A recent editorial from The Daily Kos’ Joan McCarter, citing the past talking points of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has declared confidently that “The GOP has a ‘candidate quality’ Senate problem—again.” Curiously, among three other Republican Senate candidates, McCarter included Arizona’s Kari Lake among the supposedly problematic candidates. However, recent polling doesn’t appear to bear out the assessment.
According to polling from Florida Atlantic University PolCom Lab/Mainstreet Research, taken Sunday, May 19th to Tuesday, May 21st, 2024. the race for the Seat of Independent former Democrat Senator Kyrsten Sinema is a highly competitive one with Congressman Ruben Gallego (D-AZ-03) leading Kari Lake by a mere 6.6 points in a poll that was weighted in favor of 2020 Joe Biden voters.
Polling from Emerson showed Gallego’s diminishing lead has dropped to two points, statistically putting them neck and neck. Alex Nicoll, Lake’s campaign spokesperson, told Breitbart, “Ruben Gallego can try to distance himself from Biden all he wants, but he won’t be able to run from his progressive record. Ruben has voted with Joe Biden 100% of the time, even more than radicals like AOC. Arizonans know it, and they know that Biden-Gallego policies are responsible for the pain they feel at home.”
I am running against a radical leftist named @RubenGallego
While I'm running to represent Arizonans, Ruben is running from his record
He votes with Biden 100% of the time & has enabled the decline we've seen under the Biden Administration, including allowing MILLIONS of… pic.twitter.com/TWHONNnh2l
In a memo released Tuesday the Lake campaign suggested that undecided voters, many of whom are polling toward former President Donald Trump, could break for Lake.
“Among the all-important undecided voters, Joe Biden has a 74% disapproval rating and Gallego only has a 35% unfavorable rating among those voters. Once voters know that Gallego has been a rubber stamp for Biden, those undecided voters will coalesce behind Kari Lake. Not to mention, the generic Republican leads in the ballot, 48%-45% and among the undecided they prefer the Republican, 55%/36%. These undecided voters are more Republican and they vote for Donald Trump, 55%/26% which means the undecideds should be significantly more inclined to vote for Kari Lake.”
Reporting from The Hill, dated May 23rd citing a new Republican Primary Poll from Noble Predictive Insights (NPI) pitting Lake against Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, indicated a narrowing race as well. The poll showed 46% of polled Arizona Republicans support Lake with 21 percent supporting Lamb with a quarter of voters still undecided.
NPI founder Mike Noble said in a statement, “Something we don’t typically see is an increase in undecided voters this close to primary election day. While Lake remains the frontrunner, her diminishing lead and the growing number of undecided voters indicate a volatile race.”
Compared to the unopposed run of Rep. Gallego who was for all intents beknighted by the Arizona Democratic Party, the robust Republican primary could indeed be seen as a far healthier process enabling GOP voters to hash out the best possible candidate rather than settling for a default candidate.
The Daily Kos, along with many other outlets have also pointed to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell for evidence of this narrative noting that McConnell “left Arizona off his list of places where the party is certain to play,” withholding ad purchases in the state according to Politico. But reporting from CNN paints a different picture of McConnell, for all his disagreements with former President Donald Trump and Lake, as taking a ‘watch and wait’ stance.
“We don’t have an ideological litmus test,” McConnell said. “We want to win in November.”
McConnell, speaking on behalf of the National Republican Senatorial Committee told the outlet, “We’ll be involved in any primary where that seems to be necessary to get a high-quality candidate, and we’ll be involved in every general election where we have a legitimate shot of winning – regardless of the philosophy of the nominee.”
As CNN noted, he told interviewers there’s a “high likelihood” that GOP leaders would wait and see who emerges victorious from the primary before deciding whether or not to engage in funding the race. McConnell was firm in his refusal to discuss support for Lake or any other candidate.
However, he did add, “I didn’t mention Wisconsin; I think clearly you’d have to have an outstanding candidate. And I think there are some other places where with the right candidate, we might be able to compete – in Nevada, Arizona.”
