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27 secretary of state offices[a] | |||||||||||||||||||
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 Democratic hold Democratic gain Republican hold Secretary of state not elected No election | |||||||||||||||||||
The2022 United States secretary of state elections were held on November 8, 2022, to elect thesecretaries of state in twenty-seven states.[1] These elections took place concurrently with several otherfederal, state, and local elections.
The elections for secretary of state had taken on heightened importance due to formerPresident Donald Trump's baseless claims that the 2020 election was stolen. Many had argued that election officials such as secretaries of state could have the power to overturn the2024 election, should its outcome be disagreeable to the losing candidate. As such, both parties are expending far more resources than in previous cycles on these races.[2][3][4] A coalition of Republican candidates for secretary of state who have endorsed Trump's false claim that the 2020 election was stolen have organized under theAmerica First Secretary of State Coalition slate.[5][6][7]
The previous elections for this group of states took place in 2018. The secretary of state of Vermont serves two-year terms and was last elected in2020. Additionally, there is a special election being held in Washington (secretary of state elections in Washington are regularly held inpresidential election years) due to the resignation of RepublicanKim Wyman to take a position in the administration ofPresidentJoe Biden.
Going into these elections, this class of secretaries of state is made up of 14 Republicans and 13 Democrats. Additionally, Democrats hold secretary of state offices in three states with Republican governors. By contrast, Republicans hold secretariat offices in two states with Democratic governors.
Going into the election, there were 27 Republican secretaries of state and 20 Democratic secretaries of state.[8] 13 Democratic secretaries of state were up for election, of whomNellie Gorbea ofRhode Island was term-limited andKatie Hobbs ofArizona,Mark Kohler ofConnecticut,Jesse White ofIllinois, andJim Condos ofVermont were retiring. 14 Republican secretaries of state were up for election, of whomJohn Merrill ofAlabama andBarbara Cegavske ofNevada were term-limited, whileLawerence Denney ofIdaho,Alvin Jaeger ofNorth Dakota, andKarl Allred ofWyoming were retiring.
Republicans defended one state won byJoe Biden in2020 (Georgia), while Democrats do not hold any states won byDonald Trump. However, Democrats defended several seats in states Biden won only narrowly, including Arizona, Wisconsin, and Michigan. Furthermore, Democrats had a net gain of one seat in Nevada, another state narrowly won by Biden.
Several sites and individuals published predictions of competitive seats. These predictions looked at factors such as the strength of theincumbent (if the incumbent is running for re-election), the strength of the candidates, and the partisan leanings of the state (reflected in part by the state'sCook Partisan Voting Index rating). The predictions assigned ratings to each seat, with the rating indicating the predicted advantage that a party has in winning that seat.
Most election predictors use:
| State | Secretary of state | Party | First elected | Status | Candidates[12] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | John Merrill | Republican | 2014 | Incumbent term-limited. New secretaryelected. Republican hold. |
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| Arizona | Katie Hobbs | Democratic | 2018 | Incumbent retired torun for governor of Arizona.[13] New secretaryelected. Democratic hold. |
|
| Arkansas | John Thurston | Republican | 2018 | Incumbentre-elected. |
|
| California | Shirley Weber | Democratic | 2021[h] | Interim appointeeelected. |
|
| Colorado | Jena Griswold | Democratic | 2018 | Incumbentre-elected. |
Others
|
| Connecticut | Mark Kohler | Democratic | 2022[i] | Interim appointee retired.[14] New secretaryelected. Democratic hold. |
|
| Georgia | Brad Raffensperger | Republican | 2018 | Incumbentre-elected. |
|
| Idaho | Lawerence Denney | Republican | 2014 | Incumbent retired.[15] New secretaryelected. Republican hold. |
|
| Illinois | Jesse White | Democratic | 1998 | Incumbent retired.[16] New secretaryelected. Democratic hold. |
|
| Indiana | Holli Sullivan | Republican | 2021[j] | Interim appointee lost nomination. New secretaryelected. Republican hold. |
|
| Iowa | Paul Pate | Republican | 2014 | Incumbentre-elected. |
