The Troubling Rise of Election Skeptics in Power: A Case Study in Arizona
There’s something deeply unsettling about the recent GOP primary victory of Alexander Kolodin in Arizona. On the surface, it’s just another political headline—a state representative securing his party’s nomination for secretary of state. But dig a little deeper, and what emerges is a troubling pattern that should concern anyone who values the integrity of democracy.
The Man Who Would Oversee Elections He Doesn’t Trust
Kolodin isn’t just any candidate. He’s built his political brand on questioning the legitimacy of elections he didn’t like. Personally, I find this ironic—and more than a little alarming. Here’s a man who has led lawsuits to overturn the 2020 and 2022 election results in Arizona, earning rebukes from judges and even the state bar association. Now, he’s poised to become the state’s chief election officer. It’s like appointing a pyromaniac as the head of the fire department.
What makes this particularly fascinating is the cognitive dissonance at play. Kolodin claims Arizona voters crave transparency in elections. Yet, his own actions suggest a willingness to undermine the very system he’s supposed to protect. In my opinion, this isn’t about transparency—it’s about control. By demanding more observers at polling stations, he’s playing into a narrative of distrust, one that could easily be weaponized to challenge future results that don’t go his way.
The Bigger Picture: A National Trend of Election Denial
Kolodin’s rise isn’t an isolated incident. It’s part of a broader, deeply troubling trend in American politics. Across the country, election skeptics are running for—and sometimes winning—positions that give them direct oversight of the electoral process. This isn’t just about one state or one candidate; it’s about the erosion of trust in the very foundation of our democracy.
One thing that immediately stands out is the support Kolodin has received from groups like Turning Point USA and several Arizona GOP members of Congress. This isn’t a fringe movement—it’s a mainstream push within the Republican Party. What this really suggests is that election denial has become a litmus test for loyalty in certain circles. That’s a dangerous precedent, especially in a battleground state like Arizona, where the margin between victory and defeat is often razor-thin.
The Incumbent’s Challenge: Adrian Fontes and the Fight for Legitimacy
On the other side of the aisle is Adrian Fontes, Arizona’s current Democratic secretary of state. Fontes has been vocal about the threats posed by election denial, particularly in the wake of the 2020 election. What many people don’t realize is that Fontes oversaw the 2024 election in Arizona, which Donald Trump won. This fact alone should put to rest any claims that Fontes is biased against Republicans. Yet, here we are, with Kolodin painting him as the enemy of transparency.
From my perspective, Fontes represents the last line of defense against the normalization of election denial. His re-election bid isn’t just about keeping his job—it’s about preserving the legitimacy of Arizona’s elections. If Kolodin wins in November, it could embolden similar candidates nationwide, creating a domino effect that undermines public confidence in democracy itself.
What’s at Stake: The Future of American Elections
If you take a step back and think about it, the stakes here couldn’t be higher. The secretary of state’s role in Arizona includes certifying election results, voting devices, and ballot measures. In Kolodin’s hands, these responsibilities could become tools for political manipulation rather than impartial administration.
A detail that I find especially interesting is Kolodin’s insistence that voters lack confidence in their elections. While it’s true that trust in the electoral process has declined in recent years, much of that erosion can be traced back to the very narratives Kolodin and his allies have been pushing. It’s a self-fulfilling prophecy: sow doubt, then point to that doubt as justification for further intervention.
Final Thoughts: A Democracy at the Crossroads
The Kolodin-Fontes race isn’t just a local election—it’s a microcosm of the larger battle for the soul of American democracy. Personally, I think this race will be a bellwether for the 2028 presidential campaign. If Kolodin wins, it could signal a green light for election skeptics to challenge results they don’t like, regardless of the evidence.
This raises a deeper question: What happens when the people tasked with safeguarding our elections are the ones questioning their legitimacy? The answer, I fear, is a democracy in peril. As we watch this race unfold, let’s not forget what’s truly at stake—the very idea that elections should be free, fair, and beyond reproach.
