Adrian Fontes
22nd Secretary of State of Arizona
Assumed office
January 2, 2023
GovernorKatie Hobbs
Preceded byKatie Hobbs
County Recorder of Maricopa County
In office
January 1, 2017 – January 1, 2021
Preceded byHelen Purcell
Succeeded byStephen Richer
Personal details
Born (1970-04-03) April 3, 1970
Political partyDemocratic
Children3[1]
EducationArizona State University (BA)
University of Denver (JD)
Military service
Allegiance United States
Branch/service United States Marine Corps
Years of service1992–1996

Adrian Fontes (born April 3, 1970)[2][3] is an American politician, election official, veteran, and attorney. A member of the Democratic Party, he has served as the Secretary of State of Arizona since 2023,[4] after defeating Republican nominee Mark Finchem in 2022.[5] Fontes previously served as the Maricopa County Recorder from 2017 to 2021.

Early life and career

Fontes was raised in Nogales, Arizona.[6][7] His family has lived in southern Arizona for more than 300 years, even before Arizona became a state.[7] Fontes served in the United States Marine Corps from 1992 to 1996, where he taught a marksmanship course.[8][9][10][7] He earned his bachelor's degree in Communications from Arizona State University in 1998.[11] When he returned, he attended the Sturm College of Law at the University of Denver and graduated in 2000 with a Juris Doctor degree.[8]

Fontes has served as a prosecutor with the Denver District Attorney's Office, Maricopa County Attorney's Office and the Arizona Attorney General's Office,[12] and as an attorney in private practice.[13]

Maricopa County Recorder (2017–2021)

Elections

2016

Fontes ran for Maricopa County Recorder against 28-year incumbent Helen Purcell.[14] Fontes announced his candidacy the day after Maricopa County's 2016 presidential preference election, which was perceived by some as having been mismanaged by Purcell due to the reduction in the number of polling places in the county, causing long lines that stretched for blocks and left some voters waiting for hours.[15] Latino community leaders raised concerns about voter suppression when areas with predominantly Latino populations had one or no polling places open during Arizona's presidential preference election.[7] On October 27, 2016, the Arizona Republic newspaper endorsed Fontes.[16] On November 14, 2016, Purcell conceded the race.[14] Fontes was the first Democrat to be elected Maricopa County Recorder in over 50 years.[14][17]

2018

In 2018, as part of an organized effort by the GOP to raise suspicions about voter fraud, the Arizona GOP commissioned attorney Stephen Richer to conduct an "independent audit," which aired baseless and unsubstantiated insinuations about Soros and Fontes. [18]

2020

Fontes ran for re-election in 2020, losing by less than 5,000 votes to Republican candidate Stephen Richer.[6][10] Once Stephen Richer won the 2020 election, he backpedaled and distanced himself from the Soros and Fontes voter fraud conspiracies he spread while campaigning against Fontes. [19]

Tenure

As Maricopa County Recorder, Fontes piloted the use of vote centers, where any voter in the county could cast a ballot regardless of precinct.[6][20] In the November 2018 election, Maricopa County operated 40 vote centers.[21][22] Fontes also expanded early voting options in Maricopa County.[23]

Fontes in 2017

As the County Recorder, Fontes oversaw the counting of ballots in Maricopa County's elections in 2020.[9] While the ballots were being counted in the Maricopa County Recorder's Office, protesters gathered outside over the course of several days, including conspiracy theorist Alex Jones.[9] Fontes worried that there would be an invasion into the building, and met with sheriff's department and other law-enforcement agencies about establishing a secure perimeter around the building where Fontes' staff was counting ballots but was determined there was no real threat.[9] Due to the unrest Maricopa County Recorder's Office, Fontes and his family packed "go-bags" in case they needed to leave their home on short notice, found back-up housing, and his children evacuated for several days.[9] Fontes has claimed that Jake Angeli, the "QAnon Shaman," was one of the protestors at the Recorders Office.[9] After the 2020 election, Fontes joined Pima County Recorder-elect Gabriella Cázares-Kelly's transition team as an interim chief deputy recorder after losing his re-election.[23]

Criticism of 2021 Maricopa County election audit

Fontes was a vocal critic of the Maricopa County election audit.[24] On July 28, 2021, Fontes was one of several politicians, experts and election officials who spoke about voter suppression, subversion, and election worker intimidation and who testified before the United States Congress Committee on House Administration.[25][26] Fontes testified: "I strongly support legislative efforts to protect election officials in Arizona and across the country from harassment, intimidation, threats and political interference, so that they can safely perform their duties to serve voters and protect election integrity."[25]

Arizona Secretary of State (2023–present)

On July 6, 2021, Fontes announced his candidacy for the 2022 Arizona Secretary of State election.[6] On August 4, 2022, Fontes was declared the winner of the Democratic primary.[10] Fontes received 52.5% of the vote, while his opponent Reginald Bolding received 47.5%.[27] Fontes faced Republican party nominee, Arizona Representative Mark Finchem in the general election.[10] Finchem had contended without evidence that Maricopa County’s 2020 election was tainted by fraud, backed the state Senate’s discredited review of the election done by the state Senate and was part of a lawsuit which attempted to block the use of vote counting machines in state elections.[10] Fontes defeated Finchem in the November 8 general election.[28]

Electoral history

Maricopa County Recorder

2016

Maricopa County Recorder general election, 2016[29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Adrian Fontes 704,916 50.53%
Republican Helen Purcell (incumbent) 690,088 49.47%
Majority 14,828 1.06%
Democratic gain from Republican Swing

