Become a Votebeat sponsor

Cochise County supervisor accepts plea agreement for refusing to certify midterm election

Republican Peggy Judd, who initially faced two felony charges, acknowledges that she failed to follow the law.

Four adults stand next to each other while standing outside with a building in the background.
Cochise County Supervisor Peggy Judd, center, after her arraignment on felony charges in December 2023. On Monday, she pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge of failure or refusal to perform duty by an election officer. (Herald/Review Media)

Votebeat is a nonprofit news organization reporting on voting access and election administration across the U.S. Sign up for Votebeat Arizona’s free newsletter here.

One of the two Republican supervisors in Cochise County, Arizona, who refused to certify the county’s 2022 midterm election on time has accepted a plea agreement.

Supervisor Peggy Judd was initially charged with two felony counts of conspiracy and interference with an elections officer, and had pleaded not guilty. On Monday, though, she pleaded guilty to a separate misdemeanor charge of failure or refusal to perform duty by an election officer and “acknowledged that she failed to canvass the election as required by law,” according to a news release from Attorney General Kris Mayes.

Judd will be sentenced to at least 90 days’ unsupervised probation, and will pay a maximum $500 fine, according to the release. A copy of the plea agreement was not yet available Monday morning.

“Any attempt to interfere with elections in Arizona will not be tolerated,” Mayes said in a statement announcing the plea deal.

“Today’s plea agreement and sentencing should serve as a strong reminder that I will not hesitate to use every tool available to uphold the rule of law and protect the integrity of Arizona’s elections,” Mayes said.

Judd said Monday night that it was “such a relief” that the plea deal was complete, and she could move on.

Judd insisted she has always trusted the county’s elections, but delayed certifying to try to get more information for members of the public who were concerned about the machines the county uses to count ballots. While she said she wasn’t proud of her actions, she added that she “lost no sleep over this” and said Mayes’ investigation was politically motivated and the attorney general was using her as an example.

“She wasted money on me,” Judd said.

She has previously told Votebeat that she felt bitter that some of those who pressured her did not help with her legal defense.

Judd and Supervisor Tom Crosby voted twice to delay the canvass of the midterm results. The Secretary of State’s Office sued, and a court forced the supervisors to immediately vote to finalize the results. Judd changed her vote at a meeting later that day, but Crosby did not show up.

Crosby’s charges are still pending.

Mayes launched an investigation after taking office in 2023, and a grand jury indicted both supervisors. A trial had been set for early next year.

Jen Fifield is a reporter for Votebeat based in Arizona. Contact Jen at jfifield@votebeat.org.

The Latest

Conservative activist Scott Presler’s claim about duplicate voter registration fraud fails to account for the laws and basic processes involved in cleaning voter rolls.

A bill to restrict Election Day ballot drop-offs advances, but faces a certain veto. Republicans may take the idea directly to voters.

Proposed legislation would drop these longtime residents from the rolls if they don’t provide documents by 2026.

The CISA has been an important partner for states — and a target for Donald Trump.

Meagan Wolfe has become one of the most respected — and scrutinized — election officials nationwide, and faced a Republican effort to oust her.

La campaña legislativa de poner fin al programa genera preocupación entre los líderes de los condados por el impacto económico en los contribuyentes y los inconvenientes para los votantes.