Explosive court documents have uncovered a stunning revelation about Maricopa County’s top election official, Stephen Richer, revealing his personal animosity toward Senate candidate Kari Lake and her supporters. The documents, which stem from a defamation lawsuit Lake filed against Richer, expose his extreme anti-MAGA sentiment and his admission to wanting to “make life hell” for Lake, a Republican who has gained national attention for her claims regarding election integrity.
The shocking exchange surfaced during a June 21 deposition in a defamation case, where Richer was questioned about his political biases. In the court filings, Richer admits that he harbored deep resentment toward Kari Lake and her movement. When asked why he wanted to “make life hell” for Lake in March 2023, Richer responded with little hesitation: “I don’t remember. I don’t think she’s a real conservative.”
Further unraveling Richer’s views, he confided in a friend, stating, “I’m not only not MAGA, but I’m anti-MAGA.” This striking admission sheds light on the Maricopa County Recorder’s personal politics and his apparent disdain for the prominent conservative movement that Lake represents. Richer went on to express doubt about the viability of running against Lake, citing her strong public profile and financial backing but suggesting that, in his view, there was not enough support from non-MAGA voters to challenge her in the Republican primary.
Richer’s texts and comments suggest a far deeper personal bias against Lake’s candidacy, raising serious concerns about his impartiality in overseeing the election process, particularly as it pertains to the ongoing Senate race between Lake and Democrat Rep. Ruben Gallego. With the election too close to call and Lake trailing by under 33,000 votes, this revelation has fueled skepticism over the integrity of the election in Maricopa County, the state’s most populous region.
As Maricopa County’s Recorder, Richer is responsible for overseeing key election processes, including voter registration and early voting. His office has been under scrutiny in past election cycles due to delays in ballot counting and questionable voter roll management. Recently, Richer’s office faced backlash for restoring the voter registration of nearly 98,000 individuals whose citizenship status was unconfirmed, citing a “data glitch.” Critics argue this could open the door for election tampering, especially as elections continue to be decided by slim margins.
Maricopa County’s struggles with timely ballot counting have long been a point of contention, with critics comparing Arizona’s slow results to the fast-paced counting seen in other states like Florida. Florida Senator Marco Rubio, for example, pointed out the glaring discrepancy, asking, “If Florida can count 7.5 million ballots in 5 hours, how can it take days for some states to count less than 2 million?” Lake echoed Rubio’s frustration, questioning why the process was taking so long, especially in such a crucial race.
Richer isn’t the only Republican official who has been linked to attempts to thwart Kari Lake’s political ambitions. Former Arizona Republican Party Chair Jeff DeWit resigned after audio tapes surfaced, capturing him offering to bribe Lake to stay out of politics. In the tape, DeWit suggests that Lake could receive lucrative no-show jobs instead of running for Senate. Lake responded defiantly, saying, “They’re going to have to f***ing kill me to stop me,” exposing the high-stakes political maneuvering against her candidacy.
In the audio, DeWit also hints at corruption within the Arizona GOP, suggesting that revealing the names of those behind the bribe could have dangerous consequences. His chilling comment about potentially facing violent retaliation raised alarm among those following the case.
Stephen Richer, who has served as the Maricopa County Recorder since 2020, has also faced significant public backlash, particularly after the 2020 election. He became a frequent target of harassment, especially from those who believed the 2020 election had been rigged. Richer publicly defended the election results, asserting that the election had not been stolen and that the counting of ballots was a legitimate process, though his critics were less than convinced.
This year, Richer deleted his X (formerly Twitter) account following increasing harassment, citing his inability to bear the personal attacks. “I’ve been a human punching bag for simply making factual statements,” he told the Arizona Republic. Despite his departure from social media, the controversy surrounding his role in the election continues to draw attention, especially with the heated Senate race currently underway.
Richer’s term as Maricopa County Recorder will come to an end in January 2025 after he lost his primary bid to GOP challenger Justin Heap, who was backed by far-right groups. Richer’s departure may provide an opportunity for a shift in election oversight in Maricopa, but for now, questions about the integrity of the election process remain unresolved.
The revelations about Stephen Richer’s personal biases and his hostile attitude toward Kari Lake raise serious concerns about the neutrality of Maricopa County’s election oversight. As Lake’s Senate race with Ruben Gallego continues to unfold, the fallout from these revelations is sure to have lasting implications on the public’s trust in the election process. With both local and national attention on the race, the pressure is on election officials to restore faith in their ability to manage fair and transparent elections.
