by Staff Reporter | Mar 30, 2026 | Education, News
By Staff Reporter |
The Arizona Department of Education’s leader admonished one party for rejecting a new mandate on schools to report deadly on-campus incidents.
Democratic lawmakers opposed HB 4109 during a Wednesday vote in the Senate Education Committee, even though one of their own, State Rep. Lydia Hernandez (D-LD24) sponsored the bill. Republicans on the committee voted in favor of it.
HB 4109 would require school boards to adopt a structured safety policy with certain, detailed implementation responsibilities imposed on school district superintendents.
Among those responsibilities of the superintendent included in the bill: written notification to students’ parents and school employees within 24 hours of any incidents or threats involving life-threatening violence or violence involving a deadly weapon or dangerous instrument; immediate notification to a law enforcement officer of observed or notified incidents involving the aforementioned situations concerning violence, and any confiscations of dangerous instruments or deadly weapons; and confiscation, or designation of confiscation to administrators, of any dangerous instrument or deadly weapon possessed by any person on school property.
School districts would also need to publish annual public safety reports detailing the number of lockdowns, shelter-in-place events, and evacuations; incidents involving a deadly weapon or dangerous instruments; incidents referred to law enforcement officers; and a summary of the school district’s adopted public safety policy and its implementation.
The bill would prohibit school districts from taking retaliatory action against employees, parents, students, state agents, or any other individuals for reporting a violation of the public safety policy requirements.
Failure to adhere to the legislation would result in school leaders facing a class one misdemeanor charge.
State Superintendent Tom Horne published a press release the day after the committee hearing accusing the Democrats on the Senate Education Committee of “reckless and irresponsible” behavior: flippant of school safety and willfully ignorant of the present safety problems plaguing school campuses.
“The bill requires notice to parents and staff within 24 hours of a life-threatening incident on campus. That is a perfectly reasonable requirement that schools should be doing anyway,” said Horne. “It is ironic that the bill is sponsored by Democrat Representative Lydia Hernandez. She deserves credit for this effort. I am pleased the bill passed out of committee even with the opposition from members of her own party.”
State Rep. Hernandez explained that the murder of Michael Montoya, 16, in Maryvale High School last August was the motivator behind the bill. Montoya was stabbed to death in a classroom by another student.
“This was a constituent bill brought to me by my neighbors, families that were so traumatized by what happened. But it’s not just limited to this one incident, but a series of incidents that keep taking place,” said Hernandez. “It’s not about politics, it’s about protecting the safety of our kids. You and I would do it, and I hope it never has to be one our children that are the victims.”
State Sen. Eva Diaz (D-LD22) said it concerned her that the bill would criminalize noncompliant school board members and superintendents.
State Sen. J.D. Mesnard (R-LD13) countered that it wasn’t unprecedented to hold school officials accountable through criminal penalties in the context of public safety.
“I understand the logic when you’re talking about public safety, at some point there has to be some oomph behind it because we’re talking about fundamental student safety,” said Mesnard.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by AZ Free Enterprise Club | Jan 31, 2026 | Opinion
By the Arizona Free Enterprise Club |
For years, the Left has been working tirelessly to flip Arizona blue. Armed with a secret network of tax-advantaged funds, political nonprofits, and union dollars, their aim has been to turn our beloved, freedom-loving state into the next Colorado or California. In fact, many groups on the Left waged high stakes to flip Republicans’ paper-thin control of the state legislature in 2024.
And how did that turn out? A historic landslide victory for President Trump while the Left actually lost ground in Arizona’s legislature. Apparently funneling millions of dollars to liberal causes doesn’t make up for bad ideas.
Now, with the 2026 midterm election a little over nine months away, the latest voter registration numbers are in, and they show an encouraging trend. Republicans have expanded their registration advantage over Democrats to 7.64%—the largest lead in state history—while Democrats continue their free fall in party registration.
Even more impressive is that these gains are not isolated to a few particular areas of our state. Every single county in Arizona has become MORE Republican since the 2024 election. That’s right. In the counties where Democrats have larger voter registration numbers than Republicans, the gap has closed. And in counties where Republicans have larger voter registration numbers than Democrats, the gap has widened. In fact, the gap between registered Republicans and Democrats in Maricopa County has increased by more than half a percent in just the past year.
Yet perhaps the most surprising trend behind this growing Republican advantage is that while Republicans have been able to register a lot of new voters, the same cannot be said for the Democrats…
>>> CONTINUE READING >>>
by Matthew Holloway | Oct 29, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Recent filings show Mesa City Councilwoman Julie Spilsbury raising $94,207 for her November 4 recall defense, including several Democratic donors and aligned figures.