So in short: in Arizona anyway, the notion that the Republican party has a ‘Candidate Problem’ as McConnell infamously claimed in 2022, doesn’t appear to be the case, even to him. The primary will take place on July 30, 2024, when Arizona Republicans will decide to back Kari Lake or Sheriff Lamb against Ruben Gallego.
Fears of terrorists and other dangerous individuals crossing the border are driving Arizona legislative Republicans to take action on the southern border crisis.
Over the weekend, Senator David Gowan issued a statement over the border crisis and his Caucus’ efforts to send a border-related measure to Arizona voters for the November General Election. He specifically focused on the ongoing apprehensions of suspected terrorists at the border, writing, “Democrats touting dangerous and misleading rhetoric about the Secure the Border Act, as well as the border crisis as a whole, is reckless for many reasons. They would like citizens to believe the only people entering our country are innocent asylum seekers. However, the data coming from federal agencies, such as the FBI and Customs and Border Protection (CBP), as well as our state law enforcement, consistently tells us otherwise. These agencies have been warning us of the increase in terrorists entering our country illegally and the threat they pose to the safety of America.”
The southern Arizona Republican senator added, “According to the most recent federal data, the number of suspected terrorists who’ve entered our country illegally has spiked over 2,500% during the Biden Administration. Border Patrol agents have apprehended nearly 400 illegal aliens between fiscal years 2021 and 2024 whose names appeared on the terror watch list. This includes Afghan, Pakistani, and Chinese nationals, among many others. Our country is in danger, and we are in dire need of securing our border!”
Earlier this month, the Arizona Senate Republicans Caucus’ “X” account shared a video with statements from Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb and National Border Patrol Council Vice President Art Del Cueto, highlighting the dangers of the increasing number of ‘gotaways’ who have eluded law enforcement at the border. Many of these individuals are entering the United States through the Tucson Sector of the border, which covers a vast stretch of southern Arizona.
🚨These numbers should alarm every American!
Newly released data shows U.S. Customs and Border Protection recorded 1.6 million known gotaways from 2021-2023 under the Biden Administration. The majority of gotaways are entering our country through Arizona's border.
A recent Freedom of Information Act request from Fox News revealed that “between FY 2010 and FY 2020 inclusive, there were over 1.4 million gotaways, ranging from a low of 86,226 in FY 2011 to a high of 171,663 in FY 2013.”
There have been at least 1.8 million ‘gotaways’ at the border in almost four years of the Biden administration (FY 21-24).
Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen, who successfully ushered the Secure the Border Act through his chamber this past week, released a statement on the urgent need for voters to be able to consider this measure and state Democrats’ opposition to commonsense border solutions to protect communities. Petersen said, “The Governor’s reckless disregard for the safety and well-being of our citizens during this open border crisis our state is currently enduring at the hands of Joe Biden has left us no other option than to send the Secure the Border Act to the ballot. She’s blocked numerous attempts by Republican lawmakers to pass legislation addressing this issue, so we want to empower Arizonans to take matters into their own hands to protect their communities and support our law enforcement.”
The Republican Senate President added, “I’m pleased to report this critical measure, also known as HCR 2060, passed the Senate this week and now heads to the House for a final vote before appearing on the November ballot. Sadly, all Senate Democrats voted against the measure. Illegal immigration cost Arizona taxpayers more than $3 billion dollars last year. We’re confident we can offset future losses, reduce crime, and save lives with HCR 2060.”
Now that HCR 2060 has been passed by the Arizona Senate, it will now be considered by the Arizona House of Representatives. This chamber, which is led by Speaker Ben Toma, is expected to approve of the measure, which would send it to state voters for the November General Election.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
GOP Senate candidates Kari Lake and Mark Lamb traded barbs this week over their views of one another’s handling of the 2022 election.
Lake and Lamb confronted one another during an online forum hosted by the Association of Mature American Citizens (AMAC) Action last week. The panel was not meant as a debate — Lake recently refused to do a formal debate with her primary opponent — but it ultimately turned into one.
Lamb accused Lake of “surrendering to the establishment,” and that her lack of public service experience made her unsuitable for office.
“It’s easy to talk about it if you’ve never served, it’s another thing to actually do it,” said Lamb. “I’ve actually had to make hard decisions. I’ve been in there when we’ve had to stand up against COVID and say we’re not doing the lockdowns, we’re not doing the mask mandates, we’re not doing the vaccines.”
