One of the Arizona Democratic Party’s (ADP) political crown jewels has been arrested for breaking into a former romantic partner’s home with a knife.
Phoenix police arrested Brianna Westbrook, 41, former ADP vice chair and current education coordinator, last Friday for allegedly breaking into a former partner’s home brandishing a knife and carrying gloves and duct tape.
Westbrook, formerly a Peoria-area car salesman named Mike McDanel, allegedly forced himself into the victim’s residence, where he pushed the victim onto a couch. It was allegedly only after the victim screamed that Westbrook fled the scene.
Westbrook alleged that the incident was part of consensual roleplay, a “big misunderstanding” — a narrative the alleged victim denies.
A judge set Westbrook’s bond at $15,000.
Apart from the disputed nature of the alleged home invasion, Westbrook does have a history of advocating for violence.
As AZ Free News reported previously, Westbrook applauded a call for gun violence in the wake of the 2023 Nashville school shooting in which three children and three adults were slain by a transgender-identifying woman, Aiden Hale.
The year prior, Westbrook publicly expressed opposition to Blue Alerts, communications sent to the public and law enforcement notifying them of suspects who have assaulted, critically injured, or killed law enforcement officers.
It was around 2017 that Westbrook began a rise to prominence among Arizona Democrats as the state’s first federal elected official to identify as transgender. Westbrook told the Phoenix New Times that he began identifying as transgender about five years earlier at the age of 27. Westbrook once operated a YouTube account, since deleted, which reportedly documented his gender transition.
Westbrook has run for office multiple times since 2017, when he announced his campaign for what was then the 8th Congressional District as the first openly transgender candidate for federal office in Arizona.
Westbrook was not Arizona’s first transgender candidate overall: that title belongs to 2004 candidate Amanda Simpson, a Raytheon executive from Tucson who ran for the state legislature believed to be the first openly transgender presidential appointee. Neither could he claim the title as the nation’s first openly transgender federal candidate: that would be 2016 candidates Misty Snow, running to represent Utah in the Senate, and Misty Plowright, running to represent Colorado in Congress.
Westbrook lost in the general election to Republican candidate Debbie Lesko, the former congresswoman currently serving on the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors.
Following a protest in 2018 in the thick of a congressional campaign, Westbrook publicized his alleged mistreatment at the hands of the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office following his arrest for trespassing at former Republican Sen. Jeff Flake’s office.
Westbrook argued in an ACLU blog post that the sheriff’s office should have complied with his request to jail him with other women, not men. Law enforcement ultimately put Westbrook in a solitary cell, according to his account.
Westbrook went on to serve as a vice chair of the Arizona Democratic Party (ADP) from around 2019 to 2024.
Westbrook had also served as the at-large officer for Phoenix Democratic Socialists of America around the same time, and has belonged to the Democratic Socialists of America for years.
Westbrook ran for the Arizona House of Representatives in 2022, but lost the primary to former lawmakers Amish Shah and Jennifer Longdon.
In 2024, Phoenix Democrats nominated Westbrook and two others for the legislative seat vacated by Longdon. The County Board of Supervisors declined to select Westbrook.
As of this report, ADP has Westbrook listed as its education coordinator.
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Wildlife ecologist and wild horse advocate Craig C. Downer will join a rally at the Arizona State Capitol next week as opponents of a planned reduction in the Salt River horse herd call for an independent scientific review before removals begin.
Friends of the Salt River Wild Horses announced that Downer will appear at the “Preserve the Herd, Follow the Science” rally on Wednesday, July 22, at 8 a.m. in front of the state Senate building. The group’s event page lists the rally for July 22 and 23.
Downer has conducted field investigations of the Salt River herd and its habitat, including studies in 2012 and 2015 involving interviews, ecological transects, and a literature review. In a 2019 letter published by High Country News, he argued that wild horses contribute to the ecosystem by transporting nutrients from the river into the surrounding Sonoran Desert.
The advocacy group said Downer is concerned that reducing the herd to approximately 125 horses could leave the population without sufficient genetic diversity to remain healthy and adaptable.
“Such an artificially low population will interfere with maintaining sufficient genetic diversity to adapt to the rigors of survival in the wild,” Downer said.
