by Staff Reporter | Jun 1, 2025 | News
By Staff Reporter |
The Arizona Democratic Party (ADP) will go broke by the end of this year, according to the party’s own leadership.
News of the party’s financial woes emerged after ADP’s executive committee rejected a budget from the party’s new chairman, Robert Branscomb, in a recent meeting per Arizona Republic reporter Mary Jo Pitzl.
ADP’s committee reportedly cited the current state of spending and low fundraising for the diminishing funds.
This new development emerged shortly after Branscomb suspended his vice chair, Kim Khoury, through email. Branscomb accused Khoury of working against him — accusations he’s leveled against others early on in his leadership.
“[You engaged] in political activity directed against party leadership while holding an executive officer role,” said Branscomb.
And in recent months, there were reports of infighting between party leadership and the state’s top elected Democrats.
In a tell-all email issued last month, Branscomb provided a 90-day “candidate update” in which he accused his predecessor, Yolanda Bejarano, of undermining him and both U.S. Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego of threatening him over his decision making. Kelly and Gallego were supportive of Bejarano’s reelection, as were Governor Katie Hobbs, Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, and Attorney General Kris Mayes.
In a joint response to the accusations, Fontes, Gallego, Hobbs, Kelly, and Mayes said they had only sought to support Branscomb from the beginning.
“We’ve spent the last several months meeting regularly with the chair and working to support the party through the transition,” read the statement. “Unfortunately, his statement today includes many false claims and is the kind of bad-faith response we’ve come to expect from the new leadership over the last several weeks.”
ADP is facing financial struggles despite the millions in heavy outside spending given as assistance in key state legislative races across the state last fall — expenditures that surpassed the more successful Republicans, even.
In January, ADP faced accusations of financial wrongdoing from one of the ADP vice chairs at the time, Will Knight. The former treasurer, Rick McGuire, was accused of “self-dealing.” Bejarano denied Knight’s request for an audit of the party’s finances, and denounced the accusations as “defamatory” and “false and damaging.”
ADP’s troubles are consistent with the issues facing the national Democratic Party. Although Democrats outraised and outspent Republicans in last year’s election, they gained only one seat in the House and lost four seats in the Senate — resulting in a Republican control of the Senate that reflected the most gains for either party in a decade.
Major donors to the Democratic Party vented their frustrations to mainstream media this week.
“Why would I write a check when we’re losing everything? We’re losing the airwaves. We’re losing the tech battle. We’re losing the ground game. They have yet to prove that they have learned any real lessons yet,” said one donor anonymously. “So either people start to wake up or we lose again.”
A survey in March of Democratic voters by the Associated Press and NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found only one-third felt optimistic about the party’s future.
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by Staff Reporter | May 30, 2025 | Education, News
By Staff Reporter |
Continued Republican infighting over the state of school choice in Arizona has resulted in another candidate entering the 2026 race for superintendent of public instruction. The friction concerns to what extent the superintendent should restrict the reimbursement of school choice funds.
Arizona Treasurer Kimberly Yee formally announced her campaign on Wednesday with the Arizona Freedom Caucus. The caucus founder, Sen. Jake Hoffman, endorsed Yee at a press conference outside the state capitol. Hoffman believes the current superintendent, Tom Horne, limits school choice disbursements too much.
Hoffman justified Yee’s selection by alluding to “challenges” with the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) Program, and reported “frustrations” experienced by parents navigating the program.
“We have identified an absolute all-star candidate; we have identified someone who has a proven track record uniting the Republican Party and winning elections at every level of government,” said Hoffman. “[Horne] is a better politician than he is a public servant.”
Yee said she would better partner with parents through a “student-first” system and pledged to create “a vocational pathway” for future leaders in the workforce. Yee also promised to strengthen school choice options for parents.
Yee accused Horne of committing “big government overreach” and “petty political games” in his administration of the office.
