- Net worth
- Unknown
- Crimes
- fake electors, obstruction, other
- Convicted of
- Preemptive pardon for potential federal charges related to efforts to overturn the 2020 election; indicted in Arizona for fake elector scheme
- Original sentence
- N/A (preemptive pardon; no federal conviction)
- Time served
- N/A
Background
Kelli Ward is a former chairwoman of the Arizona Republican Party who was one of 11 Arizona fake electors who participated in the scheme to overturn the 2020 election results.
The Case
Ward was never federally charged or convicted, but she received a preemptive federal pardon from President Trump in November 2025 as part of a batch of 77 pardons for allies involved in efforts to overturn the 2020 election. The pardon was described as "full, complete, and unconditional" but was largely symbolic since presidential pardons apply only to federal crimes and Ward had no federal convictions.
Ward was one of 11 Arizona fake electors who signed a document falsely declaring themselves the rightful electors despite Joe Biden winning Arizona in 2020. In April 2024, she was indicted in Arizona for fraud, conspiracy, and forgery related to the fake elector scheme. Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes is continuing the state prosecution despite the federal pardon. On November 21, 2025, Mayes appealed an adverse court ruling to Arizona's Supreme Court to keep the prosecution alive. The federal pardon does not affect her Arizona state charges, which remain pending.
The Pardon
On November 9, 2025, President Trump granted Ward a full pardon along with 76 other allies tied to efforts to overturn the 2020 election. The pardon was issued preemptively, before any federal charges were filed. The proclamation covered conduct "relating to the advice, creation, organization, execution, submission, support, voting, activities, participation in, or advocacy for or of any slate or proposed slate of Presidential electors" in connection with the 2020 election.