Category: The West

Kari Lake, Kelly Cooper Headline Ballot Chasing Rally with J.D. Vance and TPUSA’s Charlie Kirk in Mesa

Rachel Alexander
Kari Lake

Kari Lake and congressional candidate Kelly Cooper spoke at a Turning Point USA rally with J.D. Vance and TPUSA CEO Charlie Kirk at Generation Church in east Mesa on Wednesday. The theme throughout the evening was ballot chasing — knocking on doors and urging large numbers of low propensity voters to cast ballots. Senior Pastor Ryan Visconti said the church was so full there was an overflow room, estimating almost 2,000 in attendance.

Visconti said he received pushback about hosting the political event, with others questioning his judgment. He said he responded to the critics and said it was too imperative to stand up for what’s right. The crowd roared with applause. 

Read the full story

Arizona Corporation Commission Candidates Discuss Rate Increases During Debate

The Center Square

Six candidates vying for three seats on the Arizona Corporation Commission went head-to-head in a televised debate Tuesday night moderated by the Citizens Clean Elections Commission.

Among the topics debated was one on the top of every Arizonans’ mind – energy price rate hikes. Arizona experienced one of the hottest summers in history this year, and one of the most expensive with energy bills increasing up to $100 a month for some residents.

Read the full story

JD Vance and Charlie Kirk Lead ‘Chase the Vote’ Event at Mesa Church in Arizona, over 500 Volunteers Sign Up

Christy Kelly
JD Vance and Charlie Kirk

At a Turning Point USA event in Mesa, Arizona, on Wednesday, Senator JD Vance (R-Ohio) and its founder, Charlie Kirk, took the stage to energize conservative voters ahead of the 2024 elections. In a fireside chat format, both speakers spoke on critical issues such as immigration, crime, and the economy, linking them directly to Vice President Kamala Harris’s policies.

Vance criticized Harris’s handling of immigration, emphasizing the halt on former President Donald Trump’s border wall construction on the first day of her term. He argued that this decision opened the door for cartels and drug dealers to exploit weak border enforcement. “Kamala has Trump’s border wall in her ad, yet she stopped construction on Day 1,” Vance said. He described the disastrous human toll of her policies, claiming, “320,000 kids are missing. This is the wage of Kamala Harris’s border policy.”

Read the full story

Arizona Voters to Decide on Thirteen Ballot Propositions in 2024

Christy Kelly
Voting Stations

Arizona voters will face thirteen propositions on the 2024 ballot. The Republican-led state legislature referred 11 propositions, covering a range of issues from election reforms to judicial term limits. Notably, two citizen-led initiatives also made the ballot: the Arizona for Abortion Access Act and the Make Elections Fair Act.

Propositions 133-140 are constitutional amendments, while propositions 311-315 are state statutes. 

The full, official language for each proposition on the 2024 Arizona ballot is available on the Arizona Secretary of State’s website.

Read the full story

Majority of Arizona Voters Support Secure Borders Referendum, Including Democrats: Poll

Tom Pappert
Illegal Immigrants

A poll released Tuesday found an overwhelming majority of Arizona voters back the effort that would allow state law enforcement to arrest and deport illegal immigrants, which will appear on the November ballot as a referendum titled Proposition 314.

The survey, conducted by Noble Predictive Insights, found that 63 percent of Arizona voters support the referendum while just 16 percent said they were opposed. An additional 16 percent of respondents said they would not vote on the referendum, while 6 percent said they were unsure.

Read the full story

Arizona Clean Elections Refuses to Let Green Party Candidate Participate in U.S. Senate Debate

Rachel Alexander
Eduardo Heredia Quintana Fernandez

The Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission (ACCEC) is refusing to allow Arizona Green Party (AZGP) candidate Eduardo Quintana to participate in the U.S. Senate debate scheduled for October 9 with Republican Kari Lake and Democrat Ruben Gallego, even though Libertarian Party candidate Marc Victor was allowed to participate in the 2022 U.S. Senate debate with Republican Blake Masters and Democrat Mark Kelly. Since Libertarians tend to take away more support from Republicans than Democrats, and Green Party candidates take away support mainly from Democrats, the ACCEC is coming under fire for skewing the debate to favor Gallego. 

