by Staff Reporter | Apr 21, 2026 | News
By Staff Reporter |
Since taking office last November, Congresswoman Adelita Grijalva (D-AZ-07) has made it clear that defending illegal aliens in her district against deportation will remain a priority.
Unlike her Republican colleagues, Grijalva treats those considered illegal aliens residing in her district as her constituents. To her, citizenship doesn’t determine who qualifies as an American.
“In my district, families span generations, borders, and cultures — but they are unequivocally American,” said Grijalva.
In her criticism of President Donald Trump’s promise to prioritize the “worst of the worst” for deportation proceedings, Grijalva has indicated the need for additional justification when deporting those whose only apparent crime was crossing the border and remaining in the country illegally.
Of the approximately 50 press releases Grijalva has issued since taking office, nearly half were issued in defense of illegal aliens and opposition to Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
Of her approximately 200 posts on X, nearly one-third were posts in defense of illegal aliens as valid Arizona residents, demanding the abolition of ICE, or opposition to immigration enforcement efforts.
Of her 14 remarks in the congressional record (excluding recognitions and honorings of individuals), three were focused on opposing ICE and stricter immigration enforcement.
Grijalva has made good on her repeated promise to investigate and provide oversight of ICE detention facilities. She has conducted three visits to the Arizona Removal Operations Coordination Center at the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport, Eloy Detention Center in Eloy, and Florence Federal Detention Facility in Florence.
The congresswoman has participated in at least eight protests against ICE and this administration’s immigration enforcement policies.
Last month, Grijalva offered compromise on her refusal to pass DHS funding through her introduction of two amendments. These amendments, not adopted, would have required federal agencies to obtain tribal government approval for immigration enforcement actions on tribal lands, and prohibited the federal government from creating or maintaining lists of individuals protesting at immigration enforcement activities.
The same day, Grijalva demanded the dismantling of ICE.
Grijalva’s commitment is reflected through her actions, notably the significant volume of her constituent work dedicated to illegal aliens.
The congresswoman has participated in at least three forums in her district addressing ICE activity. One forum that Grijalva co-hosted with Tucson Mayor Regina Romero focused on advising illegal aliens of their rights and best ways to avoid immigration enforcement activity.
Earlier this month, Grijalva and Congresswoman Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ-03) hosted one such forum to brief the community on ICE’s “mass detention centers” in Arizona. Grijalva and Ansari heard testimonies from several illegal aliens and their family members.
In February Grijalva visited and successfully advocated for the release of one Cuban illegal alien seeking asylum, Julia Benitez, who was detained at the Eloy Detention Center.
Then, Grijalva escorted Benitez to the airport. Benitez’s flight was arranged by the Phoenix-based nonprofit Helping With All My Heart (HWAMH).
The nonprofit’s website claims it has operated emergency shelters across the Valley for illegal aliens seeking asylum since 2018. However, tax filings reflect that, up until 2022, HWAMH’s mission statement only reflected work helping the homeless and those with addictions to “find a job and return to society.”
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Staff Reporter | Apr 21, 2026 | News
By Staff Reporter |
Gov. Katie Hobbs offered a false justification for her veto of legislation to rename a freeway after conservative activist and Turning Point USA (TPUSA) founder Charlie Kirk.
After backlash over her formal justification for vetoing Senate Bill 1010, Hobbs offered another explanation: she falsely claimed that renaming part of the Loop 202 freeway after Kirk would replace the part of the freeway honoring another individual: the late congressman Ed Pastor.
Pastor, a Democrat, served in the House of Representatives for nearly 25 years, from 1991 to 2015. Pastor died in 2018. His daughter, Laura Pastor, serves on the Phoenix City Council.
Contrary to what Hobbs claimed, the bill had a specific carveout to preserve Pastor’s portion of the freeway.
“That the underlying segments of the Charlie Kirk Loop 202 would retain their names and designations and those underlying segments are the Red Mountain Freeway, the Santan Freeway, and the Congressman Ed Pastor Freeway,” stated the bill.
Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen, a Republican candidate for attorney general, sponsored the bill. Ahead of her veto, Petersen urged Hobbs to continue Arizona’s tradition of honoring legacy by awarding recognition based on impact and not politics.
