Hispanic Coalition Moves To Drive Voter Registration In Arizona, Nevada, & Colorado

Hispanic Coalition Moves To Drive Voter Registration In Arizona, Nevada, & Colorado

By Matthew Holloway |

The Hispanic Vote Coalition is seeking to drive voter registration in Arizona, Nevada, and Colorado with a series of upcoming pastor events and a Bless the Ballot campaign according to a press release obtained by AZ Free News.

The coalition explained that the Bless the Ballot Campaign was launched this past week with Hispanic, Christian pastors in several battleground states where the group has assessed that the Hispanic vote will decide the outcome of the 2024 election.

The press release explained, “The coalition, launched in April by Hispanic-led organizations — Job Creators Network, the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, and Bienvenido — is engaging, informing, and encouraging Hispanic voters to harness their immense power by registering them and getting them out to vote for the values they believe in — faith, family, and freedom.”

Mary Thomas, Executive Director of the Hispanic Vote Coalition, said in a statement, “Hispanics and Christians can no longer sit on the sidelines, while our values are being attacked. We are engaged in a spiritual battle, and the faith and Hispanic community must not be intimidated. We must rise up and exercise our duty as Christians and Americans to vote for biblical values. By working with our network of 42,000 Christian pastors, the Hispanic Vote Coalition is helping as many Christians and Hispanics as possible fulfill their moral responsibility to vote their values and help determine the outcome of the election.”

According to a Pew Research study, approximately 31% of Latinos in Arizona are either registered or lean Republican. Gallup in 2022 showed that Democrat support among Latinos had hemorrhaged four-points on a national level from 32% to 28% since 2020. In April 2024 an APP/OnMessage poll reported by Newsweek indicated that a “seismic realignment is happening with Hispanic voters across the country,” and added, “If Hispanic voters split in either Arizona or Nevada, Trump will win the state. That’s a near statistical certainty.”

“The Hispanic and Latino evangelical community is staying silent no more,” Pastor Robert Albino, Jr., National Chapter Director of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference said. “Across the country, there is a civic awakening that is a result of dangerous, anti-Christian policies that are being pushed on our schools and businesses and posing a grave threat to economic opportunities that make our communities and families strong. The Hispanic Vote Coalition is dedicated to equipping, educating and engaging our community with one resounding message that is clear and direct: Hispanic evangelicals are not committed to the agenda of the donkey or the elephant, we will vote our Christian values and advance candidates that represent and defend the agenda of the Lamb.”

The coalition’s move is happening in the context of an increased outreach from the Arizona GOP to Latino voters which saw the AZGOP launch a Spanish-Language ad that aired during the 2024 Copa América Tournament which concluded July 15th in Miami.

The ad featured West Valley Republican State Rep. Steve Montenegro with AZGOP Chairwoman Gina Swoboda and runs at 30 seconds featuring the Arizona legislator explaining in Spanish:

“In Arizona, we face several challenges. High prices for food, gasoline, and even for a family home. High crime in our neighborhoods. Protecting family rights in deciding what is the best education for their children. We can do things better. The Arizona Republican Party is committed to protecting the American Dream. Together we can do it. We will achieve a better economy for our families here in Arizona.”

The AZGOP shared the ad in a post to X with the comment, “We’re committed to lowering the cost of living, empowering parents with education freedom, and making homeownership affordable for all Arizonans.”

As of this report, the Hispanic Vote Coalition has not announced details for the upcoming events. As they are announced, information will be available on their website.

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.

Arizona Officials React To Biden Decision To Not Seek Reelection

Arizona Officials React To Biden Decision To Not Seek Reelection

By Daniel Stefanski |

Arizona elected officials responded to Sunday’s historic announcement from President Joseph R. Biden that he would not be seeking reelection in the November General Election.

On Sunday, President Biden capped weeks of rampant criticism and speculation about the future of his candidacy for the highest office in the United States of America, announcing he would not be continuing his campaign just months before voters head to the polls to select their next Commander in Chief.

