by Matthew Holloway | Apr 8, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
A set of brand new polls from Kreate Strategies, released on last week, shows that Arizona Republicans favor Congressman Andy Biggs (R-AZ-05) in the upcoming 2026 Gubernatorial Primary Election by approximately a 5-to-1 margin. In a potential General Election matchup, Biggs maintains a two-point advantage over incumbent Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs. Previous polling showed Biggs with a one-point advantage.
The polls, shared by Sean Noble, President of American Encore, queried 842 GOP likely voters for the Primary Election and 1,070 likely voters (39% Republican, 32% Democrat, 30% No Party Preference) for the General Election. It has a margin of error of +/- 3.1%.
In a statement to AZ Free News, Noble wrote, “This poll is yet another indicator that Congressman Andy Biggs is the clear choice for Republicans to be their nominee against the failed policies of Governor Hobbs. It also shows that Biggs gives Republicans the best chance to defeat Governor Hobbs in November 2026.”
The polling revealed that Biggs holds a significant 54-point lead over fellow Republican contender Karrin Taylor Robson, 67% to 13%. He maintains a two-point lead over Hobbs 48% to 46% with 6% undecided. Conversely in the General Election polling Robson trails Hobbs 41% to 42% with 17% undecided.
Regarding favorability, the numbers around Biggs and Hobbs appear to have solidified along partisan lines with Hobbs showing 44% overall favorability and a 49% unfavorable view while Biggs holds a 49% favorability with only 33% of likely voters holding an unfavorable view. Robson’s favorability remains wide open but trending negative with 29% favorability, 44% unfavorable view, and 27% undecided.
Among Republicans specifically in the Primary race, Biggs holds an 86% favorability versus Robson who holds a 48% favorability.
In previous polling reported by AZ Free News in January and February, Congressman Biggs has consistently led the field in polls from Data Orbital, Kreate Strategies, and NicoPAC. He has seen the most movement in closing the gap with independent voters and increasing overall favorability.
Among Arizona voters top concerns are inflation, jobs, and costs with 27%, followed by immigration and border patrol with 21%, followed by quality of education and water policy with 9% and 8%, respectively. Among Republicans, immigration remains the top concern with 43% and 18% concerned with inflation, jobs, and cost of living.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Matthew Holloway | Apr 8, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Chief Patrol Agent (CPA) of the U.S. Border Patrol Tucson Sector Sean McGoffin posted to social media Thursday detailed the apprehension of a Phoenix couple in Benson, AZ.
According to McGoffin’s account, a Phoenix couple, allegedly on a trip to Bisbee, AZ were stopped by the Arizona Department of Public Safety Highway Patrol in Benson and were found to be transporting three illegal immigrants. Border Patrol working with the AZ DPS took the driver and his girlfriend into custody along with the three illegal immigrants.
In his post McGoffin wrote, “The driver claimed he and his girlfriend were picking up some belongings in Bisbee when the 3 illegal aliens from Mexico asked for a ride.” Reportedly this wasn’t the driver’s first brush with human smuggling however, as McGoffin added, “Apparently, he didn’t learn not to smuggle aliens when he was sent to prison in 2022 for the same crime.”
According to the release, both the driver and his girlfriend are now facing charges under 8 USC 1324 for smuggling illegal aliens and the three illegal aliens will face charges under 8 USC 1182 for Alien Inadmissibility as well as re-entry restrictions under section 212 of immigration law.
McGoffin noted that the incident is under investigation by the Tucson Sector Border Patrol working in collaboration with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona under U.S. Attorney Timothy Courchaine. According to USCBP statistics, the Border Patrol has arrested 4,323 Criminal Non-Citizens encountered from Fiscal year 2025 to February, 289 of whom had outstanding warrants or wants, out of a total of 193,164 encounters including both Title 8 Apprehensions and Title 42 Expulsions.
The arrests are just the latest in a series of apprehensions in southern Arizona as previously reported by AZ Free News, that have seen local and state authorities working in conjunction with the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Later the same day, McGoffin shared video footage of agents assigned to the Willcox Border Patrol Station interdicting and arresting a human smuggler who was transporting four illegal immigrants into the U.S. including one in the trunk of the car. He wrote, “Luckily, agents where there to thwart the illegal operation potentially saving lives.”
