by Matthew Holloway | Aug 7, 2024 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona Corporation Commissioner Nick Myers hammered home the necessity of reliability and affordability to Arizona energy providers including Arizona Public Service Company (APS), Tucson Electric Power Company (TEP), UNS Electric, and Arizona Electric Power Cooperative during a workshop for the development of an Integrated Resource Plan or ‘IRP.’
The IRP is required by the commission every three years.
According to the Commission, the providers represented at the workshop gave presentations that highlighted the projected load growth in the state and analyzed their resource portfolios and their estimated revenue requirements.
Both APS and TEP discussed plans to decommission their coal-fired power plants, APS’ at Four corners in 2031 and TEP at various locations by 2032. Both of the utilities told the commission they intend to replace the coal-fired plants with natural gas generation “that can ramp up quickly during the day when customers need electricity the most and make use of existing infrastructure to maintain customer affordability as they transition to renewable energy, battery storage and potentially new technology.”
Myers reportedly pressed the utilities represented on whether they had completed their analysis based on the lowest cost and most technologically neutral means without imposing their politically-driven mandates to reduce emissions on the state as required by Commission rules. He pointedly questioned if their differing goals “may have resulted in the selection of a more costly or less reliable resource portfolio,” per the commission.
Myers said, “IRP planning is a complicated process that involves the analysis of various scenarios, multiple iterations, and complex projections. It is critical that the Commission understands what a utility’s plan is going forward and addresses any possible discrepancies or inconsistencies so that Arizonans can feel comfortable that their air conditioning will remain on and at an affordable rate.”
The commission reported that it is now reviewing the IRPs from the utilities and should bring a memorandum and proposal for review by the end of the month. In closing, Myers told the workshop, “Reliability and affordability will continue to be my highest priorities. We absolutely cannot afford to have blackout and brownouts in Arizona.”
In a July press release reported by KTAR, Chairman Jim O’Connor expressed similar concerns saying, “Hotter temperatures and monsoon winds put even more pressure on our electric grid, as we demand increasing amounts of power each year from our utilities. Thankfully, Arizona has top notch utilities with dedicated employees that coordinate to keep our power reliable across our state.”
O’Connor and the utilities at that time called upon Arizonans to reduce electrical usage by adjusting home thermostats and pushing heavy appliance usage and EV charging later into the evening.
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 | Aug 6, 2024 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
The proverbial smoke is clearing from the contentious 2024 Arizona Primary Election, which has become known for a battle for Congressional District 8. GOP strategist Barrett Marson called it, “one of the ugliest—if not the ugliest—primaries in the entire country,” speaking to Bloomberg News. Three of the four Northern Arizona seats: Districts 1,2, and 8 were the most noteworthy, with District 9 representing an uneventful primary, and a likely uneventful general election.
While the results are not finalized in many of the races according to state and county officials, the unofficial results stand thusly as of the evening of August 5, according to the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office.
In the primary contest for U.S. House of Representatives District 1, incumbent Congressman David Schweikert handily defeated his opponent Kim George, 62.65%-27.52%, by a difference of 35,224 votes.
George publicly conceded after contacting Rep. Schweikert by phone Wednesday. In a post to X she wrote, “Just got off the phone with @repdavid Schweikert to congratulate him and offer my support in this critical race. We had a great conversation, and I told him I stand ready to do everything I can to help him keep this seat red. Control of the U.S. House may well run through AZCD1. All hands on deck!”
Schweikert will face off against Amish Shah who won the Democratic nomination in a narrow five-way contest by a mere 1,618 votes.
According to Cook Political, District 1 leans Republican R+2.
Incumbent Republican Congressman Eli Crane of District 2 defeated his primary challenger Jack Smith in a strong finish, 80.54%-19.46%, by a wide margin of 67,750 votes.
Crane reposted several reports of his victory via X Wednesday.