In a letter released on “X,” Biden wrote, “It has been the greatest honor of my life to serve as your President. And while it has been my intention to seek reelection, I believe it is in the best interest of my party and the country for me to stand down and to focus solely on fulfilling my duties as President for the remainder of my term.”

Less than an hour later, Biden endorsed his Vice President to carry the mantle for his party’s nomination in its upcoming convention, saying, “Today I want to offer my full support and endorsement for Kamala to be the nominee of our party this year. Democrats – it’s time to come together and beat Trump. Let’s do this.”

Governor Katie Hobbs said, “President Biden is the embodiment of a public servant. Throughout his career, he has led with integrity, selflessness, and unparalleled empathy. His decision today is a clear reflection of these qualities and his commitment to putting the American people first.”

Attorney General Kris Mayes added, “I want to think President Joe Biden for his dedicated service to our nation. From guiding us out of the pandemic, to revitalizing our economy and supporting freedom and democracy at home and abroad. I stand ready to help move America forward and am honored to support Vice President Kamala Harris as our Presidential nominee.”

Arizona Speaker of the House Ben Toma posted, “An historic moment in several ways. The Democrat machine and their allies in the media push out their standard bearer. Biden in turn endorses a much more radical progressive at a time when Americans are rejecting such policies. All against the backdrop of President Trump and a united Republican/conservative coalition whose aims include a secure border, less government interference, and a stronger natural defense.”

Former Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich told AZ Free News that, “It’s no surprise that the democrats worried about Joe Biden’s re-election chances.  The surprising part is that his announcement didn’t come sooner. Regardless of who they nominate now, how do they explain the border crisis and high prices the Democrats created?  But as far as predictions, it wouldn’t surprise me to see Mark Kelly as part of the ticket.”

Brnovich and Harris served together as state attorneys general before the California prosecutor was elevated to her federal office on the Biden presidential ticket in 2020. In April 2021, Brnovich sent a letter to Harris, inviting her to the southern border. He told Harris that this tour would “provide firsthand insight into what Arizonans, law enforcement officials, and migrants are experiencing.”

A little more than a month after this initial communication, Brnovich wrote to President Biden about Harris ignoring his invitation, requesting “that she be replaced as [his] ‘border czar.’” He said, “We are now nearly 50 days into her appointment, and Vice President Harris has shown little interest in observing what is happening along the border and has failed to articulate any plan to deal with the devastating effects of this crisis. Instead, she has traveled to other states for unrelated and less-pressing matters. Mr. President, this is a slap in the face to Arizonans who helped elect you both to the highest offices in the land.”

Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.

Schwiebert Aims To Dismantle School Choice And ESA Program If Elected To State Senate

Schwiebert Aims To Dismantle School Choice And ESA Program If Elected To State Senate

By Staff Reporter |

Another one of Arizona’s middle-of-the-road legislative districts may be represented by a liberal after November’s General Election if enough Democrats and left-leaning independents have their say.

Judy Schwiebert, a Democrat, is running for the Arizona State Senate in Legislative District 2. Schwiebert currently serves as a State Representative for the district. She announced for the seat in June 2023, saying that “we need people who will work together to focus on the toughest challenges facing Arizonans including our teacher, affordable housing, and water shortage crises.”

Schwiebert posted more than 1,600 signatures at the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office earlier this spring to qualify for the ballot.

The Democrat legislator has been endorsed by several left-leaning organizations, including National Organization for Women Arizona PAC, Arizona Education Association, Moms Demand Action, Save Our Schools Arizona, Arizona List, Jane Fonda Climate PAC, the Grand Canyon Chapter of the Sierra Club, Emily’s List, Moms Fed Up, and Human Rights Campaign PAC.

