TED: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO THIS AZ VOTES 2026 "CANDIDATES IN CONVERSATION."

A SPECIAL EDITION OF "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

TONIGHT, WE FEATURE A CONVERSATION BETWEEN CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR ARIZONA SECRETARY OF STATE.

SECRETARY OF STATE IS CONSIDERED ARIZONA'S CHIEF ELECTIONS OFFICER, WITH ELECTION ADMINISTRATION AMONG THE OFFICE'S MOST NOTABLE RESPONSIBILITIES.

NOW OUR "CANDIDATES IN CONVERSATION" IS NOT A FORMAL DEBATE, IT'S AN OPEN EXCHANGE OF IDEAS, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR GIVE AND TAKE FOR ONE OF THE STATE'S MOST IMPORTANT OFFICES.

AS SUCH, INTERRUPTIONS AND INTERJECTION ARE ALLOWED PROVIDED BOTH SIDES GET A FAIR SHAKE.

WE'LL MAKE SURE IT HAPPENS.

JOINING US IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER, DEMOCRAT ADRIAN FONTES, INCUMBENT SECRETARY OF STATE, AND REPUBLICAN ALEXANDER KOLODIN, MEMBER OF THE ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU BOTH HERE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

APPRECIATE IT.

ADRIAN, WE START WITH YOU, HERE.

>> SURE.

TED: LET'S GET RIGHT TO IT.

ARE ARIZONA ELECTIONS SAFE AND SECURE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THEY'VE BEEN SAFE AND SECURE FOR A LONG TIME, BUT FOR THE MISINFORMATION AND LIES THAT WE'VE SEEN FROM FOLKS WITHOUT ANY EVIDENCE WHATSOEVER, MAKING FALSE ACCUSATIONS ABOUT THOSE RETIRED TEACHERS AND VETERANS WHO WORK HARD EVERY YEAR TO MAKE SURE THAT THOSE ELECTIONS RUN WELL.

THE COUNTY OFFICIALS WHO GO THROUGH TRAININGS AND CERTIFICATIONS, THE FOLKS ALL OVER ARIZONA WHO WORK HARD FOR ARIZONA'S VOTERS.

WE HAD GREAT ELECTIONS AND HAD A LOT OF LIES ABOUT OUR ELECTIONS, THAT ARE REALLY THE CAUSE OF SO MANY OF THE PROBLEMS AND ISSUES.

YOU KNOW, PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO VOTING BY MAY.

WE'VE HEARD FOLKS SAY IT'S NOT SAFE OR WHAT NOT, BUT INTERESTINGLY COMES FROM THE SAME POLITICAL PARTY THAT NOT ONLY CREATED VOTE BY MAIL BUT PROMOTED WITH VOTE BY MAIL SO MANY YEARS IN A ROW.

WHICH IS THE HEIGHT OF IRONY IN MY MIND.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE KEEP OUR ELECTIONS TRANSPARENT AND ACCOUNTABLE AND LOOK BACK AT THE LAST SEVERAL ELECTIONS TO SEE OUTCOMES BE DARNED, WE'VE HAD GREAT ELECTIONS IN ARIZONA AND WILL CONTINUE TO DO SO AS LONG AS I'M THE SECRETARY OF STATE.

TED: ALEX, ARE ARIZONA ELECTIONS SAFE AND SECURE?

>> NO DOUBT THAT KOFFS IN OUR ELECTIONS IN ARIZONA IS AT AN ALL-TIME LOW, AND THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT RESTS SQUARELY ON THE SHOULDERS OF SECRETARY FONTES.

HE HAS A TRACK RECORD OF FLOUTING THE LAW IN HIS CAPACITY AS SECRETARY OF STATE.

JUST THIS PAST MONTH, MULTIPLE COURTS RULED HE INTENTIONALLY TRIED TO MISLEAD VOTERS WITH THE DESCRIPTION HE WAS GOING TO PUT IN FRONT OF THEM OF WHAT THEY'RE VOTING ON IN NOVEMBER.

HE'S HAD HIS ELECTIONS SYSTEMS HACKED MULTIPLE TIMES BUT MANAGES TO FIND MONEY TO RUN ADS PROMOTING HIS CANDIDACY DURING THE WORLD CUP.

THIS IS A SECRETARY OF STATE WHO THE PEOPLE OF THE GREAT STATE OF ARIZONA CANNOT HAVE CONFIDENCE IN.

WHEN I'M SECRETARY OF STATE, WE'RE GOING TO RESTORE ELECTIONS THAT ARE LAWFUL, SECURE, TRANSPARENT AND HONEST, AND THEN PEOPLE ARE GOING TO HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THE GREATEST ELECTION SYSTEM ON EARTH ONCE AGAIN.

>> LET'S CORRECT THE RECORD REAL QUICK.

TED: PLEASE.

