by Staff Reporter | Sep 23, 2026 | Must Read, News
By Staff Reporter |
The monsoon season rains are anticipated to wind down in Arizona, but the political attack ads are picking up.
Arizona residents have likely received campaign mailers at this point in the election season. Some of those mailers have a disclosure that they were paid for by the Arizona Democratic Party, thanks to funds by Arizona Public Service (APS) and Elevance Health (operating as Wellpoint, formerly Amerigroup).
These mailers appear to be targeting voters in swing districts throughout the state.
One mailer reflected opposition to Republican state legislative candidates seeking to represent Legislative District 13: Julie Willoughby for State Senate, and Kevin Hartke and Janet Weninger for State House. This mailer claimed Willoughby, Hartke, and Weninger would cost taxpayers more through school choice funds.
Another mailer reflected support for Willoughby’s Democratic primary opponent, Kristie O’Brien. This mailer claimed O’Brien would lower costs for the community.
Both mailers stress affordability, but they were financed by the same companies which have sought or imposed double-digit rate increases for Arizonans’ utilities and healthcare.
According to state campaign finance records, Elevance Health donated $25,000 to the Arizona Democratic Party last May. They have never donated prior to that time. As reported previously, Elevance Health was one of the top single donors last year to the heavily indebted Arizona Democratic Party.
APS donated $40,000 to the Arizona Democratic Party in three installments: June 2025, September 2025, and June 2026. The earliest APS donations on record to Arizona Democrats occurred in 2024, totaling $80,000.
As reported previously, Pinnacle West Capital Corp., the owner of APS, was one of the top donors for Gov. Katie Hobbs’ secretive inaugural and litigation funds.
As far as state campaign finance records go online (back to 2002), neither Elevance Health nor APS has ever donated to the Arizona Republican Party.
Both organizations have made headlines over the past year for raising their rates by double digits.
Elevance Health recently raised its premium rates by 24% across its Affordable Care Act and Medicare plans. It also requested an additional 17% increase in rate hikes for 2027, according to the Wall Street Journal. The company is also looking to cut down on the offerings within its affordable healthcare portfolio. It has signaled that it will exit underperforming Medicaid programs in multiple states by the end of 2027, following its recent departures from Louisiana and the Washington, D.C., markets.
Similarly, APS has requested to increase its rates by 14% to 16% for residential customers and more than 45% for large load users like data centers and manufacturing companies. APS is also petitioning to implement a new formula that would allow for automatic rate adjustments annually.
This financial support from Elevance Health and APS has boosted Democrats’ ongoing efforts to flip key seats in the Arizona legislature, which would result in Republicans losing their slim majority.
The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee is targeting 17 races throughout the state, including in Legislative Districts 2, 4, 13, and 17 in the Senate and Legislative Districts 2, 4, 13, 16, 17, and 23 in the House.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Sep 19, 2026 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Republican congressional candidate Dr. Zuhdi Jasser confronted Democratic Rep. Greg Stanton (AZ-04) over health care costs, border enforcement, tariffs, and the conflict with Iran during an Arizona PBS candidate forum for Arizona’s Fourth Congressional District.
The Arizona Republican Party highlighted the exchange Tuesday, days after Jasser and Stanton appeared together on the Sept. 10 edition of “Candidates in Conversation.” Arizona PBS described the program as an open exchange rather than a formal debate.
Jasser, a primary-care physician and Republican nominee, identified rising health-insurance premiums as the most pressing issue facing the district. He blamed the Affordable Care Act and a lack of competition and price transparency for making coverage increasingly expensive.
Stanton, the Democratic incumbent who has served in Congress since 2019, said the broader cost of living was the leading issue. He pointed to tariffs, energy costs, and federal health care policy as contributors to household expenses.
The discussion became contentious when Stanton accused Jasser of supporting repeal of the Affordable Care Act. Jasser denied advocating repeal and said his position was to make health insurance more affordable through competition and transparency.
Jasser then argued that Congress needed a physician’s perspective on health policy, telling Stanton that “the House needs a doctor, not a politician that has been there since the iPod was made.”
