By Emmanuel Bobby
President Donald Trump’s call to “nationalize” elections and his continued false claims of widespread voter fraud are becoming central issues in secretary of state races across key battleground states this year. Democratic candidates in Arizona, Georgia, Michigan and Nevada are highlighting Trump’s comments and recent actions by his administration—such as lawsuits over voter rolls and an FBI raid on an election hub—as part of a broader effort to frame themselves as defenders of election integrity.
Republican candidates in these races have largely aligned with Trump’s aggressive stance and repeated claims that the 2020 election was stolen. Four years ago, similar races drew national attention amid concerns that election-denying candidates could influence the 2024 presidential contest. Now, Democrats argue the stakes are even higher with Trump back in power.
Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, seeking re-election, accused the president and his allies of spreading misinformation about elections while holding powerful positions. His Republican challenger, state Rep. Alexander Kolodin, previously supported Trump’s alternative electors in 2020 and joined lawsuits challenging Arizona’s results.
In Georgia, the secretary of state race has intensified after an FBI search of an election hub in Fulton County tied to the 2020 election. The Democratic primary includes Fulton County Commissioner Dana Barrett, former TV judge Penny Brown Reynolds, and voting rights activist Adrian Consonery. On the Republican side, Gabriel Sterling has opposed a federal takeover of elections, while Trump ally Vernon Jones has backed claims of election fraud. Other Republican candidates, Tim Fleming and Kelvin King, have also questioned the 2020 results, though King opposed nationalizing elections and emphasized state-level accountability.
In Michigan, Democratic Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson is running for governor, with Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist and Ingham County Clerk Barbara Byrum seeking to succeed her while warning that Trump and his allies pose a threat to democracy. Republican contenders include Macomb County Clerk Anthony Forlini, who has focused on allegations of noncitizen voting, and Monica Yatooma, who said she fully agrees with Trump’s election stance.
In Nevada, Republican Sharron Angle is challenging Democratic Secretary of State Cisco Aguilar. Angle previously sued to block certification of Biden’s 2020 victory and has pledged to enforce Trump-backed election policies. Aguilar has framed the election debate as a civil rights issue and warned that secretary of state races in 2026 could shape the 2028 presidential election.
Candidates aligned with Trump’s election claims performed poorly in swing states four years ago, with Fontes, Benson and Aguilar defeating opponents who focused on fraud allegations. However, analysts warn that election denial narratives are now more powerful than before, especially with Trump controlling federal levers of power.
Experts say the 2026 races will be critical, as secretaries of state play a central role in administering elections, making these contests a key battleground in the broader fight over the future of U.S. democracy.
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