Turning Point USA CEO Charlie Kirk pointed out the discrepancy in a thread on X. He cited a statement from Arizona Media Association, the broadcast partner for Arizona Clean Elections debates, which said that “candidates must receive at least 1% of the total ballots cast in all the primaries for their race to be included.” 

Read the full story

Conservative Group to Monitor Arizona’s Ballot Drop Boxes, Democrats Doubtful

The Center Square
ballot dropbox

A conservative grassroots organization has sent letters to election officials in every “major jurisdiction” asking what measures are being taken to ensure the security of Arizona’s ballot boxes and calling for the right to monitor those boxes during the general presidential election.

According to reporting by the Arizona Republic, one of these letters was received by Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes on Aug. 15, just days after a Maricopa County Superior Court judge ruled that Fontes had overstepped when crafting the Elections Procedure Manual.

Read the full story

Emergency Rule Change Temporarily Limits State Bar Complaints Against Attorneys in Arizona

Rachel Alexander
Arizona State Bar

The Arizona Supreme Court, which oversees the State Bar of Arizona (SBA), is considering proposed changes to the SBA, and approved one temporary emergency rule change Friday. The SBA, whose leadership is dominated by progressives, has come under intense criticism in recent years for targeting conservative attorneys, especially election attorneys. The court adopted R-24-0046 as an emergency rule in order to allow it to go into effect temporarily before the 2024 general election. It limits the ability of those who have no connection to a matter to file a complaint against an attorney.

The justices are reviewing 70 total rule change petitions, and will decide whether to adopt, adopt with amendment, reject, or continue a change. Changes resulting from this process will then be referred to a study committee for further consideration. The rule change process began in January, with proposals offered to the public for comment. The justices are expected to make their decisions on all 70 rule change petitions within the next few days. Most rules that are adopted will go into effect in January.

Read the full story

Open Primary Ballot Measure Will Appear on Ballot Despite Ongoing Litigation

The Center Square

An open primary proposition will be on the ballot in November, but whether or not voters can actually put the measure into law remains to be seen.

Proposition 140, also known as the Make Elections Fair Act, would require that primary elections no longer be partisan. Candidates of any affiliation would all be competing in a general election and voters can vote on any candidate regardless of either’s affiliation.

Read the full story

Former Phoenix New Times Co-Owner Sentenced to Five Years in Prison Related to Prostitution, Sex Trafficking of Minors

Rachel Alexander
Michael Lacey

The former co-owner of the tabloid Phoenix New Times, Michael Lacey, was sentenced to five years in prison on Wednesday for laundering money from Backpage.com, a site he founded and ran that was accused of prostitution and sex trafficking of minors. His co-owner Jim Larkin killed himself a few days before the second trial was to begin in 2023 (the first trial ended in a mistrial). The New Times is known for regularly running articles attacking conservatives in politics that are strategically placed next to articles about pedophiles and murderers. 

Scott Spear and John “Jed” Brunst, former executives with Backpage, were sentenced to 10 years each for numerous crimes. “The defendants and their conspirators obtained more than $500 million from operating an online forum that facilitated the sexual exploitation of countless victims,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division in a press release. “The defendants thought they could hide their illicit proceeds by laundering the funds through shell companies in foreign countries. But they were wrong.” 

Read the full story

Arizona Migrant Busing Continues as Feds Send Nearly $50 Million More in Aid

The Center Square
Border Patrol agents in front of a migrant bus

Over $47 million in federal taxpayer dollars is going toward service programs in Arizona as the state continues to facilitate migrant requests for transportation to other parts of the country, albeit fewer than before. 

The funds are part of $380 million in supplemental funds for the Federal Emergency Management Agency and United States Customs and Border Protection for the Shelter and Services program, which a news release states is used for “food, shelter, clothing, acute medical care, and transportation to noncitizens” that are waiting for their immigration court date in the U.S. 

