by Matthew Holloway | Jul 28, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona’s Democratic Governor Katie Hobbs traveled to Washington, D.C., on Wednesday to meet with Trump administration officials, including Secretary of the Interior Doug Burgum, to coordinate with federal authorities on the Dragon Bravo wildfire, which has claimed over 16,000 acres and is 26% contained as of this report. The move from Hobbs represents a rare departure from the governor’s antagonistic stance with Republicans in general, and the Trump administration in particular.
Along with Congressional leaders from both sides of the aisle, including fellow Democrats, Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, and Republican Congressmen Paul Gosar and Eli Crane, Hobbs has called for an investigation into the measures used to control the fire and the policies that led to it as well.
In a post to X, Hobbs stood for a photo-op with the former North Dakota Governor-turned-Interior Secretary writing, “I was glad to meet today with @SecretaryBurgum. We both agreed to work together to combat the Dragon Bravo Fire and rebuild from the destruction. The Secretary also committed to an independent review of the decisions made during the Dragon Bravo Fire containment process. This accountability is essential as we work to ensure this never happens again.”
Following a tour of the devastated National Park lands on the north rim of the Grand Canyon, Hobbs said, “This is federal jurisdiction, but fire doesn’t know that boundary, and we all have to work together.”
“Seeing the complexity that goes into managing an incident like this is helpful, and certainly, I feel good about going back to Arizonans and saying, ‘Look, everyone’s concerned about making sure that we’re protecting as much as possible, and that we can rebuild, because the Grand Canyon is so important to our state,’” Hobbs said.
Congressman Gosar said in a statement last week:
“I am concerned that the Dragon Bravo Wildfire is the direct result of recently inherited policies from the Biden Administration.
“We must not waver in our efforts to seek answers for the people of Arizona. Today, I call on Secretary of the Interior, Secretary Burgum, to seek answers for the people of Arizona, who want answers as to the causes of this disaster and what can be done to prevent tragedies like this in the future.
“The people of Arizona will not be calling for answers alone. I will continue to seek answers and solutions, because these wildfires deeply impact Arizonans and our state.”
Speaking with KAFF News Tuesday, Rep. Eli Crane described the fire’s devastation as “heartbreaking” and said, “Generations of Arizonans have made priceless memories at the North Rim, so this is a very tragic loss. I also want to see the North Rim built back bigger and better than ever.”
Answering a caller’s challenge to rebuild the historic Grand Canyon Lodge, lost to the flames, Crane said, “We will continue to do what we can on this issue. I know how important it is to Arizona and our district. Let’s also modernize it so it can be open year-round.”
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 | Jul 23, 2025 | News
By Jonathan Eberle |
In a tense and disorganized special meeting last week, the Arizona Democratic Party voted to remove Chair Robert Branscomb after just six months in office. The ouster followed months of infighting, public disputes with elected officials, union clashes, and growing concerns over the party’s financial health heading into the 2026 election cycle.
Branscomb, who was elected chair in January after unseating incumbent Yolanda Bejarano, faced mounting criticism from party leaders and lawmakers. Arizona’s top Democratic elected officials—including U.S. Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego, Governor Katie Hobbs, Attorney General Kris Mayes, and Secretary of State Adrian Fontes—issued a rare public rebuke earlier this year, expressing a loss of confidence in his leadership.
Despite technical problems that plagued the meeting, 476 party committee members voted to remove Branscomb through the party’s preferred voting method, surpassing the two-thirds threshold required by Arizona Democratic Party (ADP) bylaws. Some members cast votes by email due to glitches in the party’s online voting system, though the total vote count remains unclear.
“Today’s recall effort is rooted in misrepresentation, divisive tactics and does not reflect our democratic values,” Branscomb said during the meeting. He argued that his removal was not about party unity but about “distraction and dividing us at a time when unity is more important than ever.”
Several lawmakers and party officials cited concerns over Branscomb’s ability to lead Democrats to victory in the next election. “Donors have told me directly they’re sitting out until the party gets its act together,” said State Representative Aaron Márquez.
The July 16 meeting stretched on for hours as frustrations mounted over procedural confusion and technical failures. Several members said they did not receive links to vote on the quorum, raising fears that they would be disenfranchised. Over two and a half hours were spent troubleshooting the party’s online voting platform.
Much of the confusion appeared to stem from tensions between party officers and ADP Executive Director Michael Ruff, who was tasked with managing the voting system. Some staff members claimed in Zoom chat messages that they had offered to help with the process but received no response.
ADP Vice Chair Melissa Galarza criticized the disorganization, saying, “I just feel like this was not well planned, the staff was not prepared for it, Michael Ruff did not prepare us, we had a lack of conversation about this meeting.”
A new election to select the party’s next chair is scheduled for September. Branscomb has the option to challenge his removal in that meeting. Until then, ADP Vice Chair Kim Khoury will serve as interim chair.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by AZ Free Enterprise Club | Jun 9, 2025 | Opinion
By the Arizona Free Enterprise Club |
Heading into November’s election, the Democratic Party felt good. They thought they had the presidency locked up. And here locally, they were convinced that they would gain control of Arizona’s legislature after outspending Republicans in every single race.
Then, a massacre happened. President Trump was handed a mandate by the American people, and Democrats actually lost ground in our state legislature. That had to feel like rock bottom for the Left, and yet, as we’ve seen so far in 2025, it wasn’t.
