Trump gives endorsement in Arizona secretary of state race

Former President Trump endorsed Arizona state Rep. Mark Finchem (R) on Monday for Arizona’s top election official, secretary of state. Thus, giving his influential endorsement to a state lawmaker who was present for the Jan. 6 insurrection and who is a crucial supporter of his voter fraud claims, to oversee the Grand Canyon State’s elections. Finchem is currently running against at least three other Republicans in the GOP primary, while Marine veteran Adrian Fontes and state Rep. Reginald Bolding are running in the Democratic primary. The Democratic incumbent Katie Hobbs, the current Democratic secretary of state, runs for the open governor’s seat in Arizona in 2022.

Democrats recently pushed unsuccessfully to expel Finchem from the House earlier this year after footage was uncovered in June where he was photographed outside the Capitol during the Jan. 6 insurrection. Pro-Trump rioters forced their way into the building, disrupting the certification of President Joe Biden’s victory. Finchem has stated he was only in the area to speak at a permitted rally. He remained 500 yards away and did not know the Capitol had been breached until hours later.

In a statement distributed by the former president’s leadership PAC endorsing Finchem, Trump specifically cited Finchem’s backing of his election fraud claims and touted the state lawmaker as a supporter of his agenda. “Mark was willing to say what few others had the courage to say. In addition to his incredibly powerful stance on the massive Voter Fraud that took place in the 2020 Presidential Election Scam, he is strong on Crime, Borders, our currently under siege Second Amendment, and loves our Military and our Vets.” Trump stated. In response to the former president’s endorsement, Finchem tweeted, “Thank you, President Trump for your endorsement. You are leading the way on restoring election integrity. I am truly honored to be recognized for the hard work I put in and will continue to do to restore the integrity of our elections.” Trump’s endorsement of Tucson-area Rep. Mark Finchem is anticipated to be pivotal in the crowded Republican primary for Arizona secretary of state.