Abe Hamadeh’s election challenge for attorney general continues to wind its way through the court system, with his attorneys filing a reply in Mohave County Superior Court supporting their motion for a new trial on Monday. The Consolidated Reply in Support of Plaintiffs’ Motion for a New Trial addressed the claims brought up in the response from defendant Kris Mayes, who was declared the winner in the race. The lawsuit, which included the Republican National Committee and Republican Jeanne Kentch of Mohave County as plaintiffs, was also filed against Secretary of State Adrian Fontes.
Hamadeh’s reply brief, led by former Attorney General Election Integrity Unit civil attorney Jen Wright, emphasized the race’s closeness as a reason for a do-over.
“After all, if this — the closest statewide officer election in Arizona history — is not worth an exacting review, whatever could be? That Defendants would lock up the underlying evidence and demand this ‘case [be] over’ is contrary to Arizona law, the interest of justice, and an affront not only to the democratic process, but to Arizona voters,” the brief said.
Since Hamadeh gained a significant number of votes from counting the undervotes from Pinal County, narrowing Mayes’ lead to just 280, the brief argued that his team should be able to inspect the undervotes from all 15 counties. He noted that in regard to the undervotes in Maricopa County, “The misread rate of 0.61% is more than 60 times the 0.01% margin of victory.”
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