by Matthew Holloway | Oct 24, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Former Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb filed a statement of interest Monday to seek Arizona’s 5th Congressional District seat and announced his candidacy Wednesday, placing himself into a growing Republican field.
The filing, reported by AZFamily on Tuesday citing sources close to Lamb, confirmed speculation that the two-term former Sheriff would bring his national name recognition from his 2023 U.S. Senate bid into the race. Lamb announced his campaign publicly on The Charlie Kirk Show late Wednesday morning, telling guest host Tyler Bowyer, “I believe in God, family, freedom, I believe in the rule of law, believe in America, believe in all the things that built this country, and, like you said, we need proven fighters in this in this realm right now.”
Arizona State Senator Jake Hoffman quickly took to X, claiming the title of Lamb’s first official endorsement, writing, “Proud to be the first person to officially endorse Mark Lamb for Congress in AZ-CD5! I’ve spent months talking with Mark about running. I’m grateful God has called him to the fight for liberty in Congress. Mark will win. It’s time for conservatives to rally behind Mark.”
Lamb’s entry bolsters a competitive GOP primary in the conservative district, which stretches from Gilbert and Chandler to Queen Creek and eastern Mesa. Early contenders include former state Rep. Travis Grantham and ex-NFL kicker Jay Feely, with more speculated names like Gilbert Councilman Monte Lyons and home-builder Daniel Keenan, as well as Theologian and Army Chaplain (ret.) Alex Stovall.
A poll from NextGen Polling on October 12th, reflecting the Fifth Congressional District’s demographics, was based on 830 responses with a margin of error of ±3.3 percent at 95 percent confidence, according to the pollster. The poll showed Lamb with a commanding 54 percent lead in a ballot test among likely GOP voters against his top four likely challengers.
Lamb’s name recognition appeared to be a decisive advantage. NextGen Polling wrote, “In terms of name recognition, Keenen was identified by 49 percent of respondents, and Stovall by only 43 percent, indicating that more than half of likely voters are either unfamiliar with them or lack a clear opinion.” Meanwhile, 96 percent of respondents gave Lamb near-universal name recognition according to the poll.
“The polling is sending us a clear message,” said Gregg Pekau, managing partner at NextGen Polling. “Voters in congressional district 5 want to elect Sheriff Mark Lamb to Congress, and campaigning from other candidates is doing little to change their minds. After our last 3 quarters of polls, we’ve seen zero real improvement or movement from Feely, Grantham or Keenan. Without a major move by any of them soon, this race is over if and when Sheriff Lamb enters the race.”
Lamb’s platform details have yet to be announced, but his past campaigns emphasized border security and election integrity, America First tent poles he’s likely to carry forward. The district’s R+10 rating from Cook Political favors Republicans, but the late entrants could muddy the waters.
Lamb’s campaign did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
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 | Oct 23, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
The controversy surrounding Axon’s headquarters expansion has reportedly prompted Scottsdale Mayor Lisa Borowsky to call residents to a public town hall. During the meeting, Borowsky will take questions directly from Scottsdale citizens in an open Q&A format.
The event, set for Wednesday, October 29, at 5 p.m. at the Mustang Library in Scottsdale, is intended to “foster accountability and direct dialogue between the mayor and her constituents,” according to Borowsky.
“This town hall is about transparency and accountability,” Borowsky said in a statement. “I want to hear directly from residents. Your questions, concerns, and ideas matter acutely as I fight to put the interests of Scottsdale first.”
The mayor’s office is encouraging attendees to come prepared with their questions, which they’ll have the chance to pose directly to the mayor. Mayoral staff and volunteers will be available as well to offer background information and updates on various topics in an effort to ensure a well-rounded discussion.
The public event is slated to run from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., providing Scottsdale residents a focused opportunity to get unfiltered insights from Borowsky on matters affecting the community. The announcement, shared via the city’s social media channels, has already sparked online chatter, with some using the platform to press for clarity on hot-button issues likely to surface at the town hall.
Bob Littlefield, a former city councilmember, took to X to highlight divisions over a proposed city lawsuit against state Senate Bill 1543—dubbed the “AXON bill” for its push on affordable housing developments. Littlefield, who supports joining the suit, called out Borowsky and Councilmembers Whitehead, McAllen, and Kwasman for voting against it, despite polls showing 70% of Scottsdale voters favoring the defeat of the project.
“The issue is on Tuesday’s City Council agenda so hopefully Borowsky, Whitehead, McAllen and Kwasman will see the light and vote with their constituents,” he wrote. The post underscores the transparency themes Borowsky is championing, potentially setting the stage for some tense Q&A exchanges to come.
As previously reported by AZ Free News, the City of Scottsdale could be moving toward shortening the timetable for a referendum on the Axon Headquarters project, or on the city’s reaction to the lawsuit from Taxpayers Against Awful Apartment Zoning Exemptions (TAAAZE).