>> NOBLE PREDICTIVE RELEASED NUMBERS INDICATING THAT CONFIDENCE IN OUR ELECTION IS ACTUALLY UP BY 12% SINCE 2021.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE MR.

KOLODIN IS GETTING HIS ALL-TIME LOW STUFF FROM, IT SOUNDS LIKE THE OBFUSCATION AND SNEAKY RHETORIC WE'VE HEARD OVER THE YEARS FROM KOLODIN.

WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THE SPACE HE OPERATES FROM.

ONLY ONE PERSON FOUND GUILTY OF LYING BY THE ARIZONA SUPREME COURT, IT WASN'T YOU AND WASN'T ME, AND THE SAME PERSON HAD TO TAKE ETHICS CLASSES TO LEARN HOW TO ACTUALLY DO THINGS TRUTHFULLY.

NEITHER YOU NOR I HAD TO DO THAT.

MR.

KOLODIN HAS A HABIT OF BLOWING THINGS OUT OF PROPORTION FOR HIS OWN ENDS, WHICH INCLUDE GRIFTING ON THE BIG LIE.

HE'S DONE IT YEAR IN AND YEAR OUT AS A SELF-PROCLAIMED ELECTION LAWYER, HE'S HAPPY TO TOUT THE FEW WINS OVER POLICY DECISIONS BUT DOESN'T MENTION THE VAST TAXPAYERS DOLLARS HE'S CONTRIBUTED TO ELECTION DENIALISM.

>> THAT'S NOT TRUE.

FIRST OF ALL, WHEN I BEAT YOU IN THE SUPREME COURT, MR.

FONTES.

>> THE SAME COURT THAT FOUND YOU TO LIE?

>> THAT'S NOT TRUE.

YOU WERE TRYING TO GIVE INSTRUCTION TO ARIZONA VOTERS THAT WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN POTENTIAL DISENFRANCHISEMENT HE FOUND.

>> ARIZONA REPUBLICAN INTEGRITY ALLIANCE -- BUT I WASN'T DONE.

>> THE THING I'D LIKE THE VOTERS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT, AND WE WILL DO OUR BEST IN THE CASES.

TED: WE GET A CHANCE TO RESPOND TO WHAT HE SAYS, PLEASE.

>> ANOTHER COURT, A FEDERAL COURT FOUND THAT YOU TRIED TO DISENFRANCHISE POTENTIALLY MILLIONS OF ARIZONA VOTERS, THE FEDERAL JUDGE COMPARED WHAT YOU DID IN YOUR ELECTIONS PROCEDURES MANUAL TO MAKING A NUCLEAR WEAPON, THAT YOU WERE GOING TO USE AGAINST ARIZONA VOTERS.

IF YOU WANT TO TALK ABOUT WHAT THE COURTS SAID, YOU HAVE A LONG AND SURLY RECORD.

TED: PLEASE.

>> THE VOTERS OF ARIZONA UNDERSTAND HOW THE ELECTIONS WORK, UNDERSTAND HOW TO VOTE.

AND ONE OF MY PROUDEST MOMENTS WAS PRESIDING OVER THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE IN 2024.

MY CANDIDATE WASN'T THE WINNER.

THAT'S NOT WHAT'S IMPORTANT WHEN YOU DO YOUR DUTY THE WAY I DO.

THERE ARE POLICY DISAGREEMENTS AND THE COURTS HAVE TO RULE IN OUR FAVOR OR NOT IN OUR FAVOR.

BOTTOM LINE IS THIS -- WHEN WE LOOK AT THE MISINFORMATION, MISCASTING AND FLAT-OUT GUILTY OF LYING THAT WE HAVE HERE WITH US RIGHT NOW, WE CAN'T TRUST WHAT MR.

KOLODIN IS SAYING, AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE IT'S A MATTER OF RECORD.

YOU WERE SANCTIONED BY THE SUPREME COURT FOR LYING.

YOU LIED IN OUR FILINGS, AND AFTER THE 2020 ELECTION, IN YOUR KRAKEN LAWSUITS.

YOU WERE ONE OF THE FOLKS THE ARCHITECT OF THE BIG LIE IN ARIZONA.

YOU ARE THE ONE WHO CAUSED THE MISINFORMATION AND DISTRUST, YOU'RE LIKE THE ARSONIST WHO CAUSES THE FIRE AND SAYS YOU'RE GOING TO COME IN AND CURE THINGS.

THIS IS THE PROBLEM WE'VE GOT, TED.

SOME FOLKS THINK THEY CAN CAUSE PROBLEMS AND TRY TO CAPITALIZE ON THEM LATER.

VOTERS KNOW HOW GOOD OUR ELECTIONS ARE, AND THAT'S WHY THEY KEEP VOTING.

TED: BACK TO MY ORIGINAL QUESTION WHICH I DON'T THINK YOU ANSWERED, ARE ARIZONA ELECTIONS SAFE AND SECURE?

