Alexander Kolodin, a House Representative from Arizona, has accused Adrian Fontes of attempting to incorporate Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) into Arizona’s elections in violation of state law. Kolodin made this statement on the social media platform X.
“DEMOCRAT FORCING DEI INTO ARIZONA ELECTIONS,” said Kolodin, State Representative from Arizona. “Radical Leftist Adrian Fontes is trying to sneak DEI into AZ elections using a footnote in his draft EPM. His EPM is FILLED with violations of AZ election law. Fontes REFUSES to follow the law!”
Arizona’s Elections Procedures Manual (EPM), which guides all election operations, must be submitted by October 1 of odd-numbered years to the governor and attorney general. According to Democracy Docket, Secretary of State Adrian Fontes recently removed two pro-voting provisions after a federal court blocked them following right-wing litigation. This reflects heightened partisan tension over election rules.
The voter registration data from Arizona’s Secretary of State as of July 2025 shows 4,470,621 registered voters—35.74% Republican and 28.41% Democrat—illustrating the state’s partisan composition. While exact compliance rates for the last three election cycles are not compiled, these figures reflect up-to-date electoral roll maintenance.
According to BestColleges’ Anti-DEI Legislation Tracker, over 30 state bills targeting DEI programs have been introduced since 2022, with at least 15 becoming law by April 2025. These measures often restrict DEI offices, defund initiatives, or remove DEI requirements from hiring and admissions.
Kolodin is a Republican representing Scottsdale’s District 3 in the Arizona House since 2022 and a member of the Arizona Freedom Caucus. He was sanctioned by the State Bar in 2023 for his role in post-2020 election lawsuits and announced a run for Secretary of State in 2026.
