Hearings have been held in various Arizona courtrooms over lawsuits filed by three GOP candidates who lost their races for statewide offices during the November election.
Judge Melissa Julian granted Secretary of State Katie Hobbs' motion to dismiss the election contest, with prejudice, and confirmed the election of Fontes as Secretary of State-elect.
Mark Finchem, who was defeated by Democrat Adrian Fontes in the Arizona Secretary of State election, filed the lawsuit with an aim for the judge to overturn the results, and over a special election with hand-count of ballots and no mail-in ballots. A judge has now dismissed the lawsuit with prejudice, meaning it can't be filed again.
A Maricopa County Court Superior Judge rejected Mark Finchem’s attempt to overturn his election loss by more than 120,000 votes, ruling Friday that opened the door for possible sanctions against the Republican’s attorney.