Spilsbury, a two-term council member, entered the reporting period with a remaining balance of $1,631 from January filings before piling on over $90k in donations. Her total raised now exceeds her 2023 re-election campaign by nearly $30,000. She has reportedly spent $32,866 during the period, including $28,700 on consultant services.
Among Spilsbury’s donors are Tim Stringham, a Tempe Navy veteran and unsuccessful Democratic candidate for Maricopa County Recorder; Jennifer Pawlik, former Chandler Democratic state representative; and other individuals with Democratic ties.
Stringham contributed an unspecified amount, Pawlik gave $100, and former Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer gave $1,000, as reported by The Mesa Tribune.
Spilsbury also received $1,500 from the John Giles for Mayor Committee. Giles served as Mesa mayor for a decade before leaving office in January 2024 and has vocally supported both former President Joe Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris in their presidential campaigns.
In addition to the others named, Councilwoman Spilsbury’s donor list includes: Colleen Wheeler, a Mesa healthcare executive ($4,250); Yasser Sanchez, a Gilbert immigration attorney ($3,500); David Johnson, a Mesa real estate broker ($2,500); David Stahle, a Mesa financial consultant ($2,500); Mary “Marcie” Hutchinson, Mesa Public Schools Governing Board member ($1,000); Stan Barnes, Mesa Republican political consultant ($500); Sean Lake, Mesa land-use attorney ($500); Dennis Kavanaugh, former Mesa councilman ($100); Dr. Andi Fourlis, former Mesa Public Schools superintendent ($100); Lacy Chaffee, Mesa Public Schools Governing Board member ($100); and Richard Humpherys, husband of Gilbert Public Schools Governing Board member Jill Humpherys ($50).
The councilwoman also received $17,300 from political action committees, including $6,750 from United Mesa Firefighters, $6,750 from Moms Fed Up, and $2,500 from Country First.
Taylor, a political newcomer, reported expenditures of $5,717, including $4,072 to Mesa Sign Shop and $900 to Moir & Associates for consulting.
Taylor’s donors include: Earl Taylor, a Mesa retiree and founder of Heritage Academy charter school ($3,200); Scott Grainger, a Mesa forensic engineer ($2,000); David Winstanley, a Mesa retiree ($1,042); David Cummard, a Mesa insurance CEO ($1,000); Joseph Hughes, a Gilbert retiree ($1,000); and Melody Whetstone, who ran against Spilsbury in the 2023 primary ($105).
Taylor received $5,500 from PACs, including $5,000 from the Arizona Free Enterprise Club’s Freedom Club and $500 from the Home Builders Association of Central Arizona.
The recall petition, initiated by a resident with assistance from Turning Point USA, gathered 5,235 signatures, of which Maricopa County verified 3,858. The petition accuses Spilsbury of using her office to advance private interests, citing her votes in favor of a temporary homeless shelter in District 2, a council pay raise, and increases in residential and commercial utility rates. The shelter vote passed 4-3; the pay raise and utility rate increases passed unanimously 7-0.
Spilsbury’s support for an anti-discrimination ordinance extending protections to groups, including gender identity, has also been referenced in the recall effort. Taylor has connected Spilsbury’s shelter vote to homelessness issues in Mesa.
In December 2023, residents at a council meeting criticized Spilsbury and former Mayor John Giles for supporting Vice President Kamala Harris and other Democratic candidates in the presidential election. The Republican committees of Legislative Districts 9 and 10 passed resolutions censuring Spilsbury for campaigning on behalf of multiple Democrats.
In the July 2023 primary for District 2, Spilsbury received 8,120 votes, or 65.91%, out of 12,322 total votes cast. District 2 has 49,329 registered voters, according to the Mesa City Clerk.
Spilsbury and her supporters have canvassed neighborhoods every Saturday since early September. Taylor has conducted door-to-door outreach and met with voters in the district.
The city estimates the special election will cost at least $104,577. The winner will take office the day after the vote count. If Spilsbury retains her seat, she will serve through January 2029; if Taylor wins, she will complete the remainder of the term.
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 | Oct 26, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
Republicans have expanded their voter registration advantage over Democrats in Arizona to 333,255 registered voters, according to the latest October 2025 report released by the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office.
The newest data shows Republicans now total 1,603,141 registered voters (35.63%), compared to 1,269,886 Democrats (28.23%). Another 1,625,968 voters are registered as “Other,” which includes independents and minor parties such as Libertarians (32,026), No Labels (42,277), and Greens (5,212). Arizona’s overall active voter registration stands at 4,498,995.
Since July, Republicans have added 5,436 new voters, while Democrats lost 421, according to changes noted in the official quarterly report. Historical data compiled by the Secretary of State’s office shows this partisan gap widening steadily in recent years. Republicans led by 295,000 voters in 2024, 166,000 in 2022, and 130,000 in 2020. As of October 2025, that lead now surpasses 333,000 — the largest margin in nearly a decade.
