Adrian Fontes on September 22.
Matt York / AP
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Adrian Fontes on September 22.
Matt York / AP
Democrat Adrian Fontes, who previously ran elections for Arizona’s largest county, was narrowly elected to oversee voting statewide as secretary of state, according to a poll. race by The Associated Press.
Fontes defeated Republican Mark Finchem, a far-right candidate with ties to extremist group Oath holders, who were present at the US Capitol on January 6, 2021.
Democrats, current and former election officials, and democracy experts made it clear leading up to the election that Finchem’s victory in this no-vote race could lead the state to come in. dark road.
“Democracy as we know it may not exist in Arizona,” warned former President Barack Obama during a pre-election rally for the state’s Democrats.
Race call, arrived late on Friday, making Finchem the latest election denier to be defeated this cycle in the race for secretary of state in a competitive state, following a loss to Republican candidates in the state. MichiganMinnesota and New Mexico.
Mark Finchem on September 22.
Matt York / AP
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Mark Finchem on September 22.
Matt York / AP
Finchem is part of League of the GOP secretaries of state candidates across the country, who all ran for office on the false premise that the current electoral system was corrupt. Finchem, who has the endorsement of former President Donald Trump, has called for an overhaul of voting in Arizona that would limit access.
Finchem criticizes state election administration as the count continues on last Election Day, and alluded to some sort of plot involving Fontes.
But in the end, Fontes, who used to record for Maricopa County, Ariz., won.
Now, as the state’s top voting official, he will be faced with how to fight voter denialism in one heart of the country.
Shortly after the vote ended in 2020 and during the end of Fontes’ term as county scribe, one of the more popular The vote-counting conspiracy, dubbed “The Sharpie Gate,” flourished in Maricopa.
Half a year later, Cyber Ninjas begins widespread discredit “audit” votes there (also confirmed which Biden won).
In an interview with NPR before the vote ended, Fontes said he wouldn’t be shy about spreading misinformation about the vote.
“We’re going to take the gloves off,” Fontes said. “I’m not afraid to criticize those who deny voting because they are liars. …And I also don’t mind letting people know that there are no two sides to this conflict. There is one side. It’s the other. America. The other side is illegal.”