The smuggler will also be charged under 8 USC 1324 and the illegal aliens he was transporting will likewise be charged under 8 USC 1182. Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Matthew Holloway | Apr 8, 2025 | Education, News
By Matthew Holloway |
In October 2023, the U.S. Department of Education (DOE), under the Biden-Harris Administration, imposed a staggering $37 million fine against Grand Canyon University (GCU) in Phoenix, the largest privately owned Christian University in the nation. The fine came without revealing any serious complaint against the school. In February 2024, the Goldwater Institute announced that it advanced a lawsuit to determine why such a massive fine was levied. Now, a hearing has been scheduled in the case for April 18th.
Acoording to the Goldwater Institute, the DOE claimed that GCU “violated federal disclosure rules regarding continuing education courses for PhD students.” GCU leaders deny this outright. Further, in a press release regarding the fine, the DOE declined to include any complaints from students or members of the public to support its regulatory action.
When a federal judge in the U.S. District Court hears arguments in Goldwater Institute v. U.S. Department of Education, Goldwater hopes to compel the federal agency to disclose the alleged violation(s), which it believes are particularly suspicious. According to Goldwater, a public statement from Biden’s Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona vowed to “shut down” GCU.
Adding doubt to the DOE’s allegations, as Goldwater notes, GCU reportedly hasn’t raised tuition in over 15 years. The manner in which the fine was announced was also suspect with Goldwater noting, “The Department also announced its unprecedented fine with a widely reported press release that was heavy on rhetoric and bereft of any serious complaints from students or the public. It also appears that the fine was assessed in conjunction with suspicious coordination among various federal agencies.”
According to Goldwater, efforts through a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request to determine the motivation behind the fine have gone unanswered, leading up to the complaint.
“The request seeks emails between key individuals of the Department and other federal agencies that discuss the Department’s fine against GCU. The records may help inform the public about this extraordinary fine, as well as coordination between various federal agencies in what appears to be the intentionally targeting of a successful university based on extraordinarily thin allegations. However, the Department has refused to produce the records requested and has failed to otherwise comply with the FOIA.”
As reported by AZ Free News in February 2024, Goldwater staff attorney Stacy Skankey explained, “With its motto of ‘private, Christian, affordable’ and its track record of graduating students into high-demand and high-paying jobs, GCU is a success story by any metric. And it stands apart from universities across the country that are facing declining enrollment, that are indoctrinating students with radical politics, and that are under attack for failing to defend the First Amendment.”
In an op-ed for the Washington Times in December, Jon Riches, Goldwater Institute Vice President for Litigation, wrote, “As the Trump administration prepares to tackle an ambitious education agenda, ending the shameful attack on GCU should be a top priority. This would not only correct the injustice done to GCU but also make clear the broader principle that higher education should be a domain of innovation and student achievement — not a fiefdom for ideological conformity and bureaucratic rule.”
The initial action was brought by the Goldwater Institute during the Biden Administration and saw little to no response from former Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona. Though confirmed by neither party, the hearing had initially been delay and could be reflective of the whirlwind of changes at the DOE under Trump Administration.
The upcoming hearing could present a departure from the DOE’s previous position on the GCU fine, or at minimum provide transparency that was lacking under the previous administration.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Pam Kirby | Apr 7, 2025 | Opinion
By Pam Kirby |
Arizona families have watched a quiet crisis unfold in their local school districts. Board meetings once focused on academics and fiscal responsibility have become battlegrounds for political agendas and bureaucratic overreach. Parents have been silenced, transparency denied, and accountability brushed aside.
In the past few years, Arizonans have witnessed a series of troubling events that show just how far some school boards have strayed:
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- In Scottsdale Unified, the board president’s father compiled a secret dossier on outspoken parents—including photos of their children—an alarming breach of public trust.
- Washington Elementary severed ties with Arizona Christian University over student teachers’ religious beliefs, only to reverse course after legal pressure.
