Attorney General Kris Mayes sustained a fatal blow in her case against the 2020 alternate electors for President Donald Trump.
Mayes doesn’t plan on giving up, though.
The Arizona Supreme Court denied Mayes’ appeal of lower court rulings in State v. Ward this week. This means that Mayes must start over to continue prosecution of the alternate electors.
Mayes’ spokesman Richie Taylor confirmed the attorney general plans to return to the grand jury to seek another indictment; he would not provide further comment.
Republican Rep. Abe Hamadeh (AZ-08) said Mayes’ persistence to prosecute despite the rejection of multiple courts proved her to be “completely unhinged” and in need of sanctioning.
“She’s wasting Arizona taxpayers’ money on her obsessive, Ahab-like pursuit of patriotic Arizonans who served as alternate electors after the stolen 2020 election,” said Hamadeh. “Her first sham indictment was already laughed out of every court in the state.”
She’s wasting Arizona taxpayers’ money on her obsessive, Ahab-like pursuit of patriotic Arizonans who served as alternate electors after the stolen 2020 election.
Her first sham indictment was already laughed out of every court in…
— Office of Congressman Abe Hamadeh (@RepAbeHamadeh) June 4, 2026
Senate President Warren Petersen (R-LD14) — who is running to unseat Mayes this November — said Mayes was the poster child of a “rogue” attorney general.
“This is what a rogue AG looks like,” said Petersen. “Loses at every level and still not tired of losing.”
This is what a rogue AG looks like. Loses at every level and still not tired of losing. https://t.co/UKhjcfDPZx
Mayes has sustained a series of losses in her attempt to prosecute the Trump electors, each court ruling increasingly diminishing the life of her case until it reached the point where it lies now — effectively on life support as it awaits another grand jury indictment that may not come.
Last September, the Arizona Court of Appeals rejected Mayes’ appeal of a ruling issued last May by the Maricopa County Superior Court. The latter court remanded Mayes’ case back to a grand jury, ruling that she violated the due process of the alternate electors by failing to give the grand jury a document critical to the indictment, the Electoral Count Act (ECA) of 1887.
The ECA is a federal law outlining the legal process for casting and counting electoral votes in presidential elections. It was modified recently in 2022 under the Biden administration through the Electoral Count Reform Act of 2022 (ECRA).
The ERCA, in part, limited the vice president’s involvement in electoral certification to a ministerial role, raised the congressional threshold for elector objections to one-fifth of Congress, and made state governors the authority for submitting the certificate of electors.
Key to the defense of the electors was the argument that they acted in good faith in accordance with the ECA.
Mayes has also been accused of receiving payment to prosecute the alternate electors, according to a whistleblower complaint filed last November.
That complaint alleged that States United Democracy Center (SUDC) paid around $200,000 to have prosecutorial influence over the alternate electors case. It was SUDC who advised Mayes’ office in a summer 2023 letter to prosecute Trump’s top supporters from the contentious 2020 election and its aftermath. Mayes’ office has denied the impact of the SUDC letter on their decision to prosecute the alternate electors.
Hamadeh asked the Department of Justice to investigate this alleged “pay-to-play” scheme.
That DOJ investigation is ongoing.
In April, a court of appeals judge ruled in another case that Mayes illegally withheld communications between her office and SUDC.
Trump has pardoned these alternate electors and supporters of the federal charges against them, but state charges like Mayes’ remain.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
The Arizona State Troopers Association, representing more than 1,200 troopers and 750 civilian employees of the Arizona Department of Public Safety, has endorsed Warren Petersen for Attorney General, delivering a significant boost to the challenger in Arizona’s race.
The endorsement marks the latest in a series of high-profile law enforcement backing for Petersen, who has earned support from multiple major police organizations and elected officials across the state and country.
“Throughout his time in the Arizona Legislature, Warren Petersen has always been a friend to the Troopers and to law enforcement around the state,” stated President of the Arizona State Troopers Association, Jeff Hawkins. “Arizonans – and the men and women who serve in law enforcement – deserve an Attorney General who stands with and fights for them against the lawlessness that threatens to overcome our society. I know that Warren will continue to do just that as our next Attorney General, just as he has over his time in public service.”
