Rep. Julie Willoughby (center) poses with Arizona Supreme Court Justice Clint Bolick (left) and House Speaker Ben Toma (right) after being sworn in on May 5, 2023, as a House staffer takes a photo. Photo by Jerod MacDonald-Evoy || Arizona Mirror
JEROD MACDONALD-EVOY
Arizona Mirror
Rep. Julie Willoughby (center) poses with Arizona Supreme Court Justice Clint Bolick (left) and House Speaker Ben Toma (right) after being sworn in on May 5, 2023, as a House staffer takes a photo. Photo by Jerod MacDonald-Evoy || Arizona Mirror
Just hours after the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors selected her to fill a legislative vacancy in a Chandler-based district, Julie Willoughby took the oath of office and became a state representative.
Willoughby, a Republican, replaces former GOP Rep. Liz Harris, who was expelled on April 12 for inviting a woman who made unfounded criminal allegations against lawmakers at a February hearing, then lying about it to the Arizona House of Representatives Ethics Committee.
Willoughby, who ran as a team with Harris in 2022, distanced herself from the former lawmaker during her swearing in ceremony Friday in the House chambers.
“The biggest issue I have with the 2020 election is that it is 2023 and we are still talking about it,” Willoughby said when asked by reporters if she believed the election fraud lies pushed by her former running mate. When asked directly if she is an election denier, Willoughby answered, “No, sir, I am not.”