The Arizona Republican Party paraphrased the remark in its post by referring to the introduction of the iPad and wrote that it was time for Stanton to leave office.
Stanton said he would continue defending Affordable Care Act protections, including coverage for people with preexisting conditions, and work to reduce insurance costs. Jasser said Stanton’s years in elected office had failed to produce an affordable health care system.
The Affordable Care Act was enacted in 2010, nine years before Stanton entered Congress. Stanton previously served on the Phoenix City Council and as the city’s mayor from 2012 through 2018.
The candidates also found limited agreement on tariffs. Jasser said he disagreed with President Donald Trump’s use of tariffs and the administration’s involvement with Intel. Stanton called the tariffs unlawful and said they were increasing consumer costs.
Their sharpest foreign-policy disagreement involved Iran. Stanton characterized the conflict as a war of choice and linked it to higher gasoline prices. Jasser defended presidential authority to respond to national-security threats and criticized Stanton’s approach to military and border policy.
On immigration, Stanton acknowledged that the Biden administration mishandled the southern border. He said he supports border security alongside a comprehensive immigration overhaul.
Jasser called for continued enforcement of immigration law along with support for Immigration and Customs Enforcement and local police. He also criticized Stanton for appearing with Democratic Rep. Yassamin Ansari (D-AZ-03) during a congressional oversight visit to a federal detention facility.
Stanton responded that members of Congress have an obligation to inspect federal facilities and review how federal agencies are carrying out immigration enforcement.
Jasser also rejected the suggestion that he would vote in lockstep with Trump or Republican leadership. He cited his disagreement with the administration on tariffs and Intel while describing himself as an independent voice with medical, military, and business experience.
Jasser served for 11 years in the U.S. Navy and founded the American Islamic Forum for Democracy. He has also served as a commissioner and vice chairman of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom.
Stanton serves on the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and House Foreign Affairs Committee. He is also chairman of the NewDem Action Fund, which supports candidates affiliated with the centrist New Democrat Coalition.
Stanton won the Democratic primary with 35,551 votes, while Jasser received 39,431 votes as the Republican nominee.
Arizona’s Fourth Congressional District lies entirely within Maricopa County and includes portions of Phoenix, Tempe, Mesa, and Chandler.
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 | Dec 10, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona Rep. Andy Biggs is pressing House Republican leadership to move quickly on a sweeping market-based overhaul of federal health-care policy, as enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies approach their scheduled expiration at the end of 2025.
In a letter co-signed by House Freedom Caucus Chairman Andy Harris (R-MD) and Reps. Eric Burlison (R-MO), Clay Higgins (R-LA), and Eli Crane (R-AZ-02), Biggs wrote, “Republicans have solutions, and it’s time to implement them.”
The proposal outlined by Biggs is designed as a free-market alternative to Obamacare and reflects key elements of President Donald Trump’s healthcare agenda. Supporters argue the framework would shift federal policy away from government subsidies and toward consumer-driven healthcare.
“The time for half measures is over,” Biggs wrote to Speaker Johnson. “The American people deserve healthcare reform built on freedom, affordability, flexibility, and choice—not more subsidies, red tape, or handouts for insurance companies.”
Under the proposal, conservatives would allow the expanded ACA premium tax credits to expire, arguing the subsidies have inflated healthcare costs, expanded federal dependency, and funneled taxpayer dollars through insurance companies rather than directly to patients. As Breitbart News noted, the framework draws on nine Republican proposals, including those of Reps. Greg Steube (R-FL), Tim Walberg (R-MI), Kevin Hern (R-OK), Bob Onder (R-MO), Chris Smith (R-NJ), Gary Palmer (R-AL), and Chip Roy (R-TX), as well as Senator Rick Scott (R-FL), and Rep. Andy Biggs’s own Health Savings Accounts for All Act.
The framework emphasizes expanded Health Savings Accounts (HSAs), allowing individuals to use tax-advantaged dollars for insurance premiums, prescriptions, and other medical expenses. It also promotes interstate insurance competition and expanded access through Association Health Plans; reforms aimed at lowering costs through market competition.
