Phoenix — Former Arizona state representative Austin Cole Smith pleaded guilty Monday to charges stemming from a signature-forgery scheme tied to his 2024 re-election campaign, Attorney General Kris Mayes announced.
Smith, 30, of Buckeye, entered two guilty pleas in Maricopa County Superior Court as part of an agreement resolving a felony case first announced earlier this year. Prosecutors said Smith admitted signing the name of a deceased woman on a nomination petition and knowingly submitting petitions containing forged signatures to the Arizona Secretary of State.
“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.”
Background: 14 Charges Including Felonies
Smith served in the Arizona House representing Legislative District 29 from 2023 to 2025. A State Grand Jury indicted him in June 2025 on 14 criminal counts, including:
- 1 count of fraudulent schemes and practices (Class 5 felony)
- 3 counts of presentment of a false instrument for filing (Class 6 felonies)
- 10 counts of illegal signing of election petitions (Class 1 misdemeanors)
According to the indictment, Smith engaged in a year-long scheme, from April 2023 to April 2024, to submit forged nomination petitions. Prosecutors said he falsely completed circulator verifications and signed names including “Enrique Sandoval,” “Nancy Gray,” “William Mitchum,” and others—including one signature belonging to a deceased voter.
Plea Agreement and Sentencing Terms
Under the plea deal, Smith admitted guilt to:
- Attempted fraudulent schemes and practices (amended to a Class 6 undesignated offense), and
- One count of illegal signing of election petitions (Class 1 misdemeanor).
The agreement calls for:
- Probation,
- A minimum $5,500 fine,
- A mandatory five-year ban on seeking public office, as required under A.R.S. § 16-351(G), and
- The offense to remain undesignated unless and until Smith successfully completes probation.
The remaining charges, including the additional forgery counts, will be dismissed if the court accepts the plea.
Certain conditions, including sentencing recommendations, are not binding on the court. Judge Aryeh Schwartz will sentence Smith on January 6, 2026, at 9:30 a.m.
Election Integrity Emphasis
Mayes emphasized that prosecuting election-related fraud remains a priority.
“Cheating the system undermines the public’s faith in our democratic process,” she said.
The Attorney General’s Office will receive a portion of required penalty assessments under state law, including contributions to the Anti-Racketeering Fund and victims’ rights programs.
Smith’s case marks one of the most prominent prosecutions in recent years involving forged candidate petitions in Arizona, a crime that carries both criminal penalties and automatic disqualification from public office.
A copy of the plea agreement is available here. Mr. Smith’s photograph is available here.
