PHOENIX — A rural county supervisor from Arizona has pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge after refusing to canvass the results of the 2022 midterm elections. Peggy Judd, a Cochise County Supervisor, entered her plea on Monday, which allowed her to avoid a more serious felony charge. The plea agreement was finalized in the Maricopa County Superior Court, where the case was initially filed. Neither Judd nor her attorney responded immediately to requests for comments.
Judd and another Republican supervisor, Tom Crosby, were indicted last year on felony charges that included conspiracy and interference with an election officer. Their actions delayed the canvassing process, with the third member of the board, Democrat Ann Crosby, voting in favor of certifying the election. Ultimately, the results from Cochise County were certified after a judge intervened and ordered Judd and Crosby to fulfill their legal responsibilities.
According to Thomas Volgy, a former Tucson mayor and University of Arizona professor focusing on democratic processes, Judd’s guilty plea marks a significant advancement in the effort to maintain election integrity in Arizona. He stated that the incident should serve as a strong warning to county officials against manipulating election outcomes for political advantage.
As part of her plea agreement, Judd will be subjected to a minimum of 90 days of unsupervised probation and must pay a fine of up to $500, as confirmed by a representative of Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes. Following the plea entry, Mayes issued a statement emphasizing the intolerance for any attempts to interfere with elections in the state. She affirmed her office’s commitment to pursuing justice and holding individuals accountable for undermining the electoral system.
During their investigations, Judd and Crosby pushed for a hand count of all ballots in the county, fueled by widespread conspiracy theories regarding voting integrity and prolonged public hearings that often stretched for hours. Their concerns also questioned the reliability of vote tabulation machines. In November 2022, both Republicans lost the gubernatorial and attorney general races to their Democratic opponents.
Crosby is still scheduled to stand trial on related charges in January and is also campaigning for reelection this November. Meanwhile, Judd has chosen not to run for another term in office. As of Monday, Crosby had not responded regarding Judd’s guilty plea.
Historically, Arizona was considered a stronghold for the Republican Party. However, in recent years, Democrats have made significant inroads, especially in urban centers like Phoenix, which is rapidly growing as people flock from other states in search of job opportunities.