PHOENIX — Greater than 150 supporters of President Trump, a few of them armed, gathered exterior the Maricopa County election workplace on Wednesda
PHOENIX — Greater than 150 supporters of President Trump, a few of them armed, gathered exterior the Maricopa County election workplace on Wednesday and chanted “Depend the vote,” as officers did simply that underneath the safety of sheriff’s deputies.
Early leads to Arizona present Joseph R. Biden Jr. within the lead, however Trump supporters imagine that would change because the final votes are counted.
Keely Varvel, chief deputy recorder for Maricopa County, mentioned counting would proceed regardless of the protest. “We’re nonetheless planning to complete up our scheduled poll processing work and report out extra outcomes tonight,” Ms. Varvel mentioned.
With out citing proof, some Republicans have accused election officers of manipulating the outcomes to point that Mr. Trump is shedding in Maricopa County, which is residence to about 60 % of Arizona’s inhabitants.
“The one manner Biden can win Arizona is thru fraud,” mentioned Jim Williams, 67, a welder who attended the protest. “I gained’t settle for a Biden victory. I don’t wish to stay underneath Communist rule.”
Many within the crowd had been holding Trump flags, and quite a few individuals had been wielding AR-15 rifles and different firearms. Some additionally chanted “Fox Information sucks,” reflecting their displeasure with the community’s determination on Tuesday to name Arizona for Mr. Biden, a transfer that another information shops later adopted.
The final time a Democratic presidential candidate gained Arizona was Invoice Clinton in 1996, and Maricopa County has not voted for a Democrat for president since 1948. However demographic modifications have remodeled Arizona right into a battleground state.
As of late Wednesday evening, Mr. Biden led Mr. Trump in Arizona by fewer than 80,000 votes, or lower than three share factors, with about 14 % of the overall vote nonetheless excellent. Within the votes so removed from Maricopa County, Mr. Biden leads by 5 share factors.