Lappin responds to Nanos' narrow Sheriff re-election, recount pending

Chris Nanos has likely won a second term as Pima County Sheriff by about 500 votes over Republican Heather Lappin.

After leading by less than 200 votes last week, Nanos stretched his lead to 495 as Pima County finished counting their ballots over the weekend.

Lappin told AZPM:

“We will await the results of the recount. I am more than proud of the campaign we ran and believe we achieved so much regardless of the results. We have overcome barrier after barrier and to be with 500 votes is an amazing feat.

I am very pleased that bad behavior was consistently exposed and Pima County residents made aware. Hopefully this leads to meaningful change and not continued retribution if Nanos is reelected,” she said.

Although Nanos received more early ballots, numbers show that Lappin received nearly 16,000 more in-person votes than Nanos.

Nanos placed Lappin on administrative leave from her Corrections Lieutenant position at the Pima County Jail three weeks before the election, a controversial decision that might have influenced the spike in late turnout for the Republican.

Any race in Arizona that is within .5% of the total number of ballots cast for the top two candidates is automatically recounted.

The sheriff's race falls well within the margin of about 2,400 votes that would trigger an automatic recount.

On Thursday, the Pima County Board of Supervisors received a letter from the Secretary of State’s office requesting they approve an official recount when they vote to canvass the election.

County races are not subject to hand count audits, and the recount would be conducted electronically. Elections officials say the results will remain sealed until a judge announces the winner in court.

The Board will vote to approve the recount at a special meeting on Thursday, Nov. 21.