Kolodin wins GOP primary for AZ secretary

Arizona Republican voters nominated state Rep. Alexander Kolodin for secretary of state, defeating former party chair Gina Swoboda and setting up a November contest against Democratic incumbent Adrian Fontes. With about 65% of ballots counted, Kolodin led 58.2% to 41.8%, and his campaign has framed him as already performing the role, citing wins on election-law issues and a push for identity verification for voters. He authored the Arizona Secure Elections Act, a constitutional amendment that would impose government-issued ID for each ballot, limit foreign influence in elections, add a citizen-only voting requirement, and allow in-person tabulation at polling places. Fontes, who won the office in 2022, has reported strong fundraising and cash on hand, contrasting with Kolodin’s lower haul. Kolodin’s history includes years of challenging election results in 2020 and 2022 through lawsuits, drawing rebukes from judges and the state bar, while Swoboda has positioned herself as a more administrative alternative with experience in the Secretary of State’s Office. The race highlights deep partisan tensions over election integrity in a pivotal battleground state during a 2028 election cycle.