“We need a chief education officer in Arizona committed to delivering real, tangible results for Arizona children and families. Sadly, and for far too long, the leadership at the Arizona Department of Education has missed the mark, and our children and teachers are paying the price,” said Yee.
Yee avoided answering whether she would put limits on permitted ESA Program spending. She insisted current legislative “guardrails” sufficiently prevent inappropriate expenditures.
Hoffman announced his intent last month to replace Horne next year, claiming the superintendent hadn’t sufficiently protected the ESA Program from efforts to undermine it by Governor Katie Hobbs and Attorney General Kris Mayes. A significant source of contention is the extent to which the superintendent’s office has denied reimbursement requests.
Horne has put the kibosh on significant reimbursement requests fought to be secured by parents in the program. Of late, his office says he has prevented the approval of a $16,000 cello; a $5,000 Rolex watch; a $24,000 golf simulator; $64,000 for nail art and crystals; a $2,300 freeze dryer; $1,500 for 250 cubic feet of potting soil; and $65,000 for 100 laptops, computers, and tablets for a family with six children.
In the case of the cello, 12 News reported the family — identified as living in “an upscale Gilbert neighborhood — received $11,000 in ESA funds for a piano, commercial KitchenAid mixer, private fitness lessons, a kayak, and Chinese calligraphy and painting lessons. After receiving their reimbursements, the family put their child in a public school.
Horne has consistently doubled down on his position as “the main defender” of the ESA Program, citing his work as a lawmaker on the earliest forms of school choice conceived in the 1990s. The superintendent publicly challenged Hoffman to debate him on the matter.
“I brought school choice to Arizona in the 90s with my legislation. I’ve fought to protect school choice from a liberal Governor and Attorney General for the past two years,” said Horne. “I’m the only statewide candidate to beat an incumbent in the General Election in over 50 years. Let me know when and where you’d like to debate education policy.”
Yee’s platform focuses only on fiscal responsibility within the superintendent’s office. Contrary to Hoffman’s indication that the Arizona Freedom Caucus’s chosen candidate would lead their campaign with the ESA Program, there is no mention of school choice on her campaign website as of this report.
By comparison, Horne’s platform appears to be significantly more fleshed out with plans addressing the different areas of state education.
Yee previously considered running for governor in the crowded 2022 race that ultimately ended with the seat flipping from Republican to Democratic control.
Aside from Horne and Yee, the only other registered Republican to file a statement of interest in the race is Stephen Neal Jr., a school psychologist formerly with Legacy Traditional Schools.
Five Democratic candidates have also filed statements of interest: Michael Butts, a member of the Roosevelt Elementary School District governing board; Sam Huang, former member of the Chandler City Council and 2022 state legislative candidate; Joshua Levinski, an English teacher; Bret Newby, an associate professor with National University; and Teresa Ruiz, the former president of Glendale Community College.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Staff Reporter | May 28, 2025 | News
By Staff Reporter |
A heartwarming scene unfolded in Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport over the weekend.
The Cisneros family of Phoenix welcomed home their loved one after six months at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina: Marine Corporal Josue Cisneros. The young Marine was able to return home in time for a Memorial Day gathering with family, as well as his sister’s graduation and his own birthday.
The nonprofit organization Miles for Military made the reunion possible. This Massachusetts-based nonprofit covers the cost of flights home to the most junior service members in exchange for volunteer hours with 501c3 charities. These flights home enable service members to be home for the moments that matter most: holidays, family celebrations, and emergencies.
Cisneros expressed how great of an honor it is to wear the uniform and serve his country, and his gratitude for Miles for Military. Along with his family and friends, Cisneros told Fox 10 he planned to save some quality time for man’s best friend: his loyal dog.
“My family, they mean the world to me. It’s really great to be honest,” said Cisneros. “If it wasn’t for Miles for Military I would not be able to be here for the next two weeks, so I’m really grateful for the opportunity they gave me.”
Marine mother Maureen Byrne founded Miles for Military in 2021 after discovering many of her son’s fellow Marines couldn’t afford to fly home.
