BISBEE, Arizona — An election official in Cochise County, Arizona, is set to resign at the end of February, coming just ten days after receiving his third term in office.
David Stevens, who serves as the county recorder, has announced his decision to step down, as disclosed in a statement from the county on Friday. While the county has not specified the motives behind Stevens’ resignation, it was reported that he intends to retire to “prioritize my family and health.” Attempts to reach Stevens for comment have not yielded a response. His resignation news was first shared by a local newspaper, which quoted him on his recent decision.
Stevens is a member of the Republican Party and has an extensive political career, having previously held four two-year terms in the Arizona House. In November, he won his recent election against a Democratic opponent, quickly securing a victory and being sworn in on January 7.
In recent years, some officials in Cochise County have openly supported unconventional election procedures influenced by various conspiracy theories that emerged following Donald Trump’s loss in the 2020 presidential election. Notably, during the November 2022 elections, influenced by Republican County Supervisors Tom Crosby and Peggy Judd, Stevens was ready to manually tally ballots until a judge intervened to halt that process. Crosby and Judd subsequently resisted certifying the election results, citing alleged irregularities in Maricopa County for the statewide victories of Democratic candidates. Ultimately, they were compelled by a judge to comply with the certification.
Furthermore, the office of Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes has initiated criminal charges against both Crosby and Judd for obstructing the certification of the county’s midterm election results in 2022. In a related development, Judd recently entered a guilty plea to a misdemeanor for failing to fulfill her responsibilities as an election officer, resulting in a probation sentence. In contrast, Crosby has pleaded not guilty and is due to face trial later this month. No additional officials have faced charges in connection with this matter.
