Maricopa County Board of Supervisors picks Cody Reim to fill vacancy at the Arizona Legislature

The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors picked Rio Verde Foothills resident Cody Reim to replace former Rep. Joseph Chaplik, who resigned from the Arizona House of Representatives to run for Congress.

Reim was one of three nominees to replace Chaplik picked by local Republicans in Legislative District 3, a red district covering parts of Scottsdale, Fountain Hills, north Phoenix and Cave Creek.

On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors chose Reim over political consultant George Khalaf and former lawmaker Michelle Ugenti-Rita.

Reim first came to prominence several years ago when Rio Verde Foothills faced a water crisis.

Many in the community, located on unincorporated Maricopa County land near north Scottsdale, had long relied on city of Scottsdale water brought in by truck. When the city announced it would shut off that tap at the end of 2022 due to ongoing drought concerns, it left residents scrambling looking for new sources of water.

Reim was an outspoken advocate for the community as it worked — and sometimes sparred — with local, county and state officials to find a solution.

Supervisor Thomas Galvin, whose county district overlaps with LD3, said he first met Reim during that time.

He said he saw Reim bring the community together despite differences between property owners with access to wells and those who lost their water.

“But what I also saw was that Cody Reim took the initiative and was proactive, and went down to the Capitol and advocated for not only his family, but his neighbors and his community, essentially his district, his county and his state,” Galvin said.

During a meeting with local Republicans earlier this month, Reim said those water issues will be a top priority when he gets to the Legislature as Arizona faces steep cuts to its Colorado River supply, which account for around 36% of the state’s water supply and a much larger chunk in some cities, including Scottsdale.

"It's imperative that we solve these issues, and it starts now,” Reim said. “We're in session now, and there's abilities to bring resolve to what's about to happen.”

Electoral impact

Reim’s selection likely won’t change the political makeup of the House of Representatives in the short term.

Chaplik was a member of the Legislature’s far-right Arizona Freedom Caucus, which he co-founded with Sen. Jake Hoffman (R-Queen Creek).

And Reim said he has already made overtures to join the group.

“One hundred percent. No hesitation. I will be Freedom Caucus, which is why I have already formally requested to join the Freedom Caucus a few months ago,” he said.

The selection could give Reim a leg up in Arizona’s upcoming 2026 legislative primary election, though.

LD3 is a heavily Republican district, meaning the candidates that win the GOP primaries are favored to win the general election.

Both Reim and Khalaf are running to fill LD3’s two seats in the Arizona House of Representatives, which were filled by Chaplik and Rep. Alexander Kolodin (R-Scottsdale).

Kolodin, who has represented the district since 2023, is not seeking re-election to his seat as he runs for Arizona secretary of state.

Ugenti-Rita, the former state lawmaker, was the only candidate not seeking a full term in the House in the upcoming election. She is running for Scottsdale City Council.