Supervisor Bill Gates says he’s not running for re-election

PHOENIX (AP) — Maricopa County Supervisor Bill Gates, who worked to bat down election misinformation and a hostile political landscape in 2020 and 2022, announced Thursday that he’s not running for re-election.

In a statement, Gates said he intends to “pursue other interests and opportunities” but will fulfill the remainder of his term.

Gates, a Republican, has a wife and three daughters.

He said it’s been an honor to serve 13 years on the Phoenix City Council and the county Board of Supervisors.

“At the city of Phoenix, I cut through the bureaucracy and helped shape a more efficient and responsive government operation,” Gates said in a statement. “At Maricopa County, I kept government lean, taxes low, supported our most vulnerable residents, and told the truth about our elections in the face of false information.”

In 2020, Maricopa County landed in the national spotlight while certifying results amid false claims that the election was stolen from then-President Donald Trump. The following year, it underwent an “audit” pushed by Republicans in the state Senate, which ended with a report validating President Joe Biden’s win.

Last November, Gates and other Maricopa County election officials aggressively batted down rumors and slanted or false claims as vote counting came under intense scrutiny in the battleground state.