Mark Finchem is a state representative in Arizona. He is now running for the GOP nomination to be Arizona’s Secretary of State; the official in charge of running elections. Former President Trump has endorsed Finchem’s candidacy. Representative Finchem was present at the “Stop the Steal” rally on January 6th and there are allegations that was connected with some of the groups that engaged in violence on that day. He is a member of the “Oath Keepers” and recently described the 2020 election in Arizona as “rigged.”
Consequently, Representative Finchem may be barred from serving as Secretary of State by Section Three of the Fourteenth Amendment. He was a state legislator on January 6th who had sworn an oath to uphold the Constitution. If he “engaged in insurrection,” then Section Three bars him from serving in any state executive office. Section Three is the only federal constitutional requirement for state office.
My understanding is that any voter in Arizona may challenge the eligibility of a primary candidate for state office on the ground that he cannot lawfully hold the office for which he is running.
Posted by Gerard Magliocca on January 15, 2022 at 09:43 PM