by Matthew Holloway | Oct 4, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona Republican Congressman Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ06), Andy Biggs (R-AZ05), and Eli Crane (R-AZ02) have publicly vowed to forego their paychecks until the government shutdown, imposed by Senate Democrats, has been resolved. In contrast, Democratic Sen. Ruben Gallego told NBC News he can’t afford to miss one, saying, “I’m not wealthy, and I have three kids… So it’s not feasible, not gonna happen.”
In a post to X accompanying a letter to Congressional Chief Administrative Officer Catherine Szpindor, Ciscomani wrote Tuesday, “If our troops, border agents, and air traffic controllers aren’t paid in a shutdown, Congress shouldn’t get paid either. I’ll withhold my pay. Period. But it should never come to this – Washington, specifically Senate Democrats, must do its job and keep the government open.”
Rep. Eli Crane’s office issued a statement, saying, “As many of you are aware, the federal government officially entered a shutdown yesterday. While the House of Representatives passed a funding extension through November 21, 2025, the measure still requires 60 votes in the U.S. Senate before heading to the President’s desk.
“Unfortunately, only two Democrats and one Independent currently support this effort, meaning the government will remain shut down until five more Democrats vote in favor of the bill.
“In the meantime, Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ) has requested that his pay be withheld for the duration of the shutdown. He believes it is inappropriate to receive a salary while many Americans are furloughed or facing delayed paychecks.”
In a post to X, Biggs, amidst a campaign for Arizona Governor, also shared a letter to Szpindor, similarly asking that his pay be withheld, writing, “Members of Congress are no more important than American citizens. I’m asking for my pay to be withheld until the Democrats come to their senses and reopen the federal government. Many congressional Republicans made the same request. Our Democrat colleagues can’t say the same.”
According to NBC News, when asked about the vows from other members of Congress, Gallego responded, “I’m not wealthy, and I have three kids. I would basically be missing, you know, mortgage payments, rent payments, child support… So it’s not feasible, not gonna happen.”
Crane, alongside Rep. Ralph Norman (R-SC), has cosponsored a constitutional amendment designed to prohibit any congressional lawmakers from receiving any payment during future government shutdowns and would even prevent them from claiming back pay.
In a post to X, Norman was direct writing, “No back pay either!!” He also stated, “During shutdowns, federal workers are told to ‘do more with less.’ Meanwhile, Congress still cashes paychecks. That’s wrong.“
Rep. Ciscomani blasted Gallego’s response in a statement, saying, “Senator Gallego should be ashamed of himself. We represent thousands of federal government employees – men and women in our Armed Forces, the Border Patrol, air traffic controllers, and many, many others. They, too, have mortgage payments, rent payments, and child support. This shutdown isn’t ‘feasible’ for them, either. Senator Gallego’s response to this shutdown is an embarrassment. It’s selfish. He should be leading by example, not thinking of himself.”
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 | Sep 30, 2025 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
Congressman Andy Biggs (AZ-05) is the clear frontrunner in the Arizona Republican gubernatorial primary, leading businesswoman Karrin Taylor Robson by a 24-point margin, according to an exclusive Pulse Decision Science poll.
The survey conducted September 8-10, 2025, among 502 likely Republican primary voters, shows Biggs commanding 55% of the vote compared to Robson’s 31%, with 14% of voters undecided.
The poll highlights Biggs’ strong position as he and Robson look to challenge incumbent Governor Katie Hobbs in the 2026 general election.
If Rep. David Schweikert (AZ-01) were to enter the race, the survey indicates he would place third with just 11% of the vote, while Biggs maintains a 22-point lead over Robson, in a three-way contest, getting 48% to Robson’s 26% and Schweikert’s 11% with 15% undecided.
In a head-to-head matchup, if Robson dropped out of the race, Biggs would still be on top with 61% to Schweikert’s 23%.
“Congressman Andy Biggs enters August as the clear favorite in the GOP Primary Election and stands well-positioned as the strongest candidate to defeat Katie Hobbs in November 2026,” said Drew Sexton, a spokesperson for Biggs. “He’s the only candidate to be endorsed by President Donald J. Trump and Charlie Kirk, the only candidate with an impeccable conservative voting record, and the only candidate with the governing experience at the state and federal level to provide strong leadership for Arizona from Day One.”
Biggs’ campaign is further booming, with Turning Point USA’s PAC investing around $500,000 in his favor, as announced back in June.
