Former Republican Arizona Attorney General and ASU alumnus Mark Brnovich died at 59 on Monday.
Katie Conner, Brnovich's spokesperson, said he died of a heart attack in his Phoenix-area home, according to the Arizona Republic.
Brnovich served as the 26th attorney general for two terms from 2015 to 2023.
"It is with profound sorrow that the Brnovich family announces the passing of Mark Brnovich," David Weissman, an Arizona political relations consultant, said to the Arizona Republic. "We are heartbroken with this loss and are deeply moved by the outpouring of love and support from so many wonderful people across the state and country."
Brnovich was known for his controversial legacy as attorney general. He sued the Arizona Board of Regents in 2019 over leasing tax-exempt, public land for a privately owned project. He filed previous complaints in 2018 and argued ABOR was setting tuition prices too high and that it violated the state constitution.
READ MORE: Attorney General sues ABOR over ASU real estate projects
Besides his time as Arizona attorney general, Brnovich served as the director for the Arizona Department of Gaming from 2009 to 2013, and ran an unsuccessful campaign for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate in 2022.
In April, Brnovich was formally nominated by President Donald Trump as the next ambassador of the United States to Serbia, but the nomination was withdrawn in October.
"I am saddened to hear of the sudden passing of former Attorney General Mark Brnovich," said Attorney General Kris Mayes in a written statement to The State Press. "My heartfelt condolences go to his wife Susan and their entire family at this difficult time. Mark dedicated many years to public service in Arizona, including his two terms as Attorney General. Arizona is grateful for his service. My thoughts, and those of everyone he worked with at the Arizona Attorney General’s Office, are with his loved ones today."
Both Brnovich and Mayes worked at The State Press while they attended ASU. Brnovich was a columnist during the 1986-87 academic school year, and Mayes was an editor when she attended.
This story is developing and may be updated.
Edited by Senna James, Henry Smardo, Katrina Michalak and Ellis Preston.
Reach the reporter at elbradfo@asu.edu and follow @emmalbradford__ on X.
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Emma Bradford is a junior studying journalism and mass communication and political science with a minor in business. She has previously worked at the Cronkite News Washington, D.C. bureau as a Politics and Money Reporter. Bradford is in her fourth semester with The State Press and on the politics desk.
