Democratic Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes announced he is not running for Congress.
Democratic Congressman Raúl Grijalva died earlier this month and a special election will be held on July 15 to elect his successor.
Fontes said on March 18 that he was “strongly considering” a run for Grijalva’s seat, but on Wednesday he said he won’t.
Fontes cited a recent executive order from President Donald Trump on election reform.
“With this week’s executive order from the Trump administration, I firmly believe the president is laying the groundwork to cancel elections in 2026,” Fontes said in a statement.
He said the Trump administration weakened confidence in elections by falsely claiming that the president’s 2020 loss was rigged and perpetuating similar claims on behalf of other Republicans.
“It is in my view an attempt to erode confidence so much that he [Trump] will be able to declare some kind of emergency or something and potentially just cancel the elections in 2026. I don’t think that is beyond what this administration is capable of,” Fontes said.
As the state’s highest-ranking elections official, Fontes says he’s decided to stay in his role.
How does the executive order affect Arizona?
One of the most important sections of Trump’s order is a section requiring documentary proof of citizenship to vote in federal elections.
The legality of the order is under debate.
An ongoing Arizona lawsuit (Mi Familia Vota v. Fontes) over documentary proof of citizenship as a requirement to vote in federal elections made it all the way to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
Voting rights groups argued that federal law prohibits elections officials from requiring voters to submit documentary proof of citizenship in federal elections, although it can be required to vote in state and local elections.
Currently, Arizona is rejecting new state registration forms without documentary proof of citizenship.
Fontes said Trump’s order could have a “significant impact” on the case. In terms of how the state can respond, he said he’s in conversations with Democratic Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes.
Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen (R-Gilbert) said he recently asked U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to alter the federal administration’s position in that case from what it was under the Biden administration. Though nothing was promised, Petersen said his conversations were encouraging.
Who is running?
Seven people have filed statements of interest to run for the 7th Congressional District seat and more have announced that they’re running.
Former state representative Daniel Hernandez Jr announced on Monday that he is running for the seat.
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