|
| Kansas | Scott Schwab | Republican | 2018 | Incumbentre-elected. |
|
| Massachusetts | William F. Galvin | Democratic | 1994 | Incumbentre-elected. |
|
| Michigan | Jocelyn Benson | Democratic | 2018 | Incumbentre-elected. |
Others
|
| Minnesota | Steve Simon | DFL | 2014 | Incumbentre-elected. |
|
| Nebraska | Bob Evnen | Republican | 2018 | Incumbentre-elected. | ▌ YBob Evnen (Republican) |
| Nevada | Barbara Cegavske | Republican | 2014 | Incumbent term-limited. New secretaryelected. Democratic gain. |
Others
|
| New Mexico | Maggie Toulouse Oliver | Democratic | 2016 (special) | Incumbentre-elected. |
|
| North Dakota | Alvin Jaeger | Republican | 1992 | Incumbent retired.[17] New secretaryelected. Republican hold. |
|
| Ohio | Frank LaRose | Republican | 2018 | Incumbentre-elected. |
|
| Rhode Island | Nellie Gorbea | Democratic | 2014 | Incumbent term-limited. New secretaryelected. Democratic hold. |
|
| South Carolina | Mark Hammond | Republican | 2002 | Incumbentre-elected. |
|
| South Dakota | Steve Barnett | Republican | 2018 | Incumbent lost renomination. New secretaryelected. Republican hold. |
|
| Vermont | Jim Condos | Democratic | 2010 | Incumbent retired.[18] New secretaryelected. Democratic hold. |
|
| Washington (special) | Steve Hobbs | Democratic | 2021[k] | Interim appointeeelected. |
|
| Wisconsin | Doug La Follette | Democratic | 1982 | Incumbentre-elected. |
|
| Wyoming | Karl Allred | Republican | 2022[l] | Interim appointee retired.[19] New secretaryelected. Republican hold. | ▌YChuck Gray (Republican) |
States where the margin of victory was under 1%:
States where the margin of victory was under 5%:
States where the margin of victory was under 10%:
Blue denotes races won by Democrats.Red denotes races won by Republicans.
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 County results Allen: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Laffitte: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% | |||||||||||||||||
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Incumbent RepublicanJohn Merrill was term-limited. Republican state representativeWes Allen, election administratorEd Packard,Alabama State AuditorJim Zeigler and activist Christian Horn ran for the seat.[20] Corrections officer Pamela Laffitte was the only Democratic candidate in that party's primary.[20]
Allen won his runoff on June 21, while Laffitte won her primary on May 24.
Allen won the general election.
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 County results Fontes: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Finchem: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% | |||||||||||||||||
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Incumbent DemocratKatie Hobbs retired torun for governor.[13]
Democratic primary candidates includedminority leader of theArizona House of RepresentativesReginald Bolding and formerMaricopa County recorder Adrian Fontes.[21]
Republican primary candidates includedstate representativesShawnna Bolick andMark Finchem, advertising executive Beau Lane, andstate senatorMichelle Ugenti-Rita.[21]
Fontes and Finchem won their respective primaries on August 2.
Fontes won the general election.
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 County results Thurston: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Gorman: 50–60% | ||||||||||||||||
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Incumbent RepublicanJohn Thurston ran for re-election. Former state representativeEddie Joe Williams unsuccessfully challenged Thurston in the Republican primary.[22]
Democratic primary candidates included executive director of the Women's Foundation of Arkansas Anna Beth Gorman and formerPulaski County election commissioner Josh Price.[22]
Thurston and Gorman won their respective primaries on May 24.
Thurston won re-election.
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 County results Weber: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Bernosky: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% | ||||||||||||||||
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Incumbent DemocratShirley Weber ran for election to a full term.[23]
Republican primary candidates included chief financial officer Rob Bernosky, author Rachel Hamm,Teamster truck driver James "J. W." Paine, and retired warehouseman Raul Rodriguez Jr.[23]
Teacher Gary B. Blenner ran as the Green Party candidate, while private investigator Matthew D. Cinquanta ran as an independent.[23]
Weber and Bernosky advanced from the nonpartisan blanket primary on June 7.