Adding potential fuel, the local advocacy group Scottsdale Voter questioned Borowsky’s recent appointment of Lamar Whitmer as chief of staff. In a post to X, the group labeled him a “failed real estate developer” and “polarizing” figure. Such scrutiny could amplify resident concerns at the town hall.
For more details or to submit questions in advance, residents can contact the mayor’s office through the City of Scottsdale website.
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 | Oct 23, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
New research ranks the Prescott Regional Airport (PRC) third among U.S. airports for arrival delays, with flights idling an average of 32 minutes and 31 seconds. Between May 2024 and May 2025, the time lost to the ether across 791 arrivals totaled 25,716 minutes. The study from student travel company Rustic Pathways, based on Bureau of Transportation Statistics data on scheduled versus actual arrival times, paints a grim picture for regional flyers.
PRC trails only Lea County Regional Airport (HOB) in New Mexico, where delays average a whopping 37 minutes and 24 seconds per flight, and Victoria Regional Airport (VCT) in Texas at 33 minutes and 45 seconds. Houghton County Memorial Airport (CMX) in Michigan rounds out the top five at nearly 32 minutes.
Arizona’s high-country travelers aren’t likely to see mere statistics in this report, but rather a summer of stalled plans. PRC, which sits at an elevation of 5,045 feet, is home to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, numerous flight training facilities, and is subject to mercurial wind and weather patterns. It has three runways handling under 1,000 flights in the period, amplifying every hiccup. Monsoons and mountain turbulence contribute to 6.91 percent of nationwide delays, according to the study. But carriers shoulder 37 percent of the blame across U.S. airports, a potent reminder that human error often outstrips Mother Nature in accounting for delays.
Rustic Pathways CEO Shayne Fitz-Coy explained the challenges faced by PRC, “Looking at the data overall also shows us that carrier delays account for 37% of delay minutes at each US airport, with 6.91% delays coming from weather, highlighting the fact that many flights are delayed at the fault of a flight operator, and not just natural occurrences.” As reported by The Daily Courier, the Prescott City Council heard a presentation at its Tuesday, Sept. 23 study session on a proposal for a runway shift and extension at Prescott Regional Airport, which would, if approved, save the city millions of dollars in land acquisition costs, according to Airport Director Rick Crider and Project Manager Charlie McDermott with Dibble Engineering. In May, the city purchased parcels at the southern end of the runway for a slated expansion at a cost of about $3.2 million.
Seven of the top 10 airports ranked for delays clocked fewer than 1,000 flights, turning minor snags into major problems. Conversely, Minnesota’s St. Cloud Regional Airport (STC) is the punctuality leader, with arrivals delayed a mere 1 minute and 46 seconds on average. In his Labor Day message published in The Prescott Times, Mayor Phil Goode announced in September that “additional flight and schedule enhancements are coming to Prescott Regional Airport,” slated for October.
“An additional United Express flight, operated by SkyWest Airlines, will soon be available between Prescott Regional Airport and Denver International Airport. Starting October 26th, air travelers in northern Arizona will have two daily options to connect to Denver and the world, through United’s Denver hub, in addition to the daily flight to United’s hub at Los Angeles International Airport.
The enhanced schedule will include both a morning and an early evening option to Denver. Plus, the flight to Los Angeles will soon connect to more flight options by departing earlier in the day around noontime. Each of the flights to and from Prescott Regional Airport will be onboard Bombardier CRJ200 50-seat regional jet aircraft.
These service improvements are indicative of the strong demand in Prescott and the surrounding region. Airlines have many requests and an abundance of opportunities to serve smaller communities, the fact that they are allocating more of their aircraft and their crew resources to Prescott Regional Airport is a testament to the partnership and collaboration with SkyWest and United Airlines.”
Prescott officials haven’t commented on the Rustic Pathways report. However, United Express, PRC’s main carrier, has cited “operational challenges” at the airport in filings, according to Dibble Engineering. 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.
Correction: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Prescott Regional Airport has a single runway and is served by American Eagle and Contour Airlines. The airport has three runways and is served by United Express. The story has been updated to reflect this.
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 | Oct 21, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona Republican Party Chairwoman Gina Swoboda is looking to fill the vacuum that will be left by Rep. David Schweikert in the state’s First Congressional District after the congressman entered the 2026 gubernatorial race. Swoboda’s announcement included an endorsement from President Trump, though that endorsement has not been confirmed by the President’s Truth Social as of filing.
Swoboda dropped the news on X with a statement touting her credentials as a mother of two, magna cum laude ASU grad, and national election integrity advisor. She stressed in her statement that her campaign will be centered around “commonsense conservative principles of economic growth and prosperity, strong and secure borders, and protecting taxpayers.”