Cisneros is part of a storied legacy of Arizonans who take up the noble cause of serving their country, knowing they will potentially make the ultimate sacrifice.
While Cisneros was able to return home to his family this Memorial Day, we acknowledge and remember those who never came home.
Approximately 25,000 American soldiers died during the Revolutionary War — the first to give their lives in defense of America.
Over the next century, more war would challenge the resolve of the fledgling nation: approximately 2,400 American soldiers died in the War of 1812; over 13,000 soldiers died in the Mexican-American War; and over 2,400 soldiers died in the Spanish-American War. Then, America endured what remains the bloodiest conflict in her young history.
An estimated 360,000 Union soldiers and 250,000 Confederate soldiers died during the Civil War. Some of those residing in the Arizona territory ultimately joined the Confederacy.
The Civil War would inspire the first recognition of a Memorial Day in 1868, initially known as Decoration Day.
Of course, Arizona wouldn’t come to be a state until 1912 — just two years before the breakout of the first World War, and five years before the U.S. joined the conflict.
According to the best available data, the following are the total numbers of Arizonans who gave the ultimate sacrifice across the wars of the last and present century: over 300 during World War I, over 1,600 during World War II, over 200 during the Korean War, over 600 during the Vietnam War, five during the Persian Gulf War, and over 150 across the recent conflicts throughout the Iraq War and War in Afghanistan.
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by Staff Reporter | May 28, 2025 | News
By Staff Reporter |
Mesa Councilwoman Julie Spilsbury may face a special election within the first year of her second term.
Organizers with Turning Point Action (TPA), the activist arm of the conservative organization Turning Point USA, provided the manpower for the signature gathering effort to initiate Spilsbury’s recall. A resident, JoAnne Robbins, launched the recall effort.
Robbins submitted over 5,200 signatures to remove Spilsbury, according to TPA COO Tyler Bowyer. The recall effort needed about 3,100 signatures by Friday in order to launch a special election.
Bowyer said Spilsbury was to blame for the declining quality of living and rising cost of living in the area.
“Julie Spilsbury let Mesa down,” said Bowyer. “She has politicized her office and has voted for terrible things that make Mesa a worse place and more expensive.”
A now-defunct TPA webpage notified Arizonans of “Super Chase Events” to gather signatures for the recall effort.
Residents blame Spilsbury — a self-identified Republican who endorsed two Democratic candidates last year, Kamala Harris for president and Ruben Gallego for U.S. Senate — for the homelessness crisis plaguing the city.
Robbins launched the recall based on three specific “yes” votes taken by Spilsbury between 2023 and 2024: approval of a permit to convert a hotel into a homeless housing program, increasing city council salaries, and increasing Mesa utility rates.
Spilsbury’s main defense of these votes is that two of the three were unanimous.
Violent crimes have increased over the past five years, with an increase of nearly eight percent in violent crimes in 2024 compared to 2023, per Arizona Department of Public Safety data. Overall crime increased by over two percent from 2023 to 2024. Still, Mesa Police say the city remains one of the safest among large municipalities; Assistant Chief Lee Rankin told the city council during a study session last month that Mesa remains a family-friendly community.
“While the city has seen a slight 2.5% uptick in crime compared to similarly sized cities, those who live, work, and play in Mesa enjoy a safe and vibrant community,” said Rankin. “With a strong focus on safety measures and community engagement the city continues to be a place where people can thrive and enjoy all the city has to offer.”
Estimates place Mesa’s cost of living at about seven percent higher than the national average, and housing expenses around nine percent higher than the national average.
In response to the recall, Spilsbury issued a rebuttal of the charges against her on her campaign website.
The councilwoman accused her opponents of being “angry” she defeated their “handpicked candidate” last year and belonging to “an outside special interest group” funded with out-of-state dark money.
Spilsbury laid claim to several changes that occurred since first being elected to the council in 2020: lowered police and fire response times, high quality development, and job creation by the thousands.
