Court Rejects Failed Arizona Republican Attorney General Candidate’s Request for a Second Trial
WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Friday, July 14, an Arizona judge rejected failed attorney general candidate and election denier Abe Hamadeh’s (R) motion for a new trial in his previously dismissed election contest.
In December 2022, the same judge tossed out Hamadeh’s election contest, which was also backed by two Arizona voters and the Republican National Committee (RNC), after holding a trial on the Republicans’ claims of erroneously counted ballots and election board misconduct, wrongful exclusion of provisional ballots, inaccurate ballot duplications and improper electronic ballot adjudication.
Despite the December ruling, the results of a mandatory state-wide recount confirming Democrat Kris Mayes’ victory and Mayes officially taking office on Jan. 2, 2023, Hamadeh, voters and the RNC filed a motion for a new trial on Jan. 3. Today, an Arizona court ruled that there will not be another trial in this case.
Hamadeh and the RNC argued that “evidence will undoubtedly prove: Abe Hamadeh, not Kris Mayes, received the most votes for attorney general when every qualified vote is accurately counted.” The court rejected this argument after reviewing “the record in this case and consider[ing] the argument of counsel, the applicable case law and statutes, the Arizona constitution and all evidence presented.” Friday’s order is a victory for Arizona voters as this eight-month long election contest finally comes to a close.
In a statement released on Friday, Hamadeh continued to cast doubt on the results of the election and vowed to take the election contest to the Arizona Supreme Court.