The Associated Press called the Republican primary for secretary of state for Rep. Alex Kolodin on Tuesday night, setting up a November clash with Democratic incumbent Adrian Fontes. Early votes put Kolodin ahead of Gina Swoboda 60% to 40%, according to Arizona Capitol Times, which noted the race was called 17 minutes after the first results posted.
The stakes are immediate. Arizona is filling four-year executive terms this cycle, and the secretary of state contest will shape how the state runs and recounts elections in 2026. With razor-thin margins already cropping up in legislative primaries that could trigger automatic recounts, county election staff face the prospect of a long, exacting canvas before general-election pressure even begins.
Arizona Capitol Times described Kolodin as a regular disputer of prior election results and identified him as the sponsor of the Arizona Secure Elections Act, an effort it says seeks to place Florida-style elections on the 2026 ballot. In a statement after his win, Kolodin said voters “spoke up decisively for lawful, transparent, honest, and fair elections” and alleged Fontes’ “mismanagement” of the system. Swoboda conceded in a post on X, writing, “Our people have spoken.” Fontes ran unopposed. Separately, Arizona Mirror labeled Kolodin a far-right lawmaker and attorney who backed former President Donald Trump’s evidence-free fraud claims.
Another marquee statewide race tightened. State Treasurer Kimberly Yee led Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne by 6 points after early results, per Arizona Capitol Times. The paper reported Yee entered after Arizona Freedom Caucus chair Sen. Jake Hoffman cast Horne as “the single greatest threat to school choice,” and that she faulted Horne’s performance on academics and management of Empowerment Scholarship Accounts. Horne campaigned against critical race theory and DEI. He said Yee served on a DEI committee, a claim Yee disputed through a cease and desist. If Yee’s lead holds, she would face Democrat Teresa Leyba Ruiz, who took 80% in her primary.
Down the ballot, the Republican treasurer primary tilted toward Elijah Norton, who led Katherine Haley 56% to 44% by Wednesday morning, Arizona Capitol Times reported. Norton emphasized business and party finance experience, while Haley leaned on public service, including chairing the State Board of Education and private-sector investment work. The outlet noted Yee recruited Haley, while Norton received support from Turning Point USA.
The Corporation Commission Republican primary remained tight for the second nomination. Incumbent Kevin Thompson led with 36% of the vote, while his running mate trailed state Rep. Ralph Heap by less than 2 percentage points, Arizona Capitol Times reported. Democrats Clara Pratte and Jonothon Hill advanced unopposed to the general election.
Power at the Legislature is on a knife’s edge. Arizona Capitol Times reported Republicans can only afford to lose one Senate seat and two House seats to keep control. Several primaries were too close to call. In LD3’s GOP House race, appointed Rep. Cody Reim led former Fountain Hills Mayor Jay Schlum by 0.56 percentage points as of Wednesday morning, with George Khalaf topping the field at just under 34% and Thomas Walsh at 13%. With the top two advancing and an automatic recount at a half-point margin, that contest could tighten further.