>> CONFIDENCE IN -- TED: NOT CONFIDENCE, SIR, ARE THEY SAFE AND SECURE?

>> CONFIDENCE IN ARIZONA'S ELECTIONS IS AT AN ALL-TIME LOW, IN PART BECAUSE MR.

FONTES IS IN FRONT OF THE UNITED STATES SUPREME COURT, RIGHT NOW, WORKING TO DISMANTLE OUR COMMONSENSE PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP REQUIREMENTS FOR VOTING.

HE SAID HE HAD NO OBJECTION TO THE RELIEF THAT THESE RADICAL NGOs WERE SEEKING, WHEN THEY LOOK TO OVERTURN OUR PROOF IN CITIZENSHIP VOTING LAWS.

THAT'S NOT SECURITY, TED, AND THAT'S NOT WHAT MR.

FONTES IS GIVING US.

HE'S A RADICAL.

HE'S FAR OUTSIDE THE MAINSTREAM.

NOW, I'VE MADE MY BONES.

I'VE MADE MY POLITICAL CAREER SOLVING PROBLEMS.

I'VE WORKED WITH DEMOCRATS IN THE LEGISLATURE AND DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR AND CHALLENGING CIRCUMSTANCES OF DIVIDED GOVERNMENT TO PROTECT ARIZONA VOTERS.

WHEN AN ACT OF CONGRESS THREATENED TO DISENFRANCHISE ALL MEMBERS OF THE MILITARY, IN THE 2020 PRIMARY, I AUTHORRED AND GOT PASSED A BILL THAT FIXED THAT PROBLEM.

WHEN FOLKS IN CALIFORNIA WERE TRYING TO SIPHON OFF OUR EMERGENCY WATER SUPPLY FOR CORPORATE INTERESTS, I WORKED ACROSS PARTY LINES TO STOP THAT BILL.

I HAVE A DOCUMENTED TRACK RECORD OF SOLVING PROBLEMS.

MR.

FONTES HAS A TRACK RECORD OF CAUSING THEM YOU.

>> STILL HAVE NOT ANSWERED THE QUESTION, I ASSUME FROM THE RESPONSE, DO YOU NOT THINK ARIZONA ELECTIONS ARE SAFE AND SECURITY.

JUST A SIMPLE QUESTION, I WANT TO GET AN ANSWER FROM YOU.

>> TED, I LACK CONFIDENCE IN MR.

FONTES FOR THE REASONS I HAVE SET FORTH.

MR.

FONTES HAS FLOUTED THE LAW FROM THE BEGINNING OF HIS TIME AS SECRETARY OF STATE.

HE'S BEEN STRUCK DOWN IN HIS DECISIONS BY NUMEROUS COURTS, JUST THIS PAST MONTH, NUMEROUS COURTS SAID HE INTENTIONALLY LIED TO VOTERS ABOUT WHAT'S ON THE BALLOT.

HE'S WORKING TO DISMANTLE OUR PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP.

>> ARIZONA ELECTIONS ARE SAFE AND SECURE BECAUSE THEY'RE RUN BY ARIZONANS, RUN BY COUNTY RECORDERS, RUN BY BOARDS OF SUPERVISORS AND ELECTIONS DIRECTORS.

THEY ARE RUN BY FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS CHECKING I.D.

'S AT POLLING PLACES, VERIFYING COUNTIES, THIS IS ARIZONA ELECTIONS RUN BY ARIZONANS.

NOW, AGAIN, POLICY DECISIONS AND LEGAL RULINGS NOTWITHSTANDING, OUR ELECTIONS ARE SAFE AND SECURE BECAUSE ARIZONA RUNS ARIZONA'S ELECTIONS, AND THE CHIEF ELECTION OFFICER MAKES SURE THAT EVERYTHING IS WORKING WELL, BUT IT'S A CLEAR PERSONAL ATTACK THAT WE'RE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY HE WON'T ANSWER THAT QUESTION.

APPARENTLY, MR.

KOLODIN DOESN'T HAVE FAITH IN THE ARIZONANS WHO RUN OUR ELECTIONS.

HE APPARENTLY DOESN'T HAVE FAITH IN THOSE RETIRED TEACHERS AND VETERANS WHO DO THE HARD WORK, IT'S NOT SURPRISING BECAUSE ALL HE'S EVER DONE IS COMPLAIN AND COMPLAIN AND SUE AND SUE AND SUE AS IF IT IS A SPORT.

THIS IS SERIOUS BUSINESS WE'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN, THAT I'VE BEEN INVOLVED IN FOR TEN YEARS, AND ARIZONANS KNOW MY TRACK RECORD OF INTEGRITY AND HONOR AND HELPING VOTERS, NOT HELPING CONSPIRACY THEORIES.

>> I NEED TO RESPOND TO THAT.

