Trump-backed conspiracy theorist wants to take control of Arizona election

He speaks in a sober and serious tone and presents himself as a common-sense family man. Asked about his family life by an interviewer, he said that “his children are all grown up and gone” and added that nowadays “I think of my grandchildren” in the battles he fights.

But her family life was turbulent. He has been married four times and separated for more than two decades from two adult children, and he does not know their children, family members said. (He also has two stepchildren.)

He frequently speaks of his experience as a police officer and firefighter in Kalamazoo, Michigan. But personal records obtained from that city’s Public Safety Department, which he left in 1999, include this note in his file: “Retired, bad grade, would not rehire.” A department spokesman declined to comment.

Mr. Finchem has raised more than $1.2 million, a considerable amount for a campaign for Secretary of State. (Mr. Lane has raised about $1.1 million, while the other two candidates are far behind.) Much of the money comes from out of state – seven of the eight donors listed as having done so. donated the maximum of $5,300 in his last two campaigns. the deposits came from elsewhere. The main donors are Brian T. Kennedy, former president of the right-wing Claremont Institute, and Michael Marsicano, former mayor of Hazleton, Pennsylvania, who recently lost a Republican congressional primary.

However, there are few visible signs of a general staff or campaign office. About three-quarters of his expenses, more than $750,000, went to a Florida political consulting firm run by Spence Rogers, the nephew of Wendy Rogers, an Arizona lawmaker with ties to white nationalists. according to campaign documents. Another $53,000, or nearly 5% of his total spending, went to Mr. Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort. (Many other Trump-backed candidates have done the same, including Kari Lake, Mr. Trump’s favorite candidate for governor of Arizona, whose campaign spent more than $100,000 at Mar-a-Lago. .)