# 2022 Arizona Secretary of State election

Elections in Arizona :
Federal government
Presidential elections
1912
1916
1920
1924
1928
1932
1936
1940
1944
1948
1952
1956
1960
1964
1968
1972
1976
1980
1984
1988
1992
1996
2000
2004
2008
2012
2016
2020
2024
Presidential primaries
Democratic
2004
2008
2016
2020
2024
Republican
2008
2012
2016
2024
U.S. Senate elections
1912
1914
1916
1920
1922
1926
1928
1932
1934
1938
1940
1944
1946
1950
1952
1956
1958
1962
1964
1968
1970
1974
1976
1980
1982
1986
1988
1992
1994
1998
2000
2004
2006
2010
2012
2016
2018
2020 sp
2022
2024
2028
2030
U.S. House of Representatives elections
1911
1912
1914
1916
1918
1920
1922
1924
1926
1928
1930
1932
1933
AL sp
1934
1936
1938
1940
1942
1944
1946
1948
1950
1952
1954
1956
1958
1960
1961
2nd sp
1962
1964
1966
1968
1970
1972
1974
1976
1978
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1991
2nd sp
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
8th
2008
2010
2012
8th sp
2014
2016
2018
8th sp
2020
2022
2024
2026 :
State government
State elections
2006
2010
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024
Gubernatorial elections
1911
1914
1916
1918
1920
1922
1924
1926
1928
1930
1932
1934
1936
1938
1940
1942
1944
1946
1948
1950
1952
1954
1956
1958
1960
1962
1964
1966
1968
1970
1974
1978
1982
1986
1990
1994
1998
2002
2006
2010
2014
2018
2022
2026
Secretary of State elections
2014
2018
2022
2026
Attorney General elections
2014
2018
2022
2026
Treasurer elections
2022
Superintendent elections
2018
2022
Senate elections
1956
1958
1960
1962
1964
1966
1968
1970
1972
1974
1976
1978
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024
House of Representatives elections
1956
1958
1960
1962
1964
1966
1968
1970
1972
1974
1976
1978
1980
1982
1984
1986
1988
1990
1992
1994
1996
1998
2000
2002
2004
2006
2008
2010
2012
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024 :
Ballot measures
List of Arizona ballot propositions
2000
203
2004
200
2006
107
204
207
2008
102
2010
100
203
2020
207
2024
139 :
Phoenix
Mayoral elections
2011
2015
2018–19 (sp)
2020
2024 :
Tucson
Mayoral elections
1991
1995
1999
2003
2007
2011
2015
2019
2023 :
Other localities
Gilbert
2012
Glendale
2012
2016
Maricopa County
2024
Mesa
2008
2012
2020
2024
Scottsdale
2008
2012 :
vte :
The 2022 Arizona Secretary of State election was held on Tuesday, November 8, to elect the next Secretary of State of Arizona. Incumbent Secretary of State Katie Hobbs declined to run for a second term, to instead run for governor. Primary elections were held on August 2, 2022. Democrat and former Maricopa County recorder Adrian Fontes defeated Republican representative Mark Finchem by 4.8%.
Finchem was backed by the America First Secretary of State Coalition, a Republican group supporting Secretary of State candidates who championed the far-right conspiracy theory that falsely claimed that Donald Trump won the 2020 United States presidential election. Due to a combination of Arizona's role as a swing state in the previous presidential election, Finchem's views, and the role of the Secretary of State in certifying elections, the race took upon an uncharacteristically high national profile.

## Democratic primary
### Candidates
#### Nominee

* Adrian Fontes, former Maricopa County Recorder (2017–2020) and U.S. Marine Corps veteran

#### Eliminated in primary

* Reginald Bolding, minority leader of the Arizona House of Representatives

#### Declined

* Katie Hobbs, incumbent Secretary of State (ran for Governor)

### Debate

2022 Arizona Secretary of State Democratic primary debate :
| No. | Date | Host | Moderator | Link | Democratic | Democratic |
| Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | | |
| Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Reginald Bolding | Adrian Fontes |
| 1 | Apr. 25, 2022 | KAET | Ted Simons | YouTube | P | P |

### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Reginald Bolding | Adrian Fontes | Undecided |
| Lake Research Partners (D) | July 24–26, 2022 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 35% | 30% | 28% |
| OH Predictive Insights (D) | July 2022 | 537 (RV) | ± 4.4% | 29% | 44% | 27% |
| Lake Research Partners (D) | July 2022 | – (LV) | – | 29% | 35% | 36% |
| Public Policy Polling (D) | July 8–9, 2022 | 740 (LV) | ± 3.6% | 18% | 32% | 51% |
| Lake Research Partners (D) | May 2022 | – (LV) | – | 14% | 35% | 51% |
| OH Predictive Insights | September 7–12, 2021 | 283 (RV) | ± 5.8% | 22% | 17% | 61% |

### Results

Democratic primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Adrian Fontes | 302,681 | 52.50% |
| | Democratic | Reginald Bolding | 273,815 | 47.50% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 576,496 | 100.0% |

## Republican primary
### Candidates
#### Nominee

* Mark Finchem, state representative for Arizona's 11th legislative district

#### Eliminated in primary

* Shawnna Bolick, state representative for Arizona's 20th legislative district
* Beau Lane, advertising executive
* Michelle Ugenti-Rita, state senator for Arizona's 23rd legislative district

### Endorsements

U.S. Executive Branch officials
* Donald Trump, 45th President of the United States (2017–2021)
Organizations
* America First Secretary of State Coalition
Statewide officials
* Jan Brewer, former Governor of Arizona (2009–2015) and former Secretary of State of Arizona (2003–2009)
* Doug Ducey, Governor of Arizona (2015–present) and former State Treasurer of Arizona (2011–2015)
* Fife Symington, former Governor of Arizona (1990–1997)
Publications
* Casa Grande Dispatch

### Debate

2022 Arizona Secretary of State Republican primary debate :
| No. | Date | Host | Moderator | Link | Republican | Republican | Republican | Republican |
| Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | | | | |
| Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Shawnna Bolick | Mark Finchem | Beau Lane | Michelle Ugenti-Rita |
| 1 | Jun. 25, 2022 | KAET | Ted Simons | YouTube | P | A | P | P |

### Polling

| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Shawnna Bolick | Mark Finchem | Beau Lane | Michelle Ugenti-Rita | Other | Undecided |
| Rasmussen Reports | July 27–28, 2022 | 710 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 11% | 27% | 16% | 12% | 10% | 25% |
| OH Predictive Insights | July 27, 2022 | 502 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 8% | 32% | 11% | 9% | – | 41% |
| OH Predictive Insights | June 30 – July 2, 2022 | 515 (LV) | ± 4.3% | 3% | 14% | 5% | 6% | – | 72% |
| OH Predictive Insights | April 4–5, 2022 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 3% | 13% | 2% | 9% | – | 74% |
| OH Predictive Insights | September 7–12, 2021 | 311 (RV) | ± 5.6% | 8% | 11% | – | 7% | – | 74% |
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Mark Finchem | Kelly Townsend | Michelle Ugenti-Rita | Other | Undecided |
| HighGround Public Affairs (R) | May 3–5, 2021 | 400 (LV) | ± 4.9% | 5% | 12% | 4% | 8% | 75% |

### Results

Republican primary results :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Mark Finchem | 329,884 | 42.56% |
| | Republican | Beau Lane | 181,058 | 23.36% |
| | Republican | Shawnna Bolick | 149,779 | 19.32% |
| | Republican | Michelle Ugenti-Rita | 114,391 | 14.76% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 775,101 | 100.0% |

## General election
### Debate

2022 Arizona Secretary of State debate :
| No. | Date | Host | Moderator | Link | Democratic | Republican |
| Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | | |
| Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Key: P Participant  A Absent  N Not invited  I Invited W Withdrawn | Adrian Fontes | Mark Finchem |
| 1 | Sep. 22, 2022 | KAET | Ted Simons | YouTube | P | P |

### Predictions

| Source | Ranking | As of |
| Sabato's Crystal Ball | Tossup | November 3, 2022 |
| Elections Daily | Lean D | November 7, 2022 |

