A Democratic candidate for Congress in Arizona advocated for decriminalizing prostitution in a since-deleted clip.
JoAnna Mendoza, candidate for the 6th congressional district, said in an uncovered 2020 interview that prostitution needed to be decriminalized, especially for marginalized communities like transgender women of color.
That was the year Mendoza made an unsuccessful bid for the 11th legislative district in the Arizona State Senate. Mendoza lost against Republican State Sen. Vince Leach, now representing the 17th legislative district.
Mendoza said in a now-deleted video interview with the executive director of Equality Arizona at the time, Michael Soto, that social services and healthcare needed to replace arrests. Mendoza reframed prostitution as a means of income, not a crime.
“[We need to be] eliminating the discriminatory practices and laws so that every individual has the opportunity to be able to provide for themselves. We need to stop criminalizing people for their situations,” said Mendoza.
The National Republican Congressional Committee first released the found footage.
⚠️Arizona Democrat Joanna @Mendoza4AZ said “YES” to legalizing prostitution to benefit “trans women of color.”
Mendoza in 2020 interview with far-left group: “Yes…we need to stop criminalizing people for their situations.”
Mendoza also supported the decriminalization of marijuana, and the reduction of funding to police during her 2020 run. The latter issue Mendoza addressed in a Clean Elections Commission town hall event.
Mendoza said police funding should be reallocated to social service programs, such as those that would provide economic stability, environmental safety, healthcare, housing, and public education.
“I support the reallocation of funding to programs that would allow people to live their best lives,” said Mendoza.
Mendoza’s current campaign denied that her support for reallocating police funding was equivalent to defunding the police.
Last week, Mendoza reportedly held a closed-door campaign event with an organization that has advocated for the defunding of police, Reproductive Freedom For All, who has endorsed Mendoza.
Mendoza’s current platform doesn’t mention decriminalizing prostitution or marijuana, nor does it mention defunding the police. Mendoza’s platform provides a general focus on costs, jobs, healthcare, policing, climate, government accountability, veterans, and foreign relations.
Mendoza did provide some specifics on policy in her platform. On immigration, Mendoza advocates for legal pathways to citizenship for those who enter the country illegally while limiting deportations to violent criminals.
Mendoza also supports increased government subsidization in renewable energy and healthcare.
The political action committee founded by Gallego’s former best friend and former Democratic California Rep. Eric Swalwell, has also provided campaign support to Mendoza.
So far, Mendoza has raised over $5.3 million for her congressional run per Federal Election Commission records.
Beyond the political action committee founded by Swalwell, Mendoza has a slate of other top progressive organization endorsements, including EMILY’s List, Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, Equality PAC, Jewish Dems, and VoteVets.
Part of Mendoza’s popularity with the LGBTQ+ advocacy groups stems from her personal identity as a bisexual woman.
Mendoza formerly worked for former Democratic Rep. Tom O’Halleran. Mendoza served in the Marines from 1999 to 2013.
Mendoza has also worked for the Arizona Center for Economic Progress and VetsForward.
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Maricopa County Supervisor Mark Stewart on Wednesday called for better communication and cooperation between county leadership and the Recorder’s Office after Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap asked a court to hold county officials in contempt. The request is the latest development in an ongoing dispute over election administration authority.
Stewart said the Recorder’s request for contempt findings may reflect a broader breakdown in communication and trust between county officials and the Recorder’s Office.
My statement on the Recorder's recent contempt filing.
— Mark Stewart Maricopa County Supervisor District 1 (@MarkStewart_AZ) June 3, 2026
“The Recorder’s request for contempt findings may be more aggressive than necessary, but it is likely a symptom of the breakdown in communication and trust that has been building for some time,” Stewart said.
Heap argued in an Application for Order to Show Cause that the Board continues to exercise powers that the court determined belong to the Recorder’s Office and has refused to return critical election personnel, systems, and resources to the Recorder’s office.
“The Court settled these issues 43 days ago,” Heap said. “Since then, the Board has refused to comply, continued exercising powers the Court ruled it does not possess, and even interfered with Recorder personnel carrying out their lawful duties at Recorder-operated election sites.”
🚨 MARICOPA ELECTIONS UPDATE
43 days ago, the Court ruled the Board of Supervisors was acting in violation of the law.
