Election officials in Arizona’s most populous county reached an agreement this week on how to jointly oversee the vote, ending a prolonged legal battle.
Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap sued the predominantly GOP board of supervisors in June 2025, alleging it illegally took control of certain aspects of election administration. The board called the lawsuit frivolous and said Heap was wasting taxpayer money.
They reached a settlement this week to resolve the lawsuit after mediated negotiations, and the board approved it.
“This deal gets us out of the courtroom,” board Chairwoman Kate Brophy McGee, said after Tuesday’s vote. “I’m sick of drama. We are done with being on the front page going forward.”
Heap said his office’s objective is simple: to ensure its statutory responsibilities are carried out lawfully.
