The National Republican Congressional Committee and Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ06) announced the opening of a new campaign field office in Sierra Vista as Republicans expand their ground operation in Arizona’s competitive Sixth Congressional District.
The NRCC described the office as a “Battlestation” that will serve as a hub for the grassroots effort to reelect Ciscomani. The committee said the office is part of a multimillion-dollar national investment intended to reach voters directly in competitive districts.
The NRCC said in a May campaign memorandum that more than 20 Battlestation offices were already operating across the country, with additional locations planned. The committee said the offices help candidates sharpen their campaigns and drive turnout through sustained voter contact.
After our amazing 250th celebration over the weekend, #TeamCiscomani was back on the road in Sierra Vista for the NRCC AZ06 BattleStation Office Grand Opening!
The energy is ELECTRIC in Cochise County! So grateful for the dozens of supporters who came out and thankful for their… pic.twitter.com/ruqFBP1S5K
“Twenty years ago, I became a United States citizen, and like everyday Arizonans, we’ve worked hard for what we have,” Ciscomani said. “That’s why I’m committed to working for the people we represent, and making their lives better.”
“From lower taxes for working people to bringing our tax dollars back to our community for law enforcement and roads, I am committed to putting Arizona first,” he added. “I’m grateful to the Cochise County community for their continued support as we work to make sure every Arizonan has the opportunity to achieve the American Dream.”
NRCC spokesman Ben Petersen said the office reflects the committee’s commitment to keeping Ciscomani in Congress.
“This Battlestation builds on our commitment to re-elect Representative Juan Ciscomani so he can continue taking on corruption and delivering wins like the largest working-class tax cut in generations,” Petersen said. “In stark contrast, Democrat lobbyist Joanna Mendoza showed she is completely out of touch, calling for tax hikes and higher costs while pushing far-left transgender policies.”
Mendoza has faced renewed criticism for a now-deleted video interview with the executive director of Equality Arizona in which she called for the decriminalization of prostitution, particularly for transgender women of color.
⚠️Arizona Democrat Joanna @Mendoza4AZ said “YES” to legalizing prostitution to benefit “trans women of color.”
Mendoza in 2020 interview with far-left group: “Yes…we need to stop criminalizing people for their situations.”
Mendoza, a retired Marine Corps drill instructor and former staff member for Democratic Rep. Tom O’Halleran, is the only Democratic candidate who qualified for the district’s July 21 primary election. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee selected her for its Red to Blue program in February, giving her access to additional organizational, strategic and fundraising support.
Ciscomani was first elected to Congress in 2022 and won a second term in 2024 after defeating former Democratic state Sen. Kirsten Engel for the second time. The district covers much of southeastern Arizona, including portions of Tucson and Pinal County, and extends east to the New Mexico state line while including part of the Arizona-Mexico border.
The 2026 contest has attracted national attention because of its potential role in determining control of the closely divided House. Mike Noble, CEO of Noble Predictive Insights, told 13 News in April that the race would draw significant outside interest.
“Sit back, you’re going to watch one of the most competitive races in the country, and Arizona voters in the southern district will decide not only who wins that district, but probably who controls Congress,” Noble said.
The candidates have also accumulated multimillion-dollar campaign accounts. According to the Federal Election Commission, Ciscomani’s campaign reported approximately $6.17 million in total receipts and $4.14 million in cash on hand through July 1.
🚨Q2 Fundraising💪
JoAnna Mendoza is burning through CASH—spending more than she raised = 112% burn rate.
Meanwhile, thanks to our incredible supporters, we have a $1 MILLION cash-on-hand advantage.
Mendoza’s latest available FEC financial summary, covering activity through March 31, showed approximately $5.34 million in total receipts and $3.51 million in cash on hand. The two summaries cover different reporting periods.
The Arizona Supreme Court has reinstated injunctions limiting the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors’ ability to assign election duties legally entrusted to County Recorder Justin Heap. The court concluded Heap is likely to succeed on the central statutory-interpretation issue in the ongoing legal battle over county election administration.
