by Staff Reporter | Apr 11, 2026 | News
By Staff Reporter |
The leader of the Arizona Senate is one of the top contenders to unseat Attorney General Kris Mayes this November, according to a recent poll.
Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen (R-LD14) led among prospective voters polled about the upcoming primary election in the attorney general’s race.
The poll from Gray House surveyed 400 likely Republican voters and 450 likely general election voters across the state.
Petersen leads fellow Republican candidate Rodney Glassman, both before voters were advised of the candidates’ backgrounds and after. (The polling did include a third Republican candidate, Greg Roeberg; however, Roeberg withdrew from the race in February).
A majority of voters — 75 percent — said they were undecided prior to being informed about the candidates’ backgrounds.
After, 42 percent of the 75 percent of undecided voters put their support behind Petersen.
65 percent of likely voters polled said they were more likely to support Petersen after hearing his biography.
Petersen’s platform proposes a more conservative federalist approach to the attorney general’s office: defending the rule of law as opposed to acting on personal political preferences, curbing federal overreach, increasing criminal prosecutions, defending women’s sports, and protecting constitutional rights.
Petersen has served in the Arizona legislature since 2012—first in the state house, then the state senate. He also assumed a leadership role in the house; he served as the majority leader prior to his election to the state senate.
Glassman, by contrast, lost the support of 74 percent of the voters polled after hearing his biography.
Glassman’s platform focused on certain specific areas of interest, a continuance of the major flip he made from his years as a Democrat: prosecuting border crime and election fraud, advocating for law enforcement, defending the Second Amendment, and scrutinizing government expenditures.
Prior to this race, Glassman ran for attorney general in 2022 as a Republican (lost in the primary), Maricopa County assessor in 2020 as a Republican (lost in the primary), Arizona Corporation Commission in 2018 as a Republican (lost in the general election), and U.S. Senate in 2010 as a Democrat (lost in the general election).
Voters expressed indifference to Roeberg after hearing his biography, only inspiring an additional 17 percent more likely voters.
Among prospective general election voters, Petersen trailed behind Attorney General Mayes by two points, around 42 to 44 percent.
Glassman trailed Mayes by 7 points and Roeberg trailed Mayes by 9 points.
As state senate president, Petersen has been uniquely positioned among the candidates to challenge Mayes on her execution of the office directly. A significant portion of Mayes’ focus in office since last January has concerned fighting policies and executive orders put forth by the Trump administration.
Earlier this week Petersen referred Mayes and Secretary of State Adrian Fontes to the Department of Justice for an investigation, alleging the pair were guilty of obstruction of justice and witness tampering for meddling with a federal probe into Arizona election records.
“The threats of the Attorney General and Secretary of State are incompatible with United States Constitution, which enshrines the grand jury in our constitutional order, and only serve to hinder voters’ confidence in our elections,” stated Petersen.
Mayes and Fontes advised the county recorders against complying with the federal subpoena.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Apr 11, 2026 | News
By Staff Reporter |
Arizona House Republicans are raising concerns about Governor Katie Hobbs’ recently released state energy plan, arguing it prioritizes solar development and government programs over housing availability and energy affordability.
In a press release, the Arizona House Republican Caucus said the plan advances policies that emphasize utility-scale solar projects, expanded renewable energy deployment, and the use of state-owned land for energy infrastructure.
The criticism follows the rollout of the governor’s broader energy strategy, which includes 31 recommendations developed by the Arizona Energy Promise Task Force to address rising energy demand, data center growth, and utility costs across the state.
According to House Republicans, the plan promotes solar development on state land, including areas near existing communities, rooftop solar installations on government buildings, and participation in virtual power plant programs.
Republican lawmakers cautioned that these proposals could affect the availability of land for residential development. Citing data from the Common Sense Institute, they noted that the Hobbs administration has “identified land closest to existing residential areas as ‘best’ for solar development,” adding that approximately 276,000 acres of state land within 10 miles of incorporated cities and towns could support up to 200,000 housing units.
House Majority Leader Michael Carbone (R-LD25) said the administration’s plan emphasizes renewable energy projects and related investments while raising concerns about impacts on housing supply and costs to taxpayers.
He explained in a statement, “Hobbs is calling this an all-of-the-above energy plan. It’s not. It’s a solar-heavy political plan that puts green industry insiders ahead of taxpayers, pushes utility-scale solar onto state land that could support badly needed housing, and says nothing about lowering gas prices for Arizona families. When Hobbs says ‘all of the above,’ what she means is more wind and solar.”
The governor’s office has described the energy plan as part of a broader effort to address affordability and reliability while bringing together stakeholders from utilities, industry, and government.
In separate announcements, the Hobbs administration has highlighted programs focused on lowering energy costs, including efficiency upgrades and rebate initiatives designed to reduce utility bills for Arizona households.
Carbone criticized Hobbs’ energy plan, stating, “You cannot claim to have an energy plan for Arizona while ignoring gasoline prices, fuel supply, and the infrastructure needed to keep this state moving. This report does not confront boutique fuel problems, does not address refinery or pipeline capacity, and does not even include the industry that supplies the fuel Arizona families and businesses rely on every day. That is not all of the above. That is selective politics dressed up as policy.”
