Several elections across Arizona will undergo mandatory recounts, including legislative, county and city council council races.
Under a law passed in 2022, a mandatory recount is triggered for races with a margin of victory of 0.5% or less. The law applies to most elections across the state with a few exceptions, including school board races.
The Arizona Secretary of State’s Office confirmed that the race for the second seat in the Arizona House of Representatives in Phoenix’s Legislative District 2 will undergo a recount.
Democrat Stephanie Simacek won the district’s first seat with 30.35% of the vote. Incumbent Rep. Justin Wilmeth (R-Phoenix) currently leads fellow Republican Ari Bradshaw by just 132 votes for the second seat.
The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors’ District 3 race between Republican Kate Brophy McGee and Democrat Daniel Valenzuela is also headed to a recount. Brophy McGee leads Valenzuela by 0.04%, or 164 votes, according to unofficial results.
Embattled Democratic Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos is engaged in a similarly close race with Republican Heather Lappin, with Nanos leading Lapping by 0.2%, or 495 votes, according to unofficial results.
Other races that appear headed to a recount include city council elections in Fountain Hills, Page and Wickenburg.
Court cases triggering recounts will be filed on Friday, according to the Secretary of State’s Office.
"The counties will canvass the general election results on Nov. 21, 2024. Recounts will be filed in court on Nov. 22, and we will carry out a statewide canvass on Nov. 25, 2024, to ensure we take the time necessary for accuracy in our elections," Secretary of State Adrian Fontes said in a statement.
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