by Matthew Holloway | Oct 16, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
President Trump’s historic Gaza ceasefire deal, signed Monday with Palestinian leaders and Israel, has sparked rare bipartisan praise from Arizona’s elected officials.
Congressman Andy Biggs (R-AZ05) wrote from the gubernatorial campaign trail, “This incredible day is happening because of President Trump’s strength and determination to bring peace to the region.”
However, he has also raised the alarm regarding post-deal barbarism from Hamas, with reports of public executions in Gaza streets just hours after inking the treaty. “Hamas is carrying out barbaric executions… They must do so expeditiously or face consequences for violating the ceasefire,” he posted on X.
Kudos have poured in from Democrats as well, with Sen. Mark Kelly offering Trump a rare bipartisan praise. “I think he should get a lot of credit. I mean, this was his deal. He worked this out. He sent Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner over to negotiate this, and it so far has gone well,” Kelly told CNN’s Dana Bash on “State of the Union.”
Kelly hailed the hostage returns and the flood of aid trucks that “should have been happening over the last two years.” Kelly, however, cautioned, “I am concerned that they may change their minds here.”
Kelly posted on X: “After two years, this is a real opening for peace that will release the hostages and get desperately needed aid to civilians in Gaza. There’s a lot more work to see this through, but I appreciate the work of President Trump, the administration, and our international partners to reach this point.”
Senator Ruben Gallego notably avoided lauding the Trump administration in his statement on Monday, merely calling the peace “profoundly overdue.” He wrote, “After two long years, the final Israeli hostages have returned home. This day is profoundly overdue, and my heart is with the families whose unwavering hope and perseverance made it possible. Their return marks an important step toward peace. I remain steadfast in the belief that the United States must continue its efforts to ensure humanitarian aid reaches Palestinians and that Gaza is rebuilt.”
Congressman Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ08), who has been instrumental in the administration’s Middle East diplomacy, wrote a lengthy statement, saying in part: “In a day some thought would never come, the remaining Israeli hostages have been freed and returned to their families.”
Hamadeh added, “It was a day 737 days in the making and one that wouldn’t have been possible without the bold leadership of President Trump and the hard diplomatic work of Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and the entire Trump Administration.”
Hamadeh asked God for blessings for the returning hostages, their families and the families of those whose remains were returned adding, “It is my fervent hope that the bodies of those who haven’t been returned are located and returned soon.” He concluded: “Blessed are the peacemakers who fought so hard on behalf of these families amidst overwhelming odds and overwhelming uncertainty.”
Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen (R-LD14) offered very direct praise from the State House, naming the President simply “the peacemaker.” He wrote, “Peace in the Middle East. Thank you, @realDonaldTrump, the peacemaker.”
State Rep. Alma Hernandez (D-LD 10) provided a particularly raw and emotional take as well from the Democrat side of the aisle, posting about her openly sobbing over reunion videos only to wake in fresh grief for the families learning their loved ones wouldn’t return.
Though she didn’t directly credit the administration, she wrote, “While we are all overjoyed and celebrating the return of the 20 hostages, let’s not forget those families who anxiously waited for over two years to find out this morning that their loved one was not returning alive… I can’t imagine the feeling of great heartbreak & sorrow those families are feeling right now. They held on to every ounce of hope… my heart goes out to them, and I pray that they will overcome this tragedy.”
Notably, as of this report, no statements from Governor Katie Hobbs, Attorney General Kris Mayes, or Secretary of State Adrian Fontes praising the administration were publicly available, despite all three being vocal on the topic of the Hamas-Israel conflict.
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 | Jul 29, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
An error in the Pima County Recorder’s Office has reportedly resulted in approximately 1,294 erroneous ballots being mailed to voters for the August 5 city of Tucson primary election. The error was acknowledged in a statement from Democrat Pima County Recorder Gabriella Cázares-Kelly’s office, with the problem isolated to Wards 3, 5, and 6, where voters were sent ballots for the incorrect party’s primary election.
According to the Tucson Sentinel, Lane Mandle, chief of staff to Tucson City Manager Tim Thomure, told reporters Saturday that county election officials are working to determine precisely how many of the incorrect ballots were sent, but the maximum number provided was 1,294. Mandle noted that she was not aware if any of the incorrect ballots had been cast, but insisted that the City Clerk’s Office is working to correct the matter.
“We’re not at the very last minute here,” Mandle told the outlet. “We’re gonna figure out a way. Nobody’s gonna be disenfranchised.”
In a post to X on Sunday, Rep. Alma Hernandez (D-LD20) called out the Democrat Pima County recorder saying, “This is what happens when we elect unqualified people to office. And this is NOT the first time Pima County Recorder has made a significant mistake with ballots and dates.”
In a Monday press release, the County Recorder announced that the error originated from a necessary override required to manage the information for the three overlapping elections.