In a July 7 en banc order, the court vacated a June 18 stay issued by the Arizona Court of Appeals and reinstated the Maricopa County Superior Court’s injunction orders, subject to temporary modifications intended to prevent disruption during the 2026 primary election.
The case, Heap v. Galvin, concerns provisions of Arizona election law assigning duties to “the county recorder or other officer in charge of elections.” Heap has argued that the language gives those responsibilities to the recorder or an officer designated by the recorder. The Board maintained that its administrative and budgetary powers allowed it to assign the functions to a Board-appointed elections director.
In a post on X, Heap wrote, “Today’s unanimous Arizona Supreme Court decision is a major victory for the rule of law. The Court restored the Superior Court’s injunction, rejected the Board’s legal theory, and reaffirmed that Arizona’s election laws mean what they say. We look forward to moving ahead and delivering secure, lawful, a successful elections.”
Unfortunately, this ruling DOES NOT end all litigation. So far the AzSC has overturned the Appellate Court's stay and reinstated the ruling of the Superior Court. The Board can still pursue its case on appeal. But the AzSC has now unanimiously stated that they agree with the…
— Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap (@azjustinheap) July 8, 2026
The Supreme Court agreed with the Superior Court’s interpretation that the recorder has the authority to designate another official to perform those duties when necessary. The court rejected the Board’s contention that control over funding allowed supervisors to determine who would exercise the statutory functions.
Citing Arizona cases dating to 1956 and 1974, the court said, “the Board cannot use budgetary authority to usurp an independently elected officer’s statutory functions.”
Allowing the supervisors to appoint the official responsible for the duties would replace the Legislature’s direction that the recorder perform them, according to the order. The court concluded that the likelihood-of-success factor weighed in Heap’s favor on the central statutory question.
The ruling does not conclude the underlying appeal. It determines which injunctions will remain in effect while the litigation proceeds and indicates how the Supreme Court views the parties’ likelihood of prevailing on the statutory issue.
The dispute originated in Maricopa County Superior Court, where Judge Scott Blaney held an evidentiary hearing in January. In an April 16 ruling, later incorporated into an appealable May 18 order, Blaney defined the respective responsibilities of the recorder and supervisors.
The Superior Court found that the Board has a nondiscretionary obligation to fund all necessary expenses of the recorder. It also ordered the return of IT personnel, servers, databases, software, websites and equipment that had been under the Recorder’s Office’s control before October 2024, or funding sufficient to replace those resources.
The ruling further prohibited the Board from exercising duties delegated by statute to the recorder. Questions concerning individual expenses and funding levels were left for good-faith negotiations between the offices.
The Superior Court denied the Board’s request to stay those injunctions on May 13. The Board appealed, arguing that implementing the order during an election cycle would disrupt poll-worker supervision, early-voting operations, ballot tabulation, information technology systems and other election procedures.
A divided Court of Appeals granted the Board’s emergency stay on June 18, relying heavily on the principle established by the U.S. Supreme Court in Purcell v. Gonzalez. That principle urges courts to exercise caution when ordering changes to election procedures close to an election because of the potential for confusion and operational disruption.
The Arizona Supreme Court found that the Court of Appeals gave the Purcell principle too much weight and failed to conduct the full four-factor analysis required under Arizona law when considering a stay.
The court said Purcell remained relevant to questions of timing, feasibility, and public consequences, particularly because early voting in the 2026 primary was already underway. It did not, however, determine which official possessed statutory authority or replace the required analysis of the parties’ likelihood of succeeding on appeal.
The Supreme Court found that the Court of Appeals abused its discretion by granting the stay. To limit disruptions, the justices reinstated the injunctions as modified by a 12-point interim operational protocol proposed by Heap for the primary election.
According to an Arizona Supreme Court news release, the temporary procedures are intended to preserve continuity while the appeal moves forward. The court said neither its order nor the modified injunctions interfere with the public’s ability to vote in the primary or general elections.
