Election officials in Arizona’s most populous county have put an end to a drawn-out legal fight, reaching an agreement this week on how they will jointly manage the county’s elections going forward.
Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap had filed a lawsuit against the county’s board of supervisors — which is made up mostly of Republicans — back in June 2025. Heap alleged the board had unlawfully seized control over certain election administration functions. The board fired back, calling the lawsuit frivolous and accusing Heap of wasting money that belonged to taxpayers.
After mediated negotiations, both sides came to a settlement, which the board formally approved this week.
Board Chairwoman Kate Brophy McGee expressed relief following Tuesday’s vote. “This deal gets us out of the courtroom,” she said. “I’m sick of drama. We are done with being on the front page going forward.”
Heap described his office’s goal as straightforward — making sure its legally defined responsibilities are carried out properly. “I am pleased we have reached an agreement that, when implemented, will restore those responsibilities and establish a clear framework for administering elections moving forward,” Heap said in a statement released jointly with the board.
The terms of the settlement give Heap’s office primary control over early voting, the selection of ballot drop box locations, and other related duties. The board of supervisors will be responsible for Election Day voting operations, ballot tabulation, and maintenance of voting equipment. The board is also on the hook for funding a $15 million information technology system along with the staff positions that come with it.
An interim plan crafted by Heap’s attorney and approved by the Arizona Supreme Court will be in effect for the July 21 primary. Early voting in that race had already begun in late June.
Heap received support in his legal effort from America First Legal, a conservative public interest organization founded by Stephen Miller, who serves as a deputy chief of staff at the White House. Heap had argued that the board stripped his office of funding, IT personnel, and key responsibilities — including oversight of drop boxes and early voting site placement — through a deal made with his predecessor.
Heap had previously defeated incumbent recorder Stephen Richer in a Republican primary before winning the 2024 general election. The two clashed over how elections in Maricopa County should be run. Heap has stopped short of repeating debunked claims that the 2020 and 2022 elections were stolen, but has argued that voters lack confidence in the state’s voting system and that it is managed poorly. Richer, also a Republican, consistently and forcefully defended the integrity of past elections.
Not everyone on the board was on board with the deal. Supervisor Steve Gallardo, a Democrat, refused to vote in favor of the settlement and took aim at Heap during the meeting. “Honestly, I don’t think he wants to have an election that is conducted transparent or even an election that’s not compromised,” Gallardo said. “Now, with this, he owns it.”
