'I’ve been surprised': Stephen Richer slams Kari Lake, Donald Trump in glass-half-full interview

Phoenix, Arizona: To say Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer divides opinion would be an understatement, and in a recent interview with 12 News he talked about the upcoming general election, Arizona's place under proverbial scanner and the myriad of electoral issues blighting the state.

Richer, who has previously stated that the 2020 election was the most closely examined in Arizona's history, emphasized the scale of the upcoming November 5 election. “We’re expecting over two million voters in Maricopa County alone,” Richer said. “But I think we’re very well prepared. The primary went very well, and over 1.9 million mail ballot packets have already been sent out.” He highlighted that early voting sites were up and running smoothly, with over 2,000 voters participating on the first day.

Richer admitted the challenges of managing an election in a climate of increasing mistrust and misinformation, an issue he feels has persisted since the 2020 election. “For better or for worse, we’ve been in it for four years now,” Richer remarked, referring to the repeated debates about election security and voting technology like Dominion Voting Systems.

Despite numerous audits and checks, he noted the frustration of having to continuously counteract false narratives. “We hope to keep getting that information out there,” he said, adding that his aim is to move beyond these conversations in future elections.

A recent controversy involves over 200,000 individuals who have been flagged for potentially lacking proof of US citizenship in Arizona’s voter registration records. These voters, in Arizona since at least 1997, attested to being citizens but do not have documented proof on file. Richer and Secretary of State Adrian Fontes have sought clarification from the Arizona Supreme Court to resolve the issue before the election.

Richer emphasized the importance of addressing the matter promptly, noting, “We wanted crystal clear instructions on exactly how to handle that, just in case someone raises the issue after the election.”

Looking ahead, Richer acknowledged the possibility of legal challenges if Republican candidates like Donald Trump or Kari Lake were to lose in Arizona. Although the Republican Party of Arizona supported the court's decision regarding the citizenship verification issue, Richer said, “People are gonna file lawsuits… and good election law attorneys will only file lawsuits where they think they have something substantial.”

Reflecting on the current political climate, Richer expressed a growing cynicism regarding the lack of accountability in politics. He noted that many individuals in private acknowledge the legitimacy of the 2020 election but publicly assert the opposite due to political pressure.

“I’ve been surprised at the lack of accountability for actions,” Richer said. He voiced frustration over the continued spread of falsehoods, particularly by prominent figures like Kari Lake.

Despite being ousted in a primary for his stance on election integrity, Richer remains committed to defending the facts. “I’ve stood up for what is absolute fact, not just what I believe in,” he declared, emphasizing the importance of basing political debate on evidence rather than misinformation.