“Charlie Kirk called Arizona home and built a national movement rooted in free speech, civic engagement, and American values. He inspired millions, especially young people, to get involved and speak up,” said Petersen. “If the governor vetoes this bill, she’s sending a clear message: recognition now depends on political agreement.”
Six years after founding TPUSA in 2012, Kirk moved its headquarters to Phoenix in 2018. Since 2021, the organization has held its annual conference, AmericaFest, in the city.
TPUSA’s student and lifetime membership total runs in the millions, and they have impacted millions more in America and nationally. The organization also manages thousands of college and high school chapters.
Kirk was assassinated last September while speaking at a TPUSA event at Utah Valley University.
The campaign for Republican gubernatorial candidate Andy Biggs, currently congressman, issued a press release on the matter accusing Hobbs of misleading Arizonans intentionally.
“Not only was Katie Hobbs’ decision to veto the Charlie Kirk Loop 202 bill petty and callous, she’s now shamefully misleading Arizonans about why she did it,” said Biggs campaign senior advisor Drew Sexton. “This was a dishonest, partisan act by a weak and ineffective governor who has consistently failed to rise to the moment and lead our state.”
Hobbs’ initial justification for the veto, the one she gave formally, said that lawmakers needed to avoid politicized individuals when choosing who to honor.
The veto letter was a regurgitation of her previous veto letter for another bill seeking to honor Kirk’s legacy.
The governor also vetoed legislation that would have enabled Arizona drivers to purchase a specialty license plate honoring Kirk’s memory.
“I will continue working toward solutions that bring people together, but this bill falls short of that standard by inserting politics into a function of government that should remain nonpartisan,” wrote Hobbs.
Hobbs expressed sorrow over Kirk’s assassination, but said that wasn’t enough to overshadow his political background.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Apr 21, 2026 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona lawmakers approved a resolution affirming Israel’s sovereignty over Judea and Samaria with House Concurrent Resolution 2047, sponsored by State Representative David Livingston (R-LD28), in a Senate vote on Monday.
The measure recognizes what lawmakers described as the historical, biblical, and legal legitimacy of Judea and Samaria and formally rejects the term “West Bank,” applied to the region during the Jordanian occupation in 1948. The resolution follows the passage of House Resolution 2002 in February, which applied the same policy and recognition, but was limited in scope to the Arizona House of Representatives.
HR 2002 took effect upon House passage in February, while HCR 2047 completed legislative approval with Monday’s Senate vote. The resolutions received bipartisan support after first clearing the House Appropriations Committee earlier this year.
“Today, as Israel honors those who gave their lives defending the nation, Arizona stands with the truth about that nation’s history,” Livingston said in a statement released after the vote. “Judea and Samaria are central to Jewish history and faith. They are not political labels to be swapped out for convenience. This resolution affirms what is true and rejects language created to deny it. I thank my colleagues for standing with Israel and supporting this effort.”
In a February statement following the House vote, Livingston observed, “The Arizona House chose accuracy over politics. Judea and Samaria are not invented terms, and they are not negotiable facts. They are central to Jewish history, faith, and national identity, and Arizona will not participate in language meant to deny that truth.”
“This vote shows that respect for history still matters,” he added. “Arizona stands with Israel, speaks plainly about the facts, and refuses to bend to political pressure.”
The resolutions also state that Judea and Samaria are important to Israel’s security and to the United States’ interests in preventing terrorist-controlled territory from emerging in the region. Livingston said Arizona lawmakers were standing against efforts to “rewrite the historical and legal record.”
Supporters of the measures argued that the term “West Bank” originated during Jordan’s control of the territory between 1948 and 1967, following the 1948 Arab-Israeli War, and does not accurately reflect the region’s Jewish history.
Israel Bachar, Israel’s Consul General to the Pacific Southwest, praised the Arizona House action and said the state had “set a gold standard” for state-level support of Israel.
In a statement, Bachar said Arizona had previously opposed the Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions movement through House Bill 2617 in 2016 and adopted the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance definition of antisemitism through House Bill 2675 in 2022. He also thanked Livingston, House Speaker Steve Montenegro (R-LD29), House International Trade Committee Chairman Tony Rivero (R-LD27), and other lawmakers who helped advance the resolution.