Either party may ask the Court of Appeals for additional temporary modifications. If those requests require new factual findings, the appeals court may return the matter to Superior Court for further proceedings.
The Supreme Court also denied Heap’s request for sanctions against Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell, who submitted an amicus brief in the case. The denial does not prevent either side from seeking sanctions later against an official who interferes with legally prescribed election procedures or fails to perform required duties.
The order took effect immediately. Heap called the ruling a victory for his office and said it restored the Superior Court injunctions.
“Today’s unanimous decision is a decisive victory for the rule of law,” Heap said in a statement released by the Recorder’s Office. He said his office was prepared to implement the order and administer the county’s elections. “In addition, it rejected the Board’s central legal arguments and made clear that the Recorder is likely to prevail on the merits. My office is ready to implement the Court’s order and deliver secure, lawful, and professional elections for the people of Maricopa County.”
Board Chair Kate Brophy McGee and Vice Chair Debbie Lesko said in a joint statement that they were disappointed by the decision and concerned about administrative changes during an ongoing election. They said county officials had reached a consensus following two days of court-ordered mediation shortly before the ruling.
“The Board will follow the law and abide by the court’s decision,” Brophy McGee and Lesko said. They added that the county’s 2.6 million voters remained their primary concern.
In a subsequent release, Heap announced that he had submitted what his office called “a court-aligned settlement proposal” to Judge Coury and the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors.
“This proposal builds upon the framework developed during court-ordered mediation and more fully aligns the parties’ respective responsibilities with Arizona law and the direction provided by both the Superior Court and the Arizona Supreme Court,” Heap said.
“This agreement will provide a clearer operational framework designed to reduce future conflict and ensure the smooth, secure administration of elections for all Maricopa County voters,” he added. “I look forward to the Board’s cooperation with the Supreme Court and Superior Court’s orders as we finalize this agreement built upon respect for the rule of law.”
Republican gubernatorial candidate and U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ05) says Arizona’s affordability crisis cannot be solved by housing policy alone, arguing that water management, utility costs, state trust lands, natural resource development, and election integrity all require a new approach under the state’s next governor.
In an exclusive interview with AZ Free News, Biggs outlined what he described as the core priorities of a potential administration, saying Arizona’s long-term prosperity depends on responsible resource management while restoring confidence in state government.
“The affordability of housing” is the state’s biggest economic challenge, Biggs said.
“It gets attention, but it doesn’t encompass everything that’s related to it,” he continued. “The water issue is massive, and it goes hand in glove with housing.”
Biggs argued that utility costs, water availability, and management of Arizona’s natural resources all contribute to the state’s affordability challenges.
“But the one aspect to this all that’s not being addressed in this administration… is how do you manage the state’s natural resources, including state trust land?” Biggs said. “That is going to be critical going forward on affordability issues in the state and viability of long-term economic success.”
For Biggs, water policy remains central to that vision. Biggs said Arizona must play a far more active role in negotiations over the future of the Colorado River rather than allowing federal agencies to dictate the outcome.
“You have to be engaged,” Biggs said.
He said he has met with officials from the United States Bureau of Reclamation, the United States Department of the Interior, the United States Department of Agriculture, the United States Department of Commerce, and the United States Department of Defense, arguing Arizona’s water allocation should reflect the state’s importance to national food production, semiconductor manufacturing, commerce, and defense.
“I’m encouraging all of them… to redo the environmental impact statement so it actually considers the national food security issue… the national defense sector… and the microchips and the industry,” Biggs said.
He also credited bipartisan work with Democrat Rep. Greg Stanton (AZ-04) to secure additional conservation funding for Lower Basin states and said Arizona’s advocacy helped encourage releases from Flaming Gorge Reservoir to stabilize Lake Powell.
Biggs also called for expanded forest thinning, continued livestock grazing, removal of invasive salt cedar, and responsible development of Arizona’s mineral resources.