Rep. Eli Crane (AZ-02) noted that Biggs can effectively spread conservative messages without creating enemies.
“I don’t know if you’ve ever spent much time with Biggs. But unlike a lot of America First fire-breathers that fire up the crowd, Biggs is kind of a happy warrior,” said Crane. “He’s got friends everywhere, and it’s not to say that there are some people that you know are in opposition to him, but he doesn’t pick personal fights with people. He keeps everything professional.”
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Sep 27, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
The sniper attack on a U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility in Dallas has sparked a wave of reactions from Arizona politicians, reflecting a deeply divided political landscape.
In the attack, a 29-year-old gunman named Joshua Jahn killed one ICE detainee and critically wounded two others before ending his own life. The shooting was described by authorities as a targeted attack, with “anti-ICE” messages found inscribed on ammunition at the scene.
At the federal level, Arizona’s congressional delegation has been vocal, though not uniformly so. Congressmen Andy Biggs (R-AZ-05) and Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ08) were among the first to respond. Biggs condemned the violence and offered prayer for the affected families, writing, “Violence against our courageous law enforcement officials is completely unacceptable. I am praying for our @ICEgov agents and their families while we await more details.”
Hamadeh posted to X, highlighting the emerging evidence of the crime being motivated by anti-ICE sentiment, writing, “Anti-ICE messages carved on the bullet casings. Another militant left-wing shooter inspired by the media and the left’s constant demonization of our law enforcement officers. These brave men and women are tasked with enforcing our immigration laws and protecting our homeland, and for that, these radicals have put a target on their backs.”
Congressman Eli Crane (R-AZ02) shared posts from the Department of Homeland Security and President Donald Trump throughout the morning and wrote succinctly, “This violence must stop.”
In a Thursday post sharing a video from Benny Johnson, he added, “I stand with ICE. Their critical efforts are only necessary because of the border crisis forced upon everyday Americans by Joe Biden and whoever was really calling the shots while he was dozing off in the White House.”
Democrat Rep. Greg Stanton (D-AZ04) addressed the attack as well, calling it “Shocking, senseless news out of Dallas this morning.” He posted, “Violence of any kind has no place in America and tears our communities apart. As details continue to emerge about the shooting, we grieve with the families who lost loved ones and pray for the wounded.”
At the state level, the Republican Party of Arizona issued a statement regarding the shooting within the broader context of rising attacks on ICE agents.
“The rise in attacks on our ICE agents is no accident,” the party wrote on X. “In Dallas, a shooter opened fire on an ICE office with ‘ANTI-ICE’ bullets. Here in Arizona, we’ve seen protests escalate into violent clashes with law enforcement during ICE operations. When lawless mobs target the men and women keeping our communities safe, it’s time to draw the line. Arizona stands with ICE and every officer on the frontlines. Enough is enough — attacks on law enforcement will not be tolerated.”
Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem called the attack a “wake-up call.” She wrote in a statement:
“For months, we’ve been warning politicians and the media to tone down their rhetoric about ICE law enforcement before someone was killed. These horrendous killings must serve as a wake-up call to the far-left that their rhetoric about ICE has consequences. Comparing ICE Day-in and day-out to the Nazi Gestapo, the Secret Police, and slave patrols has consequences. The men and women of ICE are fathers and mothers, sons and daughters. They get up every morning to try and make our communities safer. Like everyone else, we just want to go home to our families at night. The violence and dehumanization of these men and women who are simply enforcing the law must stop. We are praying for the victims and their families.”
In Arizona, where border security is a profound and omnipresent issue, the incident resonates deeply given the prominent role of ICE throughout the state. Past protests and counter-protests related to ICE activities, some of which have turned violent, are fresh in the minds of many Arizonans and the threat of further violence looms large.
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 | Sep 23, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona Republican and conservative leaders gathered at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on Sunday for the Charlie Kirk Memorial, describing a unified scene filled with worship music and a spirit of revival.
In a radio appearance with James T. Harris of the Conservative Circus on 550 KFYI, Congressman Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ08) set the scene, telling the host, “James, the energy and the atmosphere was incredible. You know, Charlie was this 31-year-old man. His life was taken so short. Yet, you see so many people coming in, and there’s a sense of revival there, right? I mean the whole service was perfectly executed by Turning Point, especially given the quick turn around. I mean my God, they filled State Farm Stadium plus Desert Financial Credit Union Arena or Desert Diamond Area, rather, just across the street. So, you have almost 100,000 or over 100,000 people celebrat[ing] the life of Charlie Kirk. And it wasn’t just a political rally, James. I mean there was a prayer, there was worship music. I mean…the energy was different than any other rally I’ve been to.”