Smith has not posted or released any concession statement as of this report. Crane is expected to face off against Democrat Jonathan Nez who ran unopposed garnering 49,813 total votes.
According to Cook Political, District 2 is solidly Republican R+6.
The Republican Congressional Primary for District 8 is easily the most complex in the state. As of this report Abraham Hamadeh has the apparent lead over Blake Masters, 29.90%-25.75%, by a margin of 4,264.
Prominent figures Hamadeh and Masters were both endorsed by President Donald Trump via Truth Social on Saturday night with Trump writing:
“We have a very important Republican Primary Election on Tuesday for Arizona’s 8th Congressional District, with two spectacular America First Candidates.
Blake Masters is a very successful businessman, and an incredibly strong supporter of our Movement to Make America Great Again – He is smart and tough! Likewise, Abe Hamadeh, a Veteran, former prosecutor, and fearless fighter for Election Integrity, has been with me all the way!
In Congress, we need a true Warrior who will work tirelessly with us to Grow our Economy, Stop Inflation, Secure our Border, End Migrant Crime, Support our Great Military/Vets, and Protect our always under siege Second Amendment – They will both be spectacular, and I’m pleased to announce that both Blake Masters and Abe Hamadeh have my Complete and Total Endorsement to be the next Congressman of Arizona’s 8th Congressional District — THEY WILL NOT LET YOU DOWN!“
Other notable Arizona Republicans ran competitively including.
Arizona State Representative Ben Toma, who garnered 21.00% support and former Congressman Trent Franks, who took 16.29% of the vote.
Two additional candidates for the GOP ran as well, earning single digit percentages.
Arizona State Senator Anthony Kern earned just 4.80% of the primary vote. Republican Patrick Briody trailed the main pack with 2.28%.
According to Cook Political, District 8 is solidly Republican at R+10.
As of Wednesday morning, only State Sen. Kern and State Rep. Ben Toma have acknowledged defeat in the election in posts to X.
Kern wrote in part, “We worked hard; we prayed hard; we hoped hard! Sometimes we taste victory in different ways! It is exciting to see what our future holds! To everything there is a season and a reason!”
Toma posted, “The voters of Congressional District 8 made their choice clear last night as to who the Republican nominee will be in November. While I’m certainly disappointed in the outcome, I am forever grateful and humbled by the level of support shown from so many who opened their arms, their homes, and their wallets to support our campaign. It was an honor and a privilege to be endorsed and supported by so many great leaders of our state and to run a positive campaign centered on my record of accomplishments. I wish all the candidates who ran alongside me the very best.”
Republican Congressman Paul Gosar of District 9 ran unopposed in his primary.
Quacy Smith ran unopposed for the Democratic party and will face off against Gosar in November.
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 | Aug 3, 2024 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
On Wednesday evening, Senator JD Vance, Vice Presidential nominee of the Republican Party, took to the stage at Arizona Christian University in Glendale, Arizona. While President Donald Trump was rallying the crowds in Pennsylvania for the first time since the attempt on his life in Butler, Vance was showing Arizonans that the Senator from Ohio and author of “Hillbilly Elegy” can play on the same field that once brought Barry Goldwater to national prominence.
Flanked on stage by notable conservative Congressmen Eli Crane, Paul Gosar, and Andy Biggs as well as GOP Senate nominee Kari Lake and Turning Point USA’s Charlie Kirk, Vance broke down the stakes for Arizona voters, describing the scenario of a Harris presidency.
“Let us count the ways in which Kamala Harris has screwed up this country over the last 3.5 years,“ Vance began according to CSPAN.
“Now, they’ll all lie to you about it, the media, but she was appointed the border czar and then unleashed the worst border crisis in the history of this country. On her watch, more than 10 million illegal aliens have invaded our country, and it wasn’t by accident. It was by design.”
“They said when they took office that they were going to do exactly what they did. They said they wanted to decriminalize illegal immigration and tear down Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Open up the floodgates and give illegal aliens free health care. And she wanted you the American citizens to pay the bill. That’s what she said.”
