Arizona State Rep. Cody Reim is requesting an expanded review of ballots and election records in his legislative race, telling the Arizona Daily Independent that concerns expressed by constituents prompted the request despite his lead in unofficial results.
“Public trust in election outcomes is essential,” Reim said in a statement released November 10. “As the candidate currently leading in the unofficial results, I am in a unique position to ask for this review without any appearance of self-interest.”
In a text exchange on Wednesday, Reim explained that he had seen online accounts and spoken with district voters who had lost confidence in the election process since November 3. He expressed concern that distrust could discourage participation in future elections.
As winner of the LD3 State House Representative Race, I have asked for an expanded administrative review of my election and also submitted a legislative records request of the cast vote records.
Full details attached: pic.twitter.com/CuAzhUdUTI— Rep. Cody Reim (@codyreim247) November 11, 2026
“If the people believe their vote no longer matters then participation in future elections could dramatically decrease and less participation is the exact opposite of what is needed,” Reim said.
Reim’s November 10 letter asks Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap, and Board of Supervisors Chair Kate Brophy McGee for a review covering voter eligibility, ballot accounting, mail-ballot verification, chain-of-custody records, and tabulation accuracy before final certification.
The letter states that Reim is not alleging fraud, misconduct, or illegal activity by election officials or workers.
Asked Wednesday whether specific information about LD3 ballots or procedures warranted further examination, Reim cited voters’ concerns and online accounts. His response did not identify a particular ballot discrepancy or procedural violation.
“Understand I do not believe I lost, I am not claiming or making accusations of wrongdoing or of fraud,” Reim told ADI. He said his request was intended to provide voters with data and additional insight into the handling of his race. “I have made a simple request for data and enhanced review of my race in order to provide voters insight and facts. That they may not have had access to without my actions.”
The state’s unofficial results placed Reim and fellow Republican George Khalaf ahead of Democrats Julie Gable and Richard “Rick” Robert Spargo and No Labels candidate John Skirbst in the two-seat contest. Maricopa County’s results page states that results remain unofficial until canvassed.
Reim also disclosed that he had submitted a separate legislative records request for
cast vote records (CVR), which he said the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors would need to fulfill.
“Based on past statements from the Maricopa BOS regarding election integrity, I can with some certainty say they too should want faith in our elections restored, and I fully anticipate the board will fulfill this basic request,” he said.
As of his Wednesday response, Reim said none of the three elected officials had responded to his review request. He noted that fewer than 24 hours had elapsed since its submission.
Asked whether he had discussed the feasibility, staffing, or cost of completing the review before certification, Reim said he was awaiting responses.
“I appreciate how busy they are right now, however I cannot stress enough the importance of fulfilling this request prior to certification,” he said.
Reim also said he had neither coordinated the effort with House Republican leadership nor consulted leadership before issuing his letter.
The proposed review would examine procedures for checking voter residency, preventing duplicate registrations, and confirming eligibility before provisional ballots are counted. Reim also requested a public accounting of ballot reconciliation and a review of signature verification and ballot-curing documentation.
His chain-of-custody request covers seal logs, transfer forms, and access logs for ballots, memory cards, and tabulation equipment. To assess counting accuracy, he requested a comparison of a statistically meaningful sample of paper ballots with machine totals in his contest, along with confirmation that pre-election logic and accuracy testing was successfully conducted.
Reim asked that bipartisan observers be permitted to participate and that officials publicly report their findings. His letter offers to work with the offices on the review’s scope and timing.
“I am fully prepared to accept the results of a thorough, transparent audit, even if that review were to show a shift in the final margins,” Reim wrote. “Should a comprehensive review demonstrate that I did not win this race, I will immediately step aside.”
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