Stephen Richer, the county recorder in Maricopa County, Ariz., faced intense backlash for defending election integrity, proving that pro-democracy stances come with significant personal and political risk. His experiences compel a reevaluation of what it means to be a Republican today.
Over four years, Richer emphasized information transparency and public trust in elections. His belief was that voters needed to witness the electoral process to dispel myths about fraud: 'If there's one thing that I would say has been the centerpiece of my four years, it's been just increasing the flow of information.'
Richer's defiance against fellow Republicans who promoted baseless allegations of foul play resulted in personal attacks and threats, illustrating a deep fissure within the party: 'I just thought that it was the only ethically responsible thing to do, and I would do it again.'
Despite losing his primary election, Richer expressed satisfaction with his actions to uphold democracy. He acknowledged the difficult political landscape, stating: 'If you poll-tested democracy defender'... I think that's a loser... I personally went through some pretty low times. But it was very meaningful.'
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