Read the full story

State Bar of Arizona Disciplinary Panel Dismisses Complaint Against Kari Lake’s Two Attorneys over Voting Machine Tabulator Lawsuit

Rachel Alexander
Margaret Downie

A disciplinary panel for the State Bar of Arizona (SBA) dismissed complaints filed against two of Kari Lake’s attorneys that were brought over their work representing Kari Lake in a 2022 lawsuit, Lake v. Hobbs, challenging the use of voting machine tabulators in elections. The panel of three, led by Presiding Disciplinary Judge Margaret Downie, found that the SBA did not prove by clear and convincing evidence that Kurt Olsen — who represented himself and isn’t a licensed member of the SBA — and Andrew Parker violated any ethics rules. The decision cited a recent opinion from the Arizona Supreme Court, Ariz. Republican Party v. Richer, which held that attorneys should not be sanctioned for bringing election lawsuits. 

U.S. District Court Judge John Tuchi, who was appointed to the bench by President Barack Obama, ordered sanctions of $122,200 against Olsen, Parker, and attorney Alan Dershowitz over a year ago for bringing the lawsuit. The sanctions were requested by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, who were represented by Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell. The Maricopa County Republican Committee censured Mitchell over the representation.

Read the full story

Trial Date Set for Arizona ‘Fake Electors’ as Defendants Claim Political Persecution

The Center Square

A hearing regarding Arizona “fake electors” wrapped up Wednesday in Phoenix after three days of statements being heard from the defendants’ lawyers and the attorney general’s office.

In April, a grand jury indicted 11 Arizona Republicans and seven other individuals that were aides to former President Donald Trump of allegedly forging a document denying the 2020 presidential election results, claiming that Trump had won Arizona, when in fact he lost to President Joe Biden by 10,457 votes, and sent the statement to the National Archives.

Read the full story

Arizona State Senator Matt Gress Vows Reforms Following $39 Million Santa Cruz County Treasurer Embezzlement Scandal

Christy Kelly
Santa Cruz County Courthouse

A newly released report from the Arizona Auditor General has unveiled what appears to be a massive financial fraud allegedly orchestrated by former Santa Cruz County Treasurer Elizabeth Gutfahr, who is accused of embezzling over $39 million from county funds over a ten-year period. The report details a series of unauthorized transactions, falsified documents, and systemic failures in financial oversight that allowed the fraud to continue unchecked.

Republican State Senator Matt Gress told The Arizona Sun Times, “The level of deception involved is staggering.”

Read the full story

Arizona Auditor General Details $39 Million Santa Cruz Embezzlement Case

The Center Square
Santa Cruz County Courthouse

The Arizona Auditor General confirmed that over $39 million was allegedly stolen from Santa Cruz County by its ex-treasurer who resigned in April.

“As part of their responsibility to prevent and detect fraud, Santa Cruz County (County) officials took appropriate action by reporting to us and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) alleged financial misconduct by the former County Treasurer (Treasurer),” the auditor general’s office stated.

Read the full story

Stephen Richer Ordered to Pay $25k to Merissa Hamilton for over 100,000 Documents He Required Her to Produce in Kari Lake Defamation Lawsuit

Rachel Alexander
Stephen Richer

A trial court judge ordered Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer earlier this month to pay grassroots activist Merissa Hamilton $25,345.50 for the costs of over 100,000 documents she produced in response to a subpoena from him.

Richer sued Republican Arizona Senate candidate Kari Lake for defamation last year over remarks she made accusing him of intentionally inserting 300,000 ballots into the 2022 election. As part of the lawsuit, he subpoenaed documents from Hamilton and others. The ballots in question lacked a chain of custody, which is a class 2 misdemeanor.

Read the full story

Trump Held Slim Lead over Harris in Arizona Poll Completed Before RFK Jr. Endorsement

Tom Pappert
Donald Trump and Kamala Harris

Former President Donald Trump held a slight lead over Vice President Kamala Harris in a poll that included Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the former independent presidential candidate who suspended his campaign and endorsed Trump last week.

