Secretary Fontes addresses possible changes to 2026 midterm elections

While on former FBI director Dan Bongino’s podcast, President Donald Trump announced he wants Republicans to “take over the voting” in 15 states in order to “nationalize” the 2026 midterm elections.

President Trump’s comments raise concerns he may try to interfere in ways that would benefit the Republican Party, which would defy the U.S. Constitution. President Trump did not say which states he had in mind, nor did he explain what he meant by “nationalizing the voting.” However, he claimed these actions are necessary for the GOP to seize control because “people were brought to our country to vote, and they vote illegally.”

These plans could impact Arizona’s midterm election if the state is included in those 15 states. One of the seats on the Arizona election ballot will be for Secretary of State.

Currently, two Republicans have filed paperwork to run for Secretary of State, Representative Alexander Kolodin and Arizona GOP Chairwoman Gina Swoboda. Chairwoman Swoboda previously filed to run for a House seat, but her campaign has raised little money. Chairwoman Swoboda has also been endorsed by President Trump. Running against them as a Democrat and the incumbent is Secretary of State Adrian Fontes.

Secretary Fontes joined “Arizona Horizon” to discuss President Trump’s comments on nationalizing voting and Chairwoman Swoboda’s bid for Secretary of State.

“At this stage, kind of disappointed that there are so many people that are going along with what he (Trump) says,” Secretary Fontes said. “There should be a human cry from every corner, particularly constitutional originalists. This should really offend their sensibilities.”

After recent comments made by President Trump, Secretary Fontes emphasized the President has plenty of influence over a group of people whom he mentioned that he should not have.

“Leadership matters in this country,” Secretary Fontes explained, adding he’s “the leader, duly elected, and he needs to start acting like it.”

Back in 2022, President Trump had stated, regarding the 2020 election, that “a massive fraud of this type and magnitude allows for the termination of all rules, regulations and articles, even those found in the Constitution.”

“Well, it raises the hair on the back of my neck because those are the words of a dictator, not a duly elected President in a democracy where the people are supposed to hold the power,” Secretary Fontes said. “What he’s saying is the notion of due process and the rule of law can be suspended based on the opinion of somebody; that’s not how we do this.”

Secretary Fontes also broke news today on “Arizona Horizon.” He told host Ted Simons that his office has identified 25 cases of alleged voter fraud where people voted in multiple states in violation of the law. Secretary Fontes said he has referred the cases to Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes for potential prosecution.