Trump backs Arizona lawmaker running for post overseeing key county’s election results

Former President Trump on Thursday endorsed retiring Rep. Debbie Lesko (R-Ariz.), who’s running for a post in charge of certifying Maricopa County’s elections, among other responsibilities. 

Lesko, who’s retiring from her seat representing Arizona’s 8th Congressional District, is running for Maricopa County Board of Supervisors in District 4.

The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors — comprised of five district supervisors — “sets the agenda and approves a budget that allocates money to all departments and elected offices,” according to Maricopa County.

One of the board’s responsibilities is certifying the county election results; the role is notable given that its supervisors resisted a pressure campaign during the 2020 election to overturn the presidential election results. President Biden barely won the county over Trump by just more than 2 points. 

Trump lauded Lesko as an “incredible Congresswoman” in a post on his Truth Social platform. 

“A great friend of MAGA, Debbie has been with us from the beginning, fighting hard through Impeachment Hoax #1, Impeachment Hoax #2, and understood many of the bad things going on better than most. Now Debbie is running for the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors,” Trump wrote. 

“She will work tirelessly to Safeguard our Elections, Protect our Communities, Secure our Border, Stop Migrant Crime, Grow the Economy, and Defend our always under siege Second Amendment. Debbie Lesko has my Complete and Total Endorsement — SHE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!” he added. 

Lesko said in a post on social platform X that she was “honored” to have Trump’s endorsement.

“I look forward to working with President Trump when he is back in the White House for the great people of our county!” she wrote. 

Arizona is among a handful of battleground states that will determine the race for the White House this fall, with Maricopa County playing a critical role in determining Biden’s win last cycle. 

Gov. Katie Hobbs (D) beat out Republican Kari Lake by just 2 points in the county in the Arizona gubernatorial race in 2022, though Lake has disputed the election results of her race.