A former Republican state lawmaker in Arizona pleaded guilty Monday to criminal charges after admitting he forged signatures on his nominating petitions during his 2024 reelection campaign.
According to The Associated Press, Austin Smith, 30, served one term representing a suburban Phoenix district in the Arizona House before abruptly dropping his reelection bid in April 2024.
His withdrawal came after questions surfaced about suspicious signatures on his paperwork — allegations he initially dismissed as a partisan “coordinated attack” that was “silly on its face.”
Smith simultaneously resigned from his role as a senior director at Turning Point Action, the political arm of the conservative youth organization Turning Point USA. The group has become an influential force within Arizona Republican politics in recent election cycles.
Under the plea agreement announced Monday, Smith pleaded guilty to attempted fraudulent schemes and practices, along with the illegal signing of election petitions. The deal calls for him to receive probation, pay a $5,000 fine, and accept a five-year ban on running for public office.
Authorities accused Smith of forging signatures, including those belonging to deceased individuals, to qualify for the 2024 ballot. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, a Democrat, said the case highlights the damage such actions can inflict on public confidence.
“Forging signatures, including those of people who have died, in order to get yourself on the ballot is illegal, and it erodes trust in our elections,” Mayes said. “My office will continue to hold accountable anyone who tries to cheat the system and mislead Arizona voters.”
Before the scandal, Smith had aligned himself with efforts to reexamine the 2020 presidential election in Maricopa County. In campaign materials, he voiced support for the Republican-sponsored review that ultimately failed to produce evidence supporting President Donald Trump’s claims of widespread fraud.
Despite asserting his innocence when the allegations first emerged, Smith said at the time that he stepped aside to avoid mounting legal bills.
Smith will return to court for sentencing on Jan. 6.
