The Arizona Republican Party is questioning why Attorney General Kris Mayes hasn’t taken action against her fellow Democrat, Gov. Katie Hobbs, over an alleged pay-to-play arrangement.
Mayes is investigating Hobbs over allegations that she awarded a unique rate increase by the Department of Children Services (DCS) to Sunshine Residential Homes, a group home operator, following sizable donations to her gubernatorial campaign and the Arizona Democratic Party. Mayes asked to interview Hobbs this week, but it appears the governor may decline that invitation.
Republican support for Mayes investigating Hobbs has been a whiplash; certain lawmakers and state leaders contended it was best for Mayes to recuse herself given their close party ties.
Hobbs spokesman Christian Slater told the Arizona Republic that Hobbs declined to comment on her decision to sit for an interview. Slater said the lack of evidence proving Hobbs’ knowledge of the rate increase meant there was no proof of her guilt.
Sunshine Residential Homes donated more than $400,000 to Hobbs and the Arizona Democratic Party. After Hobbs took office, DCS awarded the operator a 30% rate increase. Officials say the details of DCS actions surrounding the rate increase were suspicious: no other group homes received rate increases; other group homes’ rate averages fell below Sunshine Residential Homes; and DCS ended state contracts with 16 group homes.
In a new statement released on Wednesday, the Arizona Republican Party called on Mayes to keep up the pressure on Hobbs by putting aside any political favoritism. The party also urged the governor to cooperate with investigators.
The party’s chairman, Sergio Arellano, said Hobbs’ actions were consistent with corruption.
“Governor Hobbs has spent years lecturing Arizonans about ethics while her own administration was allegedly steering millions in taxpayer dollars to a generous donor,” said Arellano. “The fact that her campaign manager was dining with the contractor’s CEO as the deal was finalized only adds to the stench of a pay-to-play scheme that puts special interests ahead of Arizona’s most vulnerable children in state care. Hobbs owes the people of Arizona full transparency and cooperation with this criminal probe, not more stonewalling and self-serving denials.”
The Republican-led Arizona House launched an independent investigation into the pay-to-play allegations earlier this year. They are working with Mayes and Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell on the investigation; Mayes and Mitchell began investigating nearly two years ago.
The results of the legislature’s investigation will go to the advisory team created in the aftermath of 2024 investigative reporting that outlined the alleged pay-to-play scheme. The advisory team will coordinate the parallel investigations from Mitchell and Mayes to work out a conclusion on the matter.
Hobbs derided the legislative investigation in a statement to The Center Square as the “same old partisan games” by “extremist legislators” spreading misinformation. The governor has repeatedly denied any involvement with the DCS decision.
“I’m looking forward to the conclusion of this investigation which I know will show what reporting has confirmed that I was not involved in the decision and that DCS acted in the best interest of Arizona’s foster children,” said Hobbs in a Tuesday statement.
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Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne is pleading with the state legislature to approve an additional $40 million for school safety.
Horne said in a Monday press release that those proposed millions are just the minimum that hardly reflects the outsized need on Arizona’s campuses for security.
Superintendent Horne said the latest deadline for school safety grant requests yielded a demand of over 800 counselors or social workers and over 700 officers. He said the funding needed to fulfill the cost of these requests would amount to nearly $187 million.
Under Horne’s administration, the number of armed officers under the School Safety Program (SSP) grew from just over 100 to nearly 500—nearly five times the size in just three years. SSP determines the distribution of resources through competitive, state-funded grants lasting three-year cycles.
Horne said that the best model for the SSP is to have officers present to work alongside the certified mental health counselors. There are nearly 600 counselors and social workers that work alongside the nearly 500 armed officers at over 1,100 locations statewide.
There are over 1,500 district public schools and over 500 public charter schools in the state. Over 1 million students attend these schools, and nearly 60,700 educators that teach in them.
The average SSO salary according to the fiscal year 2027 FAQ runs at about $157,000.
“If the funding isn’t there to provide for them, and then a tragedy happens in one of those schools, that would be a terrible occurrence,” said Horne. “Any school that asks for a police officer should be able to get one to defend the students, to defend the staff and the teachers.”
