Phoenix Election Update

Phoenix (AP) – Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer has been in the spotlight while managing elections in a politically intense area. He faced threats to his safety, persistent harassment, and an ongoing wave of misinformation.

Ultimately, he was unable to secure reelection. This week, the Republicans who staunchly defended the integrity of Arizona’s elections saw him lose a significant race, which could affect how elections are managed in this highly scrutinized county.

Richer was defeated by state legislator Justin Heap, who raised concerns about various aspects of the election process, during a GOP primary that concluded Tuesday. Although Richer will serve until the November election, his departure early next year signifies the end of a contentious era. His office, responsible for overseeing elections alongside the county board of supervisors, had been under fire since the 2020 Presidential Election when former President Donald Trump and his supporters falsely claimed that rampant fraud cost him the election.

Protests led by a group that claimed to represent Republican lawmakers, local officials, and grassroots activists contributed to the environment of threats and harassment that ultimately influenced his campaign for reelection.

In a post on Social Platform X, Richer congratulated Heap on advancing to the general election and promised a seamless transition. He also shared a sentiment opposing the hostility and distrust pervading the state’s political climate, urging others to accept the outcomes of elections: “There are winners and losers… Accept that. Move on.”

Trump challenged each loss in the six battlegrounds where he was beaten by Democrat Joe Biden in 2020, but Arizona’s narrow margin of defeat—less than 11,000 votes—was particularly contentious.

In the wake of the election, Republicans in the state Senate enlisted Trump supporters, including a firm known as Cyber Ninjas, to conduct a widely criticized review of Maricopa County’s election procedures, ultimately upholding Biden’s victory. Since then, several counties in the state have faced intensified scrutiny, with election officials receiving relentless criticism and harassment from activists peddling conspiracy theories surrounding voting methods and mail-in ballots.

Even though Richer wasn’t in office during the 2020 election, he consistently defended Arizona’s electoral processes, making him a target for those who believed false claims surrounding the results. After a chaotic public meeting certifying the November 2022 election results, he received threatening voicemails from a man in California, who was arrested earlier this year.

Election officials across the country have lauded Richer for his commitment to transparency and truth in the face of adversity. David Becker, of the Center for Election Innovation and Research, commended him as an inspiration, noting that many election officials cite Richer’s example in their work.

Heap did not respond to a request for comment but did issue a post on X on Wednesday soliciting donations for his campaign in November, referring to Trump as “the second most important election after re-election at the polls.”

Heap has toned down claims that the 2020 and 2022 elections were fraudulent but has described the state’s early voting methods as concerning, raising questions about voting security. Earlier this year, he proposed a failed bill aimed at altering how Arizona maintains its voter lists.

During discussions in late June, Heap acknowledged the discrepancies in election processes, stating that voter confidence was undermined not merely by misinformation on social media but also by genuine operational issues that hadn’t been fully addressed.

Stan Burns, a political consultant from Phoenix, remarked that many Maricopa County voters struggle to discern what’s real concerning election integrity, influenced by their political beliefs. He suggested that while there’s no need to panic, it’s essential to recognize that many voters are losing faith in the state’s electoral integrity.

In November, Heap will face Democrat Tim Stringham, who expressed skepticism about Heap’s primary victory and mentioned that he had voted for Richer due to his integrity amid widespread deception over the last few years.

Notably, several prominent election deniers secured victories in the Republican primary for various races in Arizona, yet results for the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors race were mixed. Some endorsed Republicans won seats, but incumbents who consistently supported the integrity of county elections faced significant losses.

Jack Sellers, who served as board chair during the Cyber Ninjas audit in 2021, opposed the review and faced backlash from the more extreme elements of his party. As he congratulated candidates advancing to the general election, he delivered a pointed message to critics of the election process, warning them to consider the consequences of their actions.