“[The recall effort petitioners] don’t care about Mesa, its people, or our issues. And, they are resorting to distortions, misrepresentations, and outright lies to win this time,” stated Spilsbury.
Spilsbury was reelected by default last November, having defeated her primary opponent Melody Whetstone by a margin of over 30 percent. Spilsbury’s second term runs until 2029.
Spilsbury chairs the Community and Cultural Development Committee, sits on the Public Safety Committee, and vice chairs the Education and Workforce Development Roundtable.
Spilsbury also sits on the other following boards and committees: Human Resources and Elections Policy Committee for the Arizona League of City and Towns General Administration, Children’s Alliance Board, idea Museum Board of Directors, MesaCAN Board, Mesa United Way Board of Directors, Arizona Talks Advisory Board, and the Education and Families Council as well as the Finance, Administration, and Intergovernmental Relations Federal Advocacy Committee for the National League of Cities.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Staff Reporter | May 23, 2025 | News
By Staff Reporter |
Maricopa County leaders are considering a $400,000 consulting contract to review and advise on elections.
The county is looking to contract with the accounting and consulting firm BerryDunn. The proposed contract would last for one year, with options to renew for up to four additional years. The contract also allows for the county to extend the contract on a monthly basis for up to six months after May 2026.
The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors was scheduled to decide on this contract during Wednesday’s meeting. They opted to delay a decision on the contract until their June 25 meeting.
BerryDunn has previously engaged in elections-related projects for the county. The firm conducted a procurement audit for the county’s voting system and related equipment in 2021, and an assessment of the county recorder’s election planning and Election Day activities following the 2018 primary and general elections.
Talks to secure a consulting firm for another audit of the county’s elections system emerged at the start of this year immediately after a slate of fresh faces took over the board of supervisors.
If approved, BerryDunn would review six areas of the county’s elections system with the goal of improving its efficiency: chain of custody, physical security, candidate filing compliance, temporary worker hiring and training, ballot drop boxes, and vote center selection and setup. In terms of efficiency, BerryDunn promised competency in assessing risk and analyzing trends while maintaining compliance with state and federal regulations.
The proposed timeline spans three phases promising 12 deliverables: planning and oversight for the first four weeks, discovery and fieldwork for the following 14 weeks, and reporting for the final seven weeks.
In its pitch to the county for the contract, BerryDunn pointed to the size of past clientele: 650 state, local, and quasi-governmental clients nationwide. Among those, BerryDunn completed election-related engagements for the New Hampshire secretary of state from 2020 to 2021 concerning its CARES Act elections assistance and grant management.
Within Maricopa County, BerryDunn has undertaken other non-elections projects over the last decade: the Adobe Dam Recreation Center Feasibility Study, Adult Probation Case Management Consultant, Adult Probation Department – Victim Services Review, Cyber Security Risk Assessment for the Judicial Branch, Housing Choice Voucher Forensic Audit Services for the Housing Authority, Information Security Program Maturity Assessment, Parks Fee Analysis, Regional County Parks Master Planning Services, and Sheriff’s Office Bonds, Fines, and Court Order Processing Audit.
Aside from Maricopa County, BerryDunn has contracted with many local and state entities within Arizona in the past: the Departments of Agriculture, Economic Security (and its Division Of Developmental Disabilities), and Health Services; the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System; the State Land Department; Coconico, Maricopa, and Pima counties; the cities of Avondale, Glendale, Goodyear, Mesa, Phoenix, Scottsdale, Surprise, Tempe, and Tucson; and the towns of Gilbert, Prescott Valley, Queen Creek, and Sahuarita.
Several months ago, BerryDunn entered a $7.25 million class action lawsuit settlement over a 2023 data breach affecting over 1.1 million individuals. The data breach compromised the names, addresses, dates of birth, Social Security numbers, and health insurance policy numbers for the affected individuals.
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