Stephen Richer currently serves as CEO and consultant at Republic Affairs, while also contributing as a legal scholar at the Cato Institute and as a lecturer and senior fellow at the Ash Center for Democratic Governance and Innovation at Harvard Kennedy School. In addition, Stephen is a contributor to both The Arizona Republic and The Dispatch.

Previously, he was elected as a Republican Maricopa County Recorder, where these primary responsibilities included overseeing voter registration, election administration, and public recordings. His legal career also includes positions as an attorney at Lewis Roca LLP (now Womble Bond Dickinson) and at Steptoe LLP.

Stephen has an extensive media presence, with more than 300 television appearances across major networks including NBC, 60 Minutes, Fox News, CNN, MSNBC, ABC, CBS, PBS, BBC, and local Arizona outlets.  His written work has appeared in prominent publications such as The New York Times, The Washington Post, CNN.com, MSNBC.com, National Review, Newsweek, The Dispatch, The Bulwark, The Contrarian, The Arizona Republic, and the Arizona Capitol Times. They have also been featured on notable podcasts and radio programs, including The Daily from The New York Times, All Things Considered, and The Bulwark Podcast.

Stephen’s academic background includes a Juris Doctor and a Master of Arts from the University of Chicago, as well as a Bachelor of Arts from Tulane University.

His work has been recognized with numerous awards, including the Democracy Defender Annual Award from the Leadership Now Project and the Judge Learned Hand Public Service Award from the American Jewish Committee in 2025. 

He was named Best Elected Republican by Phoenix New Times in both 2024 and 2021, recognized as a Defender of Democracy by Time Magazine in 2024, and honored as Leader of the Year by the Arizona Capitol Times in 2023. Earlier accolades include Public Law Attorney of the Year from the Maricopa County Bar Association in 2022 and Arizonan of the Year by The Arizona Republic in 2021.