Maricopa County power struggle over elections could undermine midterms
azcentral.com
A power struggle over election administration in Maricopa County reveals how institutional trust erodes when political actors compete to control the rules of democracy itself.
Institutional ErosionPrincipal-Agent ProblemLegitimacy TheoryPolitical Polarization
Theory Briefing
- A Maricopa County power struggle over elections is threatening the integrity of the 2026 midterms, per the report.
- Heap, who won his office in 2024 by campaigning on election concerns, is now a central figure in the ongoing battle.
- The conflict illustrates how repeated institutional disputes can hollow out public confidence in electoral systems over time.