Arizona Republican Endorses Democrat to Replace Him in Key Role Certifying 2024 Election

An Arizona Republican who holds a key role in deciding the ballot count for Arizona in the 2024 election has decided to endorse a Democrat to take his place.

Jack Sellers, a Republican on the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, has endorsed a Democrat Joel Navarro to fill his District 1 seat after losing the GOP primary race to Chandler City Councilman Mark Stewart in July.

In a statement, Sellers said "Moving forward, we need public officials who are willing to stand up against lies and misinformation in defense of Maricopa County voters. Joel Navarro is one of those leaders."

On Wednesday, Navarro, who previously served on the Tempe City Council, revealed that Sellers had endorsed him. Navarro described the Republican supervisor as both a "friend and mentor" when making the announcement.

Following the 2020 and 2022 elections, GOP members of the county board have faced frequent backlash from fellow Republicans, who pushed numerous claims of voter fraud in the county.

The county supervisors came under intense scrutiny for their management of the elections after several Democrats clinched victories in closely contested statewide races.

The district in which Stewart and Navarro are competing in, boasts a population exceeding 700,000. It spans several East Valley communities, including Chandler, Gilbert, Queen Creek, Tempe, and Mesa.