On Monday, following delay after delay, the MAGA-controlled Cochise County, Arizona, board of elections missed its deadline to certify 47,000-plus (mostly conservative) votes. The move was seen by most as pure political theater from a deep-red county which has swallowed the Big Lie election denialism hook, line, and sinker. Like all political theater, this will cost taxpayers money.
Before two MAGA-conspiracy theorists who don’t trust “any computers” failed to do their part to certify their constituents’ votes, Arizona State Elections Director Kori Lorick explained that there was no evidence of impropriety in the 2022 midterm elections, and “the secretary will use all available legal remedies to compel compliance with Arizona law and protect Cochise County voters’ right to have their votes counted.”
Late on Monday, Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, who will be the state’s next Democratic governor, sued the Republican-controlled county for refusing to do its job. The fact that this move does not help Democrats get more votes seems lost on the fake-triots in Cochise County. However, as people have begun to point out, not only is this quixotic conspiracist’s adventure going to be financially costly for Arizonans, the Republican Party officials behind it are putting a lot of conservative constituents’ votes in jeopardy. “Lorick wrote in a letter last week that Hobbs is required by law to approve the statewide canvass by next week and will have to exclude Cochise County’s votes if they aren’t received in time. ” You know what that means? Yes. It means exactly what you think it means.
RELATED STORY: MAGA-controlled Arizona county fails to certify election results by deadline
According to the Associated Press, the loss of Cochise County’s votes—which are expected to greatly favor Republican candidates—would threaten a possible U.S. House seat and a state schools chief position. The best part about this all is that you can now take the next sentence and file it in your “foot, meet mouth” folder. Those seats are expected to go to Republican candidates—but could now flip to the Democratic challenger.
Thoughts and prayers!
Hobbs’ lawsuit is asking the Cochise County Superior Court to require officials to certify the election results no later than this coming Thursday. Arizona state law requires all results to be certified by Dec. 8—“with or without certification from all of the counties.”
Here’s a thought.
Is it likely that the lack of Cochise votes would result in a big flip from red to blue? No. But it is theoretically possible, and an important reminder to conservative voters that their elected officials, who barely care about their voters under any circumstance, drop all pretense of working for their constituency the moment they are elected to office.
The new Secretary of State-elect has this to say:
Elections matter!
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Election season overtime is finally winding down, so Democratic operative Joe Sudbay joins David Nir on The Downballot as a guest-host this week to recap some of the last results that have just trickled in. At the top of the list is the race for Arizona attorney general, where Democrat Kris Mayes has a 510-vote lead with all ballots counted (a mandatory recount is unlikely to change the outcome). Also on the agenda is Arizona's successful Proposition 308, which will allow students to receive financial aid regardless of immigration status.