Ex-Arizona GOP lawmaker pleads guilty to forging signatures on nomination petitions

PHOENIX — A former Arizona Republican lawmaker pleaded guilty Monday to forging signatures, including a dead woman’s, on his nominating petitions in 2024, authorities announced.

Austin Smith, 30, admitted to one count of attempted fraudulent schemes and practices and one count of illegal signing of election petitions as part of a plea deal, the Arizona Attorney General’s Office said.

The conditions of the deal mean that the former lawmaker will be sentenced to probation, pay a fine of at least $5,500 and will be prohibited from running for office for five years.

Smith will be sentenced at a hearing on Jan. 6.

Why did Austin Smith forge signatures on nomination petitions?

Smith served District 29, which covers the city of Surprise and other parts of the West Valley, starting in 2023.

He was running for reelection the next year when he submitted nomination petitions containing forged signatures to the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office for the LD29 Republican primary.

Notably, Smith admitted Monday that he signed the name of a deceased woman on one of the petitions, according to prosecutors.

“Forging signatures, including those of people who have died, in order to get yourself on the ballot is illegal, and it erodes trust in our elections,” Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes said in a media release. “My office will continue to hold accountable anyone who tries to cheat the system and mislead Arizona voters.”

Smith ended his reelection bid in April 2024 after a lawsuit was filed.

In June, he was indicted on 14 counts, including four felonies, but his charges were reduced as part of the plea deal.

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