County-level data reveals that Maricopa County, Arizona’s largest, remains a focal point of both parties’ registration efforts. The October report lists 940,727 registered Republicans, compared to 744,804 Democrats, giving the GOP a nearly 196,000-voter advantage in the county. In traditionally conservative counties like Yavapai, Mohave, and Pinal, Republicans maintain commanding leads, while Pima County continues to serve as the Democratic stronghold with 247,221 Democrats to 191,977 Republicans.
The data also shows continued growth in unaffiliated voters, reflecting Arizona’s independent streak. The “Other” category now represents more than one-third of all registered voters (34.37%), and its steady rise across counties — particularly in Maricopa, Pima, and Yuma — highlights how nonpartisan voters could decide close statewide races.
The voter registration update comes less than a year before the 2026 gubernatorial election, in which Republicans aim to unseat Governor Katie Hobbs (D). Political analysts note that while registration advantages can shape turnout dynamics, Arizona’s large share of unaffiliated voters keeps the state in competitive territory.
The report also tracks 409,091 inactive voters, those whose registration may need updating due to address or status changes. Among inactive registrations, Republicans slightly outnumber Democrats — 110,196 to 106,623 — though both parties show similar proportional shares. The next update from the Arizona Secretary of State is expected in early 2026. With voter registration surpassing 4.49 million and growing each quarter, Arizona remains one of the most closely watched swing states in the nation heading into the 2026 election season.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Oct 26, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Rep. Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ08) condemned top Democrats on Wednesday for casually acknowledging the hardships Americans face during the ongoing government shutdown — one they’ve prolonged while using it for political leverage.
“It’s reprehensible to see top Democrats admit that they’re willing to inflict pain on hardworking Americans to achieve their priorities,” Hamadeh posted on X. “It’s even worse when you consider those priorities are handouts to illegal immigrants & taxpayer-funded fake news.”
Hamadeh’s remarks followed comments from House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-MA), who, in a Fox News interview, described the shutdown as a rare opportunity for her party despite its toll on families.
“Shutdowns are terrible. And of course, there will be families that are going to suffer. We take that responsibility very seriously, but it is one of the few leverage times we have,” Clark said.
The full government shutdown stems from Democrats’ refusal to support a clean continuing resolution to maintain current funding levels through November. Instead, they are demanding $1.5 trillion in new spending, including $500 million for public broadcasters like NPR and PBS, and changes to narrow eligibility restrictions for government health care benefits under the “One Big Beautiful Bill,” according to Speaker Mike Johnson’s office. Those restrictions currently limit benefits like Medicare and premium tax credits to U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents, certain Cuban and Haitian immigrants, and Compact of Free Association migrants. Democrats seek to rescind them, potentially extending free health care to millions of Biden-era parolees from countries like Haiti and Venezuela—2.8 million of whom were admitted despite being “otherwise inadmissible,” per congressional testimony.
As of this report, Senate Democrats have now blocked shutdown-ending votes 11 times in the Senate alone, or 12 overall, including House actions, according to House Speaker Mike Johnson.
“This is now the longest full shutdown in American history. And yet again, Senate Democrats voted for the 11th time — 12 times overall, when you count House and Senate Democrats — to prolong the pain and keep the government closed,” Johnson said in a press conference on Tuesday.
President Donald Trump accused Democrats of “holding the entire federal government hostage” and vowed, “We will not be extorted on this crazy plot of theirs.”
The standoff has furloughed over 800,000 federal workers and contractors, delayed veterans’ benefits, and paused services such as FDA inspections, with ripple effects into the holiday season.
In an interview with KFYI host James T. Harris, Hamadeh stated, “There’s no way we’re going to give an inch on this… There’s nothing that we can negotiate,” when asked how long the Democrats might continue to block funding.
Democrat Senators under Minority Leader Chuck Schumer led the rejection of another clean bill Thursday that would have provided funding to pay the Armed Forces, Capitol Police, Border Patrol, Air Traffic Controllers, Congressional staffers, and “various essential federal workers,” according to Hamadeh. He wrote in a post to X, “It turns out that the ONLY people essential to the Democrats are their militant base and illegal immigrants.”
Later in the day, Hamadeh wrote, “The Democrats won’t support a clear CR, something they’ve done forever… why would you still think they’re going to honor the filibuster next time they’re in power? They’ll gut it so quickly and Republicans will look like fools. They’re unreasonable, manic, and controlled by the leftwing base that’s rewarding them with $$$ political donations. They have zero incentive. The uncomfortable truth is that we are no longer operating under the same rules — I wish we were, but it is not reality. It’s time for the Senate to exercise the nuclear option.”
Democrats previously supported 13 clean continuing resolutions during the Biden administration, a point Republicans have highlighted as inconsistent with their recent actions.
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.
