By Staff Reporter |
An Arizona lawmaker is advocating for an administrative review and audit of the ballots and election records in his race.
Although State Rep. Cody Reim (R-LD3) is the presumptive winner of his race as of this report, he explained in a press release this week that he wants a review of the results to strengthen public confidence in election outcomes.
“Public trust in election outcomes is essential,” said Reim. “As the candidate currently leading in the unofficial results, I am in a unique position to ask for this review without any appearance of self-interest. I am fully prepared to accept the results of a thorough, transparent audit, even if that review were to show a shift in the final margins. Should a comprehensive review demonstrate that I did not win this race, I will immediately step aside.”
Reim submitted a letter with his request for an audit to Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, who also won reelection, along with Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap and Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Chair Kate Brophy McGee.
Reim is requesting a review attended by bipartisan observers that covers, at minimum, voter eligibility and registration verification, ballot accounting and reconciliation, mail ballot verification procedures, chain of custody and equipment security, and tabulation accuracy.
“A thorough review focused on these core pillars of eligibility, reconciliation, and chain of custody will definitively reassure voters that every counted ballot is lawful and accurate,” stated Reim in his letter. “This request is made in good faith to strengthen public confidence in Arizona’s electoral process.”
Reim, along with Republican candidate George Khalaf, lead in the race with approximately 72,800 votes and 70,900 votes, respectively. Their Democratic opponents, Julie Gable and Rick Robert Spargo, have 51,700 and 46,800 votes, respectively.
Reim was one of the handful of Republicans to emerge unscathed in a historic flip of the state legislature. Democrats have not held a majority in both chambers since 1966. Come January, Democrats will have control of all statewide offices and the state legislature, and more seats in Congress as well.
Arizona Democrats flipped seven seats in the Arizona Senate, giving them an anticipated majority of 20 out of 30 seats, and 10 seats in the Arizona House, giving them an anticipated majority of 37 out of 60 seats.
The party also experienced a historical flip in their control over states across the nation. For the first time in well over a decade, Democrats won the majority of governor seats.
Gov. Katie Hobbs retained her seat, bringing with her the state’s first lieutenant governor, John Giles.
Democrats flipped control of both chambers of Congress, securing 54 seats in the Senate and 255 seats in the House as of this report.
Democratic candidate Amish Shah beat Republican candidate Jay Feely for the open Congressional District 1 seat, and Democratic candidate JoAnna Mendoza beat Rep. Juan Ciscomani for the Congressional District 6 seat.
The seats that survived the Democratic sweep at the congressional level were won by Rep. Eli Crane, incumbent for Congressional District 2; Mark Lamb for Congressional District 5; Rep. Abe Hamadeh, incumbent for Congressional District 8; and Rep. Paul Gosar, incumbent for Congressional District 9.
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