Mark Brnovich, who served as Arizona's attorney general during the high‑profile post‑2020 election review, has died at 59 after a heart attack. He had a long public‑service career as a judge, prosecutor, attorney and gaming regulator. An April 2022 interim report from his office flagged procedural concerns but did not find evidence of widespread fraud; later records released by his successor said Brnovich suppressed some investigator findings and withheld a memo rebutting conspiracy claims. Brnovich also ran for U.S. Senate in 2021 and was later nominated, then withdrawn, for ambassador to Serbia.
Mark Brnovich, Former Arizona Attorney General Who Led Post‑2020 Election Probe, Dies at 59
FILE - Former Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich testifies during a House Judiciary subcommittee hearing on the southern border, Jan. 30, 2024, on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Mariam Zuhaib, File)
Mark Brnovich, Arizona's attorney general when the state became a focal point of efforts by then‑President Donald Trump and his allies to investigate alleged fraud in the 2020 election, has died at 59 after suffering a heart attack, a family representative said.
Brnovich died on Monday, Katie Conner, a family representative, said Tuesday. Colleagues and friends remembered him for a long career in public service that included roles as a judge, prosecutor, private-practice lawyer and director of the Arizona Department of Gaming.
Public Service and Reputation
Former Republican governor Doug Ducey praised Brnovich’s dedication to the law and to victims, saying his humor and "happy warrior" spirit were hallmarks of his character. Many who worked with him noted his energetic approach to legal and policy battles.
2020 Election Investigation
Brnovich, a Republican, was serving his second term as attorney general when his office examined the 2020 presidential contest in Arizona, one of the states carried by Joe Biden. In April 2022 he issued an interim report after a six‑month probe that raised concerns about some election procedures but did not present evidence of widespread fraud.
After Brnovich left office, his successor, Democrat Kris Mayes, released records saying Brnovich had suppressed some findings from his own investigators. Mayes also published a separate memo that Brnovich had withheld, which systematically rebutted a range of conspiracy claims circulating after the election — from alleged duplicate or deceased voters to more far‑fetched theories about pre‑marked ballots and foreign or satellite manipulation.
Political Career and Later Developments
Brnovich ran for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate in 2021 but lost in the primary. During that campaign he positioned himself as the son of immigrants who fled communism in Yugoslavia and emphasized issues such as religious liberty, border security and election integrity. While seeking the Senate nomination he drew sharp criticism from former President Trump, who said Brnovich had not pursued election‑fraud prosecutions aggressively enough and withheld his endorsement.
In April, President Trump nominated Brnovich to be U.S. ambassador to Serbia; that nomination was later withdrawn in October. Throughout his career he remained a prominent and sometimes polarizing figure in Arizona politics.
Reactions
Kris Mayes, Ducey and other public figures expressed sadness at Brnovich’s sudden passing and extended condolences to his wife, Susan, and the rest of his family. His professional legacy includes a mix of enforcement actions, high‑profile litigation, and the contentious investigation into the 2020 election that continued to draw attention after he left office.
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