Meet Adrian Fontes
Adrian has spent his whole career fighting for justice and democracy.
In 2022, Adrian Fontes was elected as Arizona’s 21st Secretary of State. Secretary Fontes is a proud Arizona native, an honorable veteran of the United States Marine Corps, husband, and father who has spent a lifetime fighting for justice and defending our Democracy.
After growing up in Nogales, Secretary Fontes served on active duty from 1992 to 1996 and was nominated for a meritorious commission. His service to our country taught him the importance of dedication, discipline, and sacrifice to forcefully fight for the American dream.
After graduating from law school, Secretary Fontes spent his career advocating for justice — first as a prosecutor with the Denver District Attorney and then at the Maricopa County Attorney’s office. He later led the International Prosecution Unit at the Arizona Attorney General’s Office. He practiced law for 15 years before running for office in 2016 when he was elected Maricopa County Recorder.
As Recorder, Secretary Fontes revolutionized the election system by ensuring that every eligible Arizonan had the access they needed to vote. Adrian enhanced ballot tracking technology and increased process transparency, winning recognition and awards from election organizations across the country.
As Secretary of State, Adrian has delivered on key promises to Arizona voters. He has enforced Arizona’s voter ID laws and kept voter rolls up-to-date. He prioritized election security by hosting first-of-their-kind tabletop exercises across the state to prepare election officials for AI-driven threats and deepfakes. To proactively address these modern risks, he established the Artificial Intelligence and Election Security Advisory Committee, which identifies opportunities and threats associated with AI in elections. His leadership has earned national excellence, including the prestigious “Clearie” Award from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission for three consecutive years (2023–2025) for innovations in election administration and security.
Secretary Fontes has also been a steadfast defender of vote-by-mail, a trusted system used by over 80% of Arizonans. He has successfully protected Arizonans’ private data from illegal demands, winning in court against the Trump Administration. Additionally, he has focused on improving business services by cutting red tape and reducing wait times for critical services, allowing Arizona’s business community to thrive.
Secretary Fontes is committed to ensuring free and fair elections, protecting the vote of every Arizonan, and ensuring that Arizona’s business community has a non-partisan partner in the Secretary’s office.