Weber won re-election.
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 County results Griswold: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Anderson: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% | |||||||||||||||||
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Incumbent DemocratJena Griswold ran for re-election.[24]
Republican primary candidates included formerJefferson County clerk Pam Anderson, former head of the nonprofit Colorado Lending Source Mike O'Donnell, andMesa CountyclerkTina Peters.[24] Walter James Rutledge ran as a Libertarian.[24]
Griswold and Anderson won their respective primaries on June 28.
Griswold won re-election.
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 County results Municipality resultsThomas: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Rapini: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% | ||||||||||||||||||||
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Incumbent DemocratMark Kohler retired, having been appointed to the position afterDenise Merrill resigned early.[25] Democratic primary candidates includedNew Haven health director Maritza Bond andstate representativeStephanie Thomas.[26]
Republican primary candidates includedApple senior account manager Dominic Rapini,New Britain executive mayoral aide Brock Weber, and state representativeTerrie Wood.[26]
Environmental attorney Cynthia Jennings ran on theIndependent Party of Connecticut ticket.[26] Harold Harris ran as a Libertarian, while Douglas Lary ran as the Green Party candidate.[26]
Thomas and Rapini won their respective primaries on August 9.[27]
Thomas won the election.
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| Turnout | 57.02% | ||||||||||||||||
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 County results Raffensperger: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% <90% Nguyen: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% | |||||||||||||||||
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Incumbent RepublicanBrad Raffensperger ran for re-election.[28] Other Republican candidates includedU.S. Representative forGeorgia's 10th congressional districtJody Hice, formerTreutlen Countyprobate judge T. J. Hudson, and formerAlpharetta mayor David Belle Isle.[28]
Democratic primary candidates included formerstate representativeDee Dawkins-Haigler, formerFulton County chairman John Eaves, formerMilledgeville mayorFloyd Griffin, state representativeBee Nguyen, and former chair of theCobb County Democratic party Michael Owens.[28]
Ted Metz ran as aLibertarian.[29]
Raffensperger won his primary on May 24, while Nguyen won her runoff on June 21.
Raffensperger won re-election in the general election.
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← 2018 2026 → | |||||||||||||||||
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 County results McGrane: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Keenan: 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
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Incumbent RepublicanLawerence Denney retired.[15] Republican primary candidates includedAda County clerkPhil McGrane,state representativeDorothy Moon, andstate senatorMary Souza.[15]
Shawn Keenan was the only Democratic candidate.[15]
McGrane and Keenan won their respective primaries on May 17.
McGrane won the general election.
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 County results Giannoulias: 40–50% 50–60% 70–80% Brady: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% | |||||||||||||||||
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Incumbent DemocratJesse White retired.[16]
Democratic candidates included formerIllinois state treasurerAlexi Giannoulias,Chicago aldermanDavid Moore,Cook County resident Sidney Moore, andcity clerk of ChicagoAnna Valencia.[30]
Republican candidates included deputy minority leader of theIllinois House of RepresentativesDan Brady, formerUnited States Attorney for theCentral District of IllinoisJohn C. Milhiser, and formerChicago police sergeant Michelle Turney.[30]
Giannoulias and Brady won their respective primaries on June 28.
Giannoulias won the election.
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 County results Morales: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Wells: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Incumbent RepublicanHolli Sullivan was appointed bygovernorEric Holcomb after the previous secretary,Connie Lawson, resigned. Sullivan ran for a full term.[31] Other Republican candidates includedNewton County commissioner Kyle Conrad,[32] perennial candidate Paul Hager,[33] and former aide togovernorMike Pence and candidate forIndiana's 4th congressional district in2018Diego Morales.[31]
The only Democratic candidate is former deputy attorney general Destiny Scott Wells.[31]
Jeff Maurer ran as a Libertarian.[31]
Morales won the nomination at the Republican state convention on June 18. He also won the general election.