Lake accused Lamb of cowardice for not using his law enforcement authority to pressure a change of outcome in the 2022 election, where she lost her gubernatorial race to Governor Katie Hobbs. Lake further claimed that law enforcement leaders submitted proof of election fraud to Lamb.
“I took every hit fighting for security in our elections. Sheriffs had the ability to fight, and the sheriff in Pinal County cowered, and he’s a total coward when it comes to election integrity,” said Lake.
Lamb speculated that Lake began calling him names because his assessment of her “touched a nerve.” The sheriff said that Lake was telling lies about his handling of mismanaged elections, clarifying that Pinal County fired those responsible for the underprinting of ballots, and established cameras and citizen monitors of drop boxes.
“Yes, we didn’t print enough ballots [in 2022] in Pinal County, and guess who didn’t complain about it because she won the primary? Kari didn’t. It didn’t matter to her until the general election,” said Lamb.
Lamb said that no one has been able to provide him with evidence of widespread fraud, but that he doubted President Joe Biden received as many votes as reported.
“I live in a world of evidence, what you can prove in court beyond a reasonable doubt,” said Lamb. “Any one of these people, including Kari, could’ve brought me the evidence that was actionable for me in court to do something about it.”
In a press release responding to Lake’s attacks, Lamb said Lake was a “bully” with a bold disrespect for the rule of law. Lamb disputed that Lake or any others presented to him any evidence indicating widespread material of fraud.
“Kari’s use of the word ‘coward’ is a slap in the face to every man and woman that upholds our laws and wears a badge and uniform,” said Lamb. “Her blatant disregard for the rule of law is not what Arizonans would expect someone running for the United States Senate to ever say, especially during what was supposed to be a civilized political discussion.”
Lamb added that Lake was lashing out at others for losing the election.
“I took an oath of office to support and defend the U.S. Constitution and uphold law and justice,” said Lamb. “I have to deal with facts, not opinions or feelings. I get it. Kari Lake is upset she lost her election. It’s time she takes some personal responsibility for losing an election she was supposed to win.”
The most recent polls show Lake trailing Democratic congressman Ruben Gallego in the race. Former President Donald Trump endorsed Lake.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
Many Arizona government officials marked the solemn Memorial Day holiday.
Senator Sonny Borrelli said, “As we head into the Memorial Day weekend, I know many of you might be marking the occasion with barbecues, parties, trips to the lake, and maybe even parades. During this time, I hope you’ll also take a moment to reflect on brave men and women who’ve selflessly served our country and paid the ultimate price so that we can have the freedoms we enjoy today. I served as a Gunnery Sergeant with the U.S. Marines, and l’ve lost a number of brothers and sisters in the military, so this is a somber time for me. We always knew the dangers we would be facing, but we did the job anyways because we love our country.
Borrelli added, “Across the street from the Arizona Capitol at Wesley Bolin Plaza, you’ll find a variety of memorials honoring those who’ve served at Pearl Harbor, in Vietnam, in World Wars 1 and II, the Korean War, and Desert Storm. I encourage you to make a visit sometime. Freedom isn’t free. God bless the fallen.”
The Arizona House Democrats Caucus “X” account shared, “Today, we honor and remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Don’t forget to reflect and appreciate what Memorial Day is truly for.”
— Arizona House Democrats (@AZHouseDems) May 27, 2024
Governor Katie Hobbs posted a video to pay tribute to the solemn holiday, writing, “On Memorial Day, we come together to memorialize the brave men and women who laid down their lives for us. Today, I encourage every Arizonan to reflect on their lives and think about how they give back to their communities in their honor.”
On Memorial Day, we come together to memorialize the brave men and women who laid down their lives for us.
Today, I encourage every Arizonan to reflect on their lives and think about how they give back to their communities in their honor. pic.twitter.com/UxZvuGnDmp
— Governor Katie Hobbs (@GovernorHobbs) May 27, 2024
The “X” account for the Office of the Arizona State Treasurer noted, “Arizona Treasurer Kimberly Yee honors and recognizes the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.”
