Ken Bennett, Former Arizona Secretary of State, Elected Chair of AUDIT USA: Unveils Five-Point Plan for Transparency in Troubled Times by Using Existing Digital Records to Verify and Audit Elections
Rev 5/25/25
Tucson, AZ — In a significant step forward for election transparency, AUDIT USA (a 501(c)(3) nonprofit) announced the unanimous election of Ken Bennett as Chair of its Board following a meeting held on Friday, January 31, 2025. This leadership transition underscores the organization’s commitment to promoting transparent, verifiable, and publicly accessible election processes nationwide.
Ken Bennett, a former Arizona Secretary of State (2009–2015), is a principled Republican who has long championed election integrity. In 2021, he served as the Arizona Senate’s liaison during the controversial audit of Maricopa County’s 2020 election results—an effort led by the Republican-controlled Senate and executed by Cyber Ninjas, a private data firm. While the audit drew widespread criticism over its methods, Bennett’s role was critical and courageous.
Despite internal pressure, Bennett stood firm in his commitment to transparency. He was temporarily barred from the audit site after inviting independent election experts to observe the process—highlighting his refusal to compromise on truth and accountability.
Cyber Ninjas’ management repeatedly challenged Bennett, claiming his honesty was a liability. AUDIT Director John Brakey countered, “Ken Bennett is the only politician I have ever known who is genuinely honest to a fault. We need more principled statesmen like him.”
Following the audit, Bennett conducted a series of public town halls across Arizona to explain what had occurred and answer questions from concerned citizens.
Bennett’s leadership record includes service as an Arizona State Senator from 1999 to 2007, including as President of the Senate from 2003 to 2007. He has consistently been praised for his calm demeanor, bipartisan approach, and willingness to listen to all sides.
In 2022, Bennett returned to the Arizona Senate and successfully passed a bipartisan bill to make elections transparent, trackable, and publicly verifiable using ballot images and the Cast Vote Record (CVR) database. The bill was supported by Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes but was ultimately vetoed by the governor, following lobbying by Common Cause Arizona—despite the fact that Common Cause in New York actively supports ballot image transparency.
A Costly Stand for Integrity and for Our Beloved Country
In 2024, former Arizona Secretary of State Ken Bennett took a principled stand while running for reelection to the Arizona Senate—and paid a steep political price.
He was challenged in the Republican primary by an opponent heavily funded by dark money interests with a notorious reputation.
Ken Bennett raised $95,880 and had $48,641 cash on hand as of the final pre-primary filing.
Mark Finchem raised $343,624 and had $13,554 cash on hand.
Steve Zipperman raised $162,976 with $83,665 cash on hand.
Despite rasing $95,880 and had $48,641 on hand his campaign, Bennett was dramatically outspent, defeating him in a solidly Republican district in a 3 way race.
This is a textbook example of how principled Republicans are being targeted, marginalized, and replaced by operatives loyal to MAGA party bosses and oligarchs.
The Republican Party was taken over by a corrupt grifter-driven movement fueled by dark money and special interest.
Many of the few principled leaders still left and standing are forced to become sycophants—or be replaced.
They must adhere to the preferences of influential donors to avoid negative consequences. Individuals such as Trump, other prominent figures associated with Musk and his "PayPal Mafia" friends expect certain rhetoric to maintain support and prevent challenges from opportunistic contenders.
What happened to Ken Bennett in Arizona's Legislative District 1.
A Snapshot of District 1 includes most of Yavapai County and part of Coconino County, including Prescott. As of 2023, the voter registration breakdown is:
Republican: 51.52%
Democrat: 18.39%
Independent/Other: 28.60%
This district has been a Republican stronghold for decades. Ken Bennett first won the Senate seat in 2002, and it has remained in GOP hands ever since. No Democrat has held this seat in modern political history.
In this crucial period in our nation's history when division resembles the pre-Civil War era.
Abraham Lincoln warned that America's downfall would not come from a foreign invader, but from within.
Abraham Lincoln’s 1838 address to the Young Men’s Lyceum of Springfield, Illinois, titled:
"The Perpetuation of Our Political Institutions."
Said the following:
“If destruction be our lot, we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of freemen, we must live through all time, or die by suicide.”
— Abraham Lincoln, 1838
Lincoln believed the greatest threat to our Democratic Republic was internal division and a loss of shared truth.