43 days later, they still haven't returned the IT staff, systems, and resources the Court ordered restored. Instead, they continued interfering in election… pic.twitter.com/whIXbRzWh6
— Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap (@azjustinheap) May 30, 2026
Stewart said county officials should accept the court’s ruling in the dispute and focus on implementing the decision ahead of Arizona’s upcoming primary election.
“My view is straightforward. We should accept the court’s ruling, implement it, and move forward,” Stewart said. “As we move forward with implementation, county leadership should carefully consider and prepare operational timelines to ensure a smooth transition ahead of the upcoming primary election.”
The statement follows continued legal disputes between the Maricopa County Recorder’s Office and the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors regarding election administration responsibilities. Stewart said his priority is supporting implementation of the court’s judgment and ensuring county staff have the guidance needed to administer elections effectively.
“The court has ruled. My priority is supporting the execution of the judgment and providing staff with the operational clarity they need to administer elections effectively,” Stewart said.
According to Stewart, he has previously encouraged direct discussions between county leadership and the Recorder’s Office in an effort to reach a negotiated resolution.
“I have worked to encourage direct discussions between county leadership and the Recorder to reach a negotiated solution,” Stewart said. “In my experience, most long-term solutions are achieved around a table, not in a courtroom.”
Stewart said those efforts did not result in a resolution and that the dispute has continued to escalate. While acknowledging the Recorder’s concerns, Stewart said he does not believe contempt proceedings are the best path forward.
“While I understand the Recorder’s frustration, I believe pursuing contempt findings is not helpful at this stage,” Stewart said. “The public is tired of litigation. Voters want their elected officials focused on administering elections, solving problems, and delivering results.”
Stewart reiterated his support for direct discussions between the parties and said long-term success will require rebuilding trust and improving communication between county officials.
“Litigation may resolve legal questions, but lasting solutions and successful operations require communication, trust, and a willingness to work together,” Stewart said.
The supervisor also expressed support for efforts by Supervisor Debbie Lesko to facilitate public discussions between county leadership and the Recorder’s Office.
“I am encouraged that my colleague, Debbie Lesko, is working to bring the parties together for direct public discussions,” Stewart said. “This is something I have been advocating for since early 2025.”
Lesko posted to X on May 29 criticizing Recorder Heap’s decision to request a contempt finding.
“I am once again disappointed that Recorder Heap turns to the court instead of meeting with the Board of Supervisors to resolve our differences in order to run the upcoming elections,” she wrote. “It’s been 9 days since our last invite to meet and we still haven’t heard back from him.”
Stewart concluded by stating that his focus remains on election administration and restoring working relationships between county officials.
“My responsibility is not to relitigate the past,” Stewart said. “My responsibility is to establish secure, transparent, and efficient elections while rebuilding the professional working relationships necessary for long-term success. The voters deserve nothing less.”
Legislation allowing courts to redesignate certain lower-level felony convictions as misdemeanors after successful completion of a sentence passed the Arizona Legislature unanimously. It now awaits action from Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs.
House Bill 2749, sponsored by State Rep. Tony Rivero (R-LD27), would establish a process allowing eligible individuals convicted of certain Class 4, 5, or 6 felonies to petition a court to have those convictions redesignated as Class 1 misdemeanors five years after completing all terms of their sentences.
According to the Arizona House Republican Caucus, the measure received unanimous support in both legislative chambers before being transmitted to the governor’s desk.
“HB 2749 is about accountability, redemption, and common sense,” Rivero said in a statement announcing the bill’s passage. “When someone commits a nonviolent, victimless offense, pays their debt, completes every requirement ordered by the court, and proves for years that they are living the right way, Arizona should not force that person to carry a felony label forever.”
Under the legislation, eligibility would be limited to individuals convicted of non-dangerous offenses that did not involve a victim and who have no prior felony convictions. Applicants must also successfully complete all terms of their sentence before petitioning the court for redesignation.
The bill would not apply to dangerous offenses, offenses involving victims, or individuals with prior felony convictions.
According to the Senate fact sheet, the legislation would permit a court to redesignate an eligible felony conviction as a Class 1 misdemeanor if the court determines the person meets the statutory requirements and redesignation is appropriate. The measure does not provide for automatic redesignation and leaves the final decision to the court.
Rivero said the legislation is intended to help individuals who have demonstrated rehabilitation overcome barriers that can remain long after completion of a sentence.
“This bill protects public safety, excludes victim crimes, and gives deserving people a fair chance to work, find housing, support their families, and fully rejoin their communities,” he said.
