by Matthew Holloway | Jan 3, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
President Jimmy Carter passed away on December 29, 2024, at the age of 100. His death followed nearly two years in hospice care and the death of his wife, First Lady Rosalynn Carter, at age 96 in November 2023. In response to Carter’s passing, Arizona political leaders of both the Democratic and Republican parties offered rare and non-partisan expressions of sympathy and mourning.
The Arizona Republican Party succinctly posted, “Rest in Peace President Carter,” a simple direct message to address the passing of a political opponent.
The Arizona Democratic Party meanwhile offered a lengthier post writing, “The Arizona Democratic Party mourns the passing of Jimmy Carter, a man of profound humility, compassion, and dedication to humanity. President Carter moved our nation forward, from brokering peace in the Middle East to championing women’s rights.”
Arizona Senate Democrats courted controversy in their post writing, “Rest in Power,” as opposed to the traditional “Rest in Peace.”
One commenter replied, “Rest in power? Don’t disrespect a legendary man by saying something he wouldn’t have said. Recognize him for who he was.” Another chastised the AZ Senate Dems writing, “What dei hire wrote this? Rest in power? Lame.”
Embattled Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs offered the following: “President Jimmy Carter lived an exemplary life of service, fighting for peace and prosperity across the globe. On behalf of the State of Arizona, we send our love to the Carter Family and the millions worldwide whose lives are better because of President Carter’s legacy.”
Arizona’s Democrat Attorney General Kris Mayes wrote a lengthier post, sharing the story from The Washington Post: “America has lost a true servant leader. President Jimmy Carter’s century-long life was defined by his integrity, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to serving his country and his fellow man.”
She continued, “From his military service to his leadership in the White House — and his tireless work with Habitat for Humanity and global humanitarian efforts — he showed us what it truly means to live for others. Rest in peace, President Carter.”
Democrat Senator Mark Kelly highlighted Carter’s philanthropy after his presidency, in addition to his human rights work writing, “Always humble, President Carter showed us that public service isn’t limited to elected office. He leaves a legacy not just as a president, but as a great American who wore the uniform, built homes for his neighbors, and worked for human rights across the globe.”
Senator-elect Ruben Gallego, like his fellow Democrat Kelly, offered a short post of condolences writing, “A life dedicated to peace, justice, and compassion. Rest in peace, President Jimmy Carter. Sydney and I send our heartfelt condolences to the Carter family.”
Democrat Congressman Greg Stanton released a statement addressing Carter’s service as a naval officer, the Governor of Georgia, and his presidency. He wrote, “Above all, he was an honorable man with unimpeachable character. Guided by his deep Christian faith, he built homes for the needy and taught Sunday School well into his 90s. He set a fine example for each of us for what it means to love thy neighbor.”
On the Republican side of Congress, Congressman Andy Biggs called upon supporters to join in prayer “for the friends and family of President Jimmy Carter.” He wrote in full, “Please join me in praying for the friends and family of President Jimmy Carter. President Carter passed away this afternoon at the age of 100. I pray that peace surrounds all who knew and loved him. May he rest in peace.”
Congressman-elect Abe Hamadeh also highlighted Carter’s humanitarian work writing, “Yesterday, we lost a great humanitarian. President Jimmy Carter was a proud Navy veteran and compassionate humanitarian. He dedicated his life to serving his country and community. His legacy of kindness will never be forgotten. Rest in peace, President Carter.”
Rep. Juan Ciscomani kept his comment brief and simply stated, “May he rest in peace.”
Carter’s upcoming state funeral is slated for January 9th and could potentially run for ten days until the 19th, just one day prior to the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump. Amidst calls from the radical left for Trump to be barred from the proceedings, Arizona’s political figures largely kept remarks on the death of Carter civil and solemn in an example the rest of the nation could hopefully follow.
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 Daniel Stefanski | Dec 28, 2024 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
An individual with Arizona ties was just selected as one of America’s next international representatives.
Earlier this month, President-elect Donald J. Trump announced that he had nominated Leah Campos to be the U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic.