Bachar wrote, “In formally rejecting the term ‘West Bank,’ labeling it a modern political construct, and opting instead to use the indigenous terms ‘Judea and Samaria’ in all official state communications, documents and references, the Arizona House of Representatives attests: the indigeneity of Judea and Samaria and their rightful place in the history of the Holy Land and modern-day Israel are eternal and undebatable.”
Bachar also said Livingston’s visit to Judea and Samaria in late 2025 helped him understand what the consul general described as the initiative’s strategic importance to Arizona-Israel and U.S.-Israel relations.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Matthew Holloway | Apr 20, 2026 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona congressional candidate Marlene Galán-Woods is facing criticism from the National Republican Congressional Committee over her campaign’s past payments to a fundraising company linked to former California Congressman Eric Swalwell (D-CA).
In a statement released Friday, NRCC spokesman Ben Petersen said Galán-Woods has remained silent about her campaign’s use of Findraiser, an artificial intelligence-based fundraising company tied to Swalwell.
Federal Election Commission records show Galán-Woods’ campaign committee reported multiple payments to Findraiser totaling at least $1,425 in disbursements during the 2025-2026 election cycle.
Swalwell has come under increasing scrutiny in recent days following allegations of sexual misconduct and assault made by multiple women. Swalwell has denied the allegations.
The controversy has also led to renewed attention on political figures and campaigns that maintained ties to Swalwell or companies connected to him.
In its statement, the NRCC argued Galán-Woods should sever ties with the company and explain why her campaign continued to use the service after the allegations against Swalwell became public.
“Democrat Marlene Woods owes voters an answer: Why hasn’t she dumped Eric Swalwell’s company?” Petersen said. “Her campaign’s close financial relationship with Swalwell is disgraceful.”
In another statement, Petersen described Swalwell’s reputation as a “creep” as an “open secret” in the Democratic Party, and criticized Galán-Woods for her response to the scandal, saying, “Democrat Marlene Woods bragged about Eric Swalwell’s support, then refused to say a word about the rape allegations against him for nearly a week. Shame on her protecting her fellow Democrat.”
Galán-Woods responded to criticism over her past ties to Swalwell in a post on X, calling the allegations against him “abhorrent and credible.”
“He, or anyone else who assaults women or abuses their position of power, has absolutely no place in Congress. Full stop,” Galán-Woods wrote.
Galán-Woods argued that Republican criticism centers on an endorsement she received from Swalwell during an earlier election cycle, before the allegations became public. She also accused Republican candidate Jay Feely of hypocrisy for previously accepting an endorsement from President Donald Trump.
Findraiser was co-founded in early 2024 by Swalwell and Yardena Wolf, his former congressional chief of staff, as an AI-based fundraising platform aimed at Democratic candidates and committees.
Swalwell and Wolf personally promoted the company to fellow Democrats and lawmakers, according to NOTUS reports. A Democratic operative reportedly told the outlet, “He is relentless in pushing [Findraiser],” adding, “He’s peddling the shit out of that thing.”
Recent reporting from Politico indicated that several Democratic campaigns and committees have begun distancing themselves from Findraiser following the allegations against Swalwell and the resulting political fallout.
The payments to Findraiser are relatively small in dollar amounts, but the issue could become politically significant as Republicans seek to tie Democratic candidates to Swalwell amid the fallout surrounding the allegations against him.
Galán-Woods is running as a Democrat in Arizona’s First Congressional District and is facing nine other Democrats in the primary, including state Rep. Amish Shah, who led her by 21.5 points in a February HighGround poll. Shah lost to incumbent Republican Rep. David Schweikert by 16,572 votes, or 3.8 percentage points, in 2024.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Staff Reporter | Apr 20, 2026 | News
By Staff Reporter |
The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors are split over the court ruling ordering a restoration of election powers to the county recorder.
On Friday, the Maricopa County Superior Court invalidated the board’s claim of “plenary authority” via its general supervisory powers over elections administration.
“The board’s general authority does not override specific statutory delegations to other county officers,” read the ruling.
