Republicans Turn on Each Other in Arizona
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Republican officials in control of Arizona's electoral systems have taken a disagreement over how elections should be managed to the courts.
Maricopa County recorder Justin Heap sued his fellow Republicans on the county's board of supervisors on Friday, after a monthslong battle over which powers his position holds.
Newsweek has contacted Heap and the board of supervisors for comment on the situation via email.
The Context
Heap, a former Republican state representative, was elected to the recorder position in 2024, and has consistently clashed with the Republican-controlled Maricopa County board of supervisors since. He says that the board has taken control of his position's election duties, a charge that the board has dismissed as "irresponsible and juvenile."
What To Know
The dispute evolved into a legal matter on Thursday after Heap announced he was suing the board.
In the filing for the lawsuit, which was brought to the county's superior court, Heap said that the board was "engaged in an unlawful attempt to seize near-total control over the administration of elections."
Traditionally, the management of elections is split between the board and the recorder, with a "shared services agreement" (SSA) allocating the different duties, such as handling voter registration, counting ballots, managing early balloting and running mail balloting.
A vote sign outside the polling location at the Burton Barr Central Library on November 5, 2024, in Phoenix.
A vote sign outside the polling location at the Burton Barr Central Library on November 5, 2024, in Phoenix.
Getty Images
In response to the lawsuit, Maricopa County board chairman Thomas Galvin and vice chairwoman Kate Brophy McGee said in a statement: "From day one, recorder Heap has been making promises that the law doesn't allow him to keep.
"Arizona election statutes delineate election administration between county boards of supervisors and recorders to ensure there are checks and balances, and recorder Heap clearly doesn't understand the responsibilities of his position."
What People Are Saying
Maricopa County recorder Justin Heap said in a statement on the dispute: "For weeks, since before being sworn into office, I've sought reasonable, common-sense solutions with my fellow Republicans on the board, only to be ignored. Maricopa County elections need a practical, workable SSA to ensure efficient, accurate elections; however, the Supervisors' refusal to engage in honest dialogue risks a crisis in our upcoming elections.
"With an election less than 90 days away, the supervisors' unwillingness to address these concerns will force me to take legal action against the board to restore this office's full authority, and deliver the results voters elected me to achieve."
What Happens Next
The lawsuit will be heard at the Maricopa County Superior Court in the coming months. The results will determine how powers are shared between the recorder and the board for elections at the congressional midterms in 2026.
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