by Staff Reporter | Apr 22, 2026 | News
By Staff Reporter |
The Arizona Democratic Party (ADP) is heading into the second quarter of this pivotal election year with a negative cash balance exceeding $720,000.
Their latest campaign finance report, filed last week, reflected total-to-date expenditures that nearly tripled their income: over $2.8 million compared to $1 million.
For this first period, ADP’s expenditures did fall below their income: about $67,500 compared to $151,500.
ADP experienced much stronger fundraising in the first quarter of 2022, the last midterm election year. The party’s reported income was over $370,000 and expenditures were $146,000 in that first quarter.
A stark difference was evident between ADP’s campaign finances for the last two off-years as well.
The party’s campaign finance report data for all of 2025 reflected income just below $857,000, but expenditures totaling over $2.7 million. In the first quarter of 2025, the party raised only about $210,000 and spent nearly $360,000.
Comparatively, by the end of 2023, ADP had $1.5 million more in income than expenditures. In the first quarter of 2023, ADP raised nearly $1 million and expended about $227,000.
Some among ADP leadership did warn last summer that the party would go broke by the end of the year. The party has dealt with publicized infighting for about a year.
Unlike other transfers listed, shared expenses with the Navajo County Democratic Committee (NCDC) were categorized as an “unlimited transfer” routing arrangement for ADP funds.
NCDC has a surplus of nearly $1.6 million. Since the beginning of last year, NCDC has sent over $61,000 to ADP.
In that same time period ADP sent back over $107,000 to NCDC, or $46,000 more than NCDC has sent. Their cycle to date reported a cash flow between the two totaling nearly $150,000.
Navajo County accounted for ADP’s second-largest expenditure last year.
AZ Free News contacted ADP about the state of their finances and their fiscal arrangement with NCDC. ADP didn’t respond to our inquiry.
Apart from NCDC, ADP’s number-one expenditure last year by far was $1.7 million last August to the Copper State Values PAC, established and run by Gov. Katie Hobbs’ campaign manager Nicole DeMont and treasurer Dacey Montoya. Since DeMont set up the PAC in December 2024, its primary function has appeared to be a funding arm for the Hobbs reelection campaign.
The PAC sent back $94,500 a few months later, last December.
Discounting the $49,000 received from NCDC last year, ADP’s biggest sources of income were:
- United Food and Comm Workers (UFCW) Union Local 99, the largest private-sector union in the state: $100,000
- Estate of the late Janet Delesanti: $49,000
- Arizona Public Service: $30,000
- Elevance Health Inc (formerly Anthem), an Ohio-based insurance company: $25,000
- Donalyn Mikles, former attorney for the defunct Arizona Summit Law School and director of the California-based Kling Family Foundation: $20,000
- Moms Fed Up, a D.C.-based political activist organization: $20,000
- William (Bill) Roe, former chair of the Arizona Democratic Party: $15,000
- Pam H. Grissom, founder and longtime (not current) board member for Arizona List: $15,000
- AFSCME People, AFSCME’s D.C.-based political action arm: $15,000
The following donated about $10,000 each: University of Phoenix, PMI US Corporate Services, Nextera Energy Resources, Arizona Education Association Fund for Public Education, Arizona State Association of Electrical Workers, and Daniel T. Ling.
None of the Democrats’ other legislative districts or county parties in the state have reported a negative cash balance, with the exceptions of Santa Cruz County Central Democratic Committee and La Paz County Democratic Central Committee.
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 22, 2026 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona Senate Democrats voted Monday against two Republican-backed memorials urging the federal government to designate both the Muslim Brotherhood and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) as terrorist organizations.
House Concurrent Memorial 2001, sponsored by Rep. John Gillette (R-LD30), urges the president and Congress to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a foreign terrorist organization and asks Arizona law enforcement agencies to identify and monitor organizations linked to the group operating within the state. The measure passed the Senate on a 17-12 vote, with one senator not voting. Sen. Catherine Miranda (D-LD11) was listed as not voting on the measure.
House Concurrent Memorial 2002, also sponsored by Gillette, urges the president and Congress to designate CAIR as a terrorist organization and to pass H.R. 4097, known as the “Designate CAIR as a Terrorist Organization Act.” The measure also passed the Senate in a similar 17-12 vote, with Miranda not voting.
