Maricopa County election guide: Board of Supervisors races

There are four contested Republican county supervisor races and they're heating up ahead of next week's primary election.

Why it matters: The Board of Supervisors is like the city council of the county. Supervisors oversee countywide services, like public health and Election Day operations, and make zoning decisions for development on unincorporated county land.

• The supervisors also appoint people to fill legislative or county officer vacancies.

District 1

Republican primary: Jack Sellers vs. Mark Stewart

• Sellers was appointed to the board in 2019. Previously, he served two terms as a Chandler council member and was chair of the state transportation board. He's a proponent of continuing the countywide transportation tax and expanding transportation infrastructure.
• Stewart is a business owner and current Chandler council member. He says he will use innovation to build community and improve public safety. He's been critical of how the board has operated past elections and told the Arizona Republic he will "restore 100% confidence in our elections."

What's next: The winner will face Democrat Joel Navarro.

District 2

Republican primary: Thomas Galvin vs. Michelle Ugenti-Rita

• Galvin is an attorney appointed to the board in 2021. He says his priorities are fighting inflation, curbing violent crime through public safety funding, improving roadways and ensuring adequate water infrastructure.
• Ugenti-Rita is a former state lawmaker. She says she wants to rein in the county bureaucracy and spending. She has railed against Galvin and the current board, saying she doesn't trust the results of past elections because of county mismanagement.

What's next: The winner will face Democrat Julie Cieniawski.

District 3

Republican primary: Kate Brophy McGee vs. Tabatha Cuellar LaVoie

• Brophy McGee is a former lawmaker and Washington Elementary School Board member. Her priorities include fully funding law enforcement, increasing election transparency and keeping taxes low.
• LaVoie is an attorney and first-time political candidate. She says she will eradicate homeless "tent cities," restore voter confidence and carefully plan future county land development.

What's next: The winner will face Democrat Danny Valenzuela.

District 4

Republican primary: Debbie Lesko vs. Robert Branch

• Lesko is currently a congresswoman representing the West Valley, but she decided not to run for re-election because of political stalemates in Washington. She boasts a "tough on crime" and "tough on illegal immigration" platform and says she'll listen to any voter concerns to ensure a fair election process.
• Branch is a veteran, author and college professor. He wants to rebuild trust in the election system, protect water rights, grow the regional park system and support the "'America First' foreign policy doctrine."

What's next: The winner will face Democrat David Sandoval.

District 5

Zoom in: Democratic incumbent Steve Gallardo and Republican Cynthia Ann Niemann are running unopposed in the primary and will face off in November.