The state’s current management agreement sets a goal of reducing the herd from approximately 274 horses to 120 over five years. The Arizona Department of Agriculture said when it announced the contract that the gradual reduction was intended to balance limited resources within the horses’ range while maintaining the herd’s genetic integrity.
The Salt River Wild Horse Management Group, which received the state contract, has said approximately 25 horses are scheduled for removal in September. The organization has expressed opposition to the reductions while stating that it will fulfill the terms of the agreement and relocate removed horses to protected sanctuaries.
The Agriculture Department previously said it did not independently mandate the 120-horse target. The department said the management group proposed that figure during the contracting process. State officials said sustainable management requires balancing the size and diversity of the herd with the amount of forage, water, and habitat available along the Salt River.
Downer and Friends of the Salt River Wild Horses are requesting an independent review by wildlife ecologists, equine geneticists, and other specialists before any horses are removed. The group is also asking state officials to release the genetic, forage, habitat, and population data used to support the planned reduction.
Arizona Department of Agriculture Deputy Director Sheldon Jones said the management plan requires adopted horses to be relocated to department-approved sanctuaries and expressly prohibits their sale, donation, trade, or slaughter.
Dr. E. Gus Cothran, an equine population geneticist and professor emeritus at Texas A&M University, released a statement warning that reducing the Salt River wild horse population to 120 could threaten the herd’s long-term survival.
“At the most basic level, 150 to 200 animals is a minimum number,” Cothran said. “This is the number that, if everything goes right and only population genetics is involved, should maintain genetic health for 200 years or so.”
The rally follows an unsuccessful legislative effort to pause removals and require additional genetic testing.
Senate Bill 1199, as amended in the House, would have imposed a three-year moratorium on population-control removals while the Department of Agriculture contracted for an independent genetic assessment. The proposed testing would have examined effective population size, genetic diversity, and inbreeding within the herd.
The House approved the measure with bipartisan support on June 9, but the bill did not receive a final concurrence vote in the Senate before lawmakers adjourned.
Current Arizona law prohibits harassing, shooting, injuring, killing, or slaughtering horses belonging to the Salt River herd. It also bars people from interfering with, taking, chasing, capturing, or euthanizing the horses without written authorization from the Department of Agriculture or the Maricopa County sheriff.
Friends of the Salt River Wild Horses is inviting members of the public, elected officials, and horse advocates to attend the rally at 1700 W. Washington St. in Phoenix.
The organization said in a statement, “Before a single horse is removed, the State of Arizona should be able to demonstrate that its approach to herd reduction is based on peer-reviewed science and will preserve the Salt River wild horse herd for generations to come.”
Rep. Paul Gosar’s reelection campaign reported more than $303,000 in cash on hand, giving the Republican incumbent a substantial financial advantage over Democratic challenger Danielle Sterbinsky ahead of Arizona’s 2026 congressional election.
Gosar for Congress reported $303,213.70 in available campaign funds through July 1, according to newly filed Federal Election Commission (FEC) data. Sterbinsky’s campaign reported $25,744.84 over the same election cycle, leaving Gosar with approximately $277,469 more in reserve.
Gosar’s campaign described the financial advantage as evidence of support for the congressman’s positions on border security, inflation, federal spending, and other issues.
We’re in a very strong position!
My campaign has $303,000 cash on hand compared to my opponent’s weak $25,744.
“Voters are clearly behind our movement,” Gosar said in the campaign announcement. “This financial lead puts us in a dominant position heading into the general election.”
The FEC figures show Gosar’s campaign has collected $580,042.50 in total receipts since the beginning of the 2025-2026 election cycle. That includes approximately $490,056 in individual contributions and $85,000 from other political committees.
The Gosar campaign reported spending $368,425.78 during the cycle and listed $6,958.18 in outstanding debts or obligations. The campaign began the cycle with approximately $91,597 in cash on hand, according to the FEC financial summary.
Sterbinsky’s campaign reported receiving $354,382.57 and spending $332,315.71 since July 2025. Her committee reported no outstanding debts or loans in its latest FEC summary.
