Republican Anni Foster drops out of Maricopa County Attorney race

PHOENIX — Republican Anni Foster announced Monday she was dropping out of the race for Maricopa County Attorney.

Foster made the announcement on Twitter and it follows fellow Republican Rachel Mitchell being appointed by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors last week to serve as interim county attorney until a special election is held later this year to replace Allister Adel.

“I am so grateful to those who have supported my campaign for Maricopa County Attorney but with an incumbent candidate in @Rachel1Mitchell it is time to rally around her and ensure that
@maricopacounty remains the best place to live, work and raise a family,” Foster said in the tweet.

Foster serves as Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey’s general counsel and was the governor’s choice for the role.

The announcement leaves Mitchell and Gina Godbehere as the only candidates left for the Republican primary to take on Democrat Julie Gunnigle in November’s general election.

The winner of the general election will serve the remainder of Adel’s four-year term and be up for reelection again in 2024.

Chairman Bill Gates said during a special meeting that Mitchell was picked because she would be ready to run the office from day one and continue for the next six months.

Mitchell served as the acting Maricopa County attorney in 2019 when Bill Montgomery was appointed to the Arizona Supreme Court.

Adel resigned from the role last month following a tumultuous time in office, including the recent disclosure that nearly 200 misdemeanor criminal cases had to be dropped because the office didn’t file charges on time.

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