Axios Phoenix called her entry the “first major GOP candidate” in a race that could test the power of President Trump’s endorsement in loosely held suburbs. Speaking to Axios, Swoboda said she is the “most viable candidate for the district” and emphasized a commitment to “low regulation, low taxes and equality of opportunity.”
Schweikert’s decision to engage in a gubernatorial run has left the northeast Valley district a ‘Toss-Up’ according to the Cook Political Report. Arizona’s First Congressional District, spanning Scottsdale, Paradise Valley, Fountain Hills and parts of Phoenix, is a GOP-leaning but swing-prone suburban district classed as an R+1 toss-up despite the Schweikert’s 3.8 point victory in 2024 over Democrat Amish Shah.
Merissa Hamilton, founder and chairwoman of Strong Communities Action/EZAZ.org, has launched an effort to request Swoboda’s resignation as AZGOP chair following her announcement, according to a post to X on Monday. Hamilton stated, “She (Swoboda) pledged to God on @GarretLewis’ radio show she wouldn’t run for office while serving as Chair. She needs to resign, and the body needs to hold a new election.”
Axios Phoenix reported that Swoboda said she will not vacate the AZGOP Chair until January to allow the state committee to elect a successor and added that she’s establishing a “firewall” for fundraising activities, to separate her campaign from the party treasury. Swoboda has, however, resigned from her role as policy adviser for the Arizona House Committee on Federalism, Military Affairs and Elections.
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 | Oct 20, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona Corporation Commissioner (ACC) Rachel Walden brought an amendment during the commission’s Wednesday meeting to require detailed, extensive oversight over electrical utilities. Gaining unanimous approval in a 5-0 vote, Walden pushed to ensure Arizona’s electrical grid doesn’t become a ratepayer-funded venue for green projects.
At the October 15th open meeting, Walden pushed through an amendment demanding a more granular kind of report than the industry has provided for the past 26 years, exceeding what is required under Arizona Revised Statutes. Utilities like APS and SRP already owe the ACC their ten-year forecasts under state law, but Walden’s call for more detail: business confidential filings on line congestion, load-growth hotspots, and every grid-hardening method from reconductoring to storm-proofing—are a seismic departure from the more hands-off era that preceded.
“Finding the least cost, most reliable model includes transmission, not just electricity generation. None of the answers from our state utilities today inspired any confidence in me that these issues are a priority,” Commissioner Walden told the meeting. “I am not convinced that additional build out of renewables, while also having to add firm capacity as well as back up generation, is saving Arizonans money. I know that Arizonans are concerned with these issues, especially as we head into accelerated growth in our state. The Commissioners, as elected by the public, are faced with these questions and comments almost daily, and our actions are held accountable to the public.”
The move from Walden and the ACC seems to have been carefully timed. The Thirteenth Biennial Transmission Assessment projects a 3 percent annual growth surge through 2033, significantly faster than previous forecasts, reflecting Arizona’s population boom colliding with a deluge of intermittent ‘renewable’ sources. With solar and wind flooding the system, utilities are rerouting power across state lines, inviting operational headaches from California’s aggressive decarbonization push.
“Arizonans will not bear the costs and impacts of supporting neighboring states’ Green New Deal policies,” Walden said.
Walden’s amendment mandates confidential reports on congestion and bottlenecks, where new solar farms fail to provide a consistent load or data centers increase demand, along with projections to gauge how interconnection requests ripple through the system. Supporting Commissioner Lea Márquez-Peterson’s additions, Walden is requiring complete disclosures on enhancement efforts, ensuring the ACC can vet if utilities are truly fortifying the state’s transmission system.
With major data centers like Microsoft and Google cropping up in Maricopa County, pulling gigawatts from an already strained grid, peak demand strains are a genuine concern. The disastrous 2023 heat wave that had Texas utilities scrambling is fresh in mind. Arizona is hardly immune to such issues. As renewables providers require load balancing and battery installations, the costs are passed on to ratepayers, and Walden is questioning the utilities’ math.
“Ensuring our utilities have sufficient generation capacity to serve our customers during peak demand along with a reliable transmission grid to handle that capacity is paramount,” she said. “The Commission must ensure that any transmission or generation solutions to mitigate grid concerns, such as line congestion created by the interconnections from new generation sources, or offtakes from the grid by large customers such as data centers and hyperscalers, are borne by the creators of those grid concerns, not Arizona ratepayers.”
Walden pledged to scrutinize future Biennial Assessments and Integrated Resource Plans in a distinct pivot from the ACC’s historically more hands-off stance.
“I will be watching the Biennial Transmission Assessments and Integrated Resource Plans closely, and investigating these issues in all future rate cases,” Walden concluded.
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.