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 County results Pate: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Miller: 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
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Incumbent RepublicanPaul Pate ran for re-election.[34]
Democratic primary candidates includedLinn Countyauditor Joel Miller andClinton Countyauditor Eric Van Lancker.[34]
Pate and Miller won their respective primaries on June 7.
Pate won re-election.
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 County results Schwab: 40-50% 50-60% 60-70% 70-80% 80-90% >90% Repass: 50-60% 60-70% | |||||||||||||||||
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Incumbent RepublicanScott Schwab ran for re-election.[35] He faced an unsuccessful primary challenge from Michael Brown, former member of theJohnson County Commission.[35]
The only Democratic candidate was former director of urban outreach for theUnited Methodist Church of the Resurrection Jeanna Repass.[35]
Schwab won re-election in the general election.
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Galvin: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% Campbell: 40–50% 50–60% | |||||||||||||||||
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Incumbent DemocratWilliam F. Galvin ran for re-election.[36] Tanisha Sullivan, president of theBoston chapter of theNAACP, challenged Galvin in the Democratic primary.[36]
The only Republican candidate was former dental assistant and insurance claims manager Rayla Campbell.[36]
Galvin won re-election.
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 Benson: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Karamo: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% | |||||||||||||||||
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Incumbent DemocratJocelyn Benson ran for re-election.[37]
Republican primary candidates includedChesterfield Townshipclerk Cindy Berry,[38] Republican activist Kristina Karamo,[39]state representativeBeau LaFave[40] andPlainfield Townshipclerk Cathleen Postmus.[41]
Karamo won the August 2 Republican primary.
Benson won re-election.
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 County results Congressional district results State House district results Precinct ResultsSimon: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Crockett: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% | |||||||||||||||||
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Incumbent DemocratSteve Simon ran for re-election.[42] He faced an unsuccessful primary challenge from Steve Carlson.[42]
Republican primary candidates included Kim Crockett, former vice president of the conservativethink tankCenter of the American Experiment, and author Erik van Mechelen.[42]
Crockett won her primary on August 9.
Simon won re-election.
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← 2018 2026 → | |||||||||||
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Incumbent RepublicanBob Evnen ran for re-election.[43] FormerPalmyra fire chief Rex Schroder and Robert J. Borer challenged him in the Republican primary.[43]
Evnen won his primary on May 10. He won re-election.
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 County results Aguilar: 50–60% Marchant: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% | |||||||||||||||||
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Incumbent RepublicanBarbara Cegavske was term-limited and cannot seek a third term.
Republican candidates includedSparks city councilman Kristopher Dahir, entrepreneur John Cardiff Gerhardt, former state senatorJesse Haw, businesswoman Socorro Kennan, former member of theNevada AssemblyJim Marchant, former news anchor Gerard Ramalho, and formerNevada 8th judicial district court judge Richard Scotti.[44]
The only Democratic primary candidate was formerHarry Reid stafferCisco Aguilar.[44] Janine Hansen is running as the candidate of theIndependent American Party, while Ross Crane is running as a Libertarian.[44]
Marchant and Aguilar won their respective primaries on June 14.
Aguilar narrowly won the general election.
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 County results Oliver: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Trujillo: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% | |||||||||||||||||
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Incumbent DemocratMaggie Toulouse Oliver ran for re-election.[45] Republican rancher Audrey Trujillo challenged Oliver.[45] Libertarian candidate Mayna Erika Myers was also running.[45]
Oliver and Trujillo won their respective primaries on June 7.
Oliver won re-election.
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 County results Howe: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Powell: 50–60% | |||||||||||||||||
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Incumbent RepublicanAlvin Jaeger retired.[17]State representativeMichael Howe and businessman Marvin Lepp ran in the Republican primary.[46]
The only Democratic primary candidate wasMayville State University administrator Jeffrey Powell.[46]
Howe and Powell won their respective primaries on June 14.
Howe won the general election.