“The error was a result of a need for Recorder’s Office staff to override a mechanism within the data system that prevents party changes during an active election,” the office said. “The override was necessary because of the overlap of three elections: the Congressional District 7 Special Primary, the City of Tucson Primary, and the City of South Tucson Special Recall.”
The system changes were made on July 17th, following the Congressional District 7 election, according to the county.
“The issue was identified on July 25, after three voters reported receiving the wrong party’s ballot through the mail. The data error has since been corrected, and the City of Tucson is assessing the situation to determine how best to provide a remedy for City Voters,” the Recorder’s Office added.
The County Recorder said that voters who were impacted by the error “are still eligible to get a ballot at any Ballot Replacement Site now through (Aug. 5) Election Day.”
The officials concluded, “The City of Tucson and the Pima County Recorder’s Office are committed to maintaining transparency and trust in the electoral process. We remain committed to ensuring all voters are able to vote in elections for which they are eligible. We are conducting a full audit of our systems and procedures to prevent such incidents in the future. Voters with questions or concerns are encouraged to contact the City of Tucson for assistance (520) 791- 3221.”
For more information on the City of Tucson Primary Election, click here.
Correction: A previous version of this article listed ballot replacement sites for a different election. That information has been removed from this story.
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 Ethan Faverino | Jul 22, 2025 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
The Arizona Republican Assembly (AZRA) has released its Final Legislative Scorecard for the 2025 Arizona State Legislative Session.
This scorecard evaluates Arizona State Senate and House of Representatives members based on their voting records and alignment with AZRA’s core principles of limited government, individual liberties, and fiscal responsibility.
As primary elections approach, this scorecard is a critical tool for voters to distinguish authentic conservatives from those who merely claim the label.
The AZRA Legislative Scorecard is the only one, not only in Arizona but in the nation, where a committee of twelve members from across the state invest thousands of hours analyzing over 1,800 bills annually, rating more than 250 bills.
AZRA then publishes these bill ratings before legislative votes, notifying every legislator in advance and inviting feedback to ensure fairness. To maintain integrity, AZRA contracts a national data firm that receives daily voting data from the Arizona Legislative Council, updating results without manipulation or bias.
The scorecard lists 30 State Senators and 60 State Representatives, providing numerical scores out of 100 based on weighted votes on key bills. Scores are presented alphabetically by last name for letter grades, in descending order, along with party affiliation and legislative district.
Among senators, Senate President Warren Petersen (R-LD14) earned the highest score of 98.5, followed by Senator Wendy Rogers (R-LD7) at 96.9, Senator David Farnsworth (R-LD10) at 95.9, and Senator Timothy Dunn (R-LD25) at 95.5.
The highest-ranking Democrats were Senator Brian Fernandez (D-LD23) at 40.5 and Rosanna Gabaldón (D-LD21), at 34.1. The lowest scoring Democrats were Lauren Kuby (D-LD8) at 25.4 and Priya Sundareshan (D-LD18) at 23.8.
Representative Selina Bliss (R-LD1) led the House with a score of 96.8, followed by a four-way tie at 96.1 among Majority Leader Michael Carbone (R-KD25), John Gillette (R-LD30), Quang Nguyen (R-LD1), and James Taylor (R-LD29).
Rep. Bliss recognized AZRA’s Scorecard saying, “It is an honor to be recognized, along with seatmate Quang Nguyen, by the Arizona Republican Assembly for our work at the Capitol!”
Out of the Democrat Representatives, Alma Hernandez (D-LD20) scored the highest with a 49.4 and Consuelo Hernandez (D-LD21) with a 48.8. The lowest ranked Democrats are Quantá Crews (D-LD26) with a score of 26.6 and Mariana Sandoval (D-LD23) with a 25.5.
The AZRA scorecard reveals a significant divide in voting patterns between Republican and Democratic legislators in the Arizona State Senate and House, with Republicans ranging from 78.7 to 98.5 and Democrats scoring from 23.8 to 49.4.
Correction: This story originally stated that there are 50 State Representatives. The story has been updated to reflect the correct number at 60 State Representatives.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Apr 25, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
“End Apartheid” and “Abolish Israel,” were scrawled in crudely drawn letters beneath the Star of David adorning the oldest Orthodox Jewish synagogue in Tucson earlier this week. The synagogue was founded in 1948 in the wake of the Holocaust by the Chabad-Lubavitch movement under Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson. The rabbi himself had fled Germany during the rise of the Nazi Third Reich in 1933. The Chabad’s website states that it is “the Southern Arizona headquarters of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, considered to be the most dynamic force in Jewish life today.”
Congressman Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ06) expressed his disgust in a post to X on Tuesday sharing news that the Chabad Tucson-Young Israel Synagogue was vandalized with anti-semitic, anti-Israel graffiti.