MR.

FONTES MAKES A BIG DEAL ABOUT ARIZONA ELECTIONS BEING RUN LOCALLY BY ARIZONA VOTERS.

HE'S TRYING TO TAKE THAT AWAY.

WHEN PINAL COUNTY WANTED TO KEEP THE PRECINCT SYSTEM, HE SUED THEM TO FORCE THEM TO GET RID OF THE METHOD OF VOTING THEIR COMMUNITY LIKED, THAT THEIR COMMUNITY HAD CONFIDENCE IN.

THAT'S NOT TRUE.

IF WE HAD A SECRETARY OF STATE WHO WOULD FOLLOW THE LAW AND MAKE SURE THAT THE LOCAL PEOPLE AND LOCAL COMMUNITIES WERE REALLY RUNNING THEIR ELECTIONS, I WOULD AGREE WITH MR.

FONTES, HE'S DONE EVERYTHING POSSIBLE IN HIS POWER TO STOP THAT FROM HAPPENING.

>> AGAIN, MISCHARACTERIZATIONS AND OBFUSCATION, WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT OTHER THINGS.

>> THIS DOVETAILS, WHO SHOULD BE IN CHARGE OF ELECTIONS?

THE STATE OR THE FEDERAL?

THE PRESIDENT WANTS THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE TO HAVE THESE STATES, CITIZEN LISTS THAT POSTAL CARRIERS AND POST OFFICES AND DHS WOULD CHECK OFF AND MAKE SURE THE BALLOTS -- THAT IS A FEDERAL FUNCTION, WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE THAT IN ARIZONA?

>> LOOK, TED.

MY OPPONENT LIKES TO MAKE A BIG DEAL ABOUT STUFF -- >> WHAT DO YOU WANT?

STOP TALKING ABOUT ME, WHAT DO YOU WANT?

.

>> HE LIKES TO MAKE A BIG DEAL OF STUFF OUTSIDE OF HIS PURVIEW.

THE SECRETARY OF STATE DOESN'T RUN THE POSTAL SERVICE.

WHAT HE DOESN'T LIKE TO DO IS FOCUS ON HIS ACTUAL JOB.

FOR EXAMPLE, HE SAYS THE SECRETARY OF STATE IS THERE TO MAKE SURE EVERYTHING IS DONE RIGHT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL, THAT'S NOT WHAT HE'S BEEN DOING.

WHEN I HAD CLIENTS THAT ASKED YOU FOR RECORDS OF YOUR COMPLIANCE WITH STATE AND FEDERAL LAWS REGARDING VOTER LIST MAINTENANCE, YOUR RESPONSIBILITY TO OVERSEE, YOU REPLIED BACK THAT DID YOU NOT HAVE ANY.

I HAD NO RECORDS OF PERFORMING YOUR PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITY, MR.

FONTES.

THAT IS NOT HOW THE SECRETARY OF STATE SHOULD CONDUCT HIMSELF.

TED: DOES MAIL-IN VOTING LEAD TO FRAUGHT?

>> THERE ARE WAYS TO HAVE A SAFE MAIL-IN VOTING SYSTEM WHEN WE HAVE A SECRETARY OF STATE THAT WILL FOLLOW THE LAW.

MR.

FONTES HAS REPEATEDLY REFUSED TO DO THAT, WITH RESPECT TO OUR MAIL-IN VOTING SYSTEM.

HE ILLEGALLY COUNTED 300,000 BALLOTS IN THE 2020 PRIMARY, AND YOU HAD TO BE STOPPED BY ATTORNEY GENERAL MARK BRNOVICH.

>> LET ME ANSWER THE OTHER TWO QUESTIONS REALLY QUICKLY.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ONLY HAS A ROLE AS PROSCRIBED WHEN IT COMES TO THE ELECTION, IT HAS A TIME AND DUTY IN MANNER OF THE STATES AND CONGRESS HAS A ROLE.

THE ADMINISTRATION DOES NOT HAVE A ROLE.

IT'S BLACK AND WHITE IN THE CONSTITUTION ITSELF.

LIMITED ROLE THAT THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH HAS REALLY IS ONLY TO COMPLEMENT WHAT THE STATES AND CONGRESS ALLOW.

NOW, AS TO THE REST OF WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE, WHAT WE SEE IS AN INDIVIDUAL IN MR.

KOLODIN WHO WOULD HAVE TOTALLY SURRENDERED ALL THE PERSONAL IDENTIFYING INFORMATION OF ALL OF OUR VOTERS AND I STOOD UP TO PROTECT THE SAFETY AND PRIVACY OF ARIZONANS.

THAT'S CRITICAL BECAUSE NOT ONLY DOES STATE LAW DISALLOW THAT AND MAKES IT A CRIME TO GIVE THAT INFORMATION OVER, BUT SO DOES THE PRIVACY ACT OF 1974, THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT, HAVA, I COULD GO ON AND ON.