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 County results LaRose: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Clark: 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
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Incumbent RepublicanFrank LaRose ran for re-election.[47] Former member of theOhio House of RepresentativesJohn Adams unsuccessfully challenged him for the Republican nomination.[47]
The only Democratic candidate wasForest Parkcouncilmember Chelsea Clark.[47]
Podcaster Terpsehore Tore Maras, also known as Terpsichore "Tore" Maras-Lindeman, initially challenged LaRose in the primary, but was disqualified. She is now running as an Independent.[48]
LaRose and Clark won their respective primaries on May 3.
LaRose easily won re-election.
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 County results Municipality resultsAmore: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% Cortellessa: 50–60% | |||||||||||||||||
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Incumbent DemocratNellie Gorbea was term-limited and couldn't seek a third term. Democratic candidates includedstate representativeGregg Amore, Stephanie Beaute, and tax preparer Anthony Tamba.[49]
The only Republican candidate was perennial candidate Pat Cortellessa.[49]
Cannabis activist Anne Armstrong ran as an independent.[49]
Amore won the election.
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 County results Hammond: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Butler: 50–60% 60–70% | |||||||||||||||||
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Incumbent RepublicanMark Hammond ran for re-election.[50] He faced an unsuccessful primary challenge from businessman Keith Blandford.[50]
The only Democratic primary candidate was Rosemounda Peggy Butler.[50]
Hammond and Butler won their respective primaries on June 14.
Hammond won re-election.
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 County results Johnson: 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% 80–90% >90% | |||||||||||||||||
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Incumbent RepublicanSteve Barnett ran for re-election.[51] He faced a successful primary challenge from secretary of state office workerMonae Johnson, who won the nomination at the Republican state convention on June 25.[51]
Thomas Cool was the Democratic nominee.[51]
Barnett won re-election.
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 County results Copeland-Hanzas: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% Paige: 50–60% | |||||||||||||||||
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Incumbent DemocratJim Condos retired.[18] Democratic candidates includedstate representativeSarah Copeland-Hanzas,Montpelier city clerk John Odum, and Deputy Secretary of State Chris Winters.[52] Copeland-Hanzas won the August 9 primary. The only Republican candidate was perennial candidateH. Brooke Paige.[52] Robert Millar ran as the candidate of the Vermont Progressive Party.[52]
Copeland-Hanzas won the general election.
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 County results Hobbs: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% Anderson: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% | |||||||||||||||||
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Incumbent DemocratSteve Hobbs was appointed November 22, 2021, after his predecessor,Kim Wyman, resigned. He is running in the special election.[53] He faced an intraparty primary challenge from Marquez Tiggs.[53]
Republican candidates included conspiracy theorist Tamborine Borrelli, Bob Hagglund, formerstate senatorMark Miloscia, and state senatorKeith Wagoner.[53]
Kurtis Engle ran as the candidate of the Union Party, whilePierce Countyauditor Julie Anderson ran as a nonpartisan.[53]
Hobbs and Anderson advanced from the all-party primary to the general election on August 2.
State representativeBrad Klippert, formerly a candidate forcongress, ran a write-in campaign.[54]
Hobbs narrowly won the general election.
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 County results La Follette: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% Loudenbeck: 40–50% 50–60% 60–70% 70–80% | |||||||||||||||||
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Incumbent DemocratDoug La Follette ran for re-election.[55]Dane County Democratic party chair Alexia Sabor challenged him in the Democratic primary.[55]
Republican candidates includedassemblywomanAmy Loudenbeck, former firefighter Daniel Schmidtka, and businessman Jay Schroeder.[55]
Neil Harmon ran as a Libertarian, while Sharyl McFarland ran as an independent.[55]
La Follette and Loudenbeck won their respective primaries on August 9.
La Follette barely won re-election.
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 County results Gray: 70–80% 80–90% >90% | |||||||||||||||||
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Incumbent RepublicanEdward Buchanan did not seek re-election and resigned before the end of his term.[56] GovernorMark Gordon appointedKarl Allred to serve as interim secretary. Allred is not on the general election ballot.[19]
Republican primary candidates included geologist Mark Armstrong,state representativeChuck Gray, and state senatorTara Nethercott.[57]
Gray won the primary on August 16.[58] He also won the general election.
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