Noble Predictive Insights conducted the polling between August 12 and August 16, which occurred directly before the Democratic National Convention (DNC) and before Kennedy endorsed Trump.

Read the full story

Arizona Legislative Races Heat Up as Democrats Seek Historic Statewide Victory

Christy Kelly
Arizona State Senate

For the first time in a half-century, Democrats are poised to win statewide control in Arizona. Early ballots for the upcoming elections will be mailed out on October 7 as the state braces for some of the most competitive races in recent years.

The Arizona State Legislature is currently divided and under Republican control by a narrow margin. Republicans hold a 2-seat majority in the State Senate, while in the State House of Representatives, the Republicans maintain a single-seat edge, meaning Democrats need to flip just one seat in each chamber to achieve a tie and two to take the gavel.

Read the full story

Arizona Police Association Endorses Gallego over Lake in Senate Race

Just the News
Ruben Gallego and Kari Lake in front of Arizona state capitol building

The Arizona Police Association has endorsed Democrat Rep. Ruben Gallego over Republican nominee Kari Lake in the state’s critical Senate race.

“As a Marine combat veteran, we know Congressman Gallego understands the complexities of modern policing in American society today, while at the same time recognizing the public’s expectations,” Arizona Police Association President Justin Harris wrote Monday on the social platform X.

Read the full story

New Member Appointed to Arizona State Board of Education

The Center Square
Dr. Jose Luis Cruz Rivera

Northern Arizona University President Dr. Jose Luis Cruz Rivera was appointed by Gov. Katie Hobbs to the state Board of Education this week.

“He has been a steadfast leader for the students and faculty at NAU, and he will bring that leadership to the State Board of Education. As a Lumberjack, I could not be more thrilled to appoint him to this position, and know that he will work tirelessly to create a public education system that ensures every Arizonan has a chance to thrive,” Hobbs stated about the appointment to the board, which focuses on K-12 education.

Read the full story

‘We Want to Be Heard:’ Angel Moms Describe Brutal Murders of Daughters

The Center Square
Patricia Moran speaking at a Trump press conference in Montezuma Pass, AZ

Family members of those killed by violent foreign nationals released into the U.S. by the Biden-Harris administration have endorsed President Donald Trump for president.

They joined Trump at a news conference in Montezuma Pass at the Arizona-Mexico border in Cochise County on Thursday, where Trump described the types of crimes being committed against Americans by what he described as some of the most dangerous people in the world.

Read the full story

Arizona Abortion Activists Sued to Keep ‘Unborn Human Being’ Off Referendum Because Term ‘Tinged with Anti-Abortion Sentiment’

Tom Pappert
Chris Love, Arizona Capitol

An article published by the spokesperson for the group of Arizona activists who successfully gathered signatures for an abortion referendum, Prop. 139, explained the group sued to remove the phrase “unborn human being” from the November ballot because they view it as unscientific and “tinged with anti-abortion sentiment.”

The Louisiana Illuminator reported on Sunday that Arizona for Abortion Access spokesperson Chris Love told the outlet on August 16 they sought to replace the phrase “unborn human being” with “fetus,” describing it as “the scientific, medically-accurate language.”

Read the full story

Arizona Leaders to Renew Push for School Cell Phone Ban

The Center Square
Students on Cell Phones

Some Arizona leaders are hoping cell phones will be banned throughout the school day as part of state law in next legislative session. 

“This is a real emergency, the problem of cell phones in the classroom,” Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne said at a news conference on Thursday, arguing that the issue of students being distracted in classes continues to worsen.