Biggs and his fellow conservatives argue that Obamacare’s structure relies too heavily on mandates, subsidies, and centralized control, which they say have driven up premiums while limiting consumer choice, particularly for self-employed individuals and those in the gig economy.
The plan also includes provisions to codify restrictions on taxpayer funding for abortion and reinforce conscience protections for healthcare providers, aligning with longstanding conservative policy priorities.
For Arizona, the debate carries direct implications for large numbers of independent contractors, small-business owners, and self-employed workers who often face high ACA marketplace premiums and limited plan options. Expanded HSAs and portable insurance plans could offer greater flexibility for those groups.
“This is a clear blueprint,” Biggs added in his letter to Speaker Johnson, “Americans should be able to take cost-sharing reduction payments and underlying Obamacare subsidies straight into their pockets, giving them control instead of funneling money through insurers.”
At the same time, thousands of Arizonans currently rely on ACA subsidies to offset insurance costs. If Congress allows those enhanced credits to expire without a complete replacement, some households could see premiums rise sharply in the short term.
The framework is not a single bill, but a coordinated package of existing legislative proposals intended to serve as the backbone of a broader GOP healthcare overhaul. With subsidies set to sunset in 2025, and 2026 midterm elections looming, Republican lawmakers face growing pressure to either replace the current system or risk widespread premium increases ahead of the 2026 election cycle.
Fellow Arizona Congressman Eli Crane, who co-signed the letter, amplified the effort on X, writing, “Let’s get it done.”
Biggs concluded his call-to-action writing, “The House must act with clarity and conviction. These reforms should be brought to the floor without delay. If we plant our flag now, we can rebuild a healthcare system that reflects true conservative principles and puts power back where it belongs, in the hands of patients, not bureaucrats or insurance companies.”
Biggs’ push effectively forces the debate into the open. It will compel Congressional Republicans to publicly choose between pursuing a complete market-based reset of federal healthcare policy or seeking a more limited adjustment to the existing ACA structure.
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 | Nov 1, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona Senator Ruben Gallego sharply criticized Republican leaders over the Democrat-led federal government shutdown during an appearance on CBS’s The Late Show with Stephen Colbert this week. Gallego claimed that the impasse threatens health care affordability nationwide
The segment spotlighted the Democrat-instigated federal government shutdown and the looming expiration of enhanced Affordable Care Act (ACA) subsidies, which could drive up premiums as open enrollment begins November 1st. The interview played out like an in-kind political ad for Gallego.
The subsidies, extended under the 2021 American Rescue Plan as a form of COVID relief, eliminated income caps for marketplace eligibility, allowing households above 400% of the federal poverty level to receive aid.
Host Stephen Colbert teed up the Democratic position for the softball interview: “Well, this shutdown has gone on for 29 days. If I can characterize the position the Democrats want the Republicans to address [as] the lapsing of the tax credits and ACA, the Obamacare, so people are going to see the rates jump up starting in November, right?”
Gallego detailed the stakes for his state. He noted that premiums could surge nearly 50% for a family of four earning up to $128,600 annually—or a family of five up to $150,600—potentially adding about $7,000 to yearly costs. He said, “And things are hard right now. I mean, everything is fricking expensive, and now the government, these Republicans, are going to willingly raise people’s premiums. That’s what’s happening right now.”
The senator, who has continued to cash his congressional paychecks during the shutdown, directed fire at GOP figures absent from negotiations. He accused House Speaker Mike Johnson of being “off hiding somewhere with the Epstein list” and quipped about former President Donald Trump, saying, “I don’t know where the hell Trump is. But I think he’s probably in Korea putting on a crown or something like that.”
Gallego stressed the fallout for ordinary Americans: “Either way, our people, everyday working-class people in this country are hurting right now.”
Just two weeks ago, Gallego claimed he needed to “restrain” himself in the presence of Speaker Johnson when he and Sen. Mark Kelly confronted the Speaker in a Capitol hallway.