### Post-primary endorsements

U.S. Executive Branch officials
* Dennis K. Burke, former United States Attorney for the District of Arizona (2009–2011)
* Marco A. López Jr., former Chief of Staff of U.S. Customs and Border Protection (2009–2011), former Director of the Arizona Department of Commerce (2008–2009), former Mayor of Nogales (2001–2004), candidate for Governor of Arizona in 2022
* Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States (2009–2017)
U.S. Senators
* Dennis DeConcini, former Chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee (1993–1995), former U.S. Senator from Arizona (1977–1995)
U.S. Representatives
* Liz Cheney, U.S. Representative for Wyoming's at-large congressional district (2017–2023) (Republican)
* Raúl Grijalva, Chair of the House Committee on Natural Resources (2019–2023), Co-Chair of the Congressional Progressive Caucus (2009–2019), U.S. Representative from Arizona's 3rd congressional district (2013–2023), former U.S. Representative from Arizona's 7th congressional district (2003–2013)
* Adam Kinzinger, U.S. Representative for Illinois's 16th congressional district (2011–2023) (Republican)
Statewide officials
* Paul K. Charlton, United States Attorney for the District of Arizona (2001–2006)
* Anna Tovar, Member of the Arizona Corporation Commission (2021–present), former Member of the Arizona Senate from the 19th district (2013–2015), former Member of the Arizona House of Representatives from the 13th district (2009–2013)
State legislators
* Sean Bowie, Member of the Arizona Senate from the 18th district (2017–present)
* Heather Carter, Member of the Arizona Senate from the 15th district (2019–2021), former Member of the Arizona House of Representatives (2011–2019) (Republican)
* Andrea Dalessandro, Member of the Arizona House of Representatives from the 2nd district (2013–2014, 2021–present), former Member of the Arizona Senate from the 2nd district (2014–2021)
* Mitzi Epstein, Member of the Arizona House of Representatives from the 18th district (2017–present)
* Steve Farley, Member of the Arizona Senate from the 9th district (2013–2019), former Member of the Arizona House of Representatives from the 28th district (2007–2013)
* Brian Fernandez, Member of the Arizona Senate from the 4th district (2021–present)
* Sally Ann Gonzales, Member of the Arizona Senate from the 3rd district (2019–present), former Member of the Arizona House of Representatives from the 3rd district (2013–2019), former Member of the Arizona House of Representatives from the 27th district (2011–2013), former Member of the Arizona House of Representatives from the 20th district (1997–2001)
* Deb Gullett, Member of the Arizona House of Representatives from the 18th district (2001–2005) (Republican)
* Joel John, Member of the Arizona Senate from the 4th district (2021–present) (Republican)
* Lorenzo Sierra, Member of the Arizona House of Representatives from the 19th district (2019–present)
* Roberta Voss, Member of the Arizona House of Representatives from the 19th district (1997-2003) (Republican)
Local officials
* Steve Gallardo, Member of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors from the 5th district (2015–present), former Member of the Arizona Senate from the 29th district (2013–2015), former Member of the Arizona Senate from the 13th district (2011–2013), former Member of the Arizona House of Representatives from the 13th district (2003–2009)
* John Giles, Mayor of Mesa (2014–present) (Republican)
* Neil Giuliano, Mayor of Tempe (1994–2004)
* Phil Gordon, former Mayor of Phoenix (2004–2012), former Member of the Phoenix City Council (1997–2004)
* Paul Johnson, Mayor of Phoenix (1990–1994) (Independent)
* Regina Romero, Mayor of Tucson (2019–present)
* Rick Romley, County Attorney for Maricopa County (1989–2004, 2010) (Republican)
Individuals
* Don Bivens, former Chair of the Arizona Democratic Party (2009–2011)
Organizations
* End Citizens United
* Equality Arizona
* Everytown for Gun Safety
* Latino Victory
* National Organization for Women
* Stonewall Democrats of Arizona
* VoteVets.org
Labor unions
* AFL–CIO
* American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees
* Communications Workers of America
* International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
* LiUNA Building America
* Teamsters Local 104
* UFCW Local 99
* United Mine Workers of America