He also said:
“Let them know the truth, and the country is safe.”
We live in an era where the truth is often uncertain, which may be part of a broader strategy.
Hannah Arendt, a German-American political theorist, once observed:
“This constant lying is not aimed at making the people believe a lie but at ensuring
that no one believes anything anymore.A people that can no longer distinguish between truth and liescannot distinguish between right and wrong...With such a people, you can do whatever you want.”
— Hannah Arendt (1906 -1975)
The fear of being “primaried” has created a culture of political submission where few dare to think independently or vote against MAGA-aligned leadership.
In plain terms, a sycophant is a "yes man"
—someone who tells those in power what they want to hear, not out of conviction, but to stay in their good graces or avoid political punishment.
That’s exactly what happened in Arizona’s Legislative District 1, to my brother from a different mother, in the fight for election integrity Ken Bennett.
Additionally, a similar pattern has occurred with Republicans such as Senator Jeff Flake, Arizona House Speaker Rusty Bowers, Former Congressman Adam Kinzinger, and Congresswoman Liz Cheney, who have all were pushed out for putting country over party.
These courageous leaders didn’t submit to extremism. They stood up—alone, at times—for truth, for the Constitution, and for our democratic republic.
But imagine what they could do if they were organized, supported, and backed by a movement of Americans who want unity, not division.
The 2026 midterms are fast approaching. The entire U.S. House will be on the ballot, along with a third of the Senate. Primaries begin as early as March.
🗳️ 2026 U.S. House and Senate Primary Schedule
Time is short—and the stakes are enormous. The earliest state primaries begin on March 3, 2026, and the latest occur in mid-September. June is the busiest month, with 16 states holding primaries
We need to send a clear message: ballots—not bullets—must remain the tool of change in America. But that only works if we fight back against the culture of fear, the flood of dark money, and the betrayal of our democratic principles.
Now is the time to rally the principled, not abandon them. If we unite around truth, courage, transparency and country, we could change the direction of this nation—before it’s too late.
The Broader Pattern: Bennett and Bowers Targeted
The 2020 Republican Majority Leader in the Arizona House, Rusty Bowers, was also approached by Trump operatives who pressured him to take unlawful actions to overturn the election. Like Bennett, Bowers refused to break his oath.
Ken Bennett and Rusty Bowers are long-time acquaintances and have both proven themselves to be principled American statesmen—willing to stand for the Constitution even under immense pressure.
That’s precisely why they were targeted.
If you’re unfamiliar with Rusty Bowers' story, you can watch his testimony here—a powerful reminder of what integrity looks like in American politics, that being pushed out of the Republican / MAGA Party.
Ken Bennett testified before the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Reform on October 7, 2021, during a hearing titled "Assessing the Election 'Audit' in Arizona and Threats to American Democracy." As the Arizona Senate's liaison to the Maricopa County election audit, which was conducted by Cyber Ninjas, Bennett discussed the audit's findings and processes.
This video below Excerpt of Ken Bennett Opening Statements: @ 47.55 min
“The most significant finding of the audit, is that the hand count of the physical ballots very closely matches the county's official results in the president. and U.S. Senate races. Now that finding is frustrating to many who expected the audit to prove a different election result…
Ken Bennett acknowledged that the hand count of physical ballots closely matched the county's official results, reaffirming President Joe Biden's victory in Maricopa County.
Bipartisan Collaboration for Election Transparency
Despite their differing political backgrounds, Ken Bennett and John Brakey, a progressive Democrat and co-founder of AUDIT USA, have found common ground in their shared mission to enhance election transparency.
Brakey, who served as Deputy Liaison under Bennett during the 2021 Maricopa County audit, has long championed reforms to make elections transparent, trackable, and publicly verifiable in Arizona and beyond.
In collaboration with other stakeholders, are spearheading initiatives to promote the adoption of ABE (Auditable Ballot Examination), an independent audit system that enables election officials, candidates, and the general public to verify election results.
This system utilizes digital ballot images and Cast Vote Records (CVRs) as anonymous public records to ensure transparency.
In 2023, their bipartisan advocacy helped introduce legislation—supported by current Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes—to guarantee public access to digital ballot images and CVRs. This legislation was designed to empower voters with the tools to verify results independently, strengthening public trust in democratic institutions.
