Far-Right Conspiracy Theorist Mark Finchem Wins GOP Primary For Arizona Secretary Of State

Pro-Trump state Rep. Mark Finchem won the Arizona GOP nomination for secretary of state, which is the position in charge of elections.

Finchem, a former far-right Oath Keepers member identifier, is a strong believer in 2020 election fraud.

If he goes on to beat out the Democratic challenger, he has said he will move to ban early voting and restrict mail-in ballots. Finchem also co-sponsored a bill that would allow the state legislature to overturn election results.

Arizona has proved to be a key battleground state. Former President Donald Trump won the state in 2016, but President Joe Biden flipped it blue in 2020 for the first time since Bill Clinton did it in 1996.

Before that, Arizona hadn’t voted for a Democratic candidate for the White House since President Harry S. Truman. Trump, who has hinted but not officially announced another presidential bid, seems to be making an effort to get officials elected that would support election fraud conspiracies.

If Finchem would have been in office in 2020, “We would have won. Plain and simple,” he assured his supporters in May.

“[Finchem] is the kind of fighter we need to turn Arizona and our Country around,” Trump’s July endorsement of Finchem read. “Mark is tough, strong, and he loves his State. He will bring Integrity back to our Elections … He has my Complete and Total Endorsement — he will not let you down!”

His most competitive Republican challenger, advertising executive Beau Lane, was endorsed by term-limited Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey (R). Finchem recently alleged that Lane was a “Democrat plant.”