Noem Unable to Cite Single Election Fraud Case During Secretive Arizona Visit

The Homeland Security Secretary made unsubstantiated claims about voter fraud in the state, but could not provide any evidence.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem visited Arizona this week to discuss 'election security,' sparking rumors of a potential raid on the Maricopa County elections office. However, Noem's visit was shrouded in secrecy, with reporters required to RSVP a day in advance to attend her press conference at an undisclosed location. During the event, Noem made unsubstantiated claims about widespread voter fraud by illegal immigrants in Arizona, but when pressed by reporters, she was unable to cite a single specific case of election fraud.

Why it matters

Noem's visit and claims about voter fraud in Arizona are part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to undermine trust in the state's election system, despite multiple investigations, audits, and court rulings that have found no evidence of meaningful voter fraud. This comes as the administration pushes legislation like the SAVE Act, which would impose new voter ID requirements that advocates say would disenfranchise millions of Americans.

The details

Noem was flanked by poster boards discussing voter ID requirements being pushed by the SAVE Act, however, Arizona already requires proof of citizenship in order to register to vote as well as voter ID requirements. She called Arizona's elections an 'absolute disaster' and made the false claim that there is widespread voter fraud by illegal immigrants, but when pressed by reporters to provide examples, Noem could not provide even a single one.

  • On February 13, 2026, Kristi Noem visited Arizona to discuss 'election security'.
  • Noem's press conference was scheduled for Thursday evening, but was delayed by nearly an hour before she took the stage.

The players

Kristi Noem

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary who visited Arizona to discuss 'election security'.

Adrian Fontes

The Arizona Secretary of State and the state's elections chief, who chided Noem for traveling to Arizona to lecture the state's election administrators.

Kris Mayes

The Arizona Attorney General who blasted Noem and Trump for continuing to spread debunked election conspiracy theories.

Eli Crane

A U.S. Representative from Arizona who attended Noem's press conference and stated that he believes there is still fraud in every election.

Jennifer Wright

An attorney and elections conspiracy theorist who was mentioned by Noem as one of the Arizona officials she spoke with about elections.

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What they’re saying

“Have you ever had somebody come to your job and tell you to do a job that you're already doing? Well, that is what Kristi Noem just did to the State of Arizona and my office.”

— Adrian Fontes, Arizona Secretary of State (Video statement)

“Arizona's elections are safe and secure. The election deniers now staffing the Trump administration have spent the past six years lying to the American people in a deliberate effort to destroy trust in our election system.”

— Kris Mayes, Arizona Attorney General (Statement)

“Today, Secretary Noem made it abundantly clear — the Trump administration's actions are all connected. Whether it is pushing legislation that would keep 21 million Americans from voting, seizing election-related materials from Fulton County, refusing to rule out ICE at polling locations, threatening to 'nationalize' elections, or attempting to force states to hand over their voter rolls, there is no redline Trump and his administration won't cross to undermine Americans for their own political gain as they continue to peddle lies about our elections.”

— Alex Gulotta, All Voting is Local Arizona State Director (Statement)

“I think our elections are a joke. I think there is still fraud out there in every election we had.”

— Eli Crane, U.S. Representative (Statement to reporters)

“If the Trump Administration wants to talk election integrity, let's talk about January 6th. Let's talk about how the President of the United States called the Governor of Arizona to order him to hand over the election he squarely lost.”

— Ruben Gallego, U.S. Senator (Statement)

What’s next

The SAVE Act that Noem discussed has passed the U.S. House but faces a roadblock in the Senate, where Democrats Ruben Gallego and Mark Kelly oppose the legislation.

The takeaway

Noem's visit to Arizona and her unsubstantiated claims about voter fraud are part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to undermine trust in the state's election system, despite a lack of evidence to support such allegations. This comes as the administration pushes legislation that advocates say would disenfranchise millions of Americans, further eroding confidence in the democratic process.