During the conversation, Fontes will talk about growing up in Nogales, Arizona, and his time as a student at ASU, attending law school in Denver as well as his time in the military, which all led him to one of the top public offices in Arizona.

Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes to speak at ASU event

He later earned a bachelor's degree in communication from ASU and then a law degree from the University of Denver.

Adrian Fontes grew up in Nogales, Arizona. He earned a bachelor's degree in communication from Arizona State University and a law degree from the University of Denver.

Before attending college, Fontes served active duty in the United States Marine Corps from 1992 to 1996 and was nominated for a meritorious commission, which marks an individual’s outstanding service in the United States Armed Forces.

After graduating from law school he served as a prosecutor with the Denver District Attorney.

Later he returned to Arizona as a prosecutor for the Maricopa County Attorney’s office and went on to lead the International Prosecution Unit at the Arizona Attorney General’s Office.

Adrian Fontes previously led the International Prosecution Unit at the Arizona Attorney General’s Office after working as a prosecutor for the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office and the Denver District Attorney. He served active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1992 to 1996.

He decided to run for office in 2016 after 15 years of practicing law and was elected the Maricopa County recorder.

Democrat Adrian Fontes, a lawyer and former county recorder who has spent years championing the state’s voting system, is seeking a second term as secretary of state in this November’s election.

Arizona secretary of state race, 2026

Fontes stepped into his position as secretary of state after one term as a top election official in Maricopa County, the state’s most populous voting jurisdiction. There, in his then-little-known position, he presided over the 2020 election — and was unexpectedly launched into the white-hot political spotlight amid efforts by Trump and his allies to overturn the results of that year’s presidential contest.

Adrian currently serves as Arizona secretary of state. He was elected Maricopa County recorder in 2016 and served one term.

Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes cuts staff, citing tight budget

Adrian currently serves as the Arizona Secretary of State. He was elected Maricopa County Recorder in 2016 and served one term.

2026 Arizona General Election

When the federal government illegally demanded private voter data, Adrian fought them in court and won. Fontes has proven we can trust him to stand up to both parties to defend free and fair elections.

What Arizona Voters Need to Know - Re-Elect Adrian Fontes for Secretary of State

Adrian is a Marine veteran and former prosecutor who has served as Secretary of State for the last four years, where he’s enforced Arizona’s voter ID law, defended vote-by-mail, and battled partisan extremists who want to corrupt our elections.

If elected to a second term, Fontes said he would fight for money to build and implement a new statewide voter registration database. The state’s contract for AVID, he said, is at the end of its life and the system itself is unwieldy.

If elected to a second term, Fontes said he would fight for money to build and implement a new statewide voter registration database. The state’s contract for AVID, he said, is at the end of its life and the system itself is unwieldy. He said the state needs a system that will allow officials to “more easily make adjustments” as state law shifts.

And he intends to again push for the Voters First Act, a series of election changes supported by legislative Democrats. The legislation would require all counties to use vote centers and count early ballots accidentally returned to the wrong jurisdiction, create a new election IT and cybersecurity fund, allow state and county officials to accept privately funded grants supporting elections, and more.

The bill will introduce 10 key points that represent a comprehensive election modernization and voter protection framework:

Reduce Lines & Ensure Your Legal Vote Is Counted

1. Use vote centers statewide.

2. Restore the “Permanent Early Vote List” (PEVL).

3. Extend early voting though 5pm on the Monday before the election.

4. Count early ballots accidently returned to the wrong county.

5. Allow the collection and processing of ballots continuously on Election Day.

Secretary Fontes and Legislative Leaders Introduce the “Voters First Act” | Arizona Secretary of State

Election Security & Infrastructure

1. Modernize the 75-Foot Voter Protection Zone for drop boxes and voting locations.

2. Mandate Electronic Registration Information Center (ERIC) participation to ensure accurate voter registration lists (With Funding).

3. Provide Election IT & Cybersecurity Funding (Create a new special line item of no less than $1M in the SOS budget to support IT and cybersecurity programs).

Voter Communications & Transparency

1. Provide Early Ballot Tracking & Curing Notifications (Require counties to send automated early-ballot tracking and curing updates via text/email with funding).

Provide Adequate Election Funding

1. Allow the SOS and counties to accept privately funded grants supporting elections, voter education, and innovative programs as previously allowed and utilized by countless other government agencies.

When it comes to who is in charge of elections, Fontes made it clear that the role of the federal government in elections is very limited by the Constitution.
“It is a time, place and manner duty of the states, and Congress has a role. The administration does not have a role,” Fontes said. “The limited role that the executive branch has really is only to complement what the states and Congress allow.”

Arizona Secretary of State candidates - Arizona PBS

Says he successfully challenged a federal demand for private voter data in court.

Says he has enforced Arizona's voter-identification law and defended vote-by-mail as secretary of state.

Plans to seek funding for a new statewide voter-registration database that can more easily accommodate changes in state law.

Advocates for the Voters First Act, including statewide vote centers and restoration of the Permanent Early Vote List.

Advocates for the Voters First Act to extend early voting, count early ballots returned to the wrong county, and allow continuous Election Day ballot processing.

Advocates for the Voters First Act to require Electronic Registration Information Center participation and provide at least $1 million for election information technology and cybersecurity.

Advocates for the Voters First Act to require counties to send funded text or email early-ballot tracking and curing updates.

Advocates for allowing the secretary of state and counties to accept private grants for elections, voter education, and innovative programs.

Said states and Congress, rather than the federal executive branch, have the principal constitutional roles in administering elections.

- Says he successfully challenged a federal demand for private voter data in court.
- Says he has enforced Arizona's voter-identification law and defended vote-by-mail as secretary of state.
- Plans to seek funding for a new statewide voter-registration database that can more easily accommodate changes in state law.
- Advocates for the Voters First Act, including statewide vote centers and restoration of the Permanent Early Vote List.
- Advocates for the Voters First Act to extend early voting, count early ballots returned to the wrong county, and allow continuous Election Day ballot processing.
- Advocates for the Voters First Act to require Electronic Registration Information Center participation and provide at least $1 million for election information technology and cybersecurity.
- Advocates for the Voters First Act to require counties to send funded text or email early-ballot tracking and curing updates.
- Advocates for allowing the secretary of state and counties to accept private grants for elections, voter education, and innovative programs.
- Said states and Congress, rather than the federal executive branch, have the principal constitutional roles in administering elections.

Voting & Elections

Adrian is helping Arizona businesses by cutting red tape and reducing wait times for critical services.

Says he is cutting red tape and reducing wait times for business services.

Says he is "cutting red tape" and reducing wait times for business services.

- Says he is "cutting red tape" and reducing wait times for business services.

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Adrian Fontes

- Plans to seek funding for a new statewide voter-registration database that can more easily accommodate changes in state law.
- Advocates for the Voters First Act, including statewide vote centers and restoration of the Permanent Early Vote List.
- Advocates for the Voters First Act to extend early voting, count early ballots returned to the wrong county, and allow continuous Election Day ballot processing.
- Advocates for the Voters First Act to require Electronic Registration Information Center participation and provide at least $1 million for election information technology and cybersecurity.
- Advocates for the Voters First Act to require counties to send funded text or email early-ballot tracking and curing updates.
- Advocates for allowing the secretary of state and counties to accept private grants for elections, voter education, and innovative programs.
- Said states and Congress, rather than the federal executive branch, have the principal constitutional roles in administering elections.