Alexander Kolodin, an Arizona attorney and Republican, has emerged as a prominent figure in state politics by championing efforts to challenge the 2020 presidential election results and is now the GOP nominee for Arizona secretary of state. If elected, Kolodin would oversee Arizona’s elections during the 2028 cycle, a critical period when the state is expected to be a key battleground in presidential and Senate races.
Kolodin’s rise began amid the 2020 election controversy in Arizona, where he filed lawsuits alleging that the use of Sharpie markers on ballots caused voting irregularities. Despite investigations by the Arizona Republican Party and election officials finding no evidence that Sharpies invalidated ballots, Kolodin pursued legal challenges demanding that voters who used these markers be allowed to vote again. These suits, as well as subsequent broader challenges claiming “massive election fraud,” were dismissed in court and resulted in sanctions from the Arizona State Bar, including 18 months of probation and mandated legal ethics courses.
Before this, Kolodin had mounted a largely self-funded run for a state Senate seat in 2020, which he lost badly. However, his involvement in post-election litigation and affinity for former President Donald Trump’s claims of election fraud elevated his profile within the GOP base and conservative circles. He was subsequently elected to the Arizona House of Representatives in 2022, representing a Scottsdale district. In the legislature, he has gained a reputation for pushing ultraconservative policies, often clashing with both Republican and Democratic colleagues. Notably, some GOP leaders sought to remove him from committees due to his combative style and legislative behavior.
Kolodin’s tenure has been marked by controversial positions, including support for repealing bans on certain firearms and opposition to legislation criminalizing impersonation of veterans, which he argued could criminalize political speech. He has also promoted election reforms aimed at tightening mail-in ballot rules, including requiring voter ID for mail ballots, though critics question the feasibility and necessity of such measures. Efforts to negotiate bipartisan election reforms with Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs have faltered, with Kolodin’s unwillingness to compromise cited as a key factor.
His legal work includes representing parties involved in a high-profile audit of the 2020 Maricopa County ballots and defending individuals who falsely claimed to be Arizona’s presidential electors in 2020. The Arizona GOP’s insurance premiums reportedly surged after Kolodin argued that the party’s liability policy should cover these electors' legal costs, a move made without party leadership’s prior knowledge.
Kolodin is one of several Republican candidates in battleground states who have questioned aspects of the 2020 election, joining figures like Nevada’s secretary of state nominee Jim Marchant and Michigan’s GOP secretary of state nominee Anthony Forlini. Some Republicans express concern that nominating candidates aligned with unfounded claims of election fraud has repeatedly hurt the party’s prospects in statewide races.
When directly asked whether he denies the 2020 election results or considers himself an “election denier,” Kolodin has denied the label, stressing his record on election issues and emphasizing that Joe Biden won the presidency according to Congress. However, his refusal to clearly acknowledge who won Arizona’s 2020 vote has drawn criticism and scrutiny.
As Kolodin campaigns on "election integrity," promising stronger security and restored voter confidence, his candidacy highlights ongoing tensions within the Arizona GOP between mainstream Republicans and those aligned with Trump-era election skepticism. Observers note that his potential election as secretary of state would represent a historic moment as the first person who actively sought to overturn certified election results gains control over state elections.