Democrat Adrian Fontes holds lead over Mark Finchem for Arizona secretary of state

PHOENIX — Democrat Adrian Fontes’ lead has again swelled over Republican Mark Finchem in the race for Arizona secretary of state.

Fontes had a 52.7%-47.3% lead around 8 p.m. on Thursday, according to the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office.

Finchem trailed behind Fontes by 109,244 votes.

The winner will replace current Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, who made a run to become the next governor of Arizona.

Both candidates campaigned on a platform of election security, although their messages were very different.

Fontes, the former Maricopa County recorder who oversaw the 2020 election, assured voters that election systems are safe and secure.

Fontes is an attorney and former Marine who ran primary ads saying he would protect voting rights for all Arizonans and that election deniers like Finchem were making a full-fledged attack on democracy.

Finchem has asserted that the results of the 2020 election, which saw Joe Biden defeat Donald Trump in Arizona, are not legitimate despite offering no proof.

Finchem said he would not have certified the 2020 results in two of Arizona’s 15 counties because he said they were “irredeemably compromised.”

Also, Finchem was at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, although he did not enter the grounds.

He acknowledged that he’s been interviewed by the Department of Justice and the congressional panel investigating the insurrection at the Capitol.

Finchem said he was there to deliver evidence to members of Congress so they could object to certifying President Joe Biden’s win.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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