Gallego’s account seems to ignore a point that Senate Majority Leader John Thune exposed explosively from the Senate floor Monday night when he said, “The senator from New Mexico is absolutely right; SNAP recipients shouldn’t go without food. People should be getting paid in this country, and we’ve tried to do that 13 times—and you voted no 13 times! This isn’t a political game; these are real people’s lives we are talking about, and you have all just figured out 29 days in that, oh, there may be some consequences?!?”
Instead, Gallego took the time to leverage his well-worn rags-to-Senate story—from a single-mother home to advocating for economic opportunity —continuing what appears to be a soft start to 2028 White House ambitions.
Arizona State Representative Nick Kupper (R-LD25) took to X to respond to Gallego’s post, sharing the interview. Gallego wrote, “The fact that someone like me ended up where I am is proof that this country can still be great. But that promise doesn’t survive on its own. We have to fight for it.”
Kupper, seemingly unimpressed, reposted him, quipping: “The fact that he’s on this late-night show slinging his crap is more proof that this is all just performance art.”
The full interview is available on YouTube and Paramount+.
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 Alison Furno | Oct 31, 2025 | Opinion
By Alison Furno |
As an Arizonan, a small business owner, and a concerned citizen, I’m deeply troubled by how the Left’s government shutdown is hurting our communities. Every day Washington fails to act, hardworking Arizonans pay the price.
Military families at bases like Luke and Davis-Monthan, air traffic controllers keeping our skies safe, National Guard members protecting our borders, and countless small business owners are being forced to shoulder the consequences of political inaction—many continuing to serve without pay or any certainty about the future. Furloughed federal workers in Tucson and Phoenix are dipping into savings just to cover groceries, while delayed permits and contracts grind local projects to a halt.
I run two small businesses here in Arizona—a volleyball coaching company and a social media management brand—so I see firsthand how government shutdowns ripple through real lives. They slow things down, shake confidence, and make it harder for families and business owners to plan ahead. When federal payments stall, suppliers wait longer to get paid, employees across industries worry about their next paycheck, and everyday customers start cutting back. It’s working families, small businesses, and community builders who feel it most—while politicians argue over deadlines and programs they created themselves.
Let’s rewind to March 2021. President Joe Biden signed the American Rescue Plan—a massive spending package sold as emergency relief. Hidden inside was an expansion of premium tax credits under the Affordable Care Act, increasing federal payouts to insurers and expanding who qualifies. These subsidies were supposed to be temporary bridges to help Americans get through the pandemic. Yet years later, some in Washington are treating them as untouchable—willing to shut down the government rather than let them expire.
These subsidies were never meant to be permanent, and they can’t be sustained responsibly. The Congressional Budget Office projected that making them permanent would add over $34 billion to the federal deficit in the next decade.
Even worse, these handouts have distorted the healthcare market. When the government guarantees bigger subsidies no matter the cost, insurers and providers raise prices—knowing taxpayers will cover the difference. Executives pocket bonuses, red tape piles up, and real healthcare workers get squeezed. What was supposed to make care “affordable” has instead insulated the system from competition and transparency, driving costs higher for everyone not lucky enough to qualify for the subsidies.
The hard truth is that the Affordable Care Act never lived up to its name. It drove up prices and created layers of bureaucracy. Now, temporary subsidies—originally sold as short-term relief—are being treated as permanent entitlements. Holding the government and everyday Americans hostage over these failed policies is simply wrong.
Senators Kelly and Gallego, you represent a state known for independence and common sense. The House has already passed a clean Continuing Resolution to fund the government and end this unnecessary pain. Support it. Reopen federal agencies. Let our military families breathe easier, our air traffic controllers get their paychecks, and our small businesses plan for the future without Washington’s chaos.
Arizona’s working people have carried enough. It’s time for our leaders to choose stability over subsidies, solutions over gridlock, and the Grand Canyon State over partisan games. End the shutdown now.
Alison Furno is an Arizona Resident, Small Business Owner, and Independent Women’s Network Phoenix Co-Leader.
