Trump Administration Opens Investigation into Arizona's 2020 Election Results

The Department of Homeland Security's investigations arm is looking into the 2020 election in Arizona, raising concerns about the integrity of the process.

Published on Mar. 11, 2026

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The Department of Homeland Security's Investigations unit has opened an investigation into the 2020 election results in Arizona, according to the state's attorney general, Kris Mayes, and a source familiar with the matter. This is an unusual move, as the agency typically focuses on transnational crime rather than election audits. The investigation comes after the Trump administration subpoenaed records related to the Arizona Senate's audit of Maricopa County's 2020 election results.

Why it matters

The investigation by the Trump administration into the 2020 election results in Arizona raises concerns about the continued efforts to undermine confidence in the electoral process, despite the lack of evidence of widespread fraud. This move could further polarize the political landscape and erode trust in the integrity of American elections.

The details

The investigation by Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) was confirmed by Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, a Democrat, who stated that the agency had requested public records from a previous investigation conducted by the prior Attorney General, Mark Brnovich. Mayes said the earlier investigation found no evidence to support claims of widespread fraud in the 2020 election. The HSI investigation is believed to have been communicated to the attorney general's office a week after outgoing Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem visited an HSI office in Arizona in February.

  • The Trump administration subpoenaed records related to the Arizona Senate's audit of Maricopa County's 2020 election results on Monday.
  • Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem visited an HSI office in Arizona in February 2026.

The players

Kris Mayes

The current attorney general of Arizona, a Democrat.

Mark Brnovich

The previous attorney general of Arizona, who conducted an investigation into the 2020 election and found no evidence of widespread fraud.

Kristi Noem

The outgoing Homeland Security Secretary, who visited an HSI office in Arizona in February 2026.

Homeland Security Investigations (HSI)

The investigative arm of the Department of Homeland Security, which typically focuses on transnational crime but is now investigating the 2020 election results in Arizona.

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What’s next

It is unclear if the HSI investigation is connected to the subpoena from the Trump administration for records related to the 2020 election in Arizona's Maricopa County. The Maricopa County Elections office and the Maricopa County Recorder's Office have not received any subpoenas as of Monday.

The takeaway

The Trump administration's investigation into the 2020 election results in Arizona, despite a lack of evidence of widespread fraud, further fuels concerns about the ongoing efforts to undermine confidence in the electoral process. This move could deepen political divisions and erode trust in the integrity of American elections.