He added, “Her report is long on politics and short on answers. It does not lower costs. It does not increase housing supply. It does not put taxpayers first. House Republicans are focused on affordability, reliability, and policies that serve Arizona families, not a narrow political agenda.”
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 Staff Reporter | Apr 10, 2026 | News
By Staff Reporter |
The Arizona Senate’s leader referred two state officials to the Department of Justice (DOJ) to be investigated for obstruction.
Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen (R-LD14) announced the referral on Tuesday. Petersen, who is also running for attorney general, accused Attorney General Kris Mayes and Secretary of State Adrian Fontes of obstruction of justice and tampering with a witness concerning the federal probe into Arizona election records.
“The threats of the Attorney General and Secretary of State are incompatible with United States Constitution, which enshrines the grand jury in our constitutional order, and only serve to hinder voters’ confidence in our elections,” stated Petersen in his letter to the DOJ.
The referral emerged in response to Mayes and Fontes requesting information from the state senate concerning its compliance with a recent federal grand jury subpoena of 2020 election records.
In response to Petersen’s referral, Fontes accused the senate president of jeopardizing voters’ safety and security.
“My main concern for ensuring privacy of personal information in voter registration data, as required by law, remains,” said Fontes.
Last month, the two Democratic officials issued a joint letter ordering county recorders not to comply with the federal subpoena. Contrary to what Petersen claimed in Tuesday’s letter, Mayes and Fontes argued compliance with the federal subpoena would violate both federal and state law.
“It is the states’ authority and responsibility to hold elections — not the federal government,” stated the pair’s letter. “Without direct congressional action, the United States Constitution does not authorize or allow the federal government to insert itself into a state’s election procedures, much less authorize the DOJ to unilaterally build a national voter database.”
Mayes called the subpoena “a weaponization of federal law enforcement in service of crackpots and lies,” and Petersen “an unrepentant election denier” spreading conspiracy theories and false stories of election fraud.
Petersen said the pair’s request from the state senate suggested their intention to interfere with the federal investigation.
Petersen based his referral on a legal analysis from the law firm Snell & Wilmer, which he said defended the state senate’s compliance with the federal subpoena and posited that the request by Mayes and Fontes constituted obstruction of justice and witness tampering.
In Petersen’s letter to Arizona District Attorney Timothy Courchaine, the state senate president accused Mayes and Fontes of ulterior motives linked to election meddling.
“Instead of fighting over these issues, we should all be working together to ensure the election integrity necessary to realize our country’s democratic promise,” said Petersen. “The Attorney General and Secretary’s phobia of fair and secure elections is impossible to explain absent nefarious motives.”
Mayes’ reelection campaign manager, Delaney Corcoran, said in a response that Petersen’s referral was a means to “seek retribution against his political enemies.”
Mayes made a similar claim when news of the federal subpoena emerged last month.
“One of the Republicans hoping to challenge me this fall is reigniting his SHAM ‘Cyber Ninja’ 2020 election audit conspiracies to the disservice of Arizonans,” said Mayes. “It’s a disgusting politicization of government and a waste of time and [money].”
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Staff Reporter | Apr 10, 2026 | Education, News
By Staff Reporter |
A Phoenix-area school district instituted a new policy requiring oversight of books in the classroom.
Queen Creek Unified School District (QCUSD) began enforcing the policy in January after its governing board approved it unanimously in December.
The policy required the district to restrict general access to materials containing sexually explicit content within school and classroom libraries; develop procedures for site-level review, inventory, and parental access to the inventory list of all classroom library collections; and establish an accessible opt-out procedure for school or classroom library materials not directly related to content, curriculum, or standards.
Although Arizona law has long prohibited exposing children to sexually explicit materials, Arizona libraries and schools continued to offer books containing sexually explicit materials under the defense of the necessity of educating children on topics of sexuality and identity.
Books with sexually explicit content offered to minors in the past by school libraries throughout the state have included titles popular nationwide: “All Boys Aren’t Blue” by George M. Johnson, “Gender Queer: A Memoir” by Maia Kobabe, “The Bluest Eye” by Toni Morrison, “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky, “Tricks” by Ellen Hopkins, “Looking for Alaska” by John Green, “Me and Earl and the Dying Girl” by Jesse Andrews, “Crank” by Ellen Hopkins, “Sold” by Patricia McCormick, and “Flamer” by Mike Curato.
QCUSD Board member Kelli Anderson introduced the classroom library oversight policy after recognizing that district policy on oversight extended only to school library books. In a press release, Anderson reported that the primary complaint from parents concerned the books brought into classrooms.
“Before this policy, complaints about classroom books were the number one issue I heard from parents,” said Anderson. “Since it went into effect, I have received zero complaints from parents.”
Anderson said QCUSD’s action should be adopted by all other districts in the state as best practice.
“[A]fter listening to parents and reviewing our policies, it was clear there was a gap that needed to be addressed,” stated Anderson.