If voters were to select Schwiebert over the Republican favorite in the district’s primary, Shawnna Bolick, they would be sacrificing one of the state’s strongest school choice proponents for one of the top opponents of educational opportunities and freedom for students and families. In a recent interview with a local outlet, Schwiebert set her sights on the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program, which has given tens of thousands of Arizona families the opportunity to choose the education that best suits their children, saying, “What we cannot afford is to create an entirely separate private school system – funded by taxpayer money – that siphons almost a billion dollars a year out of the state budget. That’s what the universal ESA voucher program is doing. It is creating huge deficits. It is preventing us from investing in all kinds of things that Arizonans urgently need.”

In June 2022, Representative Schwiebert voted against the bill that expanded the ESA program in the state (HB 2853), which was the first of its kind in the country.

Schwiebert’s endorsements from Arizona Education Association and Save Our Schools Arizona also speak volumes about what she would continue to do in the state senate to undermine school choice opportunities for her constituents. In its 2023 Legislative Policy Priorities, Save Our Schools Arizona wrote that “Diverting public funds away from public schools toward private schools through ESAs and STOs only exacerbates the crisis – especially with universal ESA vouchers directing state tax dollars overwhelmingly to families who never sent their children to public schools in the first place. This negatively affects Arizona students and families, leaving the next generation unprepared for success and risking our state’s future.”

On her “X” account, Schwiebert has posted her participation with Save Our Schools Arizona at different events.

The Arizona Education Association is also an ardent opponent of the state’s many educational freedom opportunities. After Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs signed the state’s budget in 2023, which she negotiated with Republican legislative leadership, the Association wrote, “It’s extremely frustrating that this budget does not address the growth of the state’s out-of-control voucher program. The extremist majority in our state legislature has ignored the will of Arizona voters and pushed through policies that bankroll private schools for the wealthy at the cost of the public schools attended by 90% of Arizona kids…This unchecked spending is completely irresponsible and is on track to bankrupt our state. The fight to repeal vouchers during next year’s legislative session starts today.”

Earlier this year, Schwiebert bemoaned the resistance of Arizona Republican legislators in the House majority “to even consider sensible legislation to raise educator pay…”

However, during the 2023 Arizona Legislative Session, Schwiebert voted against HB 2800 in committee, which would have “mandate[d] each school district and charter school increase the base salary of all eligible teachers” – according to the overview provided by the state House of Representatives. That bill, which was sponsored by Republican State Representative Matt Gress, received a green light from the House Appropriations Committee, but failed to make it out of the full chamber for the Senate’s consideration.

Schwiebert explained her vote at the time, saying, “The bottom line for me is well, this bill is really, I think, well-intentioned, and it’s good that, I’m glad to hear that Mr. Gress is acknowledging that teachers deserve higher pay, they absolutely do. But unfortunately, there are some serious flaws in this bill that I’m concerned could leave public schools in a worse financial position than they are in now.”

Representatives from both the Arizona Education Association and Save Our Schools Arizona registered opposition to the legislation on the Arizona Legislature’s Request to Speak system.

Arizona Legislative District 2 is one of the most competitive in the state, with a 3.8% vote spread in the past nine statewide elections. It is very winnable for Republicans, however, as the party has emerged victorious in six out of those nine elections. The district covers a large portion of northcentral Phoenix.

Schwiebert is running unopposed in the July primary election for Democrats. She will face off against the winner of the district’s Republican primary contest for state senator, which features incumbent, Shawnna Bolick, and Josh Barnett.

Bolick told AZ Free News that her “general election opponent was voted in shortly after she helped collect signatures for a ballot initiative that would have levied a billion dollar tax on small businesses not only hurting these business owners, but our state’s economy.” She added, “[Schwiebert] cares more about protecting special interests than voting for common sense education policies that gives every kid a chance to thrive in the school of their choice.”

AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.

Ultraliberal House Candidate For LD4 Wants To Rein In ESA Program

Ultraliberal House Candidate For LD4 Wants To Rein In ESA Program

By Staff Reporter |

A politically middle-of-the-road legislative district may be home to one of the state’s most liberal elected officials if voters turn to Democrat representation in the November General Election.

