A county official in rural Arizona pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor Monday after acknowledging delaying the vote canvass in 2022.
Cochise County Supervisor Peggy Judd (R) was indicted on felony election interference and conspiracy charges last fall after she and a fellow Republican supervisor voted against certifying the county’s midterm election results in advance of a statutory deadline.
Arizona law prohibits felons from holding public office, but by accepting a deal to plead to a singular misdemeanor — failure to perform a duty by an election officer — Judd can retain her seat in the ruby-red county in the state’s southeast corner.
The plea deal comes barely two weeks in advance of the 2024 presidential election, where former President Trump has not indicated he will accept the results if he loses. Arizona is again viewed as a critical swing state this cycle, with polls showing a close race.
“Any attempt to interfere with elections in Arizona will not be tolerated. My office will continue to pursue justice and ensure that anyone who undermines our electoral system is held accountable,” Attorney General Kris Mayes (D), whose office prosecuted the case, said in a statement.
“Today’s plea agreement and sentencing should serve as a strong reminder that I will not hesitate to use every tool available to uphold the rule of law and protect the integrity of Arizona’s elections,” she continued.
Judd will pay a maximum $500 fine and face at least 90 days of probation, Mayes’s office said.
The Hill has reached out to Judd for comment.
Cochise County became an epicenter of election fraud accusations following the 2022 midterm elections as then-gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake (R) contested her narrow loss. The state had several other razor-thin contests that election cycle, and Cochise County also largely lies in a key House district.
Judd and fellow Republican Supervisor Tom Crosby (R) both voted against certifying the county’s vote canvass in advance of the deadline set by state law. A trio of conspiracy theorists had claimed the county’s voting machines weren’t properly accredited, but those allegations were refuted by the Arizona secretary of state’s office and the U.S. Elections Assistance Commission.
The county ultimately certified its canvass after a court ordered them to do so, causing Judd to change her vote.
Crosby still faces two felony counts in the case and has pleaded not guilty.
Updated at 2:33 p.m. EDT
