Cochise County Certifies Election: Peggy Judd Reflects on the Vote That Changed Everything

This article was originally published by Votebeat, a nonprofit news organization covering local election administration and voting access.

WILLCOX, Ariz. — Peggy Judd, a Republican supervisor in Cochise County, faced a pivotal moment in her political career on Wednesday. She cast a crucial vote to certify the county’s presidential election results, a decision fraught with legal implications stemming from her past actions.

Two years ago, Judd and another Republican supervisor delayed the certification of the 2022 midterm election results past the legal deadline. This move led to her indictment on charges of conspiracy and interference with an election officer. The fallout from that decision has significantly impacted her life, generating turmoil and distrust within her community.

After the vote in 2022, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes initiated an investigation into Judd’s actions. The subsequent legal battle amassed over $70,000 in expenses for Judd, who received limited support from her party despite promises to assist those who challenged electoral processes. Ultimately, she signed a plea agreement last month, admitting to her failure to certify the election on time and receiving a 90-day probation sentence.

As she approaches the end of her public office term, Judd has expressed feelings of betrayal. She recently decided to unregister as a Republican, citing a shift in the local party’s attitude toward her since she diverged from party lines. Judd’s frustrations were palpable as she reflected on her experiences, highlighting that the party’s support evaporated when she refused to follow the party’s more extreme actions regarding election integrity.

Sitting in a local eatery, Judd revealed her internal struggle about certifying the latest election results. While acknowledging problems with the ballot counting process, she ultimately recognized that these issues did not undermine the overall vote count. The former state representative stated her desire to certify the election based on facts rather than emotions, asserting that, despite past errors, the election’s outcome was valid.

The 2022 election turmoil had already led to significant community division. Judd and her colleague, Tom Crosby, were accused of violating public meeting laws in their attempt to bring about a hand-count audit for ballots—a plan blocked by the courts due to legal concerns. Their vote to delay the certification drew widespread criticism, culminating in the resignation of the county’s respected elections director.

Feeling the weight of her popularity waning, Judd reminisced about her early influence in the local Republican Party, a community she helped build from the ground up. However, her journey took a toll on her personal finances and familial relationships. She recently moved in with her mother and is selling her home to address mounting legal costs.

Despite facing a community backlash and threats, Judd maintained her stance that her actions were motivated by a genuine concern for election integrity and fairness. The emotional strain of public scrutiny has left her contemplating her future and considering a path away from traditional party politics.

On the day of the certification vote, Judd entered a nearly empty meeting room, reflecting a noticeable shift in public interest surrounding elections. Ultimately, she and her fellow supervisors unanimously voted to certify the election results. “Yay,” she exclaimed after the vote, suggesting a momentary sense of relief and a need to celebrate even amid uncertainty.