by Ethan Faverino | Apr 24, 2026 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
Congressman Abraham Hamadeh (R-AZ-08) recently introduced H.R. 8331, known as the Maverick Act of 2026, a bipartisan measure to preserve three of the final remaining F-14 Tomcat fighter jets for historical display and public education.
The legislation is the House companion to Senate Bill 4161, introduced by Senator Tim Sheehy (R-MT). Original cosponsors joining Congressman Hamadeh include Rep. Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ-06), Rep. Jen Kiggans (R-VA), Rep. Austin Scott (R-GA), Rep. Rich McCormick (R-GA), Rep. Jack Bergman (R-MI), Rep. Jake Ellzey (R-TX), Rep. Don Davis (D-NC), and Rep. James Moylan (R-GU).
Congressman Hamadeh, a former U.S. Army officer, emphasized the personal and cultural importance of the legendary fighter jets. “As a young man, I was inspired by the popular Tom Cruise movie Top Gun, which featured the F-14, one of the most iconic aircraft ever flown,” stated Congressman Hamadeh. “As a former U.S. Army officer, I know that many of the men and women I served with felt the same way. That is why I proudly introduced this legislation.”
The Maverick Act would authorize the Secretary of the Navy to transfer three specific F-14 Tomcats to the U.S. Space and Rocket Center Commission in Huntsville, Alabama. The aircraft would be conveyed at no cost to the federal government through a conditional deed of gift.
Currently, strict post-retirement rules have resulted in the destruction of nearly all F-14 airframes. This bill creates a narrow exception, allowing the three aircraft to be fully demilitarized and preserved under rigorous national security protections. The legislation explicitly prohibits any restoration of combat capability and bans any future foreign transfers.
All expenses related to transportation, restoration, operation, and maintenance of the aircraft will be the responsibility of the U.S. Space and Rocket Center Commission. The jets will be provided in “as-is” condition, with the Navy permitted to include relevant technical manuals and limited excess spare parts needed for restoration and static display. The Commission may partner with qualified nonprofit organizations to help restore the aircraft.
“Because this legislation does not come at a cost to our hard-working taxpayers, I expect that my fellow fiscal conservatives will happily support this legislation,” added Hamadeh. “I am grateful to the cosponsors of the bill, who have already offered their enthusiastic support.”
Strong safeguards are built into the bill, including a rescission clause that returns ownership to the United States if any conditions are violated. The aircraft must remain demilitarized and may only be used for public displays, airshows, and commemorative events celebrating U.S. naval aviation heritage. All activities will comply with FAA regulations and applicable export control laws.
In a separate but related preservation victory, Congressman Hamadeh secured language in the FY26 defense bill – signed into law by President Trump – that rescued five historic T-37 jet trainers from destruction at Tucson’s aircraft boneyard. These aircraft, which trained generations of pilots, aces, astronauts, and the nation’s first female aviators, will now be restored by the Arizona Aviation Historical Group to support STEM education, aviation heritage, and military recruitment.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Ethan Faverino | Apr 17, 2026 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
Congressman Abraham Hamadeh (AZ-08) thanked his colleagues in the U.S. House of Representatives for the unanimous passage of his legislation to rename the United States Postal Service facility at 12208 North 19th Avenue in Phoenix as the “Officer Zane T. Coolidge Post Office.”
The bill, H.R. 3393, honors Phoenix Police Officer Zane Coolidge, who was shot in the line of duty on September 3, 2024, while responding to a larceny call near 16th Street and McDowell Road. Despite the heroic efforts of medical personnel, Officer Coolidge succumbed to his injuries three days later, on September 6, 2024, at the age of 29.
Officer Coolidge, a devoted husband and loving father, was a dedicated public servant who made the ultimate sacrifice while protecting his community. The suspect in the shooting was a man with multiple felony convictions who was on parole at the time of his crime.
The post office selected for renaming holds special significance: it is located across the street from Thunderbird High School, where Officer Coolidge graduated in 2013.
“The Phoenix Law Enforcement Association is deeply grateful for Congressman Hamadeh’s leadership in honoring fallen Phoenix Police Officer Zane Coolidge through the renaming of a United States Post Office,” stated President of the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association Darrell Kriplean. “Officer Coolidge represented the very best of our profession and made the ultimate sacrifice in service to his community. This designation serves as a lasting and meaningful tribute to his life, his service, and his legacy, while reflecting our community’s enduring respect for those who serve.”
