Embattled Maricopa County election official will not seek reelection

Maricopa County, Ariz., Supervisor Bill Gates announced on Thursday that he would not seek reelection amid ongoing scrutiny of the county's handling of its elections under his tenure.

"Today, I am announcing that I will not run for re-election to the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors in 2024 and intend to pursue other interests and opportunities," he wrote in a statement. "As this chapter comes to an end, I rest well knowing that I led with integrity, compassion, and dignity."

"Regardless of personal partisan preferences or external pressure, I remained focused on making our region the best place to live, work, and raise a family," he added.

The Board of Supervisors, which is responsible for handling the county's elections, came under intense scrutiny following the 2022 gubernatorial election, during which the county faced machine malfunctions that Republican candidate Kari Lake alleged disenfranchised her supporters and swung the election in favor of her opponent.

Lake pointed to Gates and County Recorder Stephen Richer in making calls to recall the members of the board earlier this year.

Prior to that election, former President Donald Trump, who narrowly lost the state in the 2020 presidential election, had alleged that mass voter fraud affected the outcome of the contest.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.