TL/DR –
The hard right MAGA (Make America Great Again) movement is intensifying its efforts to unseat Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer. Richer, who has not supported claims that the county’s 2020 election was rigged, is a prime target for the movement, which has not provided evidence for its allegations. The likely challenger to Richer is speculated to be Rep. Justin Heap, a member of the hard right Freedom Caucus who has supported bills making it harder to run elections and easier to challenge the results.
The MAGA Drive Targets Maricopa County Recorder
The MAGA movement is stepping up efforts to unseat Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer this week, with the hard right seeking to gain control. MAGA supporters have dubbed Richer the “Beelzebub of county government”, accusing him of denying Kari Lake her deserved victory. This is despite the lack of evidence or explanation for why a Republican recorder would rig an election in favor of a Democrat (0 for 27 in election challenges).
Hard Right Targets Board of Supervisors
The hard right is also expected to attempt a takeover of the Board of Supervisors and the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office, currently run by establishment Republicans. However, their primary target is Richer.
Richer’s Stance on Election Integrity
Richer has been a target since he took office in 2021 and became one of the few Republican officials in the state who did not support the narrative that Maricopa County’s 2020 election was stolen. He was willing to risk his political future by publicly challenging this view (source). He subsequently sued Lake for defamation over her claims that he intentionally rigged the election against her.
Heap as Potential Challenger
It is widely speculated that Rep. Justin Heap, R-Mesa, will be Richer’s Republican challenger. Heap aligns with the election denial crowd, having run on a slate with several election deniers and being a member of Hoffman’s hard right Freedom Caucus. He has supported bills making it harder to run elections and easier to challenge the results (source, source).
Heap’s Controversial Actions
Heap has sparked controversy by using political donations to prioritize access to his office. He once asked a lobbyist who had not donated to his election campaign why they chose not to do so before agreeing to a meeting (source).
Expectations for a Tense Campaign
As the hard right prepares to attempt a takeover of Maricopa County with Heap as a potential chief elections officer, the campaign is expected to be contentious. The entire MAGA lineup is targeting Richer, with one supporter calling him an “egomaniacal moron” who is unfit for elected office (source).
For more information, contact laurie.roberts@arizonarepublic.com or follow her on X at @LaurieRoberts or on Threads at laurierobertsaz. To support local journalism, subscribe to azcentral.com today.
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