Read the full story

Crowd Fills Glendale Stadium for Rally with Donald Trump and New Supporter Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

Rachel Alexander
Donald Trump Rally Arizona

Thousands showed up for a Donald Trump rally with Turning Point USA in Glendale west of Phoenix, with many lining up overnight to get good seats. Robert Kennedy Jr. joined Trump at the Desert Diamond Arena to show his support, having suspended his presidential campaign in Arizona and nine other battleground states just hours earlier. Kennedy said earlier at a press conference in downtown Phoenix that if he stayed in the race, it might allow Kamala Harris to win the presidential race since he would take votes away from Trump.

Several candidates running for office in Arizona spoke before Trump, including congressional candidates and Kari Lake, who is running for U.S. Senate. Turning Point USA CEO Charlie Kirk said Americans are tired of sending $200 billion to Ukraine when the U.S.’s own borders aren’t secure. He said American citizens should be prioritized over foreigners. 

Read the full story

RFK Jr. Suspends Presidential Campaign, Endorses Trump

Christy Kelly
Donald Trump Rally Arizona

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced on Friday that he was suspending his independent presidential campaign and endorsing former President Donald Trump for the 2024 election. Speaking at a packed press conference in Phoenix, Kennedy cited dissatisfaction with the Democratic Party and his promise not to be a spoiler as key factors in his decision.

“These are the principal causes that persuaded me to leave the Democratic Party and run as an independent, and now to throw my support to President Trump,” Kennedy stated. He emphasized that, although he is withdrawing his candidacy vin ten swing states, his name will remain on the ballot in several states, allowing his supporters to continue backing him where their votes are unlikely to sway the outcome.

Read the full story

Phoenix Police Department Releases Police Reports, Other Documentation to Refute DOJ’s Report That Its Officers Violated Rights

Rachel Alexander
Phoenix Police Department

The Phoenix Police Department (PPD) released redacted documents this week that show the DOJ left out relevant information to the incidents discussed in a June DOJ report critical of the agency.

Based on the descriptions, PPD was able to discern 120 of the 132 incidents. PPD said it provided roughly 179,000 documents and 22,000 body cam videos to the DOJ during its investigation. The types of incidents covered were the use of force, homelessness, discriminatory policing, protected speech, behavioral health youth, and contributing causes.

Read the full story

Reporter Christy Kelly: RFK Jr. Announcement Knocks Kamala Harris’ DNC Acceptance Speech Out of the News Cycle

Kaitlin Housler
Christy Kelly

Christy Kelly, reporter at The Arizona Sun Times, said Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Friday morning announcement in Arizona may have been planned to knock Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris out of the news cycle less than 24 hours after her acceptance speech at the Democratic National Convention on Thursday night.

On Friday, Kennedy announced the suspension to his presidential campaign and that he would be endorsing former President Donald Trump in the race moving forward.

Read the full story

Supreme Court Reinstates Part of Arizona Voter Citizenship Law

Just the News

The U.S. Supreme Court revived part of Arizona’s proof of voter citizenship law on Thursday, allowing for restrictions regarding the state voter registration form.

Following a request from the Republican National Committee and Arizona Republicans, the Supreme Court reinstated a provision of the state law after federal courts blocked it, Reuters reported. Individuals filling out voter registration forms for state elections must provide proof of U.S. citizenship, unlike those filling out the federal voter registration forms.

Read the full story

U.S. Senate Hopeful Rep. Ruben Gallego’s Record on Public Safety Under Fire Ahead of November Election

Christy Kelly
Ruben Gallego

As voters prepare to cast their vote in the November election, Rep. Ruben Gallego’s (D-AZ-03) record on public safety has emerged as a central issue in the hotly contested U.S. Senate race. Gallego, who has served in Congress since 2015 and previously in the Arizona House of Representatives, faces scrutiny from his opponent, Kari Lake, and other critics over his stance on law enforcement and public safety.

Gallego’s efforts to reform police practices and limit military-grade equipment for law enforcement, as well as his public appearances and fiery social media posts has become a major focus in the contentious Senate campaign.

Read the full story

Scottsdale Adjusts Sales Tax Proposition Language After Court Ruling

The Center Square
Scottsdale City Hall

The Scottsdale City Council voted 4-3 to adjust the language for a sales tax ballot proposition that would have been killed by an Arizona Court of Appeals if changes were not made quickly. 

