Appeals court dismisses GOP challenge to Arizona election procedures manual, ruling Republicans lacked legal standing

Kori Lorick, Gov. Katie Hobbs’ chief legal officer, asked Secretary of State Adrian Fontes to postpone his decision on the Arizona Independent Party.

Republican officials are contesting a decision by Arizona’s top election officer to approve the Arizona Independent Party’s name change a week after the state’s Democrats lodged a similar legal challenge.

As both parties intensify efforts, Arizona is expected to remain at the center of national attention in the 2026 election cycle.