Why the 26 secretary of state races this November matter more than they did before Trump’s drive to assert federal authority over elections

Secretaries of state are at the center of growing conflict over how election authority should be divided between states and the federal government. There are 26 elections for the job this November.

By: Thom Reilly, Arizona State University, The Conversation

Outlets: The Conversation

Published: October 16, 2026

Words: 1,331

Last Updated: 13 hours, 43 minutes ago

Body Text Preview

By Thom Reilly, Arizona State University

From Alaska to Florida, there once was an important job in government that most Americans rarely thought about: the secretary of state.

That changed after the 2020 presidential election, when secretaries of state in places such as Arizona, Georgia and Michigan were thrust into battles over election results, certification and false claims of widespread fraud.

In most states, the secretary of state serves as the chief …

Create a free account to access this story and more

Join Plucky Wire to access full stories, collaborate with newsrooms, and discover content from networks around the world.

About

FAQ

Email Us