• Democrat Kris Mayes defeated Abraham Hamadeh by just 280 votes to become new attorney general.
• The election was one of the closest in the state’s history.
• Mayes received 1,254,809 votes in the final tally, while Hamadah received 1,.254,504 votes.

After a recount, Democrat Kris Mayes defeated Republican Abraham Hamadeh by just 280 votes to become Arizona’s new attorney general on Thursday. The election was one of the closest in the state’s history.

As required by state law, a recount was conducted following the midterm election in November since the vote difference between the two candidates was less than half a percentage point.

According to the court, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Timothy Thomason disclosed the results during a hearing on Thursday. Mayes received 1,254,809 votes in the final tally, while Hamadeh received 1,254,504 votes.

During the midterm elections, the campaign to become the next attorney general of Arizona broke financial records, with election experts stating that the ordinarily obscure contest could have significant ramifications for U.S. democracy.

Arizona has a decisive role in presidential elections. According to Arizona law, the attorney general must be present at the certification of election results, has the authority to challenge certifications in court if they violate state law, and must endorse the election rulebook.

Former President Donald Trump endorsed Hamadeh, who supported Trump’s phoney allegations that President Joe Biden stole the 2020 election from him.

Mayes published a statement expressing her satisfaction with the outcome of her election when the recount results were disclosed.

Hamadeh, one of a number of Trump-aligned Republican candidates who lost in key states during the midterm elections, stated on Twitter that he was examining his legal options.

“The outcome of this election is uncertain,” he tweeted.

Every day that goes by my opponent’s lead has been shrinking. This recount has an unusually high discrepancy rate and swing. This is all without a complete inspection of the ballots.

My opponent gained 196 votes, I gained 427.

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The outcome of this election is uncertain.

— Abe Hamadeh (@AbrahamHamadeh) December 29, 2022

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