### Polling

Graphical summary
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Adrian Fontes (D) | Mark Finchem (R) | Other | Undecided |
| Data Orbital (R) | November 4–6, 2022 | 550 (LV) | ± 4.3% | 47% | 48% | 1% | 4% |
| KAConsulting (R) | November 2–3, 2022 | 501 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 43% | 45% | – | 9% |
| HighGround Inc. | November 1–2, 2022 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 45% | 42% | 2% | 11% |
| Big Data Poll (R) | October 31 – November 2, 2022 | 1,501 (LV) | ± 3.0% | 47% | 47% | – | 6% |
| OH Predictive Insights | October 24–26, 2022 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 48% | 42% | – | 11% |
| Siena College/NYT | October 24–26, 2022 | 604 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 47% | 40% | – | 13% |
| BSP Research/Shaw & Co. | October 19–26, 2022 | 1,000 (RV) | ± 3.1% | 38% | 37% | 5% | 20% |
| Susquehanna Polling & Research (R) | October 14–18, 2022 | 600 (LV) | ± 4.0% | 47% | 42% | 1% | 10% |
| HighGround Inc. | October 12–13, 2022 | 500 (LV) | ± 4.4% | 41% | 42% | 1% | 15% |
| CNN/SSRS | September 26 – October 2, 2022 | 900 (RV) | ± 4.4% | 45% | 44% | 10% | – |
| CNN/SSRS | September 26 – October 2, 2022 | 795 (LV) | ± 4.6% | 45% | 49% | 6% | 1% |
| SurveyUSA (D) | September 27–30, 2022 | 563 (LV) | ± 5.2% | 44% | 41% | – | 15% |
| Global Strategy Group (D) | September 13–20, 2022 | 800 (LV) | ± 3.5% | 46% | 44% | – | 10% |
| The Trafalgar Group (R) | September 14–17, 2022 | 1080 (LV) | ± 2.9% | 41% | 48% | – | 11% |
| OH Predictive Insights | September 6–9, 2022 | 654 (LV) | ± 3.83% | 35% | 40% | – | 25% |
Katie Hobbs vs. Michelle Ugenti-Rita
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Katie Hobbs (D) | Michelle Ugenti-Rita (R) | Undecided |
| OH Predictive Insights | March 8–12, 2021 | 690 (RV) | ± 3.7% | 36% | 30% | 35% |
Generic Democrat vs. generic Republican
| Poll source | Date(s) administered | Sample size | Margin of error | Generic Democrat | Generic Republican | Undecided |
| OH Predictive Insights | September 7–12, 2021 | 882 (RV) | ± 3.3% | 34% | 37% | 28% |

### Results

2022 Arizona Secretary of State election :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Democratic | Adrian Fontes | 1,320,619 | 52.38% | +1.95% |
| | Republican | Mark Finchem | 1,200,411 | 47.62% | −1.94% |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 2,521,030 | 100.0% | |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