In a statement posted to X, the Arizona Senate Republican Caucus wrote,
“Republicans voted YES to back President Trump and urge Congress to label this radical Islamist network — ideological founder of Hamas — a foreign terrorist group and stop its support for jihad and infiltration. Calling this ‘racist’ is a pathetic Democrat lie. It’s a political terror network, not a race or peaceful Muslims. The Trump administration already designated multiple Brotherhood branches for material support to Hamas. Why are Democrats shielding a group that threatens Arizona families and U.S. security?”
HCM 2001 states that the Muslim Brotherhood, founded in Egypt in 1928, has “a long-documented history of promoting Islamist extremism” and argues that it has inspired or spawned terrorist organizations, including Hamas and al-Qaeda. The memorial also cites Hamas’ charter, which describes Hamas as “one of the wings of the Muslim Brotherhood in Palestine.” It further urges the Arizona Attorney General and law enforcement agencies to “identify, monitor and report any Muslim Brotherhood-linked organizations operating within Arizona, including financial, educational and advocacy groups.”
The memorial references evidence introduced during the Holy Land Foundation terrorism financing trial, including internal Muslim Brotherhood documents describing what prosecutors called a “civilization-jihadist process” intended to undermine Western society from within. It also references CAIR, describing the organization as “widely considered a front group for the Muslim Brotherhood by counterterrorism experts.”
HCM 2002 argues that CAIR should be reviewed for terrorist designation based on alleged ties to Hamas and the Holy Land Foundation terrorism financing case. The memorial notes that CAIR was named as an unindicted co-conspirator in the Holy Land Foundation prosecution and adds that the FBI suspended outreach with the organization after evidence presented in the case established a relationship between CAIR and Hamas.
The memorial also cites terrorism-related convictions involving several former CAIR officials or affiliates, and the decision by the United Arab Emirates to designate CAIR as a terrorist organization in 2014.
CAIR Arizona and allied organizations opposed HCM 2002 earlier this year, arguing that the memorial relied on allegations that have not resulted in criminal charges or a federal terrorist designation. The coalition stated that CAIR has never been charged or convicted of terrorism-related crimes and argued that the memorial could contribute to discrimination against Muslim communities.
Both memorials now move forward as formal requests from the Arizona Legislature to federal officials, including the president, Congress, the U.S. Attorney General, and the U.S. Secretary of State.
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 Ethan Faverino | Apr 22, 2026 | Education, News
By Ethan Faverino |
Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne announced earlier this week that two northern Arizona schools have been named National Title 1 Distinguished Schools in recognition of their significant gains in student academic achievement.
Valentine Elementary School, located in the small northwest Arizona community of Valentine, and Window Rock High School, situated on the Navajo Reservation, earned the prestigious national honor. The schools were selected for demonstrating exceptional progress in boosting their students’ academic performance.
“I am very proud of the work these students and educators have done to earn this honor. Each year, the Arizona Department of Education recognizes schools that demonstrate exceptional achievement and success in the Distinguished Schools program,” stated Superintendent Horne. “In addition to the students, congratulations must go to all the district leaders, teachers, administrators, and staff for this remarkable accomplishment. It reflects these schools’ commitment to maximizing instructional time and ensuring that every instructional minute counts.”
The National Title 1 Distinguished Schools award is part of the National ESEA Distinguished Schools Program, a project of the National Association of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Program Administrators.
The program publicly recognizes qualifying federally funded Title 1 schools for positive educational advances and outstanding academic achievement.
Each state may honor up to two schools per year. Schools selected for the award must meet strict criteria, including a poverty rate of at least 35% (or the state’s average poverty rate if below that threshold), high academic achievement or growth, and meeting or exceeding state-determined accountability standards.
Valentine Elementary and Window Rock High School join a select group of schools nationwide that have earned this distinction. As National Title 1 Distinguished Schools, they will receive a commemorative award package, including entry to the National ESEA Conference, a dedicated section on the ESEA Network website, and special recognition during the conference.
Select sessions at the conference will feature “Stories of Success” from Distinguished Schools, highlighting their effective strategies for improving student outcomes. Arizona’s Distinguished Schools finalists will also be recognized on the Arizona Department of Education’s Distinguished Schools website and at the state ESEA Conference.
“I congratulate these schools on their mission to provide a high-quality education that fosters academic achievement and character development, which is very important, while cultivating strong partnerships with families in the community,” said Horne. “It demonstrates the passion, the dedication, and excellence taking place in your classrooms every day.”
