Austin Smith pleads guilty to forging Arizona nomination-petition signatures

Former Arizona state Rep. Austin Smith pleaded guilty in Maricopa County Superior Court to attempted fraudulent schemes and illegal signing of election petitions. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes said Smith admitted signing the name of a deceased woman and knowingly filing petitions with forged signatures so he could qualify for the 2024 Republican primary ballot. The plea shifted power from Smith's campaign to state prosecutors, the Arizona Secretary of State's Office, and voters who rely on truthful candidate-access petitions.