23 DIFFERENT COURTS AT LEAST HAVE SAID THAT THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN AN ILLEGAL THING, AND THAT THE D.O.J.

HAD NO BUSINESS, BUT MR.

KOLODIN SAID HE WOULD HAVE TURNED IT OVER.

NOW HE SAYS I WOULD GO TO A JUDGE.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS THE JUDGES SAID NO, AND HE'S TRYING NOT TO FALL OUT OF FAVOR WITH POLITICAL ALLIES INSTEAD OF DOING WHAT'S RIGHT AND LEGAL AND MOST SAFE FOR THE PRIVATE INFORMATION OF OUR VOTERS.

TED: WOULD HAVE YOU FOUGHT THE FEDS ON THAT?

>> TED, NONE OF THAT IS TRUE.

FIRST OF ALL -- >> WHY DON'T YOU ANSWER HIS QUESTION, ALEX?

>> THE SECOND THING IS MR.

FONTES IS AGAIN MISLEADING ARIZONA VOTERS BY CLAIMING TO PROTECT THEIR PRIVACY.

THE PRIVATE INFORMATION MR.

FONTES SAID HE WAS TRYING TO PROTECT FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS.

YOU KNOW WHO ISSUES THE SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBERS?

THE GOVERNMENT.

MR.

FONTES WASTED TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO RAISE MONEY AND GAIN POLITICAL OO.

TED: THAT WAS MY QUESTION, WOULD HAVE YOU FOUGHT THE FEDS ON THAT THE WAY HE DID?

>> I FOLLOW THE RULING OF THE COURTS.

>> IS THAT A YES OR NO?

>> THE COURTS HAVE ISSUED THAT THE INFORMATION IS NOT TO BE GIVEN.

I WOULD FOLLOW THE LAW WOULD.

>> YOU FIGHT THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, ON THIS PLAN REGARDING THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE?

WOULD YOU FIGHT THAT GIVING THAT INFORMATION OVER?

>> I HAVE A WAY TO MAKE SURE OUR VOTER ROLLS ARE CLEAN WITHOUT HAVING TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION WHATSOEVER TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

I KNOW HOW TO DO THAT.

MR.

FONTES REFUSED TO DO THAT IN ANY CAPACITY WHATSOEVER.

>> FIRST OF ALL, HE'S NOT ANSWERING YOUR QUESTIONS BECAUSE HIS ACTUAL ANSWERS WOULD TURN OFF A LOT OF ARIZONA VOTERS, NUMBER ONE.

NUMBER TWO, IF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAD THE INFORMATION, ALEX, THEY WOULDN'T BE ASKING FOR IT.

THE REASON THEY DON'T HAVE IT IS THE AGENCIES ARE PUT INTO SILOS AND CAN'T LEGALLY SHARE THE INFORMATION BACK AND FORTH, AND YOU KNOW THAT.

YOU'RE TRYING TO MISLEAD VOTERS AND RECHARACTERIZE THE ACTUAL TRUTH, WHICH IS A HABIT OF YOURS, AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE.

GOOD THINGS OR BAD THINGS ARE GOING TO HAPPEN.

AS LONG AS I'M THE SECRETARY OF STATE, WE WILL CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT THINGS.

WHETHER THEY'RE GOOD OR BAD, AND TALK ABOUT SOLUTIONS AFTER IDENTIFYING WHAT THE ISSUES WERE AND MOVE FORWARD.

INSTEAD OF JUST OBFUSCATING AND TRYING TO DODGE THE QUESTIONS, JUST ANSWER, YES OR NO.

THE CLEAR ANSWER IS OBVIOUS.

HE WOULD HAVE DONE EXACTLY WHAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION TOLD HIM TO DO BECAUSE HE'S ONE OF THOSE GUYS WHO BUYS INTO ELECTION DENIALISM.

HE WOULD HAVE THOUGHT HE'S SERVING POLITICAL MASTERS IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

BY DOING THAT.

I'M HERE TO SERVE ARIZONA'S VOTERS, NOT WASHINGTON, D.C.

>> ARE YOU AN ELECTION DENIER?

>> TED, THAT'S ABSURD.

I HAVE ONE OF THE GREATEST BIPARTISAN TRACK RECORDS OF WORKING ON ELECTIONS ISSUES OF ANYBODY IN RECENT ARIZONA HISTORY.

NOT ONLY HAVE WE WORKED TO RESTORE OBSERVER ACCESS, WHICH MR.

FONTES WAS FIGHTING TO KEEP OBSERVERS OUT OF THE PINAL COUNTY --.

>> YOU COULD HAVE JUST SAID NO.

YOU COULD HAVE JUST SAID NO.