“We also extend our sincere appreciation to Congressman Hamadeh for his continued commitment to law enforcement,” continued Kriplean. “His steadfast advocacy helps ensure that officers across Arizona have the support and resources necessary to protect and serve their communities.”
Congressman Hamadeh stated, “Officer Coolidge was a husband, brother, son, and father who died a hero. A true public servant, he sacrificed his life to fulfill his duty to protect and serve. Naming this facility in honor of Officer Coolidge is a small token of the tremendous appreciation we have for him and the countless men and women who have given our communities their last full measure of devotion.”
“I am proud to stand with the men and women of our police agencies. They deserve our full support and devotion,” concluded Congressman Hamadeh. “The sacrifice they and their families make to keep our communities free from crime is immeasurable and not to be taken for granted.”
This action will serve as a permanent memorial to Officer Coolidge’s service, sacrifice, and deep connection to the Phoenix community where he grew up and served.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Staff Reporter | Apr 15, 2026 | News
By Staff Reporter |
Rep. Abraham Hamadeh (R-AZ-08) formalized the resignation of now-former California congressman Eric Swalwell on Tuesday.
Hamadeh acted in accordance with a provision of the House Rules requiring the Speaker or his designee to announce the House membership adjustment on the floor.
Since the initial sexual assault allegations against Swalwell broke last week, at least five other women have come forward claiming wrongdoing by Swalwell ranging from sexual harassment to rape.
Arizona politico Brian Anderson remarked on the difference between Arizona members’ circumstance in relation to the Swalwell fallout: Hamadeh stepping in for the House Speaker to finalize Swalwell’s rushed exit, and Sen. Ruben Gallego defending himself against accusations of his knowledge or participation in Swalwell’s impropriety.
“Pretty shocking split-screen for Arizonans right now,” said Anderson. “On one side, Ruben Gallego shaking and stuttering, defending himself against credible allegations he knew about Swalwell. On the other, Abraham Hamadeh putting the final nail in Swalwell’s career.”
Gallego’s decade-long friendship with Swalwell has put him in the center of the former California gubernatorial candidate’s fallout.
Social media users and influencers have speculated that the mystery man in a now-viral video depicting Swalwell getting intimate with a young woman on a bed was Gallego.
During a Monday press gaggle, Gallego denied that he was the man in the video. He blamed “right-wing, political operatives” for the popularization of the narrative.
“This is an example of the lies. No, I was not sitting next to him, I was not in the room, I don’t even know where it happened,” said Gallego.
Gallego said he, too, was a victim of Swalwell. He claimed innocence of knowledge, saying Swalwell had led a “double life” and lied to him about the allegations.
“Look, I messed up. I’m human. I trusted this man, I trusted him to watch my children. I would watch his children,” said Gallego. “He knew that I had just gone through the most bruising campaign, where I was accused of being a mule for the cartel, where my kids were subjected to TV commercials about what an awful human being I was; he knew how to prey on that. I was a loyal friend to someone that was just not loyal to me.”
However, Gallego also indicated that he knew of rumors of his former friend’s flirtatiousness over the years, but had dismissed them based on his personal interactions with Swalwell and Swalwell’s wife.
“I heard rumors of him being flirty [for years],” said Gallego. “We all heard rumors in Washington, D.C.”
Gallego said he had never engaged in inappropriate behavior with any woman outside of his marriage. He claimed Swalwell lied to him and manipulated him.
Former New York congressman George Santos accused Gallego of being one of a number of U.S. House and Senate members to engage in sexual romps up the hill. Santos alleged Gallego’s behavior was “the worst-kept secret” at the Capitol.
“There is an AZ senator that needs to be looked into ASAP,” said Santos in another post. “The rumors about him have alway[s] been WILD.”
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Ethan Faverino | Apr 13, 2026 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
A 10-year-old girl’s heartfelt plea to restore Pluto’s status as a full planet has gone viral, drawing responses from NASA leadership and highlighting Arizona’s deep connection.