Karen Gresham, a Democrat, is campaigning for the Arizona House of Representatives in Legislative District 4, which covers an area of northcentral Phoenix. She currently serves as a Governing Board President for the Madison Elementary School District. In addition to her run for state house, Gresham is running for re-election to this Governing Board, where she hopes to sit for another four-year term.

On March 29, Gresham announced that she and her Legislative District 4 running mates had filed their signatures to qualify for the ballot.

Gresham appears to be an unashamed liberal Democrat, who has a lengthy record of supporting Democrat organizations, causes, and candidates. On OpenSecrets.org, a Karen Gresham from Phoenix is reported to have contributed to the Democratic Party of Arizona, Save Our Schools, Planned Parenthood of Arizona, Arizona List, Hillary Clinton, Katie Hobbs, David Garcia, Fred Duval, Ruben Gallego, Adrian Fontes, Kris Mayes, Ann Kirkpatrick, Greg Stanton, LD4 Democrats, and several other Democrat interest groups, and legislative candidates and incumbents.

The Democrat candidate is endorsed by a plethora of liberal special interest and advocacy groups, including Arizona List, Moms Demand Action, Human Rights Campaign of Arizona PAC, Sierra Club, Save Our Schools Arizona, Emily’s List, and National Organization for Women Arizona PAC.

Gresham would undoubtedly give Democrats another ardent pro-abortion vote in the legislature. On June 24, she posted to her “X” account that “in the two years since the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, Arizonans reproductive freedom has been in a state of uncertainty. We MUST pass the Arizonans for Abortion Access initiative and flip the legislature to protect reproductive freedoms.”

When Gresham was endorsed by Emily’s List in May, she boasted that she has “been a champion for reproductive freedom for years and will continue to advocate for policies that ensure our rights.”

On her campaign website, Gresham portrays herself as a reasonable education advocate with her experience on the Madison Elementary School District board, writing, “I know what Arizona schools, teachers, and students need,” and that “I am deeply passionate about education and improving our schools.”

However, the truth appears to be far different. At a campaign event this summer, Gresham, when speaking about her views on education, said, “We’re funding three systems right now: charter schools, public schools and the ESA system. So, we need to consolidate those and bring the funding back under the public school umbrella because it all falls into place after that.”

In 2020, Gresham expressed her displeasure over “public charter schools receiving small business PPP,” adding that “this is not ok!”

Gresham is also supported by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC), which is raising political funds for her race to “help Dems pick up the ONE SEAT they need to flip the Arizona State Legislature from red to blue.” PCCC advocates for liberal policies such as the Green New Deal, Medicare for All, and Debt-Free College. The organization also touts its partnership with Senator Elizabeth Warren on federal legislation, and its appreciation of net neutrality, which PCCC highlights was “celebrated by the Obama administration.”

She is also endorsed by Sister District Project South Bay, which posted its support of “candidates in key state legislative races where we can build momentum at the bottom of the ticket to benefit the strategic higher-ticket Democratic opportunities in states like Pennsylvania, Arizona, North Carolina, and Nevada.” The organization states that “by helping progressive candidates win elections, we aim to …enact climate actions and environmental justice now, racial and gender equity, protect reproductive rights, and so much more.”

Legislative District 4 is one of the most competitive in the state with a 3.4% vote spread between Republicans and Democrats in the past nine statewide elections, according to the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission. Republicans have won five of those contests, compared to four for Democrats.

Gresham is running alongside former State Representative Kelli Butler in the Democrat Primary. The two will face off in November’s General Election against incumbent State Representative Matt Gress and Pamela Carter, who will both emerge from the Republican Primary.

Currently, there is only one legislator representing Legislative 4 (Gress) due to a Democrat’s resignation last month. Earlier this month, Gresham was one of three Democrats nominated to the seat (with Kelli Butler and Eric Meyer) to be considered by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors. One of those individuals will be selected by the Board to serve for the duration of the term (until early January 2025).

AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.