In a statement released to Trump’s Truth Social, he said, “I am pleased to announce that I will nominate Leah Francis Campos as United States Ambassador to the Dominican Republic. Leah served our Country as a CIA Case Officer before becoming Senior Advisor for the Western Hemisphere on the House Foreign Affairs Committee. Leah is a mother to four beautiful children, and comes from a family of Patriots. Her sister, the outstanding Rachel Campos-Duffy, of FoxNews, and brother-in-law Sean Duffy, who will be Secretary of Transportation, are also wonderful Patriots.”
President-elect Trump added, “Leah will take her love of Country, and commitment to our National Security and Prosperity, to her post as U.S. Ambassador to the Dominican Republic. Congratulations Leah!”
The selection of Campos was immediately greeted with praise from those who knew her. U.S. Congressman Juan Ciscomani said, “Congratulations to my friend Leah Campos! Very proud of all that you’ve done and excited for what you will continue to do.”
Heather Nauert, the former spokeswoman for the U.S. State Department under the first Trump Administration, weighed in on the nomination, saying, “Trump made phenomenal choice picking Leah Campos to be his ambassador to Dominican Republic. We first met when she was senior advisor for W Hemis at House Foreign Affairs Cmte. She has deep knowledge of the region & has done it all – counter narcotics etc. America will be safer!”
The Executive Director for the Center for a Secure Free Society, Joseph M. Humire, wrote, “Leah Campos has been quietly helping that US-Latin America relations stay strong for more than a decade. She will be one of our strongest ambassadors in the region. The Trump admin and the Dominican Republic are lucky to have her.”
Back in 2012, Campos ran for the U.S. House of Representatives in the new Ninth Congressional District in Arizona.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | Dec 26, 2024 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
A Republican Congressman is pushing back against a controversial report regarding one of America’s strongest allies.
Earlier this month, U.S. Congressman Juan Ciscomani reacted to a report from Amnesty International about Israel and its fight against terrorists, writing, “Amnesty International’s baseless accusation against Israel is not only false, it is an antisemitic attack against the Jewish state as it fights to defend its people against Iran-backed terrorist proxies. The U.S. must reject this dishonest attack and continue to stand firmly with our ally in its fight against terrorism.”
In that report, Amnesty International asserted, “There is only one reasonable inference that can be drawn from the evidence presented: genocidal intent has been part and parcel of Israel’s conduct in Gaza since 7 October 2023, including its military campaign.”
The Israel Defense Forces vigorously confronted the accusations, saying, “The report’s allegations of genocide and intentional harm are not only unfounded but also ignore Hamas’ violations of international law, including its use of civilians as human shields and its deliberate targeting of Israeli civilians.”
AIPAC took special umbrage against the report, releasing a lengthy statement in response. The pro-Israel organization stated, “Once again Amnesty International has issued a slanderous attack on Israel that amounts to a blood libel against the Jewish state. In reality, it is Israel that has been the victim of a genocidal attack that was launched by proxies of the Iranian regime that has vowed to eliminate the Jewish state. Israel is doing what any other country would do when faced with enemies that seek its elimination – it is fighting a just and moral war of self-defense.”
AIPAC added, “This outrageous report is just the latest in a long line of biased anti-Israel missives from Amnesty, whose U.S. branch is run by an individual who doesn’t believe Israel should exist as a Jewish state and has been unanimously criticized by House Jewish Democrats for his ‘alarming and deeply offensive’ views.”
Back in April, Congressman Ciscomani joined some of his colleagues on an official delegation visit to Israel. According to a press release from his office, Ciscomani “met with top Israeli officials, participated in a briefing with former Israel Defense Forces military personnel, heard from families of current hostages held by Hamas, and visited sites of the October 7 attacks. After his visit, Ciscomani said, “This trip has equipped me and my colleagues with a better understanding of what the Israeli people experience every day, and how the United States can continue to support them in this critical mission.”
Ciscomani was just re-elected to his second term in the U.S. House of Representatives in a critical swing-district seat to help Republicans maintain control of the chamber. He serves on the Appropriations and Veterans’ Affairs Committees; and he is a member of the Western, Border Security, Taiwan, School Choice, and DOGE Caucuses.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Staff Reporter | Nov 15, 2024 | News
By Staff Reporter |
The Arizona Democratic Party (ADP) indicated that top Democratic leaders were to blame for their party’s massive election losses at the state and federal levels.
In a statement from Arizona Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (ADLCC) reposted by ADP, executive director Elsa O’Callaghan said that “down-the-ballot Democrats” in Arizona and across the nation were unable to overcome “top-of-the-ticket” troubles. O’Callaghan didn’t specify what those troubles were or who was behind them.
