Full Breakdown
Alexander Kolodin Wins Arizona GOP Primary for Secretary of State
7/22/2026, 8:59:09 AM
Core Event
State Representative Alexander Kolodin secured the Republican nomination for Arizona secretary of state, defeating former state GOP chair Gina Swoboda. He will face incumbent Democrat Adrian Fontes in the November general election.
Background & Context
Kolodin, an attorney and legislator from Scottsdale, has repeatedly questioned the outcomes of the 2020 and 2022 elections. He led multiple lawsuits seeking to overturn Arizona’s results, actions that led to censure by the State Bar of Arizona and rebukes from judges.
The 2020 contest made Arizona a focal point for election denialism after former President Donald Trump claimed a victory that official tallies disproved. Subsequent audits by state Senate Republicans confirmed President Joe Biden’s win.
In 2023 Kolodin backed legislation allowing counties to hand-count ballots rather than rely on machines; Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed the bill. Kolodin’s campaign is supported by the conservative nonprofit Turning Point USA and other hard-right groups. Swoboda, a former Democrat turned Republican, previously chaired the Arizona Republican Party and worked for the Voter Reference Foundation, an organization criticized for its methodology.
Data & Statistics
- In the 2022 secretary-of-state race, Adrian Fontes defeated Republican Mark Finchem by roughly four percentage points, an unusually large margin for an open statewide seat.
- In the same cycle, Governor Katie Hobbs beat Trump-aligned candidate Kari Lake by about 0.7 percentage points (? 17,000 votes).
Official Statements & Responses
During a joint PBS interview, Kolodin argued that Arizona voters need greater transparency and more observers at polling places, saying the current administration is not providing that.
Fontes, who administered the 2024 Arizona election, has publicly criticized efforts by Trump and his allies to cast doubt on election results, emphasizing the legitimacy of the 2020 outcome.
Criticism & Opposition
- The State Bar of Arizona censured Kolodin for pursuing election challenges in bad faith.
- Critics warn that Kolodin’s proposed voter-ID requirement for mail ballots could undermine Arizona’s widely used mail-voting system.
- Democratic officials, including Governor Hobbs, opposed Kolodin’s hand-count legislation, citing concerns about election security and efficiency.
Verbatim Quotes
- “They are not getting that from Adrian Fontes; they will get that from me,” — Rep. Alexander Kolodin, state GOP chair
What’s Next
Kolodin will appear on the November ballot opposite Adrian Fontes. The secretary-of-state race is expected to attract national attention as Arizona remains a pivotal battleground state in the upcoming 2028 presidential election.