The Arizona State Troopers Association is the sole organization dedicated to representing the interests of Arizona Department of Public Safety employees. Its endorsement highlights Petersen’s longstanding commitment to supporting those who protect Arizona communities.
Petersen expressed gratitude for the backing and highlighted his record of partnership with law enforcement:
“I’m honored to earn support from the Arizona State Troopers Association,” said Petersen. “It has been an honor to work with the association to advance the interests of the men and women who serve our state in the Department of Public Safety. Our State Troopers sacrifice their lives and time with their family to keep Arizona safe. As Attorney General, I look forward to continued partnership with our men and women in uniform. I will always fight for law enforcement and our Arizona State Troopers.”
Petersen’s support for law enforcement includes consistent advocacy for securing funding for specialized task forces, strengthening officer recruitment and retention efforts, and ensuring the aggressive prosecution of violent offenders.
With this latest endorsement, Petersen now holds the backing of Arizona’s largest police organizations — including the Arizona Police Association, the Fraternal Order of Police, the Phoenix Police Sergeants and Lieutenants Association, and now the Arizona State Troopers Association — a level of unified support for a challenger to the incumbent Attorney General that is unprecedented in state history.
The growing coalition of law enforcement leaders supporting Warren Petersen for Arizona Attorney General also includes:
Utah Attorney General Derek Brown
Idaho Attorney General Raul Labrador
West Virginia Attorney General JB McCuskey
Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita
Yavapai County Sheriff Ross Teeple
Gila County Attorney Brad Beauchamp
Pinal County Attorney Brad Miller
Mohave County Attorney Matt Smith
Former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio
Border Patrol Veteran Art Del Cueto
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
Senator David Farnsworth (R-LD10) paid tribute to the life and courageous work of investigative reporter Don Bolles, earlier this week, marking the 50th year anniversary of his assassination and reaffirming the enduring importance of journalistic integrity and accountability.
On June 2, 1976, Bolles, a reporter for the Arizona Republic and one of the founding members of Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE), was mortally wounded when a bomb detonated beneath his vehicle in a Phoenix parking lot. He succumbed to his injuries 11 days later on June 13, 1976 at age 47. Prior to the attack, Bolles had been lured to a downtown hotel by a source promising information on land fraud linked to organized crime, in which the source never appeared.
Bolles dedicated his career to exposing organized crime, political corruption, and influence peddling in Arizona. His murder sent shockwaves across the nation and galvanized the journalistic community.
In the wake of his assassination, IRE members launched a major collaborative investigation not only into Bolles’ killing but into deeper systemic corruption that enabled such violence against a reporter in broad daylight. Their efforts underscored a powerful message: assassinating a journalist would not silence the press but would instead amplify scrutiny of the powerful interest involved.
“Don Bolles paid the ultimate price in pursuit of the truth. Fifty years later, his sacrifice still serves as a reminder that corruption thrives when good people look the other way,” stated Senator Farnsworth. “Don Bolles may not have succeeded in rooting out every instance of crime and corruption he set out to expose, but he succeeded in something equally important: he opened the eyes of countless Arizonans to the fact that corruption existed and demanded attention.”
In March, Senate Republicans advanced legislation to honor Bolles’ legacy alongside that of Charlie Kirk. SB 1686, sponsored by Senator Jake Hoffman (R-LD15), would rename Wesley Bolin Plaza as the Wesley Bolin and Charlie Kirk Freedom Plaza. The bill would also authorize the placement of memorials commemorating both Kirk and Bolles within the plaza. It is currently pending in the Arizona House of Representatives.
“In many ways, I am serving in the legislature because of Don Bolles and the awareness his work created,” added Farnsworth. “His story instilled in me a belief that public service comes with a responsibility to challenge corruption wherever it exists and to demand accountability from those entrusted with power. Fifty years later, I still feel obligated to do my part.”
The legislation includes specific provisions for the memorials, emphasizing private funding:
No public monies are authorized for the costs of either memorial.
All fundraising and contracts for design and construction are the responsibility of private proponents.
The authorizations include delayed repeal provisions effective after September 30, 2029.
Fifty years after his death, Don Bolles is remembered not only as a victim of violence but as a martyr for truth whose work helped elevate public awareness of corruption and reinforced the vital role of a free and independent press in safeguarding democracy.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
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.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
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.
