Lappin Closes Gap on Nanos in Pima County Sheriff Race with Narrow 12-Vote Surge

In a closely contested race for Pima County sheriff, Democratic incumbent Chris Nanos managed to maintain a narrow lead over Republican challenger Heather Lappin, currently ahead by just 187 votes. This figure reflects a slight change of 12 votes since the previous day’s results were released on Thursday.

Lappin, a suspended lieutenant within the Sheriff’s Department, has steadily reduced Nanos’ lead as the county canvassed 817 ballots on Thursday. Initially, Nanos enjoyed a comfortable lead of around 25,000 votes on Election Day due to early ballots counted beforehand. However, as more votes from the vote centers were tallied, his advantage diminished significantly to 9,213 by the end of Wednesday.

Recent counts reflect Lappin’s continued efforts to close the gap: she decreased the margin to 4,006 votes on Monday, followed by a further cut to 1,595 votes on Tuesday. By Wednesday evening, Nanos was ahead by only 199 votes, leading to the current totals of 241,486 for Nanos and 241,299 for Lappin. Notably, a write-in candidate, Trista Di Genova, managed to garner 105 votes, almost matching the tight margin separating the two main contenders.

Pima County elections officials have reported that 7,588 ballots remain to be reviewed and counted, which includes 4,646 provisional ballots that may or may not be eligible. According to the Arizona Secretary of State’s report, another 2,942 ballots await processing at the Elections Department.

Sophia Gonzales, an engagement manager with the Pima County Recorder’s Office, indicated that staff is diligently working through these provisional ballots. “We are on track to meet the statutory provisional deadline by Friday, Nov. 15,” she stated in a Thursday communication.

As the election process unfolds, the Pima County Board of Supervisors has faced scrutiny, particularly regarding the management of the county jail—a focal point of concern after a series of inmate deaths. Nanos suspended Lappin over allegations of colluding with a journalist, a move that has drawn criticism. A local journalist reportedly covered phone call expenses for an inmate in connection with a story, raising questions of ethics and transparency.

During a recent board meeting, officials considered potential reprimands for Nanos. However, after legal advice, they opted to seek a review of his actions by the Arizona Attorney General’s Office and other relevant bodies. Supervisor Matt Heinz expressed disappointment in Nanos’s conduct, suggesting that the suspension was a misuse of authority aimed at undermining Lappin’s campaign.

Nanos, who did not attend the meeting, responded via text, defending his actions as appropriate and within departmental standards. He contended that the administrative leave imposed on Lappin caused no harm, asserting that it is a standard practice for minimizing disruption during investigations.