Arizona Republican Who Said 2020 Election Was Not Stolen Loses Primary

Republican voters in Arizona’s most populous county have ousted a top elections official who defended the state’s voting system against false claims of election fraud. The official, Stephen Richer, lost his primary re-election bid for Maricopa County recorder to State Representative Justin Heap. The campaign highlighted the divide between the Trump faction of the Republican Party and establishment Republicans. The county recorder oversees voter registration and mail-in voting, which has become a target for misinformation about election fraud. Heap’s victory could impact voting procedures in the county. He is now set to face a Democrat in the general election in November.