Reflections on the 2024 Election: The Path Forward
John Brakey, Director of AUDIT USA, offered a candid assessment of the 2024 election cycle:
“While it is a relief that the election did not result in violence, it also exposed significant vulnerabilities that must be addressed before the 2026 midterms. There are many ways an election can be compromised, yet our current systems lack the safeguards needed to ensure transparency and accountability.”
Please don't tell us that you know your elections are good because you ran a logic and accuracy test. Yes! That is an important test but it not an audit. Please read this read this Chapter 11A of ebook coming in early 2026.
Brakey stressed the urgent need for secondary digital verification tools—not only for election officials, but also for candidates and the general public. He warned that social media manipulation and algorithmic bias are increasingly undermining election integrity and eroding public trust.
Strengthening Leadership, Advancing the Mission
As part of its renewed commitment to nonpartisan leadership, AUDIT USA proudly welcomes Ken Bennett as Board Chair. With decades of experience in election administration, Bennett brings credibility and deep dedication to strengthening democratic processes.
Under his leadership, AUDIT USA will continue developing transparent, publicly verifiable audit systems—ensuring that every vote cast is a vote that can be verified.
Advancing Election Transparency Through Innovation
Since its founding in 2004, AUDIT USA has remained focused on one core mission:
“To restore public ownership and oversight of elections, to ensure the fundamental right of every American citizen to vote, and to guarantee that each vote is counted as intended in a secure, transparent, impartial, and independently audited election process.”
Over the past two decades, this mission has evolved to meet the demands of a digital age.
Today, AUDIT USA is committed to making election data transparent, accessible, and verifiable—putting the tools of democracy back into the hands of the people.
“In an era where democracy faces unprecedented challenges, every vote must be verifiable, and every citizen must have access to clear, trustworthy election data,” said Ken Bennett, Chair of AUDIT USA.
Innovative Solutions for a Modern Democracy
Looking forward, AUDIT USA and Bennett envision a future where election verification is simple, accessible, and publicly accountable. Key elements of that vision include:
Email-Enabled Excel Spreadsheets
Hyperlinked to securely stored ballot images in the cloud, allowing voters to instantly verify election results.User-Friendly Platforms
Designed for accessibility—even for those with limited Excel experience.Robust Verification Tools
Empowering stakeholders to cross-check election results at the precinct level with speed and accuracy.
ABE is a remarkable system. We encourage you to watch this short demo video showcasing some of its capabilities:
📽️ Watch the ABE Demo Video
Bennett and Brakey agree: No voter should leave the polls uncertain about the integrity of their vote. Election officials and the public alike must be equipped with the tools to verify outcomes—and restore confidence in the democratic process.
The Urgency for Transparent Elections
The 2024 election cycle revealed a troubling truth: nearly 90 million eligible voters did not participate. This staggering figure underscores the urgent need to rebuild trust in our electoral system.
“Ensuring transparency and accountability in every vote is not just a right—it is a collective responsibility,” said John Brakey.
Helpful Resource
Video: Ken Bennett's 5 Key Steps for Ensuring Verifiable Elections [Watch at 30:36 mark]
About AUDIT USA
Founded in 2004, AUDIT USA is a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to empowering voters by making election data publicly accessible, secure, and easy to understand. Through advocacy, research, and cutting-edge technology, AUDIT USA promotes transparency, accountability, and public trust in the electoral process—ensuring that every vote counts and every voice is heard.
Media Contact:
John Brakey
📞 520-339-2696
📧 JohnBrakey@gmail.com
Reclaiming Trust: How Transparent Elections Can Save Money and Strengthen Democracy
📰 Read the Full Article on Substack
Thanks for reading John’s Substack!
Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support AUDIT USA work. Please share with others
Rusty Bowers and Ken Bennett, the Singing Senators.
May 24, 2010 At a fundraiser in Prescott, Secretary of State Ken Bennett relates his experiences with Rusty Bowers when they both served (and sang!) in the Arizona senate. They then perform their parody, "Mamas, Make Sure Your Babies Grow Up as Republicans."
AUDIT USA is a 501(c)(3) organization. Your donations are tax-deductible!
Donation Mail to:
AUDIT USA P.O. Box 26361
Tucson, AZ85726
Or Donate online using the button below.
We appreciate donations of any size.
📄 ABE Brochure (Link & QR Code): https://bit.ly/4gq5WfY