The filings give Gosar an advantage in both total receipts and remaining cash, although the difference between the campaigns’ available funds is considerably larger than the gap between their total fundraising.
President Donald Trump offered his endorsement of the congressman on Truth Social in late 2025, ahead of an unopposed 2026 primary.
In full, President Trump wrote:
“Congressman Paul Gosar, D.D.S., is an America First Patriot, who is doing a fantastic job representing Arizona’s 9th Congressional District!
A MAGA Warrior, who has been with us from the very beginning, Paul is working hard to Grow our Economy, Cut Taxes and Regulations, Promote MADE IN THE U.S.A., Advance American Energy DOMINANCE, Keep our now very Secure Border, SECURE, Support our Brave Military/Veterans, and Protect our always under siege Second Amendment.
Dr. Paul Gosar has my Complete and Total Endorsement for Re-Election — HE WILL NEVER LET YOU DOWN!”
Gosar was first elected to Congress in 2010 after working as a dentist for 25 years. He currently represents the Ninth Congressional District, which covers portions of western Arizona, including communities in Maricopa, Mohave, La Paz, and Yuma counties.
According to his congressional biography, Gosar entered Congress without previously holding elected office and has made limited government, immigration enforcement, natural resources, and federal spending central issues during his tenure.
Gov. Katie Hobbs stands accused of illegally commingling millions in funds to subsidize her campaign.
A letter sent by attorney Tim La Sota to Secretary of State Adrian Fontes earlier this month accuses the governor of commingling funds between her reelection campaign committee, Elect Katie Hobbs, and two other entities which submit funds to her campaign committee.
Elect Katie Hobbs and all other candidate campaign committees are restricted in the types of funds they may accept. Campaign committees must rely on what’s known in campaign finance parlance as “hard money,” or donations given by individuals directly to a political candidate, and cannot accept “soft money,” or donations or contributions collected into political action committees (PACs) from corporations or unions. Individual donations are limited to $5,500 per person.
The letter claims that Hobbs has used a PAC, which it claims to be hers, Copper State Values, as an unlawful repository for soft money to be used for Elect Katie Hobbs expenses. Allegedly, Copper State Values receives soft money funds from Hobbs’ joint fundraising committee PAC, the Katie Hobbs Victory Fund, and then sends the funds on to Elect Katie Hobbs and other political entities working to reelect Hobbs such as the Navajo County Democrat Party and the Arizona Democratic Party.
“Candidate contribution limits mean little if candidates can simply funnel money that the candidate herself cannot legally receive to a political action committee and turn around and have that political action committee pay for that candidate’s campaign expenses,” said the letter.
Since 2023, Elect Katie Hobbs has accrued more than $7.8 million and spent more than $4 million, Copper State Values has accrued more than $3.8 million and spent more than $2 million, and Katie Hobbs Victory Fund has respectively accrued and spent more than $1.8 million.
The letter further described Copper State Values as unusual since it lacked the typical hallmarks of a PAC, such as a political activity or a website. The PAC’s main activity appears to be the alleged shared expenses with Elect Katie Hobbs for which it pays, such as payroll, rent, and travel.
“The PAC seems to only function as a repository of monies that are then distributed to various left-wing entities, who will presumably help the Governor get elected — that and paying for expenses that legally must be paid by [Elect Katie Hobbs],” stated the letter. “[I]n terms of the PAC, it seems to do nothing but receive money and distribute money. It does not have any discernible political activity in terms of expenditures for express advocacy. It does not even have a website. And yet, it racks up hundreds of thousands of dollars in expenses, money that it reimburses to Elect Katie Hobbs.”
Hobbs’ reelection campaign manager, Nicole DeMont, serves as the chair of Copper State Values, and both Copper State Values and Elect Katie Hobbs share the same address, email address, and treasurer, Dacey Montoya.
The letter noted that Demont’s consulting firm, Monteverde Strategies, has received about $55,000 from Copper State Values. It also noted that Capital Strategies, a consultant for Hobbs, has received more than $198,000 from Copper State Values, though the consultant doesn’t disclose its relationship to the PAC on its website page for current and former clients.