>> BUT I WORKED WITH GOVERNOR KATIE HOBBS IN ORDER TO GET THE OBSERVERS BACK, IN EVEN THOUGH YOU WERE FIGHTING TO SEAL OFF THE TRANSPARENCY, WHEN MEMBERS OF HIS OWN PARTY THINK HE'S FAR TOO FAR LEFT ON ELECTIONS, YOU KNOW HE'S OUT OF STEP FOR ARIZONA.

TED: ARE YOU AN ELECTION DENIER?

>> AGAIN, TED, THAT IS RIDICULOUS.

TED: SO THE ANSWER IS YOU'RE NOT AN ELECTION DENIER?

>> NO.

>> THAT'S ALL YOU HAD TO SAY, ALEX.

WHAT'S WITH ALL THE POLITICAL BACK AND FORTH.

WE'RE HAVING A CONVERSATION.

TED: YES, WE ARE.

>> AND WHAT I'D LIKE TO DO IS INVITE ALEX KOLODIN TO JUST GIVE STRAIGHT ANSWERS TO VERY BASIC QUESTIONS.

THIS ISN'T LIKE A SHOW.

THIS IS SERIOUS, AND ARIZONA VOTERS NEED TO SEE WHO YOU REALLY ARE, NOT WHAT THE PREPARED CAN'S ANSWERS ARE, ALEX.

THIS IS SERIOUS WORK.

YOU'RE NOT IN A COURTROOM, YOU'RE TALKING TO ARIZONA VOTERS HERE.

THEY NEED TO SEE WHO YOU ARE.

NOT WHO YOU ARE PREPARED TO BE.

TED: I NEED A QUESTION TO THIS.

ELECTION RESULTS, HOW IMPORTANT IS SPEED AND HOW IMPORTANT IS SPEED COMPARED TO CONVENIENCE?

>> WELL, ACCESS AND CONVENIENCE ARE THE SAME THING, AND I THINK THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO PRETEND THEY ARE TOTALLY DIFFERENT AND FOLKS SHOULD BE INCONVENIENCED AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, LIKE SOME OF THE THINGS HE'S PROPOSED.

ACCESS AND CONVENIENCE ARE THE SAME.

IF IT'S NOT CONVENIENT FOR YOU TO VOTE, YOU GOT TO WORK HARDER, HAVE YOU LESS ACCESS.

BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT.

SPEED REALLY IS ONE OF THOSE THREE BIG FACTORS I'VE SPOKEN TO SO MUCH.

YOU CAN HAVE IT FAST, YOU CAN HAVE TO ACCURATE OR CHEAP, BUT YOU CAN ONLY HAVE TWO OF THOSE.

NOW, ONE OF THE PIECES OF LEGISLATION THAT WENT THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE THAT WE WORKED ON BEHIND THE SCENES DILIGENTLY BECAUSE THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE IS WHERE THE ELECTION EXPERTISE IS AND WE ADVISED EVERYONE ON HOW THIS HAPPENS, ACTUALLY PROBABLY IS GOING TO PRODUCE FASTER RESULTS AS WE SAW IN THE PRIMARY.

NOW, I KNOW MR.

KOLODIN WAS INVOLVED A LITTLE BIT.

>> I WAS THE PRIME SPONSOR OF THAT BILL, I DID NOT WORK ON IT.

>> KATIE HOBBS SIGNED OFF ON IT.

THE NEW ACTIVITY WAS WORKED ON BY RECORDER JUSTIN HEAP.

THIS WAS ALL OF GOVERNMENT WORKING TOGETHER.

NO ONE PERSON CAN TAKE ALL THE CREDIT, ALEX, WHICH IS HOW IT'S SUPPOSED TO WORK.

WE HAD QUICKER RESULTS IN THE PRIMARY, AND THAT'S GREAT.

HERE'S THE THING, AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR ON THIS, RESULTS AND ELECTION NIGHT NETWORK PREDICTIONS ARE TWO DIFFERENT THINGS, AND I THINK A LOT OF HEY HAS BEEN MADE ABOUT QUICKER RESULTS, AND MAYBE WE'LL GET THEM QUICKER, BUT THE REALITY IS ON ELECTION NIGHT, THERE ARE NO ELECTION RESULTS.

>> I HAVE TO RESPOND TO THIS, THAT WAS MY BILL.

NOT ONCE DID I WORK WITH SECRETARY FONTES'S OFFICE ON THAT BILL.

IT LOOKS LIKE THE ONLY THING IN HIS FOUR-YEAR CAREER IS TAKING CREDIT FOR A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT I DID.

YES, WE WILL HAVE FASTER ELECTION RESULTS.

IN FACT, WE DID HAVE FASTER ELECTION RESULTS IN THE PRIMARY BECAUSE OF MY BILL BUT SECRETARY FONTES SO BADLY UNDERSTANDS THE CONTENT OF THE BILL, HE DOESN'T REALIZE WHAT WE DID THERE.