Superintendent Horne cited the recent near-tragedy that occurred in Oklahoma earlier this month. An unarmed high school principal, Kirk Moore, confronted and stopped an adult former student, Victor Lee Hawkins, who was attempting to shoot up the school. Moore survived the encounter with a gunshot wound to the leg; no fatalities occurred.
He also cited the 2012 tragedy out of New England, where another principal made a similar attempt to stop a gunman and lost her life in the infamous Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. An elementary school principal, Dawn Hochsprung, was shot and killed by gunman Adam Lanza as she confronted him.
Both cases, Horne says, justified his argument that every Arizona school requires an armed officer to prevent injuries or deaths.
“My biggest nightmare is that an armed maniac gets onto a school campus and kills people. Just a few weeks ago, a heroic principal in Oklahoma subdued an armed gunman at a school and was wounded in the process. While we praise his actions, having unarmed teachers be the first line of defense is not acceptable,” said Horne.
Horne said that current law will ensure those 500 armed officers remain funded, but that no new funding will mean no additional officers and, further, will mean a loss of funding for the nearly 600 counselors and social workers.
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A new national poll conducted by Pulse Decision Science reveals that pharmaceutical reform represents a powerful and politically advantageous issue for Republican candidates heading into this election cycle.
The data shows the issue effectively consolidates support within the GOP base during primaries while delivering meaningful gains among independent and battleground voters in general elections.
The poll highlights near-universal frustration with the high costs of prescription drugs, creating a rare opportunity for Republicans to claim ownership of an issue that resonates deeply across demographic and partisan lines.
According to the survey, 84% of voters report using prescription medication, underscoring how broadly the issue affects American households. Cost pressures are forcing significant behavioral changes, with 55% of respondents admitting they have skipped doses, turned to over-the-counter alternatives, or ignored doctor recommendations due to high prices.
These coping behaviors are particularly common among younger women, lower-education voters, and independents/moderates.
Voters across the political spectrum overwhelmingly attribute rising drug prices to pharmaceutical industry practices rather than investments in innovation. Major factors cited include:
Increasing profits: 81%
Rising executive compensation: 76%
Unethical business practices: 70%
By contrast, only 52% of voters view research and development costs as a major driver of prices—the weakest factor identified by a wide margin.
This perception creates fertile ground for messaging focused on corporate greed, price gouging, and unfair practices, which the poll indicates resonates strongly even with the Republican base.
When voters are presented with a candidate who supports specific, targeted pharmaceutical reforms—including Most Favorable Nation (MFN) pricing, patent reform, and measures to increase competition—that candidate sees a net +5-point gain in overall support.
Notable gains were recorded among key subgroups:
Hispanics: +10 points
High-propensity general election voters (3 of 4 voting history): +9 points
Women 55 and older: +7 points
Voters in lean Democratic Congressional districts: +7 points
High school education or less: +7 points
Republicans: +6 points
Conservatives: +6 points
Bachelor’s degree holders: +6 points
These shifts demonstrate that pharmaceutical reform serves both a base-unifying issue and a tool for expanding appeal in competitive general election environments.
The poll further shows that framing pharmaceutical reform through an “America First” lens is especially powerful in Republican primaries. Fully 89% of GOP primary voters indicated they are more likely to support a candidate who prioritizes codifying President Trump’s Most Favorable Nation Executive Order.
When paired with messaging that emphasizes America-First pricing, the issue delivers strong consolidation within the Republican coalition. Key subgroup gains in the primary context include:
Males 18-34: +13 points
Voters in lean Republican Congressional districts: +11 points
Mid-turnout voters (2 of 4 voting history): +10 points
Self-described “Not So Strong” Republicans: +10 points
The findings arrive as the Trump administration continues to focus on delivering tangible results on pharmaceutical pricing. On April 23, 2026, President Trump announced the 17th agreement with a major pharmaceutical manufacturer—this time with Regeneron—bringing MFN-style pricing to American patients.
The deal provides every State Medicaid program access to MFN prices on Regeneron products, delivering hundreds of millions in savings. It covers 86% of the branded drug market across 17 leading manufacturers and includes commitments to end foreign freeloading on American innovation.