Arizona Treasurer Kimberly Yee honors and recognizes the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. #MemorialDaypic.twitter.com/8NVDrCGTP4
— Office of the Arizona State Treasurer (@AZTreasury) May 27, 2024
The Arizona Senate Republicans Caucus’ “X” account said, “Freedom comes at a high cost, and we must continually protect it as Americans. Thank you to the heroes who sacrificed it all for our country.”
Freedom comes at a high cost, and we must continually protect it as Americans.
Attorney General Kris Mayes added, “Today we honor & mourn the brave souls who gave their lives defending our country – the ultimate sacrifice. May we reflect on what they fought for, today and every day.”
Today we honor & mourn the brave souls who gave their lives defending our country — the ultimate sacrifice. May we reflect on what they fought for, today and every day. 🇺🇸#MemorialDaypic.twitter.com/TErWFzkmmG
— AZ Attorney General Kris Mayes (@AZAGMayes) May 27, 2024
House Speaker Ben Toma stated, “Today, we honor and remember the brave Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Let us keep them in our hearts and minds this Memorial Day. God bless the departed, their families, and those currently serving protecting our great country.”
Today, we honor and remember the brave Americans who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. Let us keep them in our hearts and minds this #MemorialDay. God bless the departed, their families, and those currently serving protecting our great country.
Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego said, “On this Memorial Day, we honor the fallen heroes who gave their lives for our nation. We will always remember their courage and dedication.”
On this #MemorialDay, we honor the fallen heroes who gave their lives for our nation. We will always remember their courage and dedication. pic.twitter.com/6I5JZVv5ks
The Maricopa County Attorney’s Office shared a video from County Attorney Rachel Mitchell, writing, “On Memorial Day, we reflect on the bravery of those who gave everything for our freedom. We think of their family and friends who’ve lost so much so our communities may thrive in peace. Today, we honor and remember them.”
On Memorial Day, we reflect on the bravery of those who gave everything for our freedom. We think of their family and friends who’ve lost so much so our communities may thrive in peace. Today, we honor and remember them. #HonorTheFallenpic.twitter.com/BTKwM5nQVe
— Maricopa County Attorney's Office (@marcoattorney) May 27, 2024
Peoria Mayor Jason Beck posted, “On this Memorial Day we remember and honor the brave men and women who lost their lives defending this great country. Let us never forget their courageous sacrifices in the pursuit of freedom.”
On this Memorial Day we remember and honor the brave men and women who lost their lives defending this great country. Let us never forget their courageous sacrifices in the pursuit of freedom. pic.twitter.com/1QICuUbumY
Congressman Raúl Grijalva (D-AZ-07), long known for both his advocacy of ‘Green New Deal’-style energy policy and for ignoring if not voting against Arizona’s energy interests, saw fit to intervene on behalf of the Puerto Rican government and solar lobbyists on May 17th.
In a letter to the Financial Oversight and Management Board (FOMB) for Puerto Rico, Grijalva along with co-signers such as Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY-14) and Rashida Tlaib (D-MI-13), called upon the board to reverse a decision directing the Governor and Legislature of Puerto Rico to “repeal or amend the recently enacted Puerto Rico Law 10-2024,” which would require the continuation of a ‘net metering’ study for solar customers, subsidizing rooftop solar until at least 2031.
🚨 @RepRaulGrijalva & @RepJenniffer led a bicameral letter w/ 21 Members of Congress urging Puerto Rico's Financial Oversight & Management Board to protect net metering.
Net metering + rooftop solar will help meet PR’s clean energy goals & reduce costs. https://t.co/ZZ39E96BKi
— Natural Resources Democrats (@NRDems) May 17, 2024
The lawmakers wrote, “Making rooftop solar and battery storage systems less affordable could hurt the lowest-income people most. Should net metering be eliminated or weakened, the result would be a growing divide between those stuck with exorbitant energy prices from imported fossil fuels and those who can afford their own dependable solar and battery system. Slowing the adoption of rooftop solar and batteries would mean missed opportunities to leverage the private market to protect those most vulnerable to another hurricane’s impacts.”
