Abe Hamadeh, Republican candidate for attorney general/Photo. Gage Sizemore
By Tara Kavaler | Arizona Republic
Former President Donald Trump’s role as the decider in Republican primaries and elections is getting tested this year in states across the country, including Arizona.
While Trump has made endorsements in two of the top state races in Arizona, he has yet to do so for any the attorney general candidates seeking the GOP nomination in the state’s Aug. 2 primary.
Several candidates hope that he does, though only one said he is actively seeking Trump’s endorsement.
Part of the appeal to the former president, both here and across the country, is a loyalty test of how strongly a candidate will back the false claim that Trump won the presidential election.
Outgoing Attorney General Mark Brnovich’s has received Trump’s wrath in the aftermath of the election, even as he now tries to win over the Trump base through a widely criticized investigation of the Maricopa County election.
For Republican voters in Arizona, the extent to which the candidates for attorney general show fealty to Trump could decide the race. Given that, The Arizona Republic asked each candidate whether they are seeking Trump’s endorsement, and whether they believe Joe Biden won Arizona in the presidential election.
Only one candidate, Abe Hamadeh, gave directs answer to both questions. Three others responded, but did not answer both directly. One contender declined to answer and another did not respond to repeated requests for comment.
Reasons for Trump to Endorse AG
The attorney general is one of three elected officials who has a role in certifying election results, among other election-related duties, and Trump already picked his favored candidates for the other two races.
He has endorsed Kari Lake, a former local TV anchor, for governor, and state Rep. Mark Finchem for secretary of state. Both candidates have falsely declared that Trump won the 2020 election and are heavily touting Trump’s backing.
Given the attorney general’s prosecutorial powers for election fraud and other issues, some see it as logical for Trump to weigh in.
“Trump has already endorsed for governor and secretary of state, but in reality, for what he wants, attorney general is maybe even more important. He believes that there was fraud in the last election, so I don’t know why he wouldn’t endorse in that campaign,” Barrett Marson, a Valley-based GOP consultant, told The Republic.
The presumed Democratic nominee for attorney general is Kris Mayes. She has criticized Brnovich’s handling of alleged voting fraud, as he has stepped back from his initially firm position that Trump lost Arizona.
Role of attorney general in elections
Terry Goddard, a Democrat and former Arizona attorney general from 2003 to 2011, noted the attorney general’s pertinent role in elections, such as certifying results and approving language on things like ballot propositions.
For the certification of elections, the secretary of state, attorney general and governor form a committee to validate the results.
Another responsibility of the attorney general is prosecuting wrongdoing in elections.
“The AG has the authority over elections officials if there is reason to believe that there’s been wrongdoing,” Goddard said.