According to the legislative fact sheet, the bill applies only to a limited category of felony convictions and requires individuals to affirmatively petition the court for relief. Courts would retain discretion in determining whether redesignation is warranted in each case.
Arizona’s public utilities governing body is exploring its options for legal action against Attorney General Kris Mayes.
The Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) accused Mayes of illegally impeding its ratemaking authority for political gain. Mayes is running for reelection. Although she has no primary candidates, she will either have to face off against one of two Republicans: Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen (R-LD14) or Air Force reservist prosecutor Rodney Glassman.
As part of a commission press release sent out on Monday, ACC Chairman Nick Myers issued a statement saying the ACC had to “force” Mayes to fulfill her attorney general duties toward the commission.
“She was unlawfully pocket vetoing our commission ratemaking authority by delaying the process pertaining to the repeal of the natural gas subsidies,” said Myers.
Myers also accused Mayes of “play[ing] politics,” naming Mayes’ disapproval of the ACC’s appeal of the Renewable Energy Standard and Tariff (REST) rules. The ACC submitted that appeal and one other for the Gas Utility Energy Efficiency Standard (Gas EE) rules to Mayes’ office for review.
“These costly mandates forced Arizona ratepayers to pay almost $4 billion more than they should have over the last 20 years,” said Myers. “The commission will continue to protect the ratepayers and will not allow the Attorney General to arbitrarily increase rates against the decision of the commission.”
In 2006, the ACC gave utility companies a new mandate through the establishment of the REST rules: generate 15 percent of their energy from renewable resources by 2025, and submit annual implementation plans describing compliance. Mayes was on the commission at the time.
The ACC unanimously voted to repeal the REST rules in March, citing in part a $2.3 billion financial burden for compliance passed on to customers through surcharges.
The ACC said in its most recent press release that Mayes had gone beyond her statutory authority — which they described as ministerial — since she had conducted a substantive review of ACC’s ratemaking rules authority. ACC contends their ratemaking rules authority is constitutionally exclusive and leaves no room for interpretation by the attorney general.
In her denial of the ACC appeal, Mayes claimed in a letter to the commission that it had violated its own rulemaking procedures. The commission denied this assessment and accused Mayes of vetoing rulemaking based on policy disagreement.
Mayes approved those impacted rules which mandated renewable energies while she was on the ACC.
The ACC called these “unnecessary subsidies,” and claimed Mayes’ denial of the rule appeal was a cover for her alleged ulterior motive: preventing the ACC from undoing her work to push renewables.
“As a commissioner, Kris Mayes voted for these expensive subsidies that have cost ratepayers billions of dollars,” said Commissioner Kevin Thompson. “It is an abuse of her position as Attorney General to use the ministerial rule approval process to substantively veto our lawfully enacted ratemaking rule repeal. Every day that goes by, she is responsible for increasing costs on ratepayers.”
This is the latest development in an ongoing power struggle between Mayes and the ACC.
Back in 2024, Mayes sued the ACC over its decision to reverse a Power Plant and Transmission Line Siting Committee order regarding environmental oversight for a UniSource Energy power plant project. A superior court judge ruled against the ACC last October.
And in April, Mayes hit the ACC with three rehearing requests for three different alleged issues.
Mayes spokesman Richie Taylor told the Arizona Capitol Times that Mayes had to take on ACC responsibilities because the ACC was giving “sweetheart deals” to data centers while raising utility rates on senior citizens.
“Chairman Myers should focus on fulfilling the constitutional obligations of the Commission on behalf of Arizonans so the Attorney General doesn’t have to step in and do it for them,” said Taylor.
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A staple of Arizona’s most conservative coalition of lawmakers is running to rejoin the state legislature.
Anthony Kern is seeking to once again represent the 27th legislative district, held by incumbent Republican State Sen. Kevin Payne. Kern and Payne are the only two Republicans in the race; three Democrats have filed statements of interest.
Kern last represented that district in the Arizona Senate from 2023 to 2025. Kern departed from the state legislature in order to make his unsuccessful run for the 8th Congressional District in 2024. Prior to the state senate, Kern represented the 20th legislative district in the Arizona House of Representatives from 2015 to 2021.
While in the legislature, Kern built a reputation as one of its more outspoken conservative members. This was reflected by his membership with the Arizona Freedom Caucus, and A-ratings for conservative lawmaking from the Conservative Political Action Committee, NumbersUSA, American Conservative Union, National Rifle Association, and Keep Arizona Free.