In an interview with Piers Morgan on Monday, Acting CEO of the U.S. Agency for Global Media Kari Lake said the feeling at the event was, “Definitely unity.”
She explained, “We were there to remember a friend, a great patriot, a great American, a great Christian, and it was extraordinary. I mean, the whole event started with hours of worship music by the biggest, you know, performers in Christian music…Getting there… was… it was almost impossible. I mean, every road going in was filled with standstill traffic, and people were walking from miles away.”
Lake added, “This was a group of Americans who love this country, a patriotic group, many of whom were Christians, all of whom love Charlie Kirk for the strong message he shared, for the peaceful way that he spread the word of our Constitution and our freedoms. And even the politicians that were there were talking about that. We’ve got to start coming together as a country, and that doesn’t mean we give up what we believe in, but we can no longer tolerate the crime, the violence that is coming at us, and we’ve sat down and taken it for a long time. Now we’re standing up, and we refuse to take it.”
Congressman Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ06) shared images to X from the event and wrote, “Charlie lived by prioritizing his faith — and he did so without hesitation while inspiring many. This allowed our youth the courage to lead with their faith and have a political position based on who you are as a person and what you believe in your heart. It’s a very important message. Today’s service is a reflection of who Charlie was — centered on his beliefs with strong conservative values.”
During the memorial, Congressman Eli Crane (R-AZ02) shared a personal anecdote about his friendship with Kirk, writing, “Darkness will never be able to overcome light. There may be moments where it appears that all is lost. This story we live in will have many more dark moments, and I can promise you this, light will ultimately overcome it all.”
He added, “I’m grateful to have been able to call Charlie a friend. He inspired me and so many others. He showed us that places like academia weren’t lost but void of light. He became that light and started a movement that will eclipse in his death what he built in life. Though we will miss our friend and true patriot. We will never forget him, and we will carry on the work that fueled him. To be bold, speak truth, and point others to Christ.”
Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen shared photos from the memorial, commenting, “With tens of thousands ready to remember, honor, and celebrate the life of Charlie Kirk. Never seen anything like this.”
State Senator T.J. Shope (R-LD16) shared them as well and wrote, “Truly amazing sights coming out of State Farm Stadium today! We’re watching at home like millions of others but am glad @votewarren and thousands of others are in the building to pay respects to the great @charliekirk11!”
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 | Sep 2, 2025 | Economy, News
By Matthew Holloway |
Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ02) and the U.S. Small Business Administration announced last week that low-interest federal disaster loans are now available. The aid applies to businesses, nonprofits, and tribal nations that suffered losses from the Dragon Bravo and White Sage fires on the Grand Canyon’s North Rim and Kaibab Plateau.
The SBA has since announced that a series of meetings will be held across Coconino County, with in-person mobile services available to assist with the application process.
According to a press release from Rep. Crane, “These loans are intended to cover working capital needs and operating expenses that could have been paid had the disasters not occurred.”
The Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) is available to eligible businesses, small agricultural cooperatives, nurseries, and PNPs with financial losses directly related to the disaster. However, the administration noted it is “unable to provide disaster loans to agricultural producers, farmers, or ranchers, except for aquaculture enterprises.”
The purpose of the loans, as explained by the SBA, is “for working capital needs caused by the disaster, and are available even if the business did not suffer any physical damage. They may be used to pay fixed debts, payroll, accounts payable, and other bills that could have been paid had the disaster not occurred.”
As of this report, the Dragon Bravo fire has burned 145,504 acres and is 64% contained. It has cut a smoldering path of destruction from the north rim of the Grand Canyon along both sides of Arizona State Route 67 reaching as far as House Rock Valley and then along the east side of the State Route for nearly another twenty miles, leaving a scar almost 16 miles wide at its widest point.
The White Sage fire burned nearly 59,000 acres and was completely contained as of August 21st after spreading in a widening eastward arc from White Sage flat through the Kaibab National Forest toward Coyote Valley.
For more information about the SBA EID loans or to apply, please click here, call SBA’s Customer Service Center at (800) 659-2955, or email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov.
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.
