Maricopa County supervisor candidates brace for recount in race with razor-thin margin

PHOENIX – Separated by a razor-thin margin, the candidates for the District 3 seat on the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors are bracing for a recount.

With the number of uncounted ballots dwindling, Republican Kate Brophy McGee has been clinging to a narrow lead over Democratic Daniel Valenzuela for the only unsettled spot on the powerful Phoenix-area governing panel.

The margin was down to just 227 votes after Valenzuela trimmed more than 100 votes off Brophy McGee’s advantage on Wednesday, per the Maricopa County Election Department unofficial results page.

With the difference a mere 0.06 percentage points, far under the 0.5% margin for triggering an automatic recount under Arizona election law, the race won’t be done when the county is done with its initial tabulation.

“Right now, we hold the lead in this incredibly close race,” Brophy McGee said in a Wednesday post thanking her supporters on X. “While we are leading, the process isn’t over — Maricopa County is still counting ballots, and it’s likely we will proceed to a recount.”

Brophy McGee, a former state lawmaker, and Valenzuela, a former Phoenix councilman, are battling it out to succeed Republican Supervisor Bill Gates. Gates didn’t seek reelection in District 3, wich covers a swath of central and northern Phoenix as well as Cave Creek, Anthem, New River and Paradise Valley.

Republicans will maintain control of the five-member board regardless of the District 3 outcome, having clinched three of the four other seats.

What’s going on with the District 1 supervisor race

Only one other Maricopa County Board of Supervisors race couldn’t be called within a day of the election.

The District 1 contest essentially came to an end a week after Election Day, when Republican Mark Stewart declared victory after his lead over Democrat Joel Navarro on Monday. Stewart’s lead had been steadily expanding as counting progressed and had eclipsed 14,000 votes.

Stewart defeated incumbent Jack Sellers in the Republican primary for the East Valley district, but Sellers crossed the aisle to endorse Navarro in the general election.

I want to express my gratitude to my opponent, Joel Navarro for his call this wishing us well as we take on the role of Supervisor for District 1. Joel and his team ran a strong, hard fought race to the end, and I’m grateful for his outreach.

I am deeply honored to have the… pic.twitter.com/q3M8jEIb6N

— Mark Stewart, Maricopa County Supervisor-Elect (@MarkStewart_AZ) November 12, 2024

How are the other Maricopa County Board of Supervisors races going?

The other three supervisor races in the state’s most populous county, which covers Phoenix and its surrounding suburbs, were wrapped up by the day after the Nov. 5 election.

The two incumbents who made it to the general election won their reelection: Thomas Galvin, a Republican, and Steve Gallardo, the board’s only current Democrat.

Galvin declared victory over challenger Julie Cieniawski in District 5 on Nov. 6.

I’ve been proud to be the first Latino Republican elected to the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors. I’m also proud of our accomplishments so far. My priorities are safety & prosperity. I will continue to advocate for lower taxes and increased resources for law enforcement. pic.twitter.com/XmnkbWl6fC

— Thomas Galvin: Maricopa County Supervisor (@ThomasGalvin) November 6, 2024

Gallardo, meanwhile, was blowing out Republican Ann Niemann by more than 30 points.

In another uncompetitive contest, Republican U.S. Rep. Debbie Lesko ran away with the race to succeed Supervisor Clint Hickman, who didn’t run again in District 4. Lesko, who didn’t seek reelection to Congress, declared victory over Democrat David Sandoval on Nov. 6.

We did it, District 4! What a night. I can't wait to start serving the great people of the west valley in this new role in January! pic.twitter.com/ih1lIbeOf6

— Debbie Lesko (@DebbieLesko) November 6, 2024

The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors is tasked with approving the budget, appointing a county manager, overseeing election operations and other major duties.

Since 2020, the board has been in the spotlight due to unfounded election conspiracies and some members even received death threats.

This is an updated version of a story originally published on Nov. 5, 2024.

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