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Adrian Fontes on his 'dangerous' opponent and what's next for the Secretary of State's Office

By Lauren Gilger
Published: Monday, December 19, 2022 - 12:20pm
Updated: Tuesday, December 20, 2022 - 8:25am

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Adrian Fontes
Jean Clare Sarmiento/KJZZ
Adrian Fontes

The race for Arizona secretary of state was at the center of the local and national debate over democracy in the 2022 election.

Former Maricopa County Recorder and Democrat Adrian Fontes was up against Trump-endorsed Republican Mark Finchem, an avowed Oath Keeper who was present at the capitol on Jan. 6.

Fontes won that race, and by a wider margin than most Democrats in Arizona — nearly 53% to 47%.

Fontes shaped his campaign around his opponent and protecting elections in our state. Finchem’s legal challenge to Fontes’ win was dismissed last week.

The race spurred Fontes into the national spotlight in a way he had never experienced before. He has been all over cable news in recent months and was on the cover on Time Magazine’s September issue alongside both Democrats and Republicans fighting to "save America’s elections."

The Show sat down with him recently to talk more about it and how he plans to tackle his new office.

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