Mike’s Weather Page shared the story on X, saying, “Dear @NASA. From 10-year-old Kaela. She is mailing to you today. Too cute not to post. She and her family are friends of ours. #bringplutoback”
In her handwritten letter, Kaela wrote:
“Dear N.A.S.A… Please make Pluto a planet again. I really want it to be a planet again. Here are some reasons that Pluto should be a planet again:
- It is part of our solar system and used to be a planet.
- It is a dwarf planet and deserves to be an actual planet
- It might make a lot of people happy.”
NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman responded directly to the tweet, saying: “Kaela – we are looking into this.”
The office of Congressman Abraham Hamadeh also chimed in, stating: “Kaela – Congressman Hamadeh Agrees! He recently sent a letter to President Trump asking for the same thing. It’s time Arizona’s Planet was rightfully classified.”
Pluto holds special significance in Arizona. It was discovered in 1930 by Clyde Tombaugh at Flagstaff’s Lowell Observatory. The story of that discovery impressed state Rep. Justin Wilmeth (R-LD2) enough that he introduced legislation in 2024 designating Pluto as Arizona’s official state planet.
House Bill 2477, signed into law on March 29, 2024, simply states “Pluto is the official state planet,” making Arizona the only state to claim an official state planet.
Arizona’s designation celebrates the state’s rich astronomy heritage. Flagstaff became the first designated International Dark Sky City in 2001, preserving pristine night skies ideal for observation. The area also boasts a strong lunar legacy: every astronaut who walked on the moon trained in Flagstaff, using sites like Meteor Crater, Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument, and Grand Canyon National Park.
“It might not be your choice, but if it is, please, please, please make it a planet, added Kaela. “It would make me very, very, very happy. If you can’t make it an actual planet, please consider it a planet.”
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Apr 8, 2026 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
U.S. Rep. Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ08) is renewing his call for a federal ban on ranked-choice voting (RCV) following a Maine court ruling that limited the system’s use in certain elections, citing concerns about election integrity and consistency in federal contests.
Debate over ranked-choice voting in Maine has included legal challenges to its application. In its ruling, the Maine Supreme Judicial Court found that ranked-choice voting could not be used in certain general elections for state offices where the state constitution requires winners to be determined by plurality.
Responding to developments surrounding ranked-choice voting, Hamadeh renewed his call for federal action. His office reiterated that position in a recent post on X, calling for a nationwide ban on ranked-choice voting in federal races.
Hamadeh’s team wrote, “The Maine Supreme Judicial Court just ruled that Democrats’ latest attempt to force Ranked-Choice Voting on governor and state legislative races is unconstitutional. Ranked-choice voting creates chaos, disenfranchises voters, and destroys trust in our elections. That’s why it fails everywhere it’s tried, and exactly why Congressman Hamadeh introduced the Preventing Ranked Choice Corruption Act to ban this corrupt system once and for all in all federal elections.”
The Arizona congressman previously introduced H.R. 3040, the “Preventing Ranked Choice Corruption Act,” in April 2025. The legislation would amend the Help America Vote Act to ban the use of ranked-choice voting in elections for Congress and the presidency.
Hamadeh said the bill would prohibit what he described as a “confusing and disenfranchising voting scheme,” and raised concerns that ranked-choice voting can alter outcomes through multiple rounds of vote redistribution.
Ranked-choice voting allows voters to rank candidates in order of preference rather than selecting a single candidate. If no candidate receives a majority of first-choice votes, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and those ballots are redistributed based on voters’ next selections. The process continues in rounds until a candidate secures a majority.
The system is currently used in a limited number of states for federal elections. Maine employs ranked-choice voting in congressional and presidential races, making it the first state to adopt the system at that level.
Alaska also uses ranked-choice voting for federal elections following voter-approved reforms. A repeal effort narrowly failed by 664 votes in 2024.
Opposition to ranked-choice voting has expanded across multiple states. Hamadeh’s renewed push reflects a broader Republican effort to prohibit the system, with several states enacting bans or considering legislation to prevent its use.
Hamadeh’s proposal would apply only to federal elections and require congressional approval before taking effect. If enacted, states would retain authority over their own election systems for state and local races.
The legislation has remained in committee since its introduction and has not advanced.
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.