“And then, on her very first day in office, they went to work, but not for you. For them. They suspended deportations. They stopped building President Trump’s wall. They reinstated catch-and-release. And that’s how every state became a border state because they just released these people into our country. Then they fly in first class, give them first class hotel accommodations. You guys are paying for that too.”
Vance didn’t shy away from taking direct aim at Harris’ recent explosion onto the media scene either, and her stark departure from previous appearances as noted by President Trump when he spoke to the National Association of Black Journalists Conference in Chicago.
“So, you guys want to hear that truth about Kamala Harris? Kamala Harris is a phony who caters to whatever audience is in front of her. I don’t know if you saw this. But earlier this week, look up the clip, she went down to Georgia and started talking with a fake Southern accent. I’m serious. Now, what the hell was that all about? Kamala Harris grew up in Canada. They don’t talk like that in Vancouver or Quebec or wherever she came from.”
“It doesn’t matter. It’s the same new liberal policies, but a different accent, whoever she’s talking to. Now on November 5th, she can go back to using her San Francisco accent because we are going to send her packing, and we’re going to elect Donald Trump President of the United States. “
Pointedly, Vance drew attention to Harris’ apparent complicity in deflecting concerns over the capacity of President Joe Biden to serve as well as criticizing the thoroughly non-democratic method of her nomination by DNC leaders without a primary vote.
“Now after they covered up for Joe Biden’s incompetence for 3.5 years. This is a scandal from both the Democrats and the media,” he began. “Now they’re gaslighting us about Kamala Harris’ radical record. The media likes to portray her, all of a sudden, she’s a sensible moderate. That’s what they say. Now, the same media that told us for 3.5 years, Joe Biden who couldn’t finish his sentence was Albert Einstein. Now they tell us Kamala Harris is Abraham Lincoln but anyone who is too blind to see Biden’s incompetence, or more likely too dishonest to admit it, is not fit to serve as our commander in chief.”
Vance added, “The Democrat party bosses have decided to install Kamala Harris as their new nominee, but think about this, she has not received a single vote for President of the United States. Now, the media calls this a coronation. I think we’d call it a coup and in America we don’t crown our leaders. We vote for them.”
Vance also prefaced his planned trip to Arizona’s southern border and called Harris out on her radical leftist record and the failure of the Biden-Harris regime to rein in the out-of-control border with Mexico.
He told rallygoers, “Now I’m going to the border tomorrow and her record of disaster is clear. 500,000 kids have been trafficked by the Mexican drug cartels because of her policies, hundreds of thousands of our citizens are dead from fentanyl overdoses because of her policies, hardworking Americans cannot afford groceries because of her policies. Now, the media wants to call her a moderate. But here’s a fact check for the fake news. Kamala Harris was the most liberal senator in the entire United States Senate. She is a dangerous San Francisco liberal, and thanks to the people in this room, she is never going to be the President of the United States of America.”
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 | Aug 3, 2024 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona’s Republican Primary for the open seat in the U.S. Senate between former Gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake and Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb quickly became a heated one.
While Lake faced criticism for referring to Lamb as a “total coward when it comes to election integrity” who “surrendered to the establishment” during the GOP Senate Forum, Lamb decried her as “a divider,” rather than a “uniter.” He stated, “It’s time she takes some personal responsibility for losing an election that she was supposed to win,” referring to her 2022 defeat by Gov. Katie Hobbs in a statement published to X.
Although the results are not finalized in many of the races, according to state and county officials, the unofficial results stand thusly as of noon on July 31 according to the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office.
The Arizona Republican U.S. Senate Nominee is Kari Lake — According to current results, Lake defeated Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb 55.3%-39.3% by a difference of 98,644 votes.
In a post to X, Lake shared her acceptance of the nomination and wrote, “I want to thank everyone who put in their blood, sweat, & tears, knocking on doors, volunteering, & working for our campaign I love every one of you I want to thank Arizonans for entrusting me to be their voice. And I want to thank my family, I couldn’t do any of this without them.”