The court shot down the original language following a lawsuit from the Goldwater Institute, as the court said it would confuse voters to brand a new 0.15 percent sales tax beginning July 1, 2025, as a cut instead of a new tax to replace the 0.2 percent sales tax expiring June 30, 2025. 

Read the full story

Grassroots Groups Join GOP to Provide Election Integrity Training in Scottsdale, Tucson

Rachel Alexander
Protect the Vote

Several grassroots groups, including the Voter Reference Foundation run by Arizona Republican Party Chair Gina Swoboda, put on election integrity training in Scottsdale and Tucson on Monday.  Organized by America First Policy Institute (AFPI), speakers from the Honest Elections Project, Heritage Action for America, Save Our States Action, and American Constitutional Rights Union Action taught attendees how to work at the polls, observe elections, and educated them on the Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) proposition on the ballot and efforts to require proof of citizenship to register to vote.

Jordan Kittleson, policy director of AFPI, moderated the event, asking the experts questions and commenting on them.  Organized by America First Policy Institute (AFPI), speakers from the Honest Elections Project, Heritage Action for America, Save Our States Action, and American Constitutional Rights Union Action taught attendees how to work at the polls, observe elections, and educated them on the Ranked Choice Voting (RCV) proposition on the ballot and efforts to require proof of citizenship to register to vote.

Jordan Kittleson, policy director of AFPI, moderated the event, asking the experts questions and commenting on them.

Read the full story

Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego Explains Endorsement of Ex-Husband Ruben Gallego for Senate After Emergency Move to Seal Divorce Case

Tom Pappert
Kate Gallego and Ruben Gallego

Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego on Monday doubled down on her endorsement of Representative Ruben Gallego (D-AZ-03), her ex-husband, in remarks made weeks after an emergency motion was filed in a bid to seal details of their divorce case from the public.

Kate Gallego made her remarks about the endorsement of her ex-husband during an interview with KTAR News host Jim Sharpe at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago, Illinois.

Read the full story

Arizona Announces Eight Green Party Write-Ins Will Run in the General Election

The Center Square
People casting their votes

The Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes announced on Saturday that eight Green Party write-in candidates would be moving on to the general election. The Green Party is an independent political party “connected to American social movements,” according to the Green Party’s website.

At this time, the Green Party has 100 elected officials across the country. However, Arizona has never had a Green Party candidate elected into a federal or state office. The write-in candidates were not mentioned in the official Arizona Primary Canvass due to a clerical error, according to an Aug. 17 press release from the Secretary of State’s office, which explained the way voting for a write-in candidate works.

Read the full story

Arizona Court of Appeals Hears Oral Arguments over Scottsdale’s ‘Bait and Switch’ Description of ‘New’ Prop. 490 Park Sales Tax as a Tax Decrease

Rachel Alexander
Attorney Scott Day Freeman

A three-judge panel on the Arizona Court of Appeals heard oral arguments last Tuesday in the Goldwater Institute’s (GI) legal challenge to a $1.2 billion sales tax the City of Scottsdale referred to the ballot this fall. GI said the City’s description of Proposition 490 made the tax for parks out to be a tax decrease, when it really was a new tax. GI was appealing a dismissal of its lawsuit by Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Michael Gordon, who was appointed to the bench by Democratic Governor Janet Napolitano.

In its executive summary about the lawsuit, GI stated, “The City of Scottsdale is attempting to trick Scottsdale residents into approving a tax increase by calling it a tax reduction.” GI cited Arizona law, Molera v. Hobbs, which prohibits bait and switch tactics with ballot measures. 

Read the full story

Arizona School District Launches Outside Investigation of Democratic Lawmaker, District President Accused of Sexual Harassment

Tom Pappert
AZ State Rep Elda Luna-Nájera, Tolleson School District Office

An Arizona state lawmaker and school official was reportedly accused of sexual harassment by a superintendent earlier this month, which prompted an alleged effort to oust him, culminating in the launch of a third party investigation on Wednesday.

