by Matthew Holloway | Oct 14, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
The Maricopa County Democratic Party is expected to launch removal proceedings against former State Representative and current Tolleson Union High School Board president, Leezah Sun, from her official party positions this month. Sun, a precinct committeeman and Legislative District 22 chair, is expected to be ousted during the party’s Oct. 27 executive meeting.
The news of the party’s plans comes in the wake of the latest fallout from Sun’s conviction and sentencing to 24 months probation for violating a restraining order against three Tolleson city employees.
Sun, an activist politician known for her consistently disruptive tactics, was slapped with probation last week after a judge extended the restraining order for two years, stemming from repeated contacts with city staffers. The Democrats’ removal request, filed by local activists, cites her legal troubles as a “liability” to the party, according to documents obtained by 12News reporter Brahm Resnik.
Resnik explained in a post to X on Thursday, “Former Dem state lawmaker & current Tolleson Union School Board President Leezah Sun sentenced to 24 months’ probation for violating restraining order to stay away from 3 City of Tolleson employees. Restraining order extended for 2 years.”
On Friday, the situation evolved to include Sun’s possible ouster by Maricopa County Democrats with the 12News reporter writing, “UPDATE Leezah Sun faces removal as precinct committeeperson & #LD22 chair by @MaricopaDems during Exec Ctte meeting Oct. 27.”
He later provided a screenshot of a letter from Patti O’Neil, Chair of the Maricopa County Democratic Party.
In the letter provided by Resnik, O’Neil wrote in part:
“I am writing to express my serious concern for the safety and well-being of MCDP Precinct Committeepersons (PCs) and volunteers in Legislative District 22. It has come to my attention that Chair Leezah Sun has once again violated the order of protection against her. For this reason, I feel it is necessary to take the steps to remove her as a PC. Under the MCDP Bylaws, the Chair can appoint a District Board from another District to conduct the removal proceeding.”
O’Neil justified Sun’s removal and laid out the process under Democratic Party bylaws before concluding, “I have been very patient about this individual’s behavior. She has consistently displayed aggressive behavior. For the safety and security of those volunteering in LD 22, I hope you consider accepting the duty of reviewing the facts to remove her as a PC.”
This isn’t Sun’s first brush with controversy. She resigned from the state House in 2024 amid ethics complaints and has been the subject of several issues among Tolleson Democrats since winning her school board seat in 2024.
The attempt to remove Sun comes as LD22—a battleground district in the West Valley—gears up for 2026 midterms. As the October 27 meeting looms, LD22 Dems appear to be seeking replacements in the event of Sun’s removal.
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 Staff Reporter | Apr 22, 2025 | News
By Staff Reporter |
The Arizona Democratic Party (ADP) is strained by infighting, with party leadership and top elected Democrats at odds.
ADP Chairman Robert Branscomb issued a tell-all email over the weekend revealing the politics within the party. Branscomb’s email — styled as “a candidate update on the past 90 days” — focused primarily on accusing his predecessor of undermining him and both U.S. Senators of threatening him over his decision making.
Sens. Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego supported Branscomb’s opponent for the chairmanship, Yolanda Bejarano — as did Governor Katie Hobbs, Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, and Attorney General Kris Mayes.
Branscomb accused the party’s former executive director, Morgan Dick, of resistance and “outright obstruction” during the transition. Branscomb alleged false accusations were made against him in staff chats; banking information was withheld; the state party workspace was emptied of computers, furniture, and transitional documents; and staff were encouraged to resign. For those reasons, Branscomb said, he let Dick go and replaced her with political director Michael Ruff. Dick denied Branscomb’s allegations.
Following Dick’s removal, Branscomb alleged Senator Kelly attempted to control his staffing decisions. Then, following Ruff’s appointment, Branscomb alleged both senators threatened to withdraw their support for the party.
“Let me be clear: no state party chair should be threatened or intimidated by any elected official for making a decision in the best interest of our party,” said Branscomb. “The idea that both Arizona Senators would withdraw support because I did not choose their preferred candidate is not only troubling — it’s a threat to the integrity and independence of our party. I will not be coerced, and I will not be silenced.”
Kelly, Gallego, Hobbs, Fontes, and Mayes issued a joint response disputing Branscomb’s claims. The state’s top Democratic elected officials vowed they had met with Branscomb regularly and supported him through the transition. However, they didn’t express surprise at the publication of Branscomb’s letter.
“We’ve spent the last several months meeting regularly with the chair and working to support the party through the transition,” read the statement. “Unfortunately, his statement today includes many false claims and is the kind of bad-faith response we’ve come to expect from the new leadership over the last several weeks.”
Following the Saturday letter from the ADP chair, LD22 Democrats experienced a more localized form of infighting at their Monday meeting. The Arizona Republic’s Mary Jo Pitzl reported precinct committee members had attempted unsuccessfully to remove their district’s entire board, specifically citing displeasure with newly elected district chair Leezah Sun.
Sun couldn’t attend the LD22 Democrats meeting in person due to an active restraining order against her. Sun earned the restraining order following workplace harassment complaints filed by city of Tolleson employees; a Maricopa County Superior Court judge found Sun to be a threat to the employees’ physical safety and barred her from contacting the employees or entering the Tolleson Civic Center.
Sun was formerly a lawmaker in the state legislature. Sun resigned from the House last February to avoid expulsion after the House Ethics Committee found she violated ethics rules with a pattern of disorderly behavior. Undeterred by effectively having been ousted from the legislature, Sun ran for and won a seat on the Tolleson Union High School District governing board. The board also elected her to be their president.
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