Arizona Morning Briefing, 10-6: Runbeck Explains the Early Ballots, Lamon Tries to Prevent New Fake Electors Charge, Lieutenant Gov. Debate, and More

•RUNBECK RUNS IT BACK–Yesterday came the news that the voting-services company Runbeck had mailed 3,126 Maricopa County ballots six days early. Now Runbeck says those ballots required separate processing because they couldn’t use the U.S. Postal Service’s automated processing, wound up on a pallet with other outgoing mail, and went out to USPS that night. CEO Jeff Ellington called it “pure accident, just a human error,” said Maricopa County was not responsible and said Runbeck has added additional verification steps. Supervisor Mark Stewart also announced a county review and said he wants the findings publicly discussed. President Trump, meanwhile, rejected the error explanation Monday and accused Maricopa County of dishonesty.

In other mail-in ballot news, Maricopa County recorder Justin Heap said the USPS would be routing Arizona ballots through a facility in San Diego. The USPS has denied that and says all its Arizona facilities remain open.

•SLAPP ON THE WRIST–Speaking of illegal Arizona voting, former U.S. Senate candidate Jim Lamon is asking the Court of Appeals to prevent Attorney General Kris Mayes from bringing fresh charges in the 2020 “fake electors” case, arguing the case should have been dismissed under Arizona’s anti-Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPP) statute rather than merely thrown out without prejudice. Seven other defendants—John Eastman, Christina Bobb, Mark Meadows, Tyler Bowyer, Jake Hoffman, Boris Epshteyn and Nancy Cottle—have filed or joined notices seeking similar appellate relief. Mayes’ office didn’t comment on the matter. The state response is due October 16.

•ONE MILLION DOLLARS–The progressive PAC Will of the People announced Monday that it’s putting $1 million into defeating Props. 142, 144, 318 and 320, with mail, phones, door-knocking and digital advertising through Election Day. Those are the legislative referrals dealing respectively with DEI/race-preference rules for public institutions, election rules including voter ID, school sports/sex classifications, and school direct-instruction spending. A million isn’t enough. The correct amount, according to Dr. Evil, is one hundred billion dollars. 

•HOBBS OPENS THE TAIWAN OFFICE–On Monday Governor Hobbs  joined Taiwanese Foreign Minister Lin Chia-Lung and Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego to open the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Phoenix, Taiwan’s 14th such U.S. office. Hobbs publicly backed continued Arizona-Taiwan ties; China’s U.S. embassy reiterated its opposition Monday. Who knew World War 3 would start in Phoenix?

•LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR DEBATE–Republican Sine Kerr and No Labels running mate Angela Harrolle Mohan held the first general-election debate for Arizona’s newly created lieutenant-governor office Monday night. Hobbs running mate John Giles, the overwhelming favorite to become the state’s first lieutenant governor, didn’t participate. Mohan supported a temporary moratorium on new large-scale applications, while Kerr opposed state subsidies and said data centers should provide their own water and power. Mostly, Arizonans watched Wheel of Fortune.