The Arizona Freedom Caucus (AFC) issued a statement earlier this month congratulating Democrats in the Arizona Legislature for choosing communist-supported leadership. Four top Democratic leadership positions were filled by progressives who were endorsed by the Working Families Party (WFP), which is closely tied to the Communist Party USA (CPUSA).
AFC said in its statement, “In the aftermath of a historic electoral repudiation of Democrats’ ever-increasing radicalism, the Arizona Freedom Caucus was both shocked and pleased by the absolute tone-deafness of Senate and House Democrats choosing 50% of their legislative leaders who are irrefutably endorsed by Communists.”
“As reported by the media, both newly selected Senate Democrat Leader, Priya Sundareshan, and House Democrat Leader, Oscar De Los Santos, were endorsed this year by the Working Families Party, a nice-sounding name intended to gaslight and conceal the fact it is an effective arm of the Communist Party USA,” AFC said. “Newly selected Assistant Democrat House Leader, Nancy Gutierrez, and Whip Quanta Crews, were also endorsed by the communist Working Families Party this year.”
Sundareshan (pictured above, right) has a zero rating from the American Conservative Union. Her top campaign priority was abortion. De Los Santos (pictured above, left) also has a zero rating. Gutierrez has a zero rating and Crews does not have one yet due to being in office only since 2023.
None of the candidates listed the WFP’s endorsement on their website, even though some like De Los Santos posted a long list of endorsements.
The CPUSA features the WFP on its website. An article from 2018 on the site explained some of the connection between the two parties. It said that CPUSA members who worked on the Bernie Sanders presidential campaign continued their activism with the WFP and other groups. An article from 2014 said that CPUSA is “leading local work of the WFP.” Citing an article from The American Prospect, the article said “the WFP influence has grown into ‘the most effective political operation the American left has seen in decades.’”
An article on the site posted earlier this year discussed how the Philadelphia Young Communist League helped with the Seth Anderson-Oberman campaign for the 8th District City Council election in Philadelphia, which was then “channel[ed] … into organizing in Northwest Philadelphia with two Working Families Party campaigns. Following Seth’s run for office, we also gave our organizing support to the Working Families Party (WFP) and their two candidates running for city council at large.”
Support from the CPUSA for WFP began back when the WFP was formed. CPUSA said on its website in 2004, “The newly emerging Working Families Party and its fusion strategy, which negates the issue of spoiler, deserves special attention. … The efforts of the Working Families Party to expand into more states deserve full support.”
The WFP endorses radical leftist candidates like Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren.
WFP issued an assessment after the election regarding the candidates and issues it supported. “In Arizona, Republicans hold narrow majorities in both chambers. Unfortunately, Republicans actually slightly increased those majorities this cycle, with our top purple-district candidate Judy Schweibert falling short,” the article said. “However, WFP incumbents like Rep. Lorena Austin held their seats as other Dems lost.” State Senator Shawnna Bolick (R-Phoenix) defeated Schweibert.
AFC concluded its statement with a warning, “These honest and transparent selections are a clear message to all Arizonans that Democrats no longer care about sanity or common sense, but rather embracing the most radical and deadly form of political ideology in the history of mankind.”
In Arizona, WFP also endorsed state senators Lauren Kuby and Analise Ortiz. WFP endorsed state representatives Sarah Ligouri, Brian Garcia, Juan Mendez, Lorena Austin, Junelle Cavero, Stephanie Stahl-Hamilton, Mariana Sandoval, and Cesar Aguilar.
For the Corporation Commission, WFP endorsed Jonathon Hill and Ylenia Aguilar. WFP endorsed Kiana Sears for North Mesa Justice of the Peace. WFP endorsed Ayensa Millan and Anna Hernandez for Phoenix City Council and Jennifer Allen for Pima County Supervisor.
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Rachel Alexander is a reporter at The Arizona Sun Times and The Star News Network. Follow Rachel on Twitter / X. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “State Sen. Priya Sundareshan” by State Sen. Priya Sundareshan and “State Rep. Oscar De Los Santos” by State Rep. Oscar De Los Santos, and Arizona State Capitol is by Wars CC 3.0.