- In Isaac School District, state officials placed the district under receivership after uncovering a $15 million financial crisis, triggering multiple investigations.
These aren’t isolated incidents—they’re symptoms of a larger collapse in trust, academic focus, and respect for families. And for too long, parents had no organized way to push back.
A Movement Takes Root
That tide is now turning—led by unapologetically conservative school board leaders who are rejecting political indoctrination and delivering real results that put students, families, and local values back at the center of education.
Founded in 2021, the Arizona Coalition of School Board Members is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) nonprofit committed to restoring integrity, local control, and academic excellence in our public schools. This isn’t a national agenda—it’s a homegrown movement, created by and for Arizonans, to restore excellence and accountability in our schools. While others raise awareness, the Coalition equips board members with the tools, legal support, and training to lead with confidence and principle.
Unlike legacy education groups that push top-down mandates, the Coalition promotes governance rooted in Arizona values—academic rigor, parental involvement, and education freedom. With members in more than 50 school districts across 10 counties, the Coalition is building a movement of student-first leaders who aren’t just calling for change—they’re delivering it.
Real Wins Across Arizona
Coalition-backed board members aren’t just talking about reform—they’re making it happen. Here are three local victories already making an impact:
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- Apache Junction Unified – Cell Phone Use Policy
Limits phone use during the school day, restoring classroom focus and discipline. It’s a practical fix to a problem every parent and teacher sees daily.
- Higley Unified – Staff Health and Safety
Bans COVID-19 vaccine and mask mandates for staff, reinforcing health freedom and parental values. This affirms the district’s commitment to individual rights, medical privacy, and protection from government overreach.
- Peoria Unified – Student Privacy Policy
Ensures multi-occupancy restrooms and overnight accommodations are designated by biological sex, while offering private alternatives as needed. It’s a firm stand for parental expectations, student safety, and local authority.
Empowering Voters, Building Leaders
Change doesn’t happen without an engaged public. That’s why Friends of the Coalition, a 501(c)(4), is leading a statewide voter education effort focused on school board elections and the issues affecting classrooms, transparency, and parental rights.
More than 500 individuals have attended our free School Board Bootcamp, designed to demystify the board member’s role. Dozens of those participants have since been elected—first in 2022, and again in 2024.
This is more than education—it’s about building a conservative leadership bench. Graduates of this movement are now serving in school districts, the Arizona State Senate, and even the Arizona Corporation Commission.
This Is the Moment
Arizona’s public education system is at a crossroads. Will it continue down a path dominated by bureaucracy and ideology—or return to a model that respects families, demands excellence, and puts students first?
With the Federal Department of Education steadily returning power to states and local communities, school boards now carry unprecedented responsibility. That shift brings both urgency and opportunity. Local leadership is no longer secondary—it’s the front line.
Thanks to the Arizona Coalition of School Board Members and Friends of the Coalition, Arizona conservatives are executing a strategic, multi-pronged plan—educating voters, equipping leaders, and empowering bold school board members.
This isn’t rhetoric. It’s results.
Whether you attend a Bootcamp, become a Coalition member, support candidates who share your values, or make a tax-deductible gift to sustain this work, there’s a role for everyone in this movement. The future of Arizona education will be decided by those who show up.
Pam Kirby is the Founder of the Arizona Coalition of School Board Members and Friends of the Coalition. She served on the Scottsdale School Board from 2010–2018 and continues to advocate for excellence, transparency, and local control in education.
by Matthew Holloway | Apr 7, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
In an exclusive interview with AZ Free News, Speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives Steve Montenegro revealed that Republican legislative leaders had been warning Governor Hobbs of her potential budgetary failure as far back as January. He further revealed that a notice from the Hobbs administration was only sent to House leaders two weeks prior to the funding crisis deadline and was sent to an incorrect email address.
Montenegro called out Hobbs for her administration’s “incompetence,” and explained the purpose of the House Ad Hoc Committee on Executive Budget Mismanagement, which met for the first time last week.