WE GOT FASTER RESULTS WITHOUT SACRIFICING EITHER ACCURACY OR CONVENIENCE FOR ARIZONA VOTERS, THAT'S WHAT A COMPETENT SECRETARY OF STATE WITH A 15-YEAR TRACK RECORD FIGHTING FOR THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF ARIZONA VOTERS AT THE COURTROOM AND THE LEGISLATURE LIKE I HAVE KNOWS HOW TO DO.

MR.

FONTES LACKS THAT EXPERIENCE.

DIFFERENCE COULD NOT BE MORE CLEAR.

TED: RESPOND PLEASE.

>> FIRST, RELAX.

THE SECOND, A LOT OF PEOPLE WORKED ON THIS, AND I'M GLAD MR.

KOLODIN MAY HAVE BEEN THE PRIMARY SPONSOR, BUT AS A MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE, HE'S ONE OF 90.

NOBODY DOES ANYTHING ON THEIR OWN THERE.

THAT'S THE THING WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND.

ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATION SAYS ABOUT TEAMWORK, IT'S ABOUT PARTNERSHIPS, IT'S ABOUT SHARING CREDIT, IT'S ABOUT WORKING TOGETHER, AND THAT'S SOMETHING THAT CLEARLY MR.

KOLODIN DOESN'T WANT TO DO, SHARE CREDIT WITH A WHOLE BUNCH OF NEEM DO THIS WORK.

I DON'T DO THE ELECTIONS BY MYSELF, NO SECRETARY DOES.

YOU HAVE TO BRING IN ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE AND BE ABLE TO WORK WITH ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE.

YOU CAN'T BE SANCTIMONIOUS, AN IDEOLOGUE OR BE A RADICAL.

YOU HAVE TO WORK WITH PEOPLE AND GIVE OTHERS CREDIT FOR THAT WORK.

THAT'S WHAT REAL LEADERSHIP IN THE EXECUTIVE BRANCH IS ABOUT.

>> I WANT TO GET TO ONE LAST QUESTION BEFORE CLOSING STATEMENTS.

ALEX, START WITH YOU, DO YOU THINK ARIZONA VOTERS WANT TO SEE AN OVERHAUL OF THE ELECTIONS SYSTEM?

>> WHAT I THINK IS THAT ARIZONA VOTERS WANT TO SEE AN ELECTION SYSTEM THAT WORKS BETTER FOR THEM, THAT'S MORE CONVENIENT, THAT HAS MORE POLLING PLACES CLOSER TO YOUR HOME.

I THINK THEY WANT TO SEE EVEN FASTER ELECTION RESULTS.

I THINK THEY WANT TO SEE VOTES COUNTED QUICKLY.

THE RESULTS KNOWN ON ELECTION NIGHT, WHEN THAT'S POSSIBLE, AND THEY WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT VOTING HAS ACCESS AND CONVENIENCE FOR THEM AND EVERYBODY IN OUR STATE.

THAT'S WHAT I FOUGHT TO DELIVER IN THE LEGISLATURE.

THEY WANT TO SEE VOTES ARE PROTECTED.

I FOUGHT TO PROTECT EVERYONE.

TED: DOES THAT MEAN OVERHAUL TO YOU?

>> NO.

TED: IS IT NEEDED?

>> ABSOLUTELY NOT.

WE HAVE ONE OF THE EASIEST WAYS TO VOTE IN ARIZONA BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY OPTIONS, OPTIONS HE WANTS TO TAKE AWAY.

HE SPONSORED LEGISLATION TO KILL VOTE BY MAIL.

HE'S GOT A BILL ON THE TABLE FOR THE FALL FOR THE BALLOT, PROP 44 THAT WILL KILL YOUR ABILITY TO VOTE BY MAIL.

>> NOT TRUE.

>> HE PUT IT IN THE BILL IN A REALLY SNEAKY WAY AND CLAIMS I DON'T KNOW HOW IT'S ACTUALLY GOING TO WORK, BUT THIS IS WHAT WE HAVE TO DO BECAUSE PEOPLE WANT -- IT'S REALLY INTERESTING HOW HE MISCHARACTERIZES AND SHIFTS STUFF AROUND AND KILLS THE LEGAL STANDARD WHICH MAKES VOTING RIGHTS MUCH LESS IMPORTANT IN ARIZONA.

HE WON'T TALK ABOUT THAT EITHER.

PROP 144 IS DANGEROUS FOR VOTE BY MAIL BUT THE SNEAKY LAWYER TRICKS IN THE FINE PRINT HE DROPPED IN THERE WHICH IS WHY I OPPOSE IT.

WE SHOULD VOTE BY MAIL.

WE SHOULD HAVE 27 DAYS OF EARLY IN-PERSON VOTING, AND HAVE THE ADMINISTRATION FOR THE THINGS THAT WE NEED, WHICH MR.

