PHOENIX — A judge dismissed a claim by Abe Hamadeh that his constitutional rights were violated in the 2022 election for attorney general that he lost.
And that makes the GOP contender 0 for 3 in his efforts to overturn his loss by 280 votes to Democrat Kris Mayes or to get an election do-over.
In a ruling Tuesday, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Scott Blaney said Hamadeh’s court challenge came too late.
The judge said it may be that Hamadeh has valid claims about problems with the election. These include problems with printers at Maricopa County voting centers that resulted in long lines, which Hamadeh said resulted in some voters, more likely Republicans he contends, simply walking away. Hamadeh asserted that violated his rights of equal protection and due process.
Blaney said that’s legally irrelevant.
“This case is actually an untimely election contest,’’ no matter how it’s dressed up as a constitutional rights case, the judge said.
“Any action contesting a state election must be filed within five days after completion of the canvass of the election and declaration of the result thereof by the secretary of state or the governor,’’ said Blaney. That would have been in the first week of December 2022; the case was filed in November 2023.
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