Groups Warn County Recorders To Remove Foreign Nationals From Voter Rolls

Groups Warn County Recorders To Remove Foreign Nationals From Voter Rolls

By Matthew Holloway |

In a letter addressed to the county recorders of Arizona, America First Legal, on behalf of the Arizona Free Enterprise Club and Strong Communities Foundation of Arizona wrote to remind the recorders of their legal obligation to scrub the voter rolls of any foreign nationals prior to the November 2024 General Election pursuant to 2022’s House Bill 2492, which was penned by the Arizona Free Enterprise Club.

Scot Mussi, President of the Arizona Free Enterprise Club, said in a press release, “With the General Election quickly approaching, Arizonans still have serious concerns about the integrity of their votes – and for good reasons.”

He added, “It is unconscionable why any county would fail to clean its voter rolls to ensure that only American citizens are able to vote in U.S. elections. We intend to follow through with aggressive litigation should any of these elections’ officials ignore our request for strict compliance with state and federal laws. Arizonans deserve no less.”

HB2492, passed in 2022 and signed into law by then-Governor Doug Ducey enhanced the legal guardrails of the Arizona voter registration process, ensuring that proof of citizenship is required to ensure only U.S. citizens are voting in our elections. The law, one of two recently upheld by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, requires that these county officials “shall record the efforts made to verify an applicant’s citizenship status.”

The law further established the consequences should they fail to do so, notably “if the county recorder or other officer in charge of elections fails to attempt to verify the citizenship status of an applicant … and the county recorder or other officer in charge of elections knowingly causes the applicant to be registered and it is later determined that the applicant was not a United States citizen at the time of registration, the county recorder or other officer in charge of elections is guilty of a class 6 felony.” According to the Arizona Free Enterprise Club, the letter provides three arguments for the county officials to consider:

  • “First, that state and federal law prohibit foreign nationals from voting or registering to vote. No foreign national is authorized to register to vote in or to vote in state or federal elections, regardless of immigration status; and that there are severe immigration-related consequences for any violations. According to the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office, there are 35,273 registered voters in the state as of April 2024, who failed to provide proof of citizenship.
  • Second, that state and federal law impose requirements for counties to conduct voter list maintenance and remove foreign nationals from voter rolls. Arizona law requires counties to perform monthly list maintenance to confirm the citizenship of federal-only voters, and the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) requires list maintenance to ensure the removal of ineligible voters. The Arizona Attorney General is also required by law to verify proof of citizenship of these voters.
  • Finally, that county recorders have access to Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to verify citizenship or immigration status of registered voters on voter rolls – and DHS has a legal obligation to provide such information. These tools, enacted by the U.S. Congress, have existed for decades, along with provisions to initiate legal action should DHS fail to comply.”

The letter singed by James Rogers of the America First Legal Foundation concludes with a request that by the close of business on July 23rd, the county recorders confirm tha they have “(1) Submitted a request to DHS for citizenship confirmation of all federal-only voters registered in your county; (2) Submitted the list of your county’s federal-only voters to the Attorney General; and (3) Posted the number of federal-only voters registered as of January 2, February 20, April 1, and July 1, 2024, on the county recorder website.”

It finally warns that should any of the county recorders fail to do so, the Arizona Free Enterprise Club and Strong Communities Foundation of Arizona may take legal action to compel them to do so.

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.

Gallego Votes Against SAVE Act, Despite His Own ‘Voting Clarity Act’

Gallego Votes Against SAVE Act, Despite His Own ‘Voting Clarity Act’

By Matthew Holloway |

Democrat Congressman Ruben Gallego (D-AZ), alongside fellow Democrat Rep. Greg Stanton, broke with the rest of the Arizona Congressional Delegation and voted against The Safeguard American Voter Eligibility Act on July 10. The move from Gallego comes as a surprise to some given his own bill, the Voting Clarity Act, which, as reported by AZ Free News, would advise illegal immigrants applying for asylum that it is illegal for them to vote under federal law.

