Article Summary –
Republican candidates for Arizona’s governor, attorney general, and secretary of state have histories of promoting election fraud claims, while Democratic incumbents have opposed them. Election integrity is central to upcoming campaigns. GOP candidates face challenges in overcoming the state’s anti-Trump sentiment and history of defending election integrity.
WASHINGTON – Candidates for Arizona’s governor, attorney general, and secretary of state are reinforcing claims of election fraud from the 2020 presidential election, prompting scrutiny from voters interested in election integrity.
A leading gubernatorial candidate previously challenged Congress to deny certifying the election. One attorney general hopeful submitted state Senate records related to a disputed “audit” in Maricopa County to the FBI, revealing ongoing election denialism in Arizona.
Another contender for secretary of state pursued litigation alleging more than a half-million illegal names on voter rolls. Meanwhile, the Democratic incumbents have actively opposed such claims.
MORE Justice Department sues Arizona over voter data access
Attorney General Kris Mayes is prosecuting Arizona Republicans linked to a fake electors plot. Secretary of State Adrian Fontes resists federal demands for voter files. Gov. Katie Hobbs, Arizona’s top election official in 2020, has consistently denounced fraud allegations.
Election integrity remains a pivotal issue in Arizona politics, with potential power shifts affecting the state’s stance against the Trump administration’s 2020 election review.
Governor
Andy Biggs and David Schweikert are competing in the GOP primary for governor. The winner will face Katie Hobbs, who defeated Kari Lake in 2022. Biggs has questioned the 2020 election results, while Schweikert rejected Pennsylvania’s electoral slate on Jan. 6, 2021, yet later affirmed Biden’s Arizona win.
Schweikert, despite acknowledging Biden’s win, remains non-committal about Trump losing Arizona, sparking voter questions. Biggs, confident in Maricopa County’s GOP recorder, claims he’ll accept the 2026 election results.
Hobbs remains a staunch defender of Arizona’s election processes, perceiving ongoing investigations as unfounded distractions. The 2020 election conspiracies she faced serve as cautionary tales for current candidates.
Attorney General
Warren Petersen leads the GOP primary for attorney general. He scrutinizes Maricopa County’s 2020 election, cooperating with the FBI’s criminal investigation. Petersen accuses Mayes and Fontes of obstruction, escalating tensions over election security.
Petersen’s involvement in a controversial audit drew criticism, with Cyber Ninjas confirming Biden’s victory but alleging procedural flaws.
Secretary of state
State Rep. Alexander Kolodin and Gina Swoboda are contenders for secretary of state. Swoboda pursued lawsuits to remove alleged ineligible voters from rolls, but these efforts were dismissed in court for lack of evidence.
Kolodin, involved in baseless “kraken” lawsuits, faces disciplinary action for his role in baseless election claims. Fontes resists federal demands for voter data, maintaining state control over election procedures.
This article first appeared on Cronkite News and is republished here under a Creative Commons License. 
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