Grand Canyon Times

Hayden Ludwig, the director of research for Restoration of America (ROA), has accused Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes of leading the Democrats' efforts to "radically transform American elections." Ludwig claims that Fontes is seeking to erode state and local control over elections and replace ballot-counters with a centralized bureaucracy.

Ludwig alleges that Fontes is a vocal critic of anyone who questions the integrity of the 2020 election, referring to them as "MAGA fascists" and "election deniers." According to Ludwig, Fontes believes that those who challenge the election results are spreading lies in an attempt to destroy democracy.

Ludwig also points to the influence of Mark Zuckerberg's election efforts in Arizona. He claims that 76 percent of the $5 million in "Zuck Bucks" went to the counties that President Biden won, while only 13 percent went to Trump counties. Ludwig argues that this disparity in funding may have played a role in flipping the state for Biden.

Ludwig further criticizes Fontes for relying on a report from the "phony bipartisan group" Issue One to demand more federal funding for elections. Fontes is quoted in the report stating that increased federal funding would help attract and retain the next generation of election professionals.

Ludwig suggests that the left's push for campaign finance reform is not about reducing the influence of money in politics, but rather about silencing conservative voices. He argues that the goal is not to address the "dark money" network of liberal organizations like Arabella Advisors but to restrict the ability of conservatives to support their preferred candidates.

Adrian Fontes, a Democrat, was elected as Arizona Secretary of State in November 2020, winning 52.4% of the votes. He has a background in law and has previously worked as an attorney in various offices. Fontes also served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1992 to 1996.

Restoration of America is a conservative non-profit organization committed to advancing conservative politics. According to their website, the organization supports truly conservative candidates and opposes leftists and the "woke agenda."