Rachel Mitchell accuses Arizona congressman of spreading false information

PHOENIX – Maricopa County District Attorney Rachel Mitchell on Thursday accused Arizona State Rep. Alex Kolodin of spreading false information about her office’s collaboration with a company that provides election services.

The resident attorney said Kolodin, a state representative for the 3rd District since his election in 2022, claimed the Maricopa County Attorney's Office refused to change the terms of a contract with Runbeck Election Services, Inc. But Mitchell said the MCAO does not have the authority to accept or reject the terms of the contract, according to a news release.

“The MCAO can only advise the board on what the law allows the board to do,” Mitchell said in the press release.

Mitchell said Rep. Kolodin tried to negotiate a separate contract with Runbeck outside of the county's current agreement. In fact, it was the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors that rejected his proposal on March 11, 2024.

In her statement, Mitchell said she called Kolodin personally to clarify the matter, but he did not clarify the situation.

“Representative Kolodin’s disinformation campaign is false, irresponsible and inflammatory,” Mitchell said.

Mitchell, the incumbent Republican who is running for re-election on Nov. 5, is expected to face Democrat Tamika Wooten, who ran unopposed in her primary.

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