On the heels of their historic defeat, the Arizona Democratic Party (ADP) faced accusations of financial wrongdoing from one of its leaders, just days before its convention and officer elections in January. Then, in April, the ADP saw even more infighting between party leadership and the state’s top Democratic elected officials: Governor Katie Hobbs, Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, Attorney General Kris Mayes, U.S. Senator Mark Kelly, and U.S. Senator Ruben Gallego. Now, the latest news shows that, according to its own leadership, the Arizona Democratic Party will actually go broke by the end of this year.
That’s a lot of dysfunction in just a few short months, which is usually the domain for Republicans. But now it appears the Dems have become the standard bearer of political chaos…
>>> CONTINUE READING >>>
by Matthew Holloway | Jun 9, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona Congressman Eli Crane (R-AZ02) introduced the bipartisan Legacy Mine Cleanup Act of 2025 alongside Arizona Democrats Rep. Greg Stanton (D-AZ04), Senator Mark Kelly, and Republican Senator Cynthia Lummis of Wyoming. In the proposed legislation, the Office of Mountains, Deserts, and Plains (OMDP) within the EPA, launched in 2020 under by President Donald Trump, would be codified into law.
The OMDP, which enhances coordination between federal, state, and tribal agencies in hardrock mining cleanup, would establish congressional oversight of the office as well.
According to Crane, the codification of the OMDP under this bill would:
- “Encourage the EPA to prioritize responsible mine cleanup in Arizona over green initiatives,
- Ensure proper congressional oversight of its progress,
- Bolster the OMDP’s outreach to ensure that local and Tribal authorities have a seat at the table for cleanup projects that impact their health and environment,
- Provide guardrails to keep the office’s efforts focused on mine cleanup.”
“As we work to support domestic mining of critical minerals, it’s crucial that we remain committed to doing so responsibly. The consequences of poor stewardship are detrimental for the health and safety of those living in rural Arizona, particularly on the Navajo Nation,” Rep. Crane said in a statement. “I’m proud to introduce this bipartisan legislation that would help ensure reasonable and timely cleanup and increased congressional oversight of the process.”
In a post to X, Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren publicly announced his support for the measure and thanked Rep. Crane and his co-sponsors.
“I want to thank Congressmen Eli Crane and Greg Stanton, Senators Mark Kelly and Cynthia Lummis, and all those involved in the introduction of the Legacy Mine Cleanup Act. This legislation is a critical step forward in addressing the long-standing health and environmental impacts of abandoned hardrock mines, especially on the Navajo Nation,” said Navajo Nation President Buu Nygren.
“By codifying the Office of Mountains, Deserts, and Plains at the EPA, this bill ensures Tribal nations like ours have a meaningful voice in mine cleanup efforts that directly impact our communities. We have lived with the consequences of these abandoned sites for far too long—this act represents accountability, cooperation, and real progress. Ahéheeʼ to everyone who has helped move this issue forward.”
“Abandoned hardrock mines put Arizona communities—especially Tribal nations—at a high risk of exposure to substances that are hazardous to their long-term health,” Rep. Greg Stanton said. “Our bipartisan legislation works to swiftly and responsibly mitigate this environmental threat, and makes sure Tribal and local authorities have a stronger voice in the process.”
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 | Jun 1, 2025 | News
By Staff Reporter |
The Arizona Democratic Party (ADP) will go broke by the end of this year, according to the party’s own leadership.
News of the party’s financial woes emerged after ADP’s executive committee rejected a budget from the party’s new chairman, Robert Branscomb, in a recent meeting per Arizona Republic reporter Mary Jo Pitzl.
ADP’s committee reportedly cited the current state of spending and low fundraising for the diminishing funds.
This new development emerged shortly after Branscomb suspended his vice chair, Kim Khoury, through email. Branscomb accused Khoury of working against him — accusations he’s leveled against others early on in his leadership.
“[You engaged] in political activity directed against party leadership while holding an executive officer role,” said Branscomb.
And in recent months, there were reports of infighting between party leadership and the state’s top elected Democrats.
In a tell-all email issued last month, Branscomb provided a 90-day “candidate update” in which he accused his predecessor, Yolanda Bejarano, of undermining him and both U.S. Senators Mark Kelly and Ruben Gallego of threatening him over his decision making. Kelly and Gallego were supportive of Bejarano’s reelection, as were Governor Katie Hobbs, Secretary of State Adrian Fontes, and Attorney General Kris Mayes.
In a joint response to the accusations, Fontes, Gallego, Hobbs, Kelly, and Mayes said they had only sought to support Branscomb from the beginning.
“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.”
ADP is facing financial struggles despite the millions in heavy outside spending given as assistance in key state legislative races across the state last fall — expenditures that surpassed the more successful Republicans, even.
In January, ADP faced accusations of financial wrongdoing from one of the ADP vice chairs at the time, Will Knight. The former treasurer, Rick McGuire, was accused of “self-dealing.” Bejarano denied Knight’s request for an audit of the party’s finances, and denounced the accusations as “defamatory” and “false and damaging.”
ADP’s troubles are consistent with the issues facing the national Democratic Party. Although Democrats outraised and outspent Republicans in last year’s election, they gained only one seat in the House and lost four seats in the Senate — resulting in a Republican control of the Senate that reflected the most gains for either party in a decade.
Major donors to the Democratic Party vented their frustrations to mainstream media this week.
“Why would I write a check when we’re losing everything? We’re losing the airwaves. We’re losing the tech battle. We’re losing the ground game. They have yet to prove that they have learned any real lessons yet,” said one donor anonymously. “So either people start to wake up or we lose again.”
A survey in March of Democratic voters by the Associated Press and NORC Center for Public Affairs Research found only one-third felt optimistic about the party’s future.
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