Arizona Morning Roundup, 10-5: Early Ballots Go Out Too Early, Pinal Supervisors File Complaints Against Miller, Arellano Demands Mayes Return Fonda Money, and More

•EARLY EARLY VOTING–Runbeck Election Services told the Maricopa County Recorder’s Office that it accidentally mailed 3,126 early ballots on Oct. 1, six days before the scheduled Oct. 7 mailing date. Recorder Justin Heap says his office didn’t authorize the early mailing and learned about it afterward. The county says the correct ballots went to the correct voters, they remain valid, and it won’t open or process any ballots  before early voting actually starts. Runbeck hadn’t publicly explained the error as of this morning, but said it had also begun mailing out holiday cards.

•MILLER TIME AGAIN– Late Friday, the Pinal County Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 to authorize outside lawyers to file a State Bar complaint against County Attorney Brad Miller. The complaint is confidential, so supervisors haven’t disclosed what alleged conduct it concerns. The vote followed a Sept. 30 executive session specifically addressing Miller’s ethical obligations to the board and Arizona Bar requirements. Miller, a former Maricopa County prosecutor, represented Kelli and Michael Ward in Arizona’s fake-elector criminal case before challenging and defeating incumbent Republican County Attorney Kent Volkmer in 2024. Since taking office in 2025, he’s been in open conflict with the county’s Republican Board of Supervisors over the authority and conduct of his office.

•MANSOUR/NORTON HEATS UP–Arizona Daily Independent reports that Nick Mansour’s attorneys sent Republican treasurer nominee Elijah Norton a five-page cease-and-desist letter Oct. 2, demanding removal of a campaign website, video and social posts attacking Mansour’s professional record and threatening “all available legal remedies.” The letter reportedly disputes claims involving Mansour’s former employer’s $11.4 million Medicare settlement, Arizona College of Nursing litigation and other business matters. Mansour and Norton have been at each other’s throats, with Norton calling Mansour a “con man” and Mansour operating a website called “Never Norton.” One month to go before someone pops the champagne.

•NOTHING TO GAIN–Republican Corporation Commissioner Kevin Thompson confirmed he would attend Friday’s conference-room candidate forum and then didn’t show. Thompson later told the Republic that “at the end of the day, I didn’t have anything to gain,” while also saying he wanted to avoid an appearance of impropriety because some sponsoring groups are challenging the Commission’s formula-rate policy. Democrats Clara Pratte and Jonathon Hill and Green write-in Mike Cease attended. Republican Ralph Heap never responded to the invitation.

•FIFTY-FIVE YEARS OF CAMPAIGNING AGAINST JANE FONDA–AZGOP chairman Sergio Arellano is demanding that Kris Mayes reject fundraising help from Jane Fonda, who is advertised as the special guest at an Oct. 7 Mayes fundraiser in North Central Phoenix. The invitation lists contribution levels from $250 to $5,500. Arellano, an Army veteran, is making Fonda’s 1972 North Vietnam trip the issue. Other timely issues of concern include: Watergate, Iran/Contra, and Y2K.