Republicans in the Arizona House of Representatives want to grant the Legislature the authority to override the secretary of state’s certification of electoral results.
HB 2720, filed by state Rep. Shawnna Bolick on Wednesday, would grant the Legislature the ability to revoke the secretary of state’s certification “by majority vote at any time before the presidential inauguration.”
Arizona, a state that traditionally votes Republican at the presidential level, was narrowly carried by President Biden during the 2020 presidential race. The flip resulted in several investigations into the election’s authenticity, with the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors voting unanimously to approve an independent forensic audit of ballot tabulation equipment.
In response to the accusations of compromised equipment, Dominion Voting Systems, the company that received a subpoena from Maricopa County, issued a series of cease-and-desist letters, claiming that more than 150 people were slandering the company in the public sphere. Among the recipients was Kelli Ward, the state’s staunchly pro-Trump party chairwoman.
The state’s presidential contests are not the only political races being subjected to scrutiny. Ward’s recent reelection to party chairwoman, which was decided by just 42 votes, has been the subject of recent controversy, with challenger Sergio Arellano calling for an audit of the results.
“This isn’t about the chairman’s race,” Arellano said. “This is about election integrity.”
Under Ward’s stewardship, the Arizona GOP has been a reliable ally of former President Donald Trump. Faced with several high-profile defectors who endorsed Biden over the incumbent in the 2020 race, the state party elected to censure Gov. Doug Ducey, former Sen. Jeff Flake, and Cindy McCain, the wife of the late Sen. John McCain.
While the move was celebrated by McCain, who called the censure a “badge of honor,” her daughter, The View host Meghan McCain, was less subdued in her reaction.
“Ahahahahahahahaahahahaha!!!!!!!!” she tweeted, along with a meme.