2020

Maricopa County Recorder Democratic primary election, 2020[29]
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Adrian Fontes 359,527 100%
Majority 359,527 100%
Maricopa County Recorder general election, 2020[29]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Republican Stephen Richer 944,953 50.1% +0.63%
Democratic Adrian Fontes (incumbent) 940,354 49.8% −0.73%
Write-in 1,570 0.1%
Majority 4,599 0.3%
Republican gain from Democratic Swing

Arizona Secretary of State

2022

Arizona Secretary of State Democratic primary election, 2022
Party Candidate Votes %
Democratic Adrian Fontes 276,436 52.7%
Democratic Reginald Bolding 248,271 47.3%
Majority 524,707 5.4%
Arizona Secretary of State election, 2022[30]
Party Candidate Votes % ±%
Democratic Adrian Fontes 1,320,618 52.4% +2.0%
Republican Mark Finchem 1,200,411 47.6% −2.0%
Majority 120,207 4.8% +4.0%
Turnout 2,592,312 62.56% −0.21%
Democratic hold Swing

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Meet Adrian Fontes". ElectFontes. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  2. ↑ Dunham, Torrence (July 27, 2022). "Democratic Arizona SoS Candidate Adrian Fontes Wants to Restore Confidence in Elections". KTAR. Retrieved August 1, 2022.
  3. ↑ @Adrian_Fontes (April 4, 2022). "17yo sips tea w/o pinky out" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  4. ↑ "Adrian Fontes". Ballotpedia. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  5. ↑ "Adrian Fontes wins secretary of state race in Arizona". PBS NewsHour. November 12, 2022. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Oxford, Andrew (July 6, 2021). "Former Maricopa County Recorder Adrian Fontes wants to be Arizona's next secretary of state". AZ Central. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  7. 1 2 3 4 Nevarez, Griselda (November 18, 2016). "Newly elected Arizona Latino pledges to fix voting issues, access". NBC News. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  8. 1 2 Fifield, Jen (September 30, 2020). "County recorder hopeful wants to make running elections 'boring again'; incumbent pushes for voter access". AZ Central. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Kroll, Andy (January 6, 2022). "They Helped Save Democracy – and Are Being Tormented for It". Rolling Stone. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 Christie, Bob (August 5, 2022). "Democrat Adrian Fontes wins Arizona secretary of state race". Associated Press. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  11. ↑ Waiss, Alexis (September 12, 2021). "Adrian Fontes gives young voters a call to action". The State Press. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  12. ↑ Fifield, Jen (September 30, 2020). "County recorder hopeful wants to make running elections 'boring again'; incumbent pushes for voter access". AZ Central. Retrieved November 12, 2022.
  13. ↑ Mikelionis, Lukas (November 10, 2018). "Election official in Arizona's Senate dispute represented figure in 'Fast and Furious' arms scandal". Fox News. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  14. 1 2 3 Sanders, Rebekah L. (November 14, 2016). "Helen Purcell concedes Maricopa County recorder race to Adrian Fontes, pledges her assistance". AZ Central. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  15. ↑ Duda, Jeremy. "Adrian Fontes leads GOP challenger in recorder's race". Arizona Mirror. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  16. ↑ "Our View: Adrian Fontes would raise the bar on Maricopa County elections". AZ Central. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  17. ↑ Sanders, Rebekah L. (November 15, 2016). "Q&A: Maricopa County Recorder-elect Adrian Fontes pledges 'more voter-centric office'". AZ Central. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  18. ↑ "'Independent audit' lawyer challenging Fontes for recorder • Arizona Mirror".
  19. ↑ "Adrian Fontes and Stephen Richer, once political foes, talked potential Arizona election reforms". February 9, 2023.
  20. ↑ Fifield, Jen (November 12, 2020). "Stephen Richer unseats Maricopa County Recorder Adrian Fontes for key election post". AZ Central. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  21. ↑ Boehm, Jessica; Fifield, Jen (September 7, 2018). "Maricopa County Recorder Adrian Fontes answers some questions about election issues". AZ Central. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  22. ↑ Berg, Rebecca (August 28, 2018). "Arizona polls to close on time after Election Day snafu | CNN Politics". CNN. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  23. 1 2 Silversmith, Shondiin (December 10, 2020). "Adrian Fontes, outgoing Maricopa County recorder, takes a job with Pima County recorder". AZ Central. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  24. ↑ Estrada, Melissa (November 1, 2021). "Who is running for Arizona secretary of state? These are the major candidates in the race". AZ Central. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  25. 1 2 Ryan, Jill (July 28, 2021). "Former Maricopa County Recorder Fontes Testifies Before House Committee About Election Worker Intimidation And Voter Subversion". KJZZ. Retrieved March 8, 2022.
  26. ↑ Panetta, Grace (July 29, 2021). "Arizona and Michigan election officials plead with Congress for protection against mounting threats and harassment: 'We need your help'". Business Insider. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  27. ↑ "Arizona Secretary of State Live Election Results 2022 – NBC News". NBC News. Retrieved August 31, 2022.
  28. ↑ Corasaniti, Nick (November 11, 2022). "Fontes Defeats Finchem, Vocal Election Denier, for Arizona Secretary of State". The New York Times. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  29. 1 2 3 "2022 General Election Results". Ballotpedia. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
  30. ↑ "2022 General Election Results". Arizona Secretary of State. Retrieved November 24, 2022.
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