That’s actually multifaceted, like oil spill on a puddle:

Yes, he knows he’s lying, but he also somehow believes it. if he doesn’t win, the other side cheated. And if he loses his father’s cruel ghost will rise and tell him that it’s his fault he let the baddies do that to him.

It’s also not about the democratic process for him, he sees it more like a hostile takeover. I don’t think he even understands democracy.