Arizona Rep. Justin Heap running for Maricopa County recorder

PHOENIX (3TV/CBS 5) — Mesa lawmaker Justin Heap is the latest politician gearing up to challenge incumbent Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer in what is becoming a crowded Republican primary.

Heap, who was elected to the state House in 2022, announced that he plans to officially kick off his campaign for the county office Wednesday at the Arizona Capitol.

“It is time to return the position of County Recorder to one that is exclusively focused on running transparent, secure, honest, and lawful elections,” Heap said in a press release.

.@Azjustinheap has also racked up over $800 in fines and counting because he’s 42 days late filing his campaign finance report which is supposed to show how much money he raised last year and where it came from. https://t.co/sMP3bMmBCV pic.twitter.com/wNEYCnLVtp
— Dennis Welch (@dennis_welch) February 28, 2024

Heap, an attorney, is a member of the conservative Arizona Freedom Caucus, which includes members who have pushed bogus claims of election fraud.

Currently, five other Republicans have filed statements of interest to run for the office that oversees elections in the state’s most populous county.

“I’m the only one who already has the signatures, has raised more money than all other candidates combined by a lot, and has shown I can win a competitive general election,” Richer said.

.⁦@stephen_richer⁩’s text message response to news that state lawmaker ⁦@azjustinheap⁩ plans to challenge him for Maricopa County Recorder in the GOP primary: pic.twitter.com/wsse52Xxyl
— Dennis Welch (@dennis_welch) February 28, 2024