/ Modified dec 23, 2022 1:34 p.m.

Arizona Republican loses lawsuit over attorney general race

A judge concluded Abraham Hamadeh’s challenge of election results didn’t prove the errors in vote counting that he had alleged.

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A judge has thrown out Republican Abraham Hamadeh’s challenge of election results in his race against Democrat Kris Mayes for Arizona attorney general, concluding that Hamadeh didn’t prove the errors in vote counting that he had alleged.

The ruling on Friday by Mohave County Superior Court Judge Lee Jantzen came after Hamadeh’s attorney, Tim La Sota, acknowledged his client hadn’t gained enough votes during his litigation to change the outcome of the race. Mayes finished 511 votes ahead of Hamadeh out of 2.5 million in one of the closest elections in state history.

“You haven’t met the burden,” Jantzen told La Sota shortly before ruling against Hamadeh.

Under Arizona law, Hamadeh faced the high bar of proving not just that election officials erred but that he would have won without their misconduct.

In his lawsuit, he alleged that problems with printers in Maricopa County led to a series of issues that disenfranchised voters. He also alleges his race was affected by improper handling of ballots that were duplicated or adjudicated by people because they could not be read by tabulators.

Dan Barr, an attorney representing Mayes, said Hamadeh didn’t present evidence to his claims. “What on earth are we doing here?” Barr asked during closing arguments. “People can’t file complaints (over elections) with no facts.”

And a court hearing to present results of recounts in the race for state superintendent and for a state legislative seat is scheduled for Thursday. A similar hearing is expected to be held next week for the attorney general’s race, though it hasn’t yet been scheduled.

Another judge is considering Republican Kari Lake’s challenge of her loss to Democrat Katie Hobbs in the governor’s race.

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