Arizona Republican nominates election denier for secretary of state

Alexander Kolodin won the Republican primary for Arizona secretary of state on Tuesday. He beat Gina Swoboda, a more moderate candidate who had worked in the secretary of state's office under both parties.

Kolodin is a state representative and lawyer with an Ivy League education. He has repeatedly claimed, without evidence, that the 2020 presidential election was fraudulent. He also represented clients who legally challenged election results in 2020 and 2022.

The secretary of state oversees Arizona's elections, as well as campaign finance records. Kolodin will now face Democratic incumbent Adrian Fontes in November. Fontes won his seat in 2022 by about four points, defeating another Republican who had questioned the 2020 election result.