Key provisions include significant price reductions, such as lowering the price of Regeneron’s cholesterol medication, Praluent, from $537 to $225 when purchased through TrumpRx.
Additionally, Regeneron’s new gene therapy for a rare form of genetic deafness, Otarmeni, will be provided at no cost to American families. The company also committed to a $27 billion investment in U.S. research, development, and manufacturing by 2029, contributing to a total of $448 billion in pharmaceutical investments secured under President Trump in just 15 months.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
On Monday, House Republicans put forth what they called a balanced budget of $17.9 billion.
By Tuesday, Gov. Katie Hobbs said the proposal was all but dead.
The leaders of both chambers characterized their budget as uniquely reflective of total conformity with federal tax law — no other states adopted the entire slate of tax cuts — which Hobbs doubted could be accomplished. They estimated tax relief would amount to $1.5 billion over the next three years, and Republicans claim working families would feel the most benefit from the cuts.
“Politics are easy; governing is harder. We chose governing,” said Sen. President Warren Petersen (R-LD14). “We’re moving a budget that cuts taxes, funds core services, shrinks government, includes priorities both sides have raised, and gives Arizona a full path to finish the session.”
As budget talks have failed to progress in a meaningful way, the legislature stagnates under the weight of a bill moratorium.
In a statement issued Tuesday, Hobbs did acknowledge Republicans for working with her to adopt certain components of her preferred budget like middle class tax cuts and reductions to childcare cost. However, she disputed Republican leaders on their claims of fiscal responsibility.
She accused Republicans of siding with “billionaires, data centers, and special interests” as well as “kicking Arizonans off their healthcare and taking food off their tables.” The governor said she won’t engage in negotiations further unless they adopt her preferred budget.
Contentious aspects of the Republican-proposed budget included cuts to state agency budgets, and SNAP and Medicaid program funding.
“Until they also engage in good-faith negotiations rather than attempting to force through a partisan budget, I will be closely monitoring the situation in the coming days to determine whether the legislative majority is willing to negotiate in good-faith bipartisan negotiations and have the bill moratorium lifted,” said Hobbs.
NEW: @GovernorHobbs reacts to the newly released Republican budget: “Just like in Washington, they’re paying for tax breaks for billionaires, data centers and special interests by kicking Arizonans off their healthcare and taking food off their tables.” pic.twitter.com/8UlFIqa5S1
Hobbs also discussed the budget talks during a press conference for a separate topic on Tuesday, Reentry 2030. Hobbs tentatively praised Republicans for some concessions on their part, but generally was critical of them for balking at her $18.7 billion spending plan. A key part of that plan Hobbs hopes to win through in budget talks concerns draining the public land trust to boost K-12 education funding.
“I’m glad to see the Republicans have shown their budget proposal, there’s some things I’m encouraged about in their proposal, but across-the-board agency cuts is not one of them,” said Hobbs. “I’m hopeful that we can get back to the table and start having real conversations about a budget that works for Arizona.”
Legislative leaders have said Hobbs’ proposal is a nonstarter because the Public Land Trust was intended for long-term funding. Hobbs’ plan intends to renew funding through the yet-approved Proposition 123. Senate President Petersen said Hobbs’ plan wasn’t feasible and would push the state $1.5 million further into debt.
“We’re spending about $800 million less than what the governor has proposed, and the governor has proposed to raise taxes,” said House Speaker Montenegro (R-LD29) in an interview with Fox News.
“[H]er math doesn’t work,” said Petersen.
Hobbs has vetoed tax conformity efforts and walked away from budget negotiations multiple times since the start of the year.
The legislature began hearing budget bills on Tuesday during a joint hearing of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees.
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U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers seized dozens of weapons and military-style components from a suspected weapons smuggler with three children in her vehicle at the Nogales, Arizona, Port of Entry, according to federal officials.
The seizure occurred when CBP officers conducting outbound enforcement operations referred a vehicle for secondary inspection before it exited the United States. During that inspection, officers discovered a large cache of weapons and firearm parts concealed inside the vehicle in a hidden compartment.