As of this report it doesn’t appear that Mark Lamb has issued a concession or any statement regarding the race.
Lake will face Democrat Congressman Ruben Gallego who won the Democratic nomination unopposed, garnering 424,088 votes.
According to Cook Political, the race for the seat of outgoing Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) leans Democrat. The RealClearPolling average as of this report shows Gallego leading by 3.4 points.
In a post to X, and during her nomination acceptance, Lake seemed to adopt a conciliatory tone toward Lamb writing, “[Sheriff Lamb] was never an opponent. He’s my friend. I truly appreciate everything he’s given to Arizona, and I know he’s not done fighting for it. He’s not done protecting it. He ran a great campaign, and I look forward to working together with him in the future.”
In her comments she thanked him and referred to him as her friend saying, “He ran a great campaign…that never hit below the belt, which is so rare in politics.” She complimented him saying, ”That is a great man. That is a man of great character.”
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 | Aug 2, 2024 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
The 2024 Arizona Primary Election for Southern Arizona’s seats in the U.S. House of Representatives involved races that were mostly uncontested or lightly contested with the notable exception of District 6. That race, between incumbent Republican Congressman Juan Ciscomani and challenger Kathleen Winn, was more energetic, and will now be followed by what could be a staunch challenge from Democrat Kirsten Engel.
While the results are not finalized in many of the races, according to state and county officials, the unofficial results stand thusly as of noon on July 31 according to the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office.
Jeff Zink won the Arizona Congressional Primary for District 3, vacated by Democrat Rep. Ruben Gallego, against Jesus David Mendoza, 65.6%-34.4%, by a margin of 3,720 votes.
Zink is expected to face off against Yassamin Ansari who defeated Raquel Terán to win the Democratic nomination in a close 46.1%-42.7% race by a margin of 1,185.
According to Cook Political, District 3 leans heavily Democrat D+24
Republican Kelly Cooper defeated Dr. Zuhdi Jasser in a six-point race, 32.2%-26.8%, with a margin of 2,692 in Democrat-held District 4.
Cooper will challenge incumbent Congressman Greg Stanton who ran unopposed.
According to Cook Political, District 2 is solidly Democrat but only holds a D+2 rating, indicating a possible vulnerability for House Democrats. Cooper was previously defeated by Stanton in 2022 in a 12-point race by a margin of 32,420 votes, a massive decrease from Stanton’s 2020 23-point, six-figure margin prior to redistricting.
Dr. Jasser posted to X Thursday acknowledging his defeat in the race and issued a full statement. He wrote, “A humble thank you to all our supporters after a hard fought primary election battle for Arizona’s 4th Congressional District. I congratulate @KellyCooperAZ and wish him and his family the best in retiring the empty suited Biden rubber stamper @RepGregStanton from office.”
Cooper replied, “It was honor to run against you, I know we have the same goals, make Arizona better. I look forward to bringing unity to the Republican Party and winning in November!”
Reps. Andy Biggs, a Republican, and Katrina Schaffner, a Democrat, won their respective nominations in unopposed District 5 primaries and will face off in the general election.
According to Cook Political, District 5 is solidly Republican R+11
Incumbent Congressman Juan Ciscomani defeated challenger Kathleen Winn in a 59.4%-40.6% race by a margin of 16,344.
Ciscomani will be challenged by Democrat Kirsten Engel in November who won the Democratic nomination unopposed.
Cook Political, considers District 6 to be a Republican Toss-up R+3
Forecasting from The Hill gives Ciscomani a 71% chance of retaining his seat.
Republican Daniel Butierez, Sr., and incumbent Democrat Congressman Raúl Grijalva, were unopposed in their District 7 primaries and will face each other in the general election.
Cook Political, has District 7 projected as solidly Democratic at D+15
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.