The ‘net metering,’ program from the Puerto Rico Energy Bureau (PREB) required the bankrupt Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA), a government-owned monopoly, to keep an existing study scheduled to sunset in place which pays out solar customers for the energy returned to the grid.
In an April 10th blog post, the board explained, “Act 10 suspends this schedule, requiring PREB to redo its net metering and energy distribution study – but not until January 2030. Act 10 further specifies that PREB may not change the current net metering structure until the study is completed, and then provides that any changes can only take effect 12 months after PREB decides to make any such changes. That means, Act 10 mandates that the current net metering structure remain in place until at least 2031, and likely much longer.”
The FOMB is mandated to address the fiscal disaster that has afflicted the territorial government of Puerto Rico since 2014 and was badly exacerbated by Hurricane Maria in 2017. In a statement released in February the board laid out a comprehensive plan to help PREPA recover from bankruptcy. The board was created under the Puerto Rico Oversight, Management, and Economic Stability Act of 2016 or PROMESA and enacted the directive “to reduce more than $10 billion of total asserted claims against the Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (PREPA).” Overall, FOMB’s plan is set to reduce principal and interest payments to Puerto Rico’s creditors “from about $20 billion under their asserted claim, to about $5 billion.”
The board warned in a statement. “Puerto Rico’s energy system cannot fully improve with PREPA in bankruptcy. The Plan provides a path to end PREPA’s bankruptcy.”
Prior to his announcement of an undisclosed cancer diagnosis in early April, Grijalva, 76, had not voted on an energy bill since February 15 when he voted against HR 7176: the Unlocking our Domestic LNG Potential Act of 2024.
His unfortunate diagnosis notwithstanding, throughout his long history in the House dating back to 2003, Grijalva has consistently voted against key legislation aimed at improving the energy industry of Arizona and the lives of its residents. Even prior to floor voting, Grijalva holds considerable sway over energy policy owing to his seat as Ranking Member of the powerful House Committee on Natural Resources as well as his seat on the Energy and Mineral Resource sub-committee.
Arizona’s seventh congressional district, represented by Grijalva covers approximately 90% of Arizona’s border with Mexico and encompasses the tribal land of the Tohono O’odham tribe and the service area of the Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Facility, areas heavily impacted by these measures. In 2024, major Arizona utility APS is slated to increase electricity rates by 8%, an average of about $10.50 per month according to 12News. According to AAA, the current average price for gasoline in Arizona is about $3.87 compared to an average of $2.44 in 2020 per KTAR.
A speaker at Arizona State University’s George Floyd-themed art exhibit claimed Floyd died for “each and every last one of us.”
“Had not George Floyd died, we wouldn’t be here,” said Eliza Wesley, Minneapolis resident and “gatekeeper” of the Square. “God chose him. He was a chosen vessel.”
Wesley said she “almost had an emotional breakdown” on her way to the exhibit in response to Floyd’s death, the four year anniversary of which is on May 25.
The art exhibit, titled “Twin Flames: The George Floyd Uprising from Minneapolis to Phoenix,” features Black Lives Matter 2020 protest posters and an image of Floyd wearing a crown of thorns.
One of the displays draws parallels to religious figures, with George Floyd wearing a crown of thorns. Why does the left continue to lift up and idolize a man we know was a convicted criminal?@TPUSApic.twitter.com/Qfr0cZVgnl
The exhibit opened Feb. 3 and will remain at the ASU Art Museum until July 28. According to the website, the exhibit showcases “the thousands of offerings laid by mourners and protesters at George Floyd Square.”
“This exhibition recognizes that creative and artistic expressions of pain and hope exist beyond the walls of museums, in all forms and a myriad of cultural expressions, and that George Floyd Square is a public space that can teach us how to mobilize as we mourn victims of police violence and imagine a more just world,” ASU’s description of the exhibition reads.
Frontlines Turning Point USA shared the video of Wesley’s speech on X. The exhibit “features shocking imagery and narratives that elevate Floyd to a near-mythical status,” Frontlines wrote.
EXCLUSIVE: At the opening of a George Floyd-themed art exhibit at ASU, the “Gatekeeper of George Floyd Square” in Minneapolis makes a bold claim: George Floyd died for “each and every last one of us.”