Montenegro explained, “The purpose of the ad hoc was literally on executive budget mismanagement and the failures that the Governor has demonstrated from the start. I mean at some point we understand that there are shifting numbers. There’s sometimes you budget for a certain amount of caseload or you budget for a certain amount of students or you budget for a certain amount of individuals that are going to have need of services in the state and that can fluctuate a little.
“We’ve seen that throughout the year it fluctuates. But the mismanagement that’s coming from this Governor’s office is startling—to see that they’re not factoring certain budgeting items in, completely ignoring it from start.
“In January, we pointed out there were failures in her proposal failing to include certain budget items. But now we’re seeing that in, specifically this latest debacle where we get an email sent to the wrong place and when we finally are able to see the email, there’s less than two weeks left before the Congregate Care program goes bankrupt. Then, the letter that she emailed states almost as a demand, ‘If this happens, kids will be sleeping in offices.’
“It’s almost as if there’s, first of all, no care, and second, no understanding that she should have let us know early on specifics on where we would need supplementals. So asking the question, is this a level mal-intent or incompetence?
“This is sheer incompetence in mismanagement of budgets, not understanding how to manage a budget, and when you’re talking about kids and the most vulnerable individuals in the state, it’s gross incompetence. Arizonans deserve better.”
Asked about the possible perception of the Ad Hoc Committee as having a political intent, Montenegro answered bluntly, “There are no games here. I haven’t even sat to consider politics in this subject. When we receive a letter, when our team receives a letter that kids are going to be sleeping in offices, there’s a certain level of indignation that I can’t ignore, especially when you’re saying kids will be sleeping in offices. And then we find out that the reasoning is because we can’t manage a budget.“
When asked about the potential intent of the Governor, Montenegro was equally direct:
“When we’re talking about kids here, I don’t care about the politics. What we do care about is making sure that these kids are taken care of and holding this Governor accountable because it’s gotten to a point now that we can’t ignore it. We genuinely can’t ignore the fact that we’ve got kids that are gonna be affected.
“We’ve got a Governor that decided to raise rates on the same program earlier this year. We know there’s an ongoing investigation, so we’re not gonna get in the middle of the investigation by Kris Mayes or Rachel Mitchell, County Attorney, or even others higher.
“But we want to find out, we want to get to the bottom of the budget mismanagement so that as we proceed forward in how we make sure these kids are taken care of and these vulnerable communities are taken care of, that from the legislature’s perspective, we’re putting safeguards and ending up some reforms that don’t allow the Governor’s incompetence to hurt these kids.”
Asked what recourse the House will have against a recalcitrant Governor, Montenegro answered, “Well, to start, that is why we’ve had our Appropriations Committee from the beginning asking the questions. Right now, the Governor refuses to give us access to her staff, to her policy advisors, to the people that know the numbers in these agencies. She refuses to make them accessible for us to talk to them, to understand where these numbers are.
“So what we’re doing is, we’re going to turn up the heat on holding her accountable. The Ad Hoc committee is formed to say, ‘Look, for weeks, we’ve been asking for your staff to sit down with our policy advisors on the numbers, on finding out where things are.’
“We get a letter two weeks out. We have been asking for weeks to sit down with them for numbers, to understand where these are. So, the whole purpose of this is now to take a deep dive in understanding where these numbers are so that Republicans can execute our plan. We are going to make sure that she’s using funds from her executive budget to fulfill these needs. And we’re going to make sure that, as we start stepping into the budget, we have the right reforms and we have the right safeguards for these kids.”
Referring back to the work of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, he added, “If you go back and see the JLBC committee hearing that we had, that’s a preview of what we expect to happen with this Ad Hoc Committee on Executive Budget Mismanagement that I put together.
“Because by forcing them to come to talk to us, to finally get somebody to speak, which I’ve told you before, she’s been preventing her staff from coming to speak with our staff about numbers. But by her folks having to come to the committee, we’ve learned a lot, specifically, by learning how they’re mismanaging DCS. We’ve learned a lot, and the goal is through the Ad Hoc to expose the rest of what’s happening in other areas of either DCS, or DDD, or in general DHS on the mismanagement.“
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
