By Staff Reporter |
Two Republicans from southern Arizona are key for their party’s continued control of the state legislature.
State Representatives Cory McGarr and Rachel Jones are running for re-election to Arizona Legislative District 17. Both Republicans entered office in January 2023, having won their elections in the November 2022 General Election. The two incumbents were challenged in the 2024 Republican primary by Anna Orth, who failed to finish in the top two positions of the contest. McGarr received 24,583 votes; Jones obtained 19,005 votes, and Orth had 16,073 votes.
McGarr serves as the Vice-Chairman of the House Regulatory Affairs Committee and as a member of both the Military Affairs & Public Safety Committee and the Natural Resources, Energy & Water Committee. Jones serves as the Vice-Chairman of the House Military Affairs & Public Safety Committee and of the Education, Government, and Municipal Oversight & Elections Committees.
On his website, McGarr appeals to potential voters to return him to the state House, writing, “I promised to be a conservative fighter for Arizona families and not special interests. In Phoenix, that’s what I’ve done and I’m running again to continue my promise to never back down when needed the most. My bottom line is this… We need representatives in the State House who will stand for our values. Someone who has and still will support Arizona families. A real fighter who will defend our children and never back down.”
He asserts his belief that “government’s number one purpose is to protect the rights and freedoms of the individual,” highlighting that he is 100% pro-family, religious liberty, and pro-life.
On her campaign website, Jones writes, “As your state Rep I have always fought for our God Given Rights: Back the Blue, Gun Rights, Election Integrity, [and] Medical Freedom. I’m fighting to RESTORE ARIZONA VALUES. And the first step in that fight starts in the home. By strengthening Arizona families, we can RESTORE OUR VALUES and build a stronger Arizona.”
In her bio, Jones, reveals that she “spent her career as a business executive at the 3rd largest UPS facility in the country. Her time in business formed a strong, calculated, and passionate leader, who now hopes to continue utilizing her experience to identify problems, execute solutions, and deliver results in the State House in Phoenix. Having children refined Rachel’s beliefs on the importance of the family in communities.”
Jones adds that she “decided to put her business life aside, and focus on her family, and the families of all Arizonans. This led her to become a teacher, fostering the next generation of Americans. But her business background could not be hidden, so she eventually became the Director of the preschool.”
Reflecting back on her first term in office, Jones said, “During session I fought for states’ rights regarding law enforcement (no DOJ overstep) and vaccine mandates. I believe in funding state and local law enforcement, so that they’re able to help our Border Patrol Agents secure the border. I also believe in protecting children in the foster care system, especially since my three adopted children were adopted out of foster care. I believe in lower taxes and regulation. I also believe that the school counselors and social workers should not be indoctrinating our children in public schools.”
Both McGarr and Jones are strong border hawks, supporting legislation and policies that would help strengthen Arizona’s border with Mexico and empower law enforcement to better protect the innocent men, women, and children in their communities. Earlier this year, both lawmakers voted for HB 2748, which would have “establishe[d] penalties and enforcement against illegal border crossings.”
After the vote, Jones released a statement on her “X” account, saying, “Arizonans will come out in droves to vote for elected officials who are listening to them on the #1 issue of concern, THE BORDER CRISIS. To my colleagues on the left, the people don’t believe your gaslighting and rhetoric anymore. Americans want to feel safe in their own country.”
The two southern Arizona Republicans were also instrumental in turning the tables against President Biden, when his left-wing allies attempted to remove former President Donald J. Trump from the ballot in the State of Colorado. After the Colorado State Supreme Court decided to remove Trump from the state’s ballot in 2024, McGarr announced an effort in conjunction with other states “to remove [Biden] from the ballot.”
A joint statement from the national coalition of legislators, including McGarr, stated, “Democrats’ insane justification to remove Trump can just as easily be applied to Joe Biden for his ‘insurrection’ at the southern border and his alleged corrupt family business dealings with China. Colorado radicals just changed the game and we are not going to sit quietly while they destroy our Republic.”
Jones cheered on the announcement from her colleague.
More recently, McGarr and Jones supported a legislative effort to refer a border security measure to the ballot in this November’s General Election – HCR 2060, voting for the bill when it was considered by their chamber. The proposal, if passed by voters in the fall, would empower local law enforcement to better secure their communities from the increasing calamities from the border crisis. A recent poll from Noble Predictive Insights showed that sixty-three percent of Arizona respondents support the measure, giving it a pretty good chance to pass in the fall.
According to the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission, Legislative District 17 has an 8.34% vote spread between Republicans and Democrats in the last nine state elections. In those nine elections, Republicans have won all nine contests.
McGarr and Jones will face off in the November General Election against Democrat Kevin Volk.
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