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Staff Reporter | Apr 21, 2026 | News
By Staff Reporter |
Since taking office last November, Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ-07) has made it clear that defending illegal aliens in her district against deportation will remain a priority.
Unlike her Republican colleagues, Grijalva treats those considered illegal aliens residing in her district as her constituents. To her, citizenship doesn’t determine who qualifies as an American.
“In my district, families span generations, borders, and cultures — but they are unequivocally American,” said Grijalva.
In her criticism of President Donald Trump’s promise to prioritize the “worst of the worst” for deportation proceedings, Grijalva has indicated the need for additional justification when deporting those whose only apparent crime was crossing the border and remaining in the country illegally.
Of the approximately 50 press releases Grijalva has issued since taking office, nearly half were issued in defense of illegal aliens and opposition to Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Of her approximately 200 posts on X, nearly one-third were posts in defense of illegal aliens as valid Arizona residents, demanding the abolition of ICE, or opposition to immigration enforcement efforts.
Of her 14 remarks in the congressional record (excluding recognitions and honorings of individuals), three were focused on opposing ICE and stricter immigration enforcement.
Grijalva has made good on her repeated promise to investigate and provide oversight of ICE detention facilities. She has conducted three visits to the Arizona Removal Operations Coordination Center at the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, Eloy Detention Center in Eloy, and Florence Federal Detention Facility in Florence.
The congresswoman has participated in at least eight protests against ICE and this administration’s immigration enforcement policies.
Last month, Grijalva offered compromise on her refusal to pass DHS funding through her introduction of two amendments. These amendments, not adopted, would have required federal agencies to obtain tribal government approval for immigration enforcement actions on tribal lands, and prohibited the federal government from creating or maintaining lists of individuals protesting at immigration enforcement activities.
The same day, Grijalva demanded the dismantling of ICE.
Grijalva’s commitment is reflected through her actions, notably the significant volume of her constituent work dedicated to illegal aliens.
The congresswoman has participated in at least three forums in her district addressing ICE activity. One forum that Grijalva co-hosted with Tucson Mayor Regina Romero focused on advising illegal aliens of their rights and best ways to avoid immigration enforcement activity.
Earlier this month, Grijalva and Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ-03) hosted one such forum to brief the community on ICE’s “mass detention centers” in Arizona. Grijalva and Ansari heard testimonies from several illegal aliens and their family members.
In February Grijalva visited and successfully advocated for the release of one Cuban illegal alien seeking asylum, Julia Benitez, who was detained at the Eloy Detention Center.
Then, Grijalva escorted Benitez to the airport. Benitez’s flight was arranged by the Phoenix-based nonprofit Helping With All My Heart (HWAMH).
The nonprofit’s website claims it has operated emergency shelters across the Valley for illegal aliens seeking asylum since 2018. However, tax filings reflect that, up until 2022, HWAMH’s mission statement only reflected work helping the homeless and those with addictions to “find a job and return to society.”
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 21, 2026 | News
By Staff Reporter |
Gov. Katie Hobbs offered a false justification for her veto of legislation to rename a freeway after conservative activist and Turning Point USA (TPUSA) founder Charlie Kirk.
After backlash over her formal justification for vetoing Senate Bill 1010, Hobbs offered another explanation: she falsely claimed that renaming part of the Loop 202 freeway after Kirk would replace the part of the freeway honoring another individual: the late congressman Ed Pastor.
Pastor, a Democrat, served in the House of Representatives for nearly 25 years, from 1991 to 2015. Pastor died in 2018. His daughter, Laura Pastor, serves on the Phoenix City Council.
Contrary to what Hobbs claimed, the bill had a specific carveout to preserve Pastor’s portion of the freeway.
“That the underlying segments of the Charlie Kirk Loop 202 would retain their names and designations and those underlying segments are the Red Mountain Freeway, the Santan Freeway, and the Congressman Ed Pastor Freeway,” stated the bill.
Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen, a Republican candidate for attorney general, sponsored the bill. Ahead of her veto, Petersen urged Hobbs to continue Arizona’s tradition of honoring legacy by awarding recognition based on impact and not politics.
“Charlie Kirk called Arizona home and built a national movement rooted in free speech, civic engagement, and American values. He inspired millions, especially young people, to get involved and speak up,” said Petersen. “If the governor vetoes this bill, she’s sending a clear message: recognition now depends on political agreement.”
