Abe Hamadeh: Arizona judge rules against GOP attorney general candidate

MOHAVE COUNTY, Ariz. - A Mohave County judge has ruled against Republican Arizona Attorney General candidate Abe Hamadeh after he filed a lawsuit, challenging the results of the midterm election.

The ruling on Friday by Mohave County Superior Court Judge Lee Jantzen came after Hamadeh’s attorney, Tim La Sota, acknowledged his client hadn’t gained enough votes during his litigation to change the outcome of the race. Mayes finished 511 votes ahead of Hamadeh out of 2.5 million in one of the closest elections in state history. The race has come down to a recount, and results of the recount are expected to be released on Dec. 29.

"You haven’t met the burden," Jantzen told La Sota shortly before ruling against Hamadeh.

Under Arizona law, Hamadeh faced the high bar of proving not just that election officials erred but that he would have won without their misconduct.

Care mirrors Kari Lake's election lawsuit

Like Republican gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake's lawsuit, Hamadeh's suit highlighted printer errors that they claim could impact the election outcome. There was also a motion to inspect ballots.

"With over 2.5 million votes cast, we have to remember that even very small mistakes can make the difference in a case such as this," said attorney Tim La Sota, who was representing Hamadeh.

Dan Barr, an attorney representing Mayes, said Hamadeh didn’t present evidence to his claims.

"What on earth are we doing here?" Barr asked during closing arguments. "People can’t file complaints (over elections) with no facts."

Another judge is considering Lake’s challenge of her loss to Democrat Katie Hobbs in the governor’s race.

The Associated Press (AP) contributed to this report.