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As military families navigate permanent change of station (PCS) moves and renters search for new housing, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is warning consumers to remain vigilant against increasingly sophisticated scams that can result in the loss of thousands of dollars and sensitive personal information.
The agency says scammers often target people facing tight deadlines or major life transitions, including military members relocating on short notice.
Fraudsters commonly use fake rental listings, gift card payment schemes, cryptocurrency scams, and wire transfer requests to steal money before victims realize they have been deceived.
According to the FTC, rental scams remain one of the most common fraud schemes. Some scammers create listings for properties that do not exist or are not actually available for rent, while others copy legitimate listings, steal photos and descriptions, and report them with altered contact information. Many fraudulent listings advertise rent well below market value to attract prospective tenants.
One common warning sign is when a supposed landlord refuses to allow an in-person viewing, often claiming they are out of town or otherwise unavailable.
The FTC advises consumers to be cautious of anyone who pressures them to make a quick decision or demands payments before they have an opportunity to verify the property.
The agency recommends renters search the property’s address online to see whether it appears elsewhere under a different owner, management company, or rental price. Consumers who are unable to visit a property should have somebody who they trust tour it and verify it exists.
Military members can also seek assistance from relocation or housing referral offices at their new installation to identify legitimate housing options and avoid known scams.
The FTC also warns renters to protect their personal information during the application process. Fraudsters may request Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, pay stubs, or screenshots of credit card reports under the guise of processing an application.
Payment methods are another major red flag.
The FTC says legitimate landlords and businesses will not require tenants to pay using gift cards, cryptocurrency, or wire transfer. These payment methods function similarly to cash, making it extremely difficult or impossible to recover funds after they are sent.
Fraudsters often direct victims to purchase gift cards from major retailers such as Walmart, Target, Amazon, Apple, or CVS and may even remain on the phone while the victim buys and loads the cards. Once the victim provides the card number and PIN, the scammer can quickly drain the balance.
The agency is also warning consumers about cryptocurrency-related scams, which have become increasingly common as digital currencies gain popularity.
Unlike credit card purchases, cryptocurrency transactions generally do not include legal consumer protections or chargeback rights. Once crypto is transferred, it usually cannot be removed unless the recipient voluntarily returns it.
The FTC also warns that wiring money through services such as Western Union, MoneyGram, or Ria is essentially the same as sending cash. Once the funds are collected, recovering the money is typically impossible, and identifying the individual who received the transfer is often extremely difficult.
Consumers should never wire money to someone they have not met in person, anyone claiming to represent a government agency, or anyone demanding immediate payment.
To reduce the risk of becoming a victim, the FTC encourages consumers to research landlords and property management companies by searching online for reviews, complaints, or reports of scams.
Renters should compare prices with similar properties in the area, verify ownership records when possible, and obtain copies of rental contracts before sending deposits.
Anyone who discovers fraudulent rental listings should report it to the website where it was posted, the FTC, and their state’s attorney general’s office.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
The Arizona Republican Party has announced the grand opening of its new headquarters in Phoenix, the latest development in a series of organizational changes under Chairman Sergio Arellano aimed at strengthening grassroots operations and improving the party’s financial stewardship.
The celebration is scheduled for July 24 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the party’s new office, located at 4531 N. 16th St., Suite 114, in Phoenix. Arellano will be joined by Republican National Committee Chairman Joe Gruters and KFYI radio host James T. Harris.
Arellano, who was elected chairman by state committeemen in Prescott in January said the new headquarters reflects his commitment to reducing costs and providing a more accessible and functional space for volunteers and candidates.
He noted that the centrally located office is intended to serve as a comfortable, user-friendly hub for grassroots efforts and party unity.
The move follows the party’s 2023 return to central Phoenix under then-Chairman Jeff DeWitt. At that time, the AZGOP purchased office space at 3033 N Central Ave. for $1.9 million using proceeds from the sale of its longtime headquarters at 24th Street and Osborn Road.
The acquisition ended a brief period in leased offices in north Scottsdale and provided more than 12,000 square feet of space, with plans to lease excess capacity to conservative organizations and Republican campaigns.
Party officials say the grand opening will celebrate both the new facility and what they describe as a return to fiscal responsibility and party cohesiveness.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