In his post, Ciscomani wrote, “I am disgusted by this antisemitic act against the Chabad Tucson-Young Israel Synagogue. Jewish residents in Tucson deserve to feel safe in their own communities and places of worship. I strongly and unequivocally condemn this despicable act.”
Democrat State Rep. Alma Hernandez also condemned the act in a post to X writing, “Outraged to hear from my good friend Rabbi @YehudaCeitlin who showed up to his shul this morning at Chabad of Tucson to see this hateful vandalism on his wall. Anti-Zionism is Antisemitism, period and this hate is NOT welcomed in Tucson! I will continue to stand with my Jewish community. This is a synagogue NOT a political office. Shameful that its 2025 and we keep seeing this vile targeting of the Jewish community.”
According to KGUN, Monday’s incident represents the second time that the Chabad Center in Tucson has been vandalized in the past four years with a 2021 incident finding a Nazi Swastika and an anti-semitic slur painted on the building’s entrance. Rabbi Yehuda Ceitlin of Chabad Tucson confirmed this in a post to X writing, “This is the second time in 3 years that a Chabad Jewish center in Tucson is being vandalized with antisemitic graffiti. This hate must stop!”
Reporting from KVOA stated that the Tucson Police Department is investigating the incident as a hate crime. Speaking to KVOA reporters Rabbi Ceitlin said, “It just shows the person who has done this, or people who have done this we don’t know who is responsible, wants to intimidate the Jewish people and we will not be intimidated,” he added, “[Hate], It’s part of the Jewish story, Jewish history.”
The incident has drawn notice internationally as well with Member of the Israeli Knesset Michal Cotler-Wunsh commenting online, “Below the Jewish Star of David – a call to abolish the Jewish nation state. A graphic demonstration of the normalization of a ‘modern’ lethal strain of an ancient ever-mutating hate, unleashed in response to the worst attack of Jews since the Holocaust, ‘justified’ by decades of peddled ‘modern-day’ blood libel of hijacked & weaponized institutions & terms like racism, apartheid, genocide…entrusted & coined to ensure that ‘Never Again.’ The writing is on the wall…of Chabad Tucson too.”
In a post responding to the incident, the Anti-Defamation League of Arizona issued a statement from Deputy Regional Director Sarah Kader who said, “Seeing news of yet another incident of vile anti-Semitic vandalism on a place of worship for Jews, on the same day as the release of ADL’s annual audit of anti-Semitic incidents, which showed a 23% increase of anti-Semitic vandalism in Arizona, is truly heartbreaking. We will never stop fighting against such hateful acts.”
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 Jonathan Eberle | Mar 30, 2025 | Education, News
By Jonathan Eberle |
The Arizona State Senate is considering HB 2880, a bill that would prohibit individuals from establishing or occupying encampments on university and community college campuses. The bill, sponsored by State Representative Alma Hernandez (D-LD20), passed the Arizona House of Representatives with a 41-17-2 vote and outlines enforcement procedures and penalties for violators.
The legislation defines an encampment as a temporary shelter, including tents, set up on campus for overnight or prolonged stays. If an individual or group is found in violation, university or college administrators would be required to order the encampment dismantled and direct the individuals to vacate. Failure to comply would result in charges of criminal trespass and possible legal action, including removal by law enforcement.
Additionally, students who refuse to leave could face disciplinary action under their institution’s student code of conduct. Violators would also be held liable for any damages resulting from the encampment, including costs related to removal, campus restoration, and property repair.
The bill aligns with Arizona laws protecting free speech on college campuses, allowing restrictions only when expression violates laws, disrupts university operations, or falls outside First Amendment protections. While supporters argue that the bill upholds campus safety and prevents disruptions, critics contend it could limit protest activities and infringe on student rights.
The issue of campus encampments recently came to the forefront in Arizona following the arrests of protesters at Arizona State University (ASU). According to reports, multiple demonstrators were detained during an anti-Israel protest on campus, where students and activists had set up an encampment in defiance of university regulations. Law enforcement intervened after the protest was deemed disruptive to campus operations.
The incident at ASU has intensified discussions surrounding HB 2880, with supporters arguing that the bill is necessary to prevent similar disruptions, while critics claim it could be used to suppress student activism. The event highlights the broader national debate over the limits of protest on college campuses and the role of law enforcement in maintaining order. Several states have introduced similar legislation in response to high-profile protests that have disrupted campus operations.
If enacted, the bill would require enforcement by campus security and local law enforcement agencies. The Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR) and community college governing boards would ensure compliance with student conduct policies.
The bill now awaits further deliberation in the Senate. As the debate continues, lawmakers, university administrators, and students will likely weigh the balance between maintaining order on campuses and protecting the right to protest.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