Arizona State Representative Elda Luna-Nájera (D-District 22), who also serves as the governing board president of the Tolleson Union High School District, was accused of sexual harassment by superintendent Jeremy Calles in a legal complaint reported by 12 News on August 9.

Read the full story

Republican Congressional Candidate Abe Hamadeh Demands Accountability After Veteran’s Death at Phoenix VA Hospital

Christy Kelly

Abe Hamadeh, a veteran and Republican candidate for Arizona’s 8th Congressional District is pressing for answers and accountability after a troubling incident at the Phoenix VA Hospital may have contributed to the death of a veteran. The incident prompted the Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary, Denis McDonough, to call for a systemwide review of VA policies.

Abe Hamadeh, told The Arizona Sun Times that it is “encouraging to see the VA taking steps to improve its policies and procedures, but it’s deeply tragic that these changes come only after the loss of one of our nation’s heroes.”

Hamadeh emphasized the importance of proactive measures.

“The life of a veteran is too precious to be the catalyst for change—these brave individuals have already sacrificed so much for our country,” he said.

Read the full story

Maricopa County Arizona Sheriff Race: High Stakes Amidst New Possible MCSO Sanctions

Christy Kelly
Tyler Kamp, Jerry Sheridan

The 2024 race for Maricopa County Sheriff is shaping up to be a significant battleground, with Republican candidate Jerry Sheridan and Democrat Tyler Kamp emerging as the main contenders. 

Recently, the Melendres Compliance federal oversight of the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) has recommended new sanctions due to the ongoing failure to resolve a substantial backlog of misconduct complaints. These complaints primarily concern racial profiling and other civil rights violations. Despite years of oversight, the MCSO has not made adequate progress in addressing over 1,400 unresolved complaints. The oversight has cost Arizona taxpayers over $240 million dollars. 

In a statement to The Arizona Sun Times, Sheridan addressed the complexities of federal court oversight on law enforcement agencies, particularly regarding internal investigations. “Federal court oversight is a complicated issue for any organization, especially a law enforcement agency. Internal investigations are necessary to ensure people are doing their jobs right, following policies, and not abusing people’s rights,” Sheridan remarked.

Read the full story

America First Policy Institute, AZGOP Chair, Other Groups Offering Training in Arizona on Monday for Poll Watching and Election Integrity

Rachel Alexander
Poll Worker

Several grassroots organizations are organizing an educational seminar titled “Protect the Vote” in Arizona on Monday, with events in Scottsdale and Tucson. Organized by America First Policy Institute (AFPI), the seminar includes Arizona Republican Party (AZGOP) Chair Gina Swoboda, who heads the Voter Reference Foundation, and speakers from the Honest Elections Project, Heritage Action for America, Save Our States Action, and American Constitutional Rights Union Action.

“The primary objective of these grassroots seminar events is to educate the public on the background and mechanics of the jungle primary and ranked choice voting system, including an in-depth discussion on the many examples of where it’s been implemented and proven unsuccessful,” AFPI Policy Director Jordan Kittleson told The Arizona Sun Times. “We will also be providing attendees with a comprehensive poll worker and poll watcher training presentation that will equip them with the readiness resources and tools needed to better ensure citizen engagement at polling locations in November.”

Read the full story

Ruben Gallego’s Move Toward Moderation Under Fire from Kari Lake as U.S. Senate Race Heats Up

Christy Kelly
Rep. Ruben Gallego

Congressman Ruben Gallego (D-AZ-03), who was once known for his staunch progressive positions, has notably shifted toward a more centrist approach as he faces Republican Kari Lake in a competitive bid for the U.S. Senate. Gallego, who built his political career championing far-left causes, is recalibrating his platform to appeal to a broader spectrum of Arizona voters. This strategic pivot comes as Republicans increase their voter registration efforts. Gallego aims to counter Lake’s strong conservative base by courting moderate and independent voters in this must-win key battleground state.  According to voter data, Republicans hold a significant lead over registered Democrats, with July being a particularly good month.

