Secretary of State elections gain national focus as federal election battles intensify

From Alaska to Florida, secretaries of state are now in one outlet spotlight as 26 states hold elections for the post this November. Historically obscure, the office gained prominence after 2020 when officials in Arizona, Georgia and Michigan oversaw contested vote counts and certification. Although the pool of self-identified election deniers running for the office has shrunk to seven candidates, the broader dispute over who runs elections—states or the federal government—remains unresolved.

The Trump administration has sued dozens of states for voter registration data, issued executive orders demanding documentary citizenship proof, and sought to reshape mail-ballot handling, but many of these moves have been struck down by federal judges and the Supreme Court. The upcoming secretaries will likely confront legal battles over voter eligibility, certification processes, and compliance with federal directives, shaping the electoral landscape through the 2028 presidential race.