Six years after founding TPUSA in 2012, Kirk moved its headquarters to Phoenix in 2018. Since 2021, the organization has held its annual conference, AmericaFest, in the city.
TPUSA’s student and lifetime membership total runs in the millions, and they have impacted millions more in America and nationally. The organization also manages thousands of college and high school chapters.
Kirk was assassinated last September while speaking at a TPUSA event at Utah Valley University.
The campaign for Republican gubernatorial candidate Andy Biggs, currently congressman, issued a press release on the matter accusing Hobbs of misleading Arizonans intentionally.
“Not only was Katie Hobbs’ decision to veto the Charlie Kirk Loop 202 bill petty and callous, she’s now shamefully misleading Arizonans about why she did it,” said Biggs campaign senior advisor Drew Sexton. “This was a dishonest, partisan act by a weak and ineffective governor who has consistently failed to rise to the moment and lead our state.”
Hobbs’ initial justification for the veto, the one she gave formally, said that lawmakers needed to avoid politicized individuals when choosing who to honor.
The veto letter was a regurgitation of her previous veto letter for another bill seeking to honor Kirk’s legacy.
The governor also vetoed legislation that would have enabled Arizona drivers to purchase a specialty license plate honoring Kirk’s memory.
“I will continue working toward solutions that bring people together, but this bill falls short of that standard by inserting politics into a function of government that should remain nonpartisan,” wrote Hobbs.
Hobbs expressed sorrow over Kirk’s assassination, but said that wasn’t enough to overshadow his political background.
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 21, 2026 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona lawmakers approved a resolution affirming Israel’s sovereignty over Judea and Samaria with House Concurrent Resolution 2047, sponsored by State Representative David Livingston (R-LD28), in a Senate vote on Monday.
The measure recognizes what lawmakers described as the historical, biblical, and legal legitimacy of Judea and Samaria and formally rejects the term “West Bank,” applied to the region during the Jordanian occupation in 1948. The resolution follows the passage of House Resolution 2002 in February, which applied the same policy and recognition, but was limited in scope to the Arizona House of Representatives.
HR 2002 took effect upon House passage in February, while HCR 2047 completed legislative approval with Monday’s Senate vote. The resolutions received bipartisan support after first clearing the House Appropriations Committee earlier this year.
“Today, as Israel honors those who gave their lives defending the nation, Arizona stands with the truth about that nation’s history,” Livingston said in a statement released after the vote. “Judea and Samaria are central to Jewish history and faith. They are not political labels to be swapped out for convenience. This resolution affirms what is true and rejects language created to deny it. I thank my colleagues for standing with Israel and supporting this effort.”
In a February statement following the House vote, Livingston observed, “The Arizona House chose accuracy over politics. Judea and Samaria are not invented terms, and they are not negotiable facts. They are central to Jewish history, faith, and national identity, and Arizona will not participate in language meant to deny that truth.”
“This vote shows that respect for history still matters,” he added. “Arizona stands with Israel, speaks plainly about the facts, and refuses to bend to political pressure.”
The resolutions also state that Judea and Samaria are important to Israel’s security and to the United States’ interests in preventing terrorist-controlled territory from emerging in the region. Livingston said Arizona lawmakers were standing against efforts to “rewrite the historical and legal record.”
Supporters of the measures argued that the term “West Bank” originated during Jordan’s control of the territory between 1948 and 1967, following the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, and does not accurately reflect the region’s Jewish history.
Israel Bachar, Israel’s Consul General to the Pacific Southwest, praised the Arizona House action and said the state had “set a gold standard” for state-level support of Israel.
In a statement, Bachar said Arizona had previously opposed the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement through House Bill 2617 in 2016 and adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism through House Bill 2675 in 2022. He also thanked Livingston, House Speaker Steve Montenegro (R-LD29), House International Trade Committee Chairman Tony Rivero (R-LD27), and other lawmakers who helped advance the resolution.
Bachar wrote, “In formally rejecting the term ‘West Bank,’ labeling it a modern political construct, and opting instead to use the indigenous terms ‘Judea and Samaria’ in all official state communications, documents and references, the Arizona House of Representatives attests: the indigeneity of Judea and Samaria and their rightful place in the history of the Holy Land and modern-day Israel are eternal and undebatable.”
Bachar also said Livingston’s visit to Judea and Samaria in late 2025 helped him understand what the consul general described as the initiative’s strategic importance to Arizona-Israel and U.S.-Israel relations.
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.