Read the full story

Arizona’s Water Ration of Colorado River to Continue in 2025

The Center Square
Colorado River in Arizona

The U.S. Department of the Interior announced yesterday that for the second consecutive year, the lower Colorado River basin will be in a tier 1, meaning that Arizona’s Colorado River water allocation will once again be reduced by 18% – 512,000 acre-feet.

“The future conditions in the Basin are likely to continue to force hard decisions by those who rely on the Colorado River,” said Tom Buschatzke, director of the Arizona Department of Water Resources, in an Aug. 15 ADWR press release. “We need all users to contribute to the system’s security.”

Read the full story

Internal Arizona Poll Shows Kari Lake Tied with Rep. Ruben Gallego, Trump Beating Harris in Three-Way Race

Tom Pappert
Kari Lake and Ruben Gallego

Internal Arizona polling data commissioned by the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC), and released to one media outlet this week, shows Republican U.S. Senate nominee Kari Lake is tied with Representative Ruben Gallego (D-AZ-03) in the race to fill the seat being vacated by Senator Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) in January.

The polling was obtained exclusively by National Journal, which reported both Lake and Gallego are tied at 46 percent, with an additional 8 percent of Arizona voters undecided.

Read the full story

Kari Lake Accuses Ruben Gallego of Violating Stock Act After Democrat Reports Trades over 300 Days Late

Tom Pappert
Kari Lake and Ruben Gallego

Republican U.S. Senate candidate Kari Lake accused Representative Ruben Gallego (D-AZ-03) of violating the U.S. Stock Act on Wednesday after the Democrat reported two stock trades, which date to 2019 and 2022, in reports submitted on Tuesday.

The U.S. Stock Act requires Congress to report any stock purchases or sales within 30 or 45 days of the transaction.

Read the full story

Arizona Right to Life Files Opening Brief with Arizona Supreme Court Opposing Radical Nine-Month Abortion Proposition on the Ballot

Rachel Alexander
Arizona Abortion Supporters

Arizona Right to Life (AZRTL) appealed a trial court judge’s rejection of its lawsuit challenging the Right to Abortion Initiative, Prop. 139, which will appear on the ballot this fall.

AZRTL filed an opening brief with the Arizona Supreme Court on Monday, asking the court “to find the Ballot Measure legally insufficient for placement on the Arizona Ballot because the petition’s summary misrepresented and concealed the principal provisions of the Ballot Measure.” Prop. 139 will legalize abortion up until ninth months of pregnancy, including partial-birth abortion.

Read the full story

Arizona ‘Microbusiness’ Loan Program Now Available

The Center Square
Small Business

Some small businesses in Arizona can now request small loans of $50,000 and under, the governor’s office announced last week.

Dubbed the “Arizona Microbusiness Loan Program,” it uses $5 million in funding allocated from the legislature last year to distribute loans using partners financial institutions at the local level. A microbusiness in Arizona is defined as those with five or fewer employees, according to a news release.

Read the full story

Pinal County Supervisor Files Complaint with Arizona Attorney General Alleging Cheating in 2024 Primary Election, Cites ‘Hush Money’ Recording

Rachel Alexander
Kevin Cavanaugh

Pinal County Supervisor Kevin Cavanaugh filed a complaint with the Attorney General’s Office asking for an investigation into possible election fraud in Pinal County’s primary election. He examined the ballot counting and believes six of the local races were artificially manipulated, and he also heard from a friend that a county elections IT employee confessed to taking hush money regarding the cheating. 

Cavanaugh ran for Pinal County Sheriff, and became suspicious after he lost in the primary. Looking into things, he said in a 19-page report he issued about the problems, “A recording exists of a discussion about hush-money payments being made to an employee inside elections and we have turned that over to outside law enforcement.” Cavanaugh provided The Arizona Sun Times with a copy of the recording he made and said that the FBI is investigating.

Read the full story