The court found that the board had “acted unlawfully and exceeded its statutory authority” by taking the recorder’s personnel, systems, and equipment. The ruling warned the board continuing in its path of harboring the recorder’s election resources would likely result in the disenfranchisement of voters.
“The evidence at trial established that the Recorder’s inability to exercise meaningful control over election systems and staff will likely cause concrete operational harms, including inability to timely process provisional ballots under A.R.S. § 16-134, resulting in voters being denied tabulation of the full ballots they had voted and to which they were entitled,” stated the ruling. “These harms will not resolve and may likely increase absent court intervention, particularly as general election cycles approach.”
The ruling ordered the board to allow the recorder to take up those duties expressly given to him by state law, and to fund all necessary expenses the recorder sets forth. The board was also ordered to return all IT staff, servers, databases, software, websites, and equipment to the recorder, or to fund replacement of those personnel and items.
Chairwoman Kate Brophy McGee disagreed with the court’s view that Recorder Justin Heap has authority in his own right over elections. McGee also contended with the court’s conclusion that the board had deprived the recorder of resources and staffing.
McGee said the board plans to appeal.
“The court correctly concluded that the Board oversees the county budget and makes all appropriations decisions. But I disagree with other portions of the ruling, and I will explore all options with the Board of Supervisors, including an expeditious appeal,” said McGee. “From day one, the Board of Supervisors has provided Recorder Heap the resources and staffing needed to fulfill his statutory duties. We will continue to do so because voters always come first.”
Unlike the rest of the board, Supervisor Mark Stewart issued his own statement expressing support for the court ruling. Stewart challenged the idea that the entire court fight was unavoidable.
“From the beginning, I supported a more transparent, public negotiation process, an approach that could have led to a different outcome and avoided unnecessary confusion, litigation, and cost,” said Stewart. “It is now time to move forward with a unified focus and give our team the resources they need to deliver transparent, secure, and best-in-class elections that the voters of Maricopa County deserve.”
Recorder Heap celebrated the ruling as redress for what he called an unjust “power grab” of his office’s elections authority.
“With this ruling, we will move forward focused on delivering the secure, transparent, and accessible elections the voters of Maricopa County deserve,” said Heap.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Apr 20, 2026 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona State Representative David Marshall Sr. (R-LD7) announced Wednesday that he will resign from the Arizona House of Representatives effective April 17, days after questions emerged about his appointment as the next Navajo County recorder.
Marshall submitted his resignation in a letter to House Speaker Steve Montenegro (R-LD29) dated April 15. In the letter, Marshall said his decision was based on family considerations.
“This decision was not made lightly,” Marshall wrote. “After careful consideration, I have concluded that stepping down is in the best interest of my family.”
Marshall said serving in the Legislature has been “an honor and a privilege” and thanked his constituents, fellow lawmakers, staff, and House leadership.
“I remain committed to ensuring a smooth transition and will cooperate fully to support continuity of representation for the residents of Legislative District 7,” Marshall wrote.
Marshall’s resignation comes after the Navajo County Board of Supervisors appointed him to fill a vacancy in the county recorder’s office created by the resignation of former Recorder Timothy Jordan.
The appointment has drawn scrutiny because the Arizona Constitution states that lawmakers cannot hold other state, county, or municipal offices “during the term for which he shall have been elected.” Some legalobservers have argued that Marshall can accept the recorder position if he resigns from the Legislature, while others contend he would remain ineligible until the next legislative term begins in January 2027.
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes told KJZZ that her office is reviewing whether the appointment violated the state constitution, though she declined to comment further while the matter is under review.
According to Axios, Navajo County Attorney Brad Carlyon told reporters that he had forgotten the particular statute but informed Marshall that his appointment could face a legal challenge.
Marshall is also running for the Arizona Corporation Commission.
Under ARS §41-1202, Republican precinct committeemen from Legislative District 7 will nominate three qualified Republicans who live in the same district and county as Marshall. The Navajo County Board of Supervisors will then appoint one of those nominees to serve the remainder of his term.
Marshall served on the House Education Committee and Judiciary Committee and was chairman of the House Public Safety and Law Enforcement Committee.
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.