KOLODIN HAS CONSISTENTLY VOTED AGAINST, YEAR IN AND YEAR OUT.

TED: PLEASE, RESPOND.

>> TED, MY OPPONENT IS LYING AGAIN.

HE'S UPSET BECAUSE HE HAD A COMPETING BALLOT INITIATIVE, FAILED TO GET IT ON THE BALLOT.

HE FAILED TO GET THE REQUIRED NUMBER OF SIGNATURES.

WHY?

HIS IDEAS ARE RADICAL AND UNPOPULAR IN THIS PURPLE STATE.

MY MEASURE ON THE BALLOT IS SOMETHING THAT POLLS AT 80% AMONG ARIZONA VOTERS IS A MEASURE THAT DOES NOT IN ANY WAY TOUCH YOUR VOTE BY MAIL.

WHAT IT DOES IS MAKES THE SYSTEM WORK BETTER FOR EVERYONE.

THAT'S WHAT ARIZONA VOTERS HAVE BEEN DEMANDING AND BANS FOREIGN FUNDING IN OUR ELECTION.

>> ALREADY DOES.

>> SPEEDS UP OUR ELECTION RESULTS.

>> ALREADY DOES.

>> SAYS YOU HAVE TO BE A CITIZEN.

>> ALREADY DOES.

>> NO, IT DOES NOT.

TED: STOP IT RIGHT, THERE WE ARE OUT OF TIME.

ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU, BOTH, FOR BEING HERE.

TIME FOR CLOSING STATEMENTS.

IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER, WE START WITH ADRIAN FONTES.

>> ARIZONA VOTERS KNOW ME.

THEY KNOW ME AS A MAN OF INTEGRITY, VETERAN OF THE UNITED STATES MARINE CORPS, A GUY DOING THE JOB FOR YEARS AND YEARS FOR EVERYONE, REGARDLESS OF POLITICAL OUTCOMES.

I SAW MY OWN LOSS SCRUTINIZED IN AMERICAN HISTORY.

WHAT WE HAVE IN MR.

KOLODIN IS A GUY WHO SPONSORED LEGISLATION TO LEGALIZE PIPE BOMBS AND HAND GRENADES, HE SAID SANDRA DAY O'CONNOR WAS A MEDIOCRE JURIST, SHOULDN'T BE ON THE ARIZONA SUPREME COURT, HE WAS SANCTIONED FOR LYING IN THE CRACK OF LAWSUITS.

HE'S BEEN THERE SINCE THE BEGINNING ON THAT.

I HAVE BEEN AN ELECTION ADMINISTRATOR, A PROFESSIONAL, SOMEONE CAN YOU COUNT ON AND TRUST FOR THE LAST TEN YEARS PLUS, AND I WANT TO CONTINUE TO BE YOUR SECRETARY OF STATE.

I ASK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT AND ASK FOR YOUR VOTE.

TED: THANK YOU VERY MUCH, AND NOW THE CLOSING STATEMENT FROM ALEXANDER KOLODIN.

>> WELL, LOOK, EVER SINCE ADRIAN FONTES FIRST GOT INTO AN ELECTIONS ADMINISTRATION WITH THE FIRST ELECTION HE ADMINISTERED BEING IN 2018, THE ELECTIONS IN THIS STATE HAVE GONE FROM BEING A NATIONAL MODEL TO A NATIONAL EMBARRASSMENT.

I'VE WORKED TO PROTECT THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF ARIZONA VOTERS AS A CIVIL RIGHTS LAWYER AND AS A MEMBER OF THE LEGISLATURE.

I WORKED ACROSS PARTY LINES TO FIGHT FOR MORE AFFORDABLE ARIZONA FOR ALL, TO PASS THE WORKING FAMILY'S TAX CUT TO PROTECT OUR OVERSEAS MILITARY VOTERS TO SPEED UP OUR ELECTION RESULTS AND PROTECT ARIZONA'S WATER SECURITY.

MY OPPONENT IS A RADICAL.

HIS IDEAS ARE SO UNPOPULAR, THAT HE'S BEEN UNABLE TO GET ANY OF HIS LEGISLATIVE AGENDA THROUGH THE BODY.

IT'S TIME FOR ARIZONA VOTERS TO HAVE A SECRETARY OF STATE WHO WILL RESPECT LOCAL CONTROL, WHO WILL WORK ACROSS PARTY LINES, AND WHO WILL GIVE US ELECTIONS THAT NOT ONLY WE, BUT OUR CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN CAN BE PROUD OF.

I'M ALEXANDER KOLODIN, AND I HUMBLY ASK FOR YOUR VOTE.

TED: ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU, BOTH, VERY MUCH FOR THE CONVERSATION.

APPRECIATE IT AND GOOD DISCUSSION.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING US, TED.

TED: THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.