "an Islamic invasion" and describing Muslims as pedophiles who "marry their sisters."
Lauren Boebert
In June, Lauren Boebert defeated five-time incumbent Representative Scott Tipton in Colorado's Republican primary.
The month before her win, Boebert appeared on the online show Steel Truth, which is hosted by QAnon believer Ann Vandersteel.
During her interview, Boebert said: "Everything that I've heard of Q, I hope that this is real because it only means that America is getting stronger and better, and people are returning to conservative values."
In a statement sent to Newsweek, Boebert said: "I'm glad the IG and the AG are investigating deep state activities that undermine the president. I don't follow QAnon."
Jo Rae Perkins
Jo Rae Perkins won the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in Oregon after beating three GOP candidates in May.
Perkins has been one of the most vocal supporters of QAnon during her campaign trail.
Following her victory, Perkins posted a video of her holding a sticker with the abbreviated QAnon slogan "WWG1WGA" [Where we go one we go all].
"I stand with President Trump, I stand with Q and the team," she said. "Thank you anons, thank you patriots, and together we can save our republic."
Her campaign team soon deleted the video, but Perkins gave an interview with ABC News reiterating her support QAnon.
In July, Perkins congratulated Boebert for her victory in a tweet along with a "WWG1WGA" hashtag.
Angela Stanton-King
Angela Stanton-King, a Republican candidate vying for John Lewis' old seat in Georgia, has frequently posted messages showing support or referencing for QAnon on Twitter.
On August 7, she tweeted "The storm is here." The "storm" is a reference to the moment supporters of QAnon believe the deep state will be arrested by Trump.
On August 5, Stanton-King also made reference to the Pizzagate conspiracy theory. "I haven't been able to order Pizza," she tweeted. "Thanks a lot pedo's [sic]."
Theresa Raborn
In July Theresa Raborn, a Republican House candidate in Illinois, tweeted a video appearing to show former national security adviser Michael Flynn showing support for QAnon with the hashtag, "WWG1WGA."
Speaking to The Washington Post, Raborn said of the tweet: "When General Flynn posted that video, he's a highly respected general and has been for decades, and he is very close to President Trump.
"So I don't think he would do that for a conspiracy theory, or at least logically that's where I'm at. I don't know if he has information about whether it's a conspiracy theory or whether it's real, but it seemed to give a lot of validity to people who support me who also happen to follow Q."
Mike Cargile
Mike Cargile, who faces a tough battle to unseat incumbent Democratic Rep. Norma Torres in California's 35th Congressional District, includes QAnon's #WWG1WGA slogan in his Twitter biography.
In a statement explaining why he is publicly supporting the conspiracy theory, Cargile said: "As a prospective legislator, I find it irresponsible and indefensible NOT to seek out the truth on any occurrence, regarding any event.
"Regarding actual 'Q' intel...we'll see. Only a fool would look at the Washington landscape and conclude that the President has no enemies inside the beltway."
Erin Cruz
Erin Cruz, also facing a tough election for a House seat in California's 36th District, has not publicly expressed support for QAnon but has acknowledged many of her supporters are and that they have "legitimate concerns."
"I think that the biggest thing with QAnon is there's information coming out," she told NBC News. "And sometimes it is in line with what's going on in government. So when you ask me, do I know what QAnon is? Yes, but what is it to everybody else? That's the bigger thing."
Elsewhere, Forbes identified seven other candidates, six of whom are GOP, who have expressed support for QAnon online.
The Republican candidates are: Joyce Bentley [Nevada]; Alison Hayden [California]; Buzz Patterson, [California] Nikka Piterman, [California] Bill Prempeh, [New Jersey], Rob Weber [Ohio] and Philanise White [Illinois].
KW Miller, an independent House candidate in Florida, is the seventh candidate.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Ewan Palmer is a Newsweek News Reporter based in London, U.K. His focus is reporting on US politics, domestic policy ... Read more
