Trump Supporters Protest At Maricopa County Recorder's Office

PHOENIX — Hundreds of angry supporters of President Donald Trump converged on the Maricopa County Recorder's Office as the returns went against him Wednesday in the key state.

“Stop the steal!” they said.

The protests came as the president insisted without evidence that there were major problems with the voting and the ballot counting, especially with mail-in votes, and as Republicans filed suit in various states over the election.

Wearing Trump gear, the Phoenix protesters filled much of the parking lot at the Maricopa County election center, and members of the crowd chanted, “Fox News sucks!” in anger over the network projecting Joe Biden the winner in Arizona.

Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Prescott, a staunch Trump supporter, joined the crowd, declaring: “We’re not going to let this election be stolen. Period.”

However, observers from both major political parties were inside the election center as ballots were processed and counted, and the procedure was live-streamed online at all times.

That fact was emphasized by Arizona Republican Party Chairwoman Kelli Ward in an effort to combat misinformation circulating on Twitter regarding the vote count.

Several sheriff’s deputies blocked the entrance to the building. And the vote-counting went on into the night, Maricopa County Elections Department spokeswoman Megan Gilbertson said.

Two top county officials — one a Democrat, the other a Republican — issued a statement expressing concern about how misinformation had spread about the integrity of the election process.

“Everyone should want all the votes to be counted, whether they were mailed or cast in person,” said the statement signed by Clint Hickman, the GOP chair of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, and Democratic Supervisor Steve Gallardo. “An accurate vote takes time. ... This is evidence of democracy, not fraud.”

The Associated Press contributed to this reporting.