Kern held a number of committee leadership positions, including chairmanships of the Senate Judiciary and Elections Committee and the House Rules Committee, and a vice chairmanship of the Senate Public Safety Committee.
President Donald Trump and Turning Point USA have been among a number of Republican powerhouses to take notice of Kern. Trump commended Kern as “an incredible fighter for election integrity,” and pardoned him from the 2020 Trump electors case put together by the Biden Department of Justice. Turning Point USA’s affiliate, Turning Point Action, has endorsed Kern.
Although the federal charges against Kern and other electors were dropped, Democrat Attorney General Kris Mayes has pursued her own case. A court of appeals ruled last month in a loosely related case that Mayes illegally withheld communications in which she conspired with States United Democracy Center to prosecute Trump’s allies.
Prior to joining the legislature over a decade ago, Kern worked in municipal code enforcement and other public safety roles in the West Valley.
It appears that this background — combined with his repeated public commitments to limiting administrative rulemaking and expanding legislative oversight of regulations — has influenced a take from Kern that puts him at odds with other Republican lawmakers, though not with fellow conservatives.
Kern’s platform includes an opposition to automatic license plate readers (APLRs), such as the Flock Safety cameras. Unlike Kern, Payne as chairman of the Senate Public Safety Committee sponsored a bill in support of APLRs earlier this year, SB 1111.
Other aspects of Kern’s platform include healthcare reform, proposing health providers must offer one single price for products and services, and health insurance premiums and medical expenses must be tax-free; and private property protections, proposing a removal of certain alleged loopholes to squatter prevention laws.
Kern has described himself as pro-life, an election integrity advocate, an opponent to illegal migration, and a supporter of parental rights and school choice.
He has lived in LD27 for nearly 40 years and attends Fresh Start Church in Peoria.
The Arizona Clean Elections Commission is scheduled to host the LD27 primary debate on June 22.
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The Joint Legislative Audit Committee (JLAC) voted June 1st to direct the Arizona Auditor General to conduct two targeted special audits examining student safety in schools and the administration of federal childcare assistance funds.
One audit will focus on school safety practices statewide, marking the fourth special review of the issue. It will specifically include the Phoenix Union High School District following recent serious incidents of campus violence, including the August 2025 stabbing of a student at Maryvale High School.
The Auditor General will assess whether Arizona schools have properly adopted and implemented emergency response policies, thoroughly investigated student safety allegations, and complied with the state’s mandatory reporting laws.
In a separate action, the JLAC approved a special audit of Arizona’s administration and oversight of the federal Child Care and Development Fund (CCDF). The program, primarily administered by the Arizona Department of Economic Security, provides childcare assistance to qualifying families.
“JLAC took bipartisan action to get answers on two issues that matter to Arizona families,” said Chairman Matt Gress (R-LD4). “Parents deserve to know whether schools are prepared to respond to credible threats and whether serious safety concerns are being handled properly. Taxpayers deserve to know whether hundreds of millions of federal childcare dollars are being managed responsibly. These important audits will establish the facts, identify gaps, and help us determine what needs to change.”
Arizona spent around $573 million in federal CCDF funding during fiscal year 2024. The audit follows previous State Single Audit findings that identified deficiencies in provider oversight, questioned costs, and reporting.
The review arrives amid growing national concerns about fraud and abuse in publicly funded assistance programs. Federal officials have highlighted risks across the country, including recent charges announced by the U.S. Department of Justice in Minnesota against 15 defendants in alleged fraud schemes involving more than $90 million, some tied to childcare assistance programs.
The Auditor General’s examination of the CCDF will cover the approval and monitoring of childcare providers, inter-agency oversight responsibilities, and the accuracy and propriety of program expenditures from fiscal years 2021-25. The review may also extend to participation providers and other areas deemed necessary by the Auditor General, with particular attention to higher-risk periods during and after COVID.
“The fraud scandals unfolding in other states are a warning sign,” added Gress. “Arizona should not wait for a crisis before asking hard questions. When hundreds of millions of dollars flow through a program, strong oversight is not optional. This audit will help determine whether taxpayer dollars are protected, safeguards are working, and childcare assistance is reaching the families it is meant to serve.”
The school safety audit, which received unanimous approval, will begin following completion of the third school safety special audit now underway. It is scheduled to be completed on or before December 31, 2027. The Child Care and Development Fund audit will require cooperation from relevant state agencies and entities involved in federal childcare funding.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