Arizona Women of Action (AZWOA), a parental advocacy nonprofit and Arizona chapter of America’s Women, agreed with Anderson’s assessment.
“This policy closes a major loophole and restores trust between schools and families,” stated AZWOA in a press release. “It empowers parents, supports teachers, and ensures students are learning in environments that are transparent and accountable.”
According to AZWOA, at least one parent has already reported seeing a difference in school handling of inappropriate books. That parent allegedly told AZWOA that his elementary-aged child’s school contacted him prior to the policy compliance deadline to recover a classroom library book deemed inappropriate under the new policy.
The parent also reportedly said he wasn’t aware his child had access to such materials in the classroom.
At the beginning of last summer, the Maricopa County Library District piloted a “parental choice” program at the Queen Creek library enabling parents to choose which books, if any, their child may not check out.
Months later, in September, the county removed sex education books from the children’s sections to the adult non-fiction sections at 12 of its 14 libraries.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Apr 10, 2026 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona has enacted new legislation tightening oversight of registered sex offenders who seek to change their legal names.
House Bill 2223, sponsored by Rep. Quang Nguyen (R-LD1), adds new disclosure and notification requirements for registered offenders filing a petition for a legal name change.
“Sex offenders should not be able to change their name and slip through cracks that put Arizona families at risk,” Nguyen said. “This bill closes a loophole and locks in accountability. Victims deserve to know when the person who harmed them is trying to change identities through the courts. If you are required to register, you will not use a name change to hide your past, dodge scrutiny, or erase your trail.”
Under the new law, individuals on Arizona’s sex offender registry who apply for a name change must disclose their registration status as part of the application.
The legislation also requires applicants whose convictions occurred in Arizona to provide a copy of the name-change petition to the prosecuting agency involved in their case. This provision is intended to ensure that prosecutors, and, where applicable, victims who have requested post-conviction notification, are informed of the request.
If a court approves a name change, the law directs judges to order that the individual continue registering under both the new legal name and the prior name. The order must be transmitted to the county sheriff, ensuring that both identities are maintained within law enforcement records.
Existing Arizona law under A.R.S. § 13-3822 already requires registered sex offenders to notify law enforcement of changes in residence and legal name. However, prior statutes did not require courts to formally link name-change orders to registry records or mandate notification to prosecutors during the petition process.
HB 2223 adds those procedural steps without changing who is required to register as a sex offender or the duration of registration requirements under Arizona law.
The bill passed the Arizona House in February 2026 and advanced through the Senate unanimously on April 2 before being signed into law.
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 Staff Reporter | Apr 9, 2026 | News
By Staff Reporter |
The transgender mayoral candidate for Fountain Hills was accused of using the town’s logo in his campaign materials.
Last month, the town of Fountain Hills issued a cease-and-desist letter to town council member Brenda Kalivianakis for incorporating the town’s logo into his mayoral campaign logo.
The Fountain Hills logo is based on the town’s famous 560-foot fountain, the tallest in the world when it was first built in 1970.
The logo’s depiction of the fountain has a saucer-shaped base resting on three horizontal lines representing water, three slated prongs protruding upward on each side from the base, a nozzle in the center of the base out of which emerges a jet of water curving up to the left, and two lighter-colored curves bending downward. The town adopted the logo in 2023.
Kalivianakis’ logo has many of the same markers: the three water lines, the saucer-shaped base, the three prongs on either side of the center nozzle, the upward arc of water curving to the left, and the two lighter shades of curves bending downward from the water.
The main difference between the town’s logo and Kalivianakis’ campaign logo is the latter has two additional lines coming off the upward arc of water to form the letter “K,” and the words “Brenda for Mayor” to the left of the fountain symbol.
On Monday, Kalivianakis posted a press release from his campaign addressing the cease-and-desist letter. He argued his logo was “clearly distinguishable and creates no likelihood of confusion with the Town’s mark,” and claimed contentions had more to do with his speech than the logo.
Per Kalivianakis, the town will hire a trademark attorney and potentially bill him for the costs. Kalivianakis called it a waste of taxpayer dollars.
“Using taxpayer resources to target a candidate’s campaign materials raises serious questions about selective enforcement and interference with protected speech,” stated Kalivianakis’ press release.
Kalivianakis closed with a plea for donations to his campaign.
Mayoral and council candidates all received a cease-and-desist letter from the town attorney, Jennifer Wright, last month. At that point, it wasn’t made clear who, specifically, was at fault for the trademark violation out of all the candidates.
However, Kalivianakis told the Fountain Hills Times that he believed the cease-and-desist was a politically motivated, targeted attack by Wright aimed at him.
“I’m disappointed that the highly partisan Town Attorney is attempting to manipulate a local election by threatening trademark litigation. My logo is not a recreation of the Town’s official logo,” said Kalivianakis. “It is a fair use depiction of our community’s most recognizable landmark, something that has long been a tradition in political campaigns.”
In 2023, Kalivianakis was cleared of an ethics complaint by an outside attorney. The complaint alleged Kalivianakis violated the town code by requesting a director investigate and remove a sign allegedly in violation of sign code rather than communicating that request through the town manager.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
