A state trial court has ruled in an Arizona ballot-access case challenging the Secretary of State’s decision to recognize the Arizona Independent Party on the ballot.
First & Fourteenth filed a complaint on behalf of the Republican National Committee after Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes allowed the No Labels Party to appear on the ballot under a new name, “Arizona Independent Party,” without requiring the party to satisfy Arizona’s normal petition process again. The No Labels Party had obtained ballot access in Arizona in 2023 by collecting enough signatures under its original name.
The court granted summary judgment for the plaintiffs, declared void the Secretary’s recognition of the new party name and the guidance issued to election officials, and rejected the argument that the Constitution required recognition of the new name without compliance with Arizona’s ordinary petition process for party recognition.
This result reinforces the principle that ballot access rules must rest on statutory authority. The matter was handled by First & Fourteenth attorneys Chris Murray, Julian Ellis, Michael Francisco, and Erin Gust.
Read Order Here: Arizona CCEC v. Adrian Fontes