“We have 26 of the critical minerals necessary in this state,” Biggs said. “You’ve got to figure out a way to use that and allow for extraction and development in a very rational and sane way.”
Addressing another growing issue, Biggs said he supports data center development but opposes taxpayer incentives.
“I sat down with multiple brokers for data centers and said, ‘Look, here’s the deal. No special breaks. No special benefits,'” Biggs said.
Instead, he said developers should finance their own electrical generation and water infrastructure without reducing resources available to existing residential or commercial customers. “We’re going to allow you guys to develop your power… provided that you do not encroach on current and future commercial and residential users.”
A policy report released by the Goldwater Institute in February warned that Arizona’s growing role as a national hub for data centers could be undermined by municipal regulations driven by concerns over water use, electricity demand, and land use.
On elections, Biggs said restoring public confidence would be among his first priorities if elected governor.
He pointed to Gov. Katie Hobbs’ veto of a Florida-style election integrity bill earlier this year and pledged to sign similar legislation if elected.
“One of the first bills I will sign is that Florida-style election integrity bill in January of 2027,” Biggs said.
Asked about the legal dispute between the Maricopa County Recorder’s Office and the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors over election administration, Biggs declined to side with either party but said he has spoken with both.
“I think both sides truly want us to have a fair, transparent election,” Biggs said. “They need to get this thing sorted out quickly.”
Biggs said he believes Arizona can become “the leader on election integrity” by the end of a potential administration.
The congressman is facing fellow Congressman David Schweikert (R-AZ01), business owner Ken Miceli, and entrepreneur Scott Neely for the Republican gubernatorial nomination in the primary and has centered much of his campaign on affordability, border security, government reform, and economic growth.
A groundwater fee provision backed by Rep. Chris Lopez (R-LD16) has been included in Arizona’s FY2027 budget, extending Pinal County agricultural water fee relief through 2030 and giving irrigation districts additional time to use funds for groundwater and irrigation efficiency projects.
The provision is part of HB 4159, the environment budget reconciliation bill signed by Gov. Katie Hobbs on June 13 and enacted as Chapter 131 of the 2026 session laws. The law amended state groundwater statutes by extending the period during which no groundwater withdrawal fee is levied in the Pinal Active Management Area (AMA) for Arizona water banking purposes from 2026 to 2030. It also extends through 2030 the $ 2.50-per-acre-foot annual fee cap for groundwater and irrigation efficiency projects in the Pinal AMA.
Lopez introduced the policy earlier in the session as HB 2827. The introduced version listed Lopez as the primary sponsor, with Reps. Gail Griffin (R-LD19), Teresa Martinez (R-LD16), Michele Peña (R-LD23), and James Taylor (R-LD29) also listed as sponsors.
Pinal County farmers are getting needed relief and long-term certainty.
Thanks to Rep. Chris Lopez (@lopezforarizona), the FY2027 budget extends key pump tax relief through 2030, allowing farmers and irrigation districts in the Pinal Active Management Area to keep and reinvest… pic.twitter.com/bNKzMFxHpZ
— Arizona House Republicans (@AZHouseGOP) July 7, 2026
Lopez serves as vice chair of the House Natural Resources, Energy & Water Committee and represents Legislative District 16, which includes portions of Pinal and Pima counties.
The Temporary Groundwater and Irrigation Efficiency Projects Fund provides money for projects tied to construction and rehabilitation of wells and related infrastructure for qualified irrigation districts in the Phoenix AMA, Pinal AMA, and Harquahala Irrigation Non-Expansion Area. Under Chapter 131, groundwater withdrawal fees collected in the Pinal AMA for groundwater and irrigation efficiency projects are deposited into the fund and used solely to construct and rehabilitate wells and related infrastructure in the Pinal AMA.