#### By county

| County | Adrian Fontes Democratic | Adrian Fontes Democratic | Mark Finchem Republican | Mark Finchem Republican | Write-in | Write-in | Margin | Margin | Total votes |
| County | # | % | # | % | # | % | # | % | Total votes |
| Apache | 17,476 | 66.57 | 8,776 | 33.43 | 5 | 0.02 | 8,700 | 33.14 | 26,614 |
| Cochise | 19,402 | 41.97 | 26,827 | 58.03 | 48 | 0.10 | -7,425 | -16.06 | 46,666 |
| Coconino | 34,482 | 64.15 | 19,270 | 35.85 | 40 | 0.07 | 14,212 | 28.30 | 54,727 |
| Gila | 8,176 | 36.70 | 14,103 | 63.30 | 13 | 0.06 | -5,927 | -26.6 | 22,450 |
| Graham | 3,246 | 30.27 | 7,478 | 69.73 | 0 | 0.00 | -4,232 | -39.46 | 10,847 |
| Greenlee | 978 | 40.63 | 1,429 | 59.37 | 0 | 0.00 | -451 | -18.74 | 2,446 |
| La Paz | 1,736 | 31.89 | 3,708 | 68.11 | 6 | 0.11 | -1,972 | -36.22 | 5,499 |
| Maricopa | 813,492 | 53.67 | 702,376 | 46.33 | 469 | 0.03 | 111,116 | 7.34 | 1,543,535 |
| Mohave | 20,901 | 26.05 | 59,320 | 73.95 | 16 | 0.02 | -38,419 | -47.90 | 81,510 |
| Navajo | 18,701 | 46.77 | 21,280 | 53.23 | 13 | 0.03 | -2,579 | -6.46 | 40,411 |
| Pima | 244,349 | 61.86 | 150,680 | 38.14 | 121 | 0.03 | 93,669 | 23.72 | 398,553 |
| Pinal | 62,618 | 44.00 | 79,696 | 56.00 | 34 | 0.02 | -17,078 | -12.00 | 143,826 |
| Santa Cruz | 9,181 | 70.14 | 3,909 | 29.86 | 4 | 0.03 | 5,272 | 40.28 | 13,099 |
| Yavapai | 45,876 | 37.59 | 76,162 | 62.41 | 43 | 0.03 | -30,286 | -24.82 | 123,191 |
| Yuma | 20,005 | 44.06 | 25,397 | 55.94 | 8 | 0.02 | -5,392 | -11.88 | 46,111 |
| Totals | 1,320,619 | 52.38 | 1,200,411 | 47.62 | 820 | 0.03 | 17,117 | 0.67 | 2,559,485 |

#### By congressional district

Fontes won five out of nine congressional districts, including two that elected Republicans.
| District | Fontes | Finchem | Representative |
| 1st | 54% | 46% | David Schweikert |
| 2nd | 47% | 53% | Tom O'Halleran (117th Congress) |
| 2nd | 47% | 53% | Eli Crane (118th Congress) |
| 3rd | 78% | 22% | Ruben Gallego |
| 4th | 59% | 41% | Greg Stanton |
| 5th | 45% | 55% | Andy Biggs |
| 6th | 54% | 46% | Ann Kirkpatrick (117th Congress) |
| 6th | 54% | 46% | Juan Ciscomani (118th Congress) |
| 7th | 68% | 32% | Raúl Grijalva |
| 8th | 47% | 53% | Debbie Lesko |
| 9th | 38% | 62% | Paul Gosar |

### Post-election legal challenge

In December 2022, Mark Finchem filed a lawsuit petitioning for the election to be "nullified and redone"; the lawsuit was dismissed with prejudice that month by Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Melissa Julian, confirming Adrian Fontes' victory in the election. While Finchem alleged that voting machines in Arizona were not properly certified, the judge rejected this, because the Election Assistance Commission did not vote to revoke certification, which is the procedure under federal law, so the judge rejected the merits of Finchem's arguments on voting machines certification. The judge also rejected the merits of Finchem's arguments on voting software certification. Next, regarding Finchem's issues with tabulating machines and a website listing for an estimated number of votes, the judge concluded that Finchem "does not allege that any of the votes cast were actually illegal" and does not allege that any legal vote was not counted, but only alleged "suspicions that some votes may not have been counted", so the judge rejected this argument as insufficient to overturn an election.
Then, the judge rejected Finchem's allegations of "misconduct" by Secretary of State Katie Hobbs as insufficient. Finchem argued that Hobbs should have recused after her gubernatorial opponent Kari Lake "perceived a conflict of interest", with the judge responding that this were "not well-pled facts; they are legal conclusions masquerading as alleged facts", and legal conclusions unsupported by Arizona law. Regarding Hobbs' actions in telling Mohave County and Cochise County to certify their election by the November 28 deadline, the judge stated that it was Hobbs' responsibility "to ensure the canvass and certification of a general election is completed within the statutorily prescribed timeframes", and that it was not misconduct for her "to communicate with other governing bodies to ensure" thus. Finally, the judge rejected Finchem's protest over his allegation that Twitter suspended his account in October 2022 as irrelevant because Twitter is not an "election official".
Finchem appealed the rejection of his election challenge, then abandoned the appeal in July 2023, with his lawyer citing other failed 2022 election challenging lawsuits in Arizona.