According to a CBP press release, the seizure included “a rocket-propelled grenade launcher tube, four rifles, an Avtomat Kalashnikova–or AK–pistol, 16 AK rifles, 24 rifle magazines, 16 rifle stocks, 20 pistol grips.”
KEEPING OUR HOMELAND SAFE.
On Sunday, @CBP officers at the Area Port of Nogales seized dozens of weapons from a car attempting to cross the border — including a ROCKET-PROPELLED GRENADE.
The other weapons included four rifles, an AK-style pistol, 16 AK rifles, 24 rifle…
“Under the powerful leadership of President Donald J. Trump and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, our frontline CBP officers utilized an effective combination of inspection experience and technology to find these weapons and prevent them from falling into the hands of the cartels,” CBP’s Acting Deputy Commissioner Ron Vitiello said in a statement. “CBP prevented these dangerous weapons from wreaking havoc on the good people of Mexico.”
CBP officials said a 41-year-old U.S. citizen woman driving the vehicle was arrested and charged with weapons smuggling under 18 U.S.C. 554 – Smuggling goods from the United States. Three children who were also inside the vehicle at the time of the stop were released to a family member.
Our CBP Officers discovered all of these weapons (including an RPG!) that were being smuggled into Mexico.
A combination of inspection experience and technology prevented these weapons from falling into the hands of the cartels.
U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona Timothy Courchaine described the case in connection with Mexican drug cartels, stating, “President Trump designated criminal drug cartels as foreign terrorist organizations for good reason, and this case is one of many that shows their violent intent to hang on to power. The United States Attorney’s Office is proud to work alongside the Department of Homeland Security to make sure we choke off the flow of weapons to violent actors in Mexico and bring their accomplices in the United States to justice.”
CBP conducts routine outbound inspections to identify and interdict the illegal export of firearms, ammunition, currency, and other contraband. According to the agency, such enforcement actions are aimed at disrupting transnational criminal organizations that rely on the illicit movement of weapons from the United States into Mexico.
Precinct committeemen in Arizona’s Legislative District 7 have selected three nominees to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of former State Representative David Marshall, according to the Republican Party of Arizona.
The nominees are Lynn Dewitt, a Taylor Town Councilmember, former Arizona State Senator Sylvia Allen, and Tisha Carlisle, a Snowflake Realtor and founding president of the Northeast Arizona Republican Women. They were chosen by acclamation during a meeting of district precinct committeemen and will be submitted to the Navajo County Board of Supervisors for final consideration, the Arizona Republican Party said in a press release on Friday.
Well done! Congrats to Lynn Dewitt, Sylvia Allen, and Tisha Carlisle for being nominated by our great PCs. Thank you LD7 Chairwoman Lisa Green!https://t.co/K9xRCR4mHx
The vacancy was formally announced on April 15 in a letter from Marshall to Arizona House Speaker Steve Montenegro (R-LD29), and the Arizona Secretary of State notified the state party on April 20, triggering the statutory process for filling legislative vacancies.
Under ARS §41-1202, the political party of the departing legislator is responsible for nominating three qualified candidates from the same party and legislative district. Those nominees are then forwarded to the relevant county board of supervisors, which must appoint one of the three to serve the remainder of the term.
The nomination process must be completed within five business days of notification of the vacancy. The party coordinates with local legislative district leadership to organize the meeting of precinct committeemen and conduct the selection.
Following the vote, Sergio Arellano said the process was conducted in a “smooth and professional” manner and thanked local party officials and committeemen for their participation.
“Today, Navajo County Republicans showed what strong local leadership and grassroots engagement look like. I want to thank Chairwoman Lisa Green, the precinct committeemen, and everyone involved for conducting a smooth and professional process,” Arellano said. “Congratulations to Lynn Dewitt, Sylvia Allen, and Tisha Carlisle on being advanced to the Board of Supervisors. Navajo County continues to lead by example, and I’m proud of the work done here today.”
The Navajo County Board of Supervisors will now review the three nominees and appoint one to represent Legislative District 7 in the Arizona House of Representatives.
The appointee will serve for the remainder of the current legislative term.
