PHOENIX — A top elections official in Maricopa County is facing a primary challenge from a right-wing Republican that could potentially disrupt the way elections are run in one of the nation's swing counties in November's presidential vote.
First-term State Rep. Justin Heap of Mesa has qualified for the 2024 Republican Primary ballot for Maricopa County recorder.
Heap submitted over 8,000 petition signatures, according to a news release on March 27.
“It’s clear that Republican voters in Maricopa County are desperate for change in the County Recorder’s office,” Heap said in a news release. “I’m humbled by the overwhelming outpouring of support from voters across the County. The message I heard from them was unequivocal — the politicization of the Recorder’s office must end, and we must restore voter confidence that our elections are run honestly, securely, transparently, and lawfully.”
He was joined at his campaign announcement in February by fellow members of the Arizona Freedom Caucus. The group was organized by Republican State Sen. Jake Hoffman of Queen Creek, one of Arizona's 11 fake electors from the 2020 presidential vote.
Heap's campaign announcement said: "It is time to return the position of county recorder to one that is exclusively focused on running transparent, secure, honest and lawful elections."
Heap, who has a law degree from Arizona State University, is taking on first-term GOP County Recorder Stephen Richer. Richer has become a target of fellow Republicans and election deniers nationwide.
As recorder, Richer maintains the county's voter registration lists, administers early voting, and handles provisional ballots and ballot challenges.
Richer, a lawyer, defeated incumbent Democratic Recorder Adrian Fontes in 2020.
In 2020, Richer pledged to take politics out of elections. Heap's campaign announcement attacks the "hyper politicization" of the recorder's office.
Richer told the Arizona Republic: "The more the merrier... I'm the only one who already has the signatures, has raised more money than all other candidates combined by a lot, has countywide name ID and has shown I can win a competitive general election. There's a reason why I'm in the office."
Campaign finance reports show Richer had $211,000 in cash on hand as of Dec. 31.
Richer and the Republican-controlled Maricopa County Board, which oversees county elections, have withstood vitriolic pressure campaigns from Republicans refusing to accept the party's defeats in statewide races during the last two election cycles.
Three other Republicans have filed statements of interest to run for county recorder.
On the Democratic side, the lone candidate is Tim Stringham, an Army and Navy veteran who serves in the U.S. Naval Reserve Judge Advocate General's Corps.
The County Board faces turnover with two seats coming open. Republicans Bill Gates and Clint Hickman, both staunch election defenders, are retiring.
Gates' seat is in a swing district, and Hickman's is in a solidly Republican district.
A moderate Republican is seeking Gates' seat.
Congressman Debbie Lesko of Peoria has announced her candidacy to succeed Hickman. In January 2021, Lesko refused to certify Arizona's election results.
The primary election is July 30. Candidates have until April 1 to turn in valid petition signatures to get on the ballot.
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