The law also extends the distribution schedule for unencumbered fund money. The previous June 30, 2027, deadline for distributing remaining funds to contributors is moved to June 30, 2032, with proportional distribution by Dec. 31, 2032. The repeal date for the Temporary Groundwater and Irrigation Efficiency Projects Fund is extended from March 31, 2028, to March 31, 2033. HB 4159 also extends the repeal date for the Arizona System Conservation Fund from March 31, 2027, to March 31, 2031.
Lopez said that, with ongoing Colorado River negotiations, the extension was needed to “provide stability for irrigation districts” preparing for reduced Colorado River water. He also said the measure helps “keep Pinal money in Pinal” and allows irrigation districts to upgrade wells and switch from open canals to closed-pipe systems, which he said conserves water by reducing evaporative losses.
Republican gubernatorial candidate and U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ05) says Arizona should embrace an expanded nuclear future, backing additional reactors at Palo Verde Generating Station while positioning the state to become a national leader in small modular reactor technology.
In an exclsuive interview with AZ Free News, Biggs voiced unequivocal support for expanding Arizona’s nuclear generating capacity as electricity demand continues rising from population growth, advanced manufacturing, and data centers.
“I’m 100 percent behind it,” Biggs said when asked about expanding Palo Verde. “I think they need to be located there.”
His comments come as Arizona utilities continue to pursue license renewals that would allow Palo Verde’s three existing reactors to operate into the 2060s. Palo Verde was also originally envisioned with additional generating capacity, including Units 4 and 5, expansion plans first contemplated in the 1970s and revisited in 2006.
Separately, Arizona Public Service (APS), Salt River Project (SRP) and Tucson Electric Power (TEP) announced in February 2025 that they were working together to identify potential sites for an entirely new nuclear power plant to meet growing energy demands.
“New nuclear generation could provide Arizona with reliable, around-the-clock carbon-free energy to power economic growth while helping us make progress toward a clean energy future,” TEP President and CEO Susan Gray said in a news release at the time. “We know the development timeline would be long, so it makes sense for our state’s energy providers to begin this preliminary evaluation as soon as possible.”
Biggs also expressed strong support for small modular reactors, commonly known as SMRs.
“I’ve been supportive of the development of SMRs,” he said.
The Arizona legislature considered House Bill 2795 in February, which aimed to ease regulatory barriers for next-generation nuclear power projects in rural Arizona. However, the measure failed to pass in the State Senate.
While Biggs cautioned the technology is probably “not going to be scalable for five to 10 years,” he said Arizona should move aggressively to secure one of the first demonstration projects.
One location stands above the rest, according to Biggs. He said, “We’re advocating that Luke Air Force Base gets an SMR—one of the first nine or 10 that the administration is insisting needs to be there by the end of 2027.”
Biggs said he has been working alongside fellow Arizona Republican members of Congress, including Reps. Paul Gosar (R-AZ09), Eli Crane (R-AZ02), and Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ08), to encourage the effort.
“We want to be on the cutting edge of that. Because I think SMRs are the wave of the future,” Biggs said.
He also said recent meetings with energy-sector officials reinforced that view.
“I just talked to an energy group last week, and they agree SMRs are the wave of the future. And that’s where we need to be going.”
Biggs also tied nuclear development to Arizona’s broader economic future, saying reliable baseload power will be essential as advanced manufacturing, semiconductor production, artificial intelligence, and data centers continue expanding throughout the state.
Although he said he supports data center investment, Biggs argued such projects should proceed without taxpayer subsidies or preferential treatment.
“No special breaks. No special benefits,” he said.
Instead, Biggs said developers should be responsible for securing their own electrical generation—including SMRs where appropriate—while ensuring existing residential and commercial ratepayers are not displaced by new industrial demand.
His comments come as Arizona utilities and policymakers increasingly examine nuclear energy as part of the state’s long-term strategy to meet growing electricity demand while maintaining grid reliability.
Biggs is seeking the Republican nomination for governor, making energy development one of several major policy areas he says will shape Arizona’s long-term economic competitiveness.
