Arizona Rep. Shawnna Bolick announces run for secretary of state

PHOENIX — Another Republican has entered the race to become Arizona’s next secretary of state.

Rep. Shawnna Bolick announced her candidacy Monday, saying she was running “to make the office work for all Arizonans again” and secure elections.

She was the seventh candidate to announce a run to become Arizona’s top elections official and the fifth Republican.

“It’s time for a secretary of state who goes to work for you and does the job you sent them to do,” Bolick said. “You need to have confidence in your elections again.”

Bolick, whose district covers parts of Phoenix and Peoria, has been in office since 2019 and has been a vocal proponent for restoring election integrity.

She called out Secretary of State Katie Hobbs in her announcement, saying the Democrat’s “failure in leadership” and “partisan posturing” has led to distrust in elections.

Bolick said more than half the voters believe cheating affected the outcome of the 2020 election. No evidence of widespread fraud has been found.

“I’m ready to do the job Arizonans deserve and restore confidence again in the secretary of state,” Bolick said. “You can trust that I will check my political agenda – but not my principles – at the door.”

Bolick joins a Republican side that includes Sen. Michelle Ugenti-Rita and fellow Rep. Mark Finchem.

Former Maricopa County Recorder Adrian Fontes and Reginald Bolding, House minority leader, highlight the Democratic candidates.

Hobbs, the state’s 20th secretary of state, is running for governor.

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