Press Releases

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Abe Hamadeh (AZ-08) is raising concerns about recent activity by members of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors involving Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap. Because Arizona’s 8^th Congressional District is located in Maricopa County, Congressman Hamadeh has issued the following statement:

“In the past, the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors showed zero interest in removing past recorders, even when they exhibited egregious, clear conflicts of interest—like starting a PAC against America First candidates whose ballots they were tasked with overseeing, or those who violated state law left and right, from ignoring signature verification rules to pushing drop boxes that invited fraud.

Only now, when the people of Arizona have rejected the previous regime’s lack of transparency and elected a man, Justin Heap, who ran and won under the understanding that he would restore confidence in our elections, have they intervened.

The rumored attempts to remove Recorder Heap are a brazen attempt to undermine the will of the people. The timing of these attempts — coming immediately after the Recorder won a legal victory over the board is highly suspicious and suggests insincere motivations.

If the board was truly committed to restoring that confidence, it starts with holding those accountable who have been administering our compromised elections that have made Maricopa County a laughingstock for years.

It is not lost on me that there has been more effort and determination to undermine the current recorder than what has transpired over the years in holding those accountable for the malfeasance and corruption of the 2020 and 2022 elections.

Additionally, this reckless and irresponsible attempt will only hurt voter participation in future elections, with voters wondering: why vote when the person I vote for and wins can be so easily removed? Recall elections exist for a reason, and election terms exist for a reason. That is the proper remedy for the people to hold their elected officials accountable.

Any attempt to oust the duly elected Maricopa County Recorder without a direct vote of the people of Arizona will be seen as nothing less than an undemocratic coup —and irrefutable proof of deep corruption.

I was elected to Congress to fight for the people of Arizona — both in Washington and here at home, and I will continue standing with Arizona voters against these attacks on our democracy and election integrity.”