In a press release in early July, Gallego said definitively that voting rights should not be extended to illegal immigrants. He told reporters: “That is why it is critical that those seeking to enter the U.S. are told clearly and upfront that they cannot vote in our elections if they are not citizens.”

He added, “I’m proud to introduce this commonsense bill to combat misinformation about who can, and cannot vote in our federal elections.”

His vote against the SAVE Act would seem to vindicate a statement from the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) claiming that the Voting Clarity Act was merely an attempt to “pander” to Arizona voters concerned about the border. The NRSC rebuked him saying, “Ruben Gallego has been rubber-stamping the far left’s most radical, open border policies for his entire career in Washington. His election year pandering is a slap in the face to Arizonans who are facing the brunt of the border crisis Gallego helped create.”

Indeed, a vote against the SAVE Act would appear to contradict the sentiments of Gallego’s own “Voting Clarity Act,” in that the SAVE Act only serves to reinforce the laws that Gallego would advise illegal immigrants to obey.

If signed into law, the SAVE Act would:

  • Prohibit states from accepting and processing an application to register to vote in a federal election unless the applicant presents documentary proof of U.S. citizenship.
  • Prohibit states from registering an individual to vote in a federal election unless, at the time the individual applies to register to vote, the individual provides documentary proof of U.S. citizenship; and
  • Require states to establish an alternative process under which an applicant may submit other evidence to demonstrate U.S. citizenship.

Each state must take affirmative steps on an ongoing basis to ensure that only U.S. citizens are registered to vote, which shall include establishing a program to identify individuals who are not U.S. citizens using information supplied by specified sources.

The text of both bills are complimentary in most respects, with Gallego’s bill stating unequivocally, “The Secretary of Homeland Security shall provide information to each alien applying for asylum under this section on the restrictions on voting and the penalties for voting unlawfully under Federal law, including under section 611 of title 18, United States Code, at the time of such application. Information under this paragraph shall be provided in a form and language that the alien can understand.’’.

In a mailer obtained by Cactus Politics, Republican Senate Candidate Kari Lake’s campaign reportedly responded to Gallego’s vote against the SAVE Act that stated, “On Wednesday, Ruben Gallego voted AGAINST the SAVE Act, which would prevent illegal immigrants and non-U.S. citizens from voting in our elections and establish penalties for intentionally registering non-citizens to vote. Notably, Arizona currently tells voters that if their citizenship cannot be confirmed, they will receive a federal-only ballot, allowing them to vote in Presidential, U.S. Senate, and U.S. House Elections.”

Lake is quoted as saying, “Ruben Gallego helped Joe Biden open our border and allowed millions of illegal aliens into America. Then, today, to add insult to injury, Ruben spat in the face of every law-abiding American when he voted to allow illegal immigrants to vote in our elections. Our elections are sacred. We will NOT allow Biden and Gallego to water down our vote and disenfranchise American citizens.  Ruben Gallego is the most radical member of Congress, and this November, Arizona will reject him and his owner, Joe Biden.”

During her remarks at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Lake noted Gallego’s vote against the SAVE Act saying, “Americans are waking up to the truth about the disastrous Democrat policies pushed by Joe Biden and his favorite Congressman, my opponent Ruben Gallego. These guys, they are full, they’re full of bad ideas. Just last week Ruben Gallego voted to let the millions of people who poured into our country illegally cast a ballot in this upcoming election. Gallego and the Democrats have handed over control of my state, Arizona’s, border to the drug cartels and because of them, criminals and deadly drugs are pouring in and our children are dying. Our children are getting their hands on these drugs and dying.”

Gallego campaign spokeswoman Hannah Goss responded to Lake’s remarks in a statement published by the Arizona Mirror saying, “Kari Lake stood on stage and proved to everyone that she will say anything to get power — including lie to Arizonans to distract from her dangerous plan to ban abortion without exceptions for rape or incest.” Notably, the statement from Gallego’s spokeswoman failed to address the Congressman’s contradictory vote against the SAVE Act.

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.