“We are deeply grateful for the candidates who put their lives on hold and stepped up to run, the staff who gave it their all, and the supporters who donated their time and money to protect Arizona’s future. Final results are now tallied and Arizona’s legislative chambers will remain in Republican control. Across the country, down-ballot Democrats worked tirelessly to combat top-of-the-ticket trends. It is now clear that those trends proved to be insurmountable. Too much is at stake to abandon our mission — especially with an extreme presidential administration coming into power. The work continues.”
Donald Trump won Arizona by over 52 percent of the vote (1.7 million votes), where Kamala Harris gained over 46 percent of the vote (1.5 million votes) — a difference of nearly 187,000 votes among 3.2 million voters. Comparatively, Joe Biden won by .3 percent of the vote back in 2020, a difference of just over 10,400 votes among 3.3 million voters.
Arizona Republicans flipped a net total of three seats in the state legislature: one in the senate and three in the house (and the loss of one other seat). That grew the Republican majority to 17 in the Senate and 33 in the House.
In the Senate, Republicans flipped one seat: LD4, with Republican challenger Carine Werner ousting incumbent Democrat Christine Marsh by 52 percent of the vote (over 5,400 votes).
In the House, Republicans flipped three seats: LD4, with Republicans Pamela Carter and Matt Gress securing both seats; LD13, with Republicans Jeff Weninger and Julie Willoughby securing both seats; LD16, with Republicans Teresa Martinez and Chris Lopez securing both seats.
Democrats flipped one seat in the House: LD17, ousting Republican Cory McGarr for Democrat Kevin Volk while Rachel Jones retained her seat.
Arizona Democrats failed to flip any congressional seats. They also failed to win the hotly-contested District 6 seat held by incumbent Juan Ciscomani.
Democrats did successfully win the open Senate seat left by independent Kyrsten Sinema. Democrat Ruben Gallego emerged victorious over Republican Kari Lake, winning 50 percent of the vote over Lake’s 47 percent.
Although Democrats fell short of securing the Arizona legislature, they did see a certain win with a significant ballot reform.
Arizonans approved a constitutional right to abortion up to birth: 62 percent were in favor (1.9 million voters) versus 38 percent against (1.2 million voters).
However, Arizonans also approved a ballot measure to allow police to arrest illegal immigrants entering the U.S — 63 percent (1.9 million) were in favor, while 37 percent (1.1 million) were against.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | Nov 4, 2024 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
A southern Arizona Member of Congress responded to an insult from a Democrat surrogate in the closing days of the 2024 General Election.
Last week, U.S. Congressman Juan Ciscomani issued a statement in reaction to comments made by Mark Cuban, who is supporting the Democrat candidate for President of the United States, Kamala Harris. Cuban, who was on The View, ignited national outrage when he said, “Donald Trump, you never see him around strong, intelligent women. Ever.”
Soon after those words from Cuban were uttered, Ciscomani posted a picture of a number of women around him, including his wife and daughter, writing, “Proud to have strong and intelligent women supporting our campaign and defending this seat. I was raised by a strong woman, am married to a strong woman, and honored to have the support of strong women!”
Ciscomani’s wife, Laura, also responded to Cuban, saying, “First woman in my family to obtain higher ed, graduated from Stanford with high honors, and I have master’s degree too. By the way, I can deadlift more than what Mark Cuban weighs.”
The freshman Republican legislator is locked in a heated battle for a reelection bid with Democrat Kirsten Engel – a rematch from the 2022 November General Election. That year, Ciscomani won by fewer than 6,000 votes.
Ciscomani has received a number of endorsements from local and national organizations for his reelection bid, including the Tucson Police Officers Association, National Border Patrol Council, AZCOPS, Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Americans for Prosperity, National Federation of Independent Business, Republican Jewish Coalition, and AIPAC. Individuals supporting Ciscomani include Greenlee County Sheriff PJ Allred, Town of Willcox Mayor Mike Laws, City of Benson Mayor Joe Konrad, and City of Casa Grande Mayor Craig McFarland.
The winner of this contest for Arizona’s Sixth Congressional District will be critical for control of the U.S. House of Representatives in the 119th Congress.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
