by Ethan Faverino | Jan 3, 2026 | News
By Ethan Faverino |
Former United States Senator from Arizona and a key figure in Republican leadership, Jon Kyl, has revealed that he has been diagnosed with dementia and is withdrawing from public life. In a heartfelt statement, Kyl expressed gratitude for his family’s support while acknowledging the challenges ahead.
“My family and I now head down a path filled with moments of joy and increasing difficulties,” said Kyl. “I am grateful beyond expression for their love and support, in these coming days as in all the days of my life. Despite this diagnosis, I remain a very fortunate man.”
Kyl first entered Congress in 1987, representing Arizona’s 4th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives until 1995. That year, he transitioned to the Senate, where he served Arizona from 1995 to 2013. During his final years in the upper chamber, Kyl rose to the position of Senate Minority Whip, the second-highest role in Republican Senate leadership.
Following his initial retirement from the Senate in 2013, Kyl’s expertise was called upon again in 2018 when former Arizona Governor Doug Ducey (R) appointed him to fill the vacancy left by the late Senator John McCain. Kyl served in this capacity through the fall of 2018 and played a pivotal role in the nomination of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, before resigning from the seat in December 2018.
As Kyl steps back from public engagements due to his health, his legacy as a dedicated public servant and advocate for Arizona remains firm. Friends, colleagues, and family have rallied around him, emphasizing the profound impact he has made on the nation.
Here are a few brief reactions from people directly impacted:
“Senator Jon Kyl was one of the first elected officials I met when I broke into politics at age 16, and I’ve looked up to him ever since. He was a staunch conservative, a noble statesman & a true public servant. Praying for him and his family and thankful for his life of service.” – Daniel Stefanski on X .
“A mentor, a friend and a confidant. Not sure I would have been Governor without his counsel and encouragement. Senator Jon Kyl is a giant set forth in the tradition of Arizona’s own Barry Goldwater. All my deepest love and prayers to him and the entire Kyl family,” posted former governor Doug Ducey on X.
“There is not a current or former GOP elected official or political staffer who hasn’t been positively impacted by Sen. Jon Kyl’s example of leadership, wisdom, and kindness. He’s a true statesman. He will face this with grit and humility,” said political consultant Sean Noble on X.
“Our state and nation are stronger thanks to Jon Kyl’s leadership and service. A brilliant legal mind and dedicated statesman, his impact is lasting — including at ASU. Now it’s our turn to be present and support Jon and his family in the days ahead,” posted ASU president Michael Crow on X.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Apr 8, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
A set of brand new polls from Kreate Strategies, released on last week, shows that Arizona Republicans favor Congressman Andy Biggs (R-AZ-05) in the upcoming 2026 Gubernatorial Primary Election by approximately a 5-to-1 margin. In a potential General Election matchup, Biggs maintains a two-point advantage over incumbent Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs. Previous polling showed Biggs with a one-point advantage.
The polls, shared by Sean Noble, President of American Encore, queried 842 GOP likely voters for the Primary Election and 1,070 likely voters (39% Republican, 32% Democrat, 30% No Party Preference) for the General Election. It has a margin of error of +/- 3.1%.
In a statement to AZ Free News, Noble wrote, “This poll is yet another indicator that Congressman Andy Biggs is the clear choice for Republicans to be their nominee against the failed policies of Governor Hobbs. It also shows that Biggs gives Republicans the best chance to defeat Governor Hobbs in November 2026.”
The polling revealed that Biggs holds a significant 54-point lead over fellow Republican contender Karrin Taylor Robson, 67% to 13%. He maintains a two-point lead over Hobbs 48% to 46% with 6% undecided. Conversely in the General Election polling Robson trails Hobbs 41% to 42% with 17% undecided.
Regarding favorability, the numbers around Biggs and Hobbs appear to have solidified along partisan lines with Hobbs showing 44% overall favorability and a 49% unfavorable view while Biggs holds a 49% favorability with only 33% of likely voters holding an unfavorable view. Robson’s favorability remains wide open but trending negative with 29% favorability, 44% unfavorable view, and 27% undecided.
Among Republicans specifically in the Primary race, Biggs holds an 86% favorability versus Robson who holds a 48% favorability.
In previous polling reported by AZ Free News in January and February, Congressman Biggs has consistently led the field in polls from Data Orbital, Kreate Strategies, and NicoPAC. He has seen the most movement in closing the gap with independent voters and increasing overall favorability.
Among Arizona voters top concerns are inflation, jobs, and costs with 27%, followed by immigration and border patrol with 21%, followed by quality of education and water policy with 9% and 8%, respectively. Among Republicans, immigration remains the top concern with 43% and 18% concerned with inflation, jobs, and cost of living.
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 | Feb 13, 2025 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
A new poll shows a possible shift in power that could unseat Democrat Gov. Katie Hobbs and potentially see Republicans regain control of the Arizona Governor’s office.
The poll was conducted by Kreate Strategies and commissioned by American Encore. It found that likely voters in the Arizona gubernatorial race prefer Congressman Andy Biggs over Gov. Hobbs in a head-to-head matchup by one point. Karrin Taylor Robson trails the Democrat incumbent in a head-to-head matchup by 2 points.
Notably, Biggs significantly closes the gap among No Party Preference (NPP) voters with only 13% undecided, while the matchup between Robson and Hobbs leaves a wide swath of undecided voters at 22%.
Congressman Biggs was also viewed more favorably than Hobbs and Robson with 42% finding him favorable versus Hobbs with 41% and Robson with 28%. The poll also indicated that Robson may be suffering from a lack of name recognition compared to her more prominent opponents.
In a statement to AZ Free News, American Encore President Sean Noble said, “This poll shows that Congressman Andy Biggs is the best positioned to recapture the Governor’s office for Republicans in 2026. We already know that it will be a challenging cycle with it being a mid-term for President Trump, so it is critical for Republican primary voters to nominate the candidate who has the best chance to beat Hobbs and be ready to go on day one. Andy Biggs is that candidate.”
When polled on whether Arizona is on the right or wrong track, the likely voters delivered a stern rebuke to Hobbs, which Noble said highlighted her vulnerability in the upcoming election.
Above all, the race for Governor in 2026 is shaping up to be a hotly contested election, with Biggs showing a massive early advantage in the primary over Robson, and Hobbs sitting in a precarious position.
Full poll available here. Crosstabs available here.
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 | Sep 3, 2024 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
An Arizona-based national organization is highlighting stories of famous Americans.
American Encore has started a series to showcase the “stories of exceptional Americans who have experienced their own path in the pursuit for perfection.”
The first three stories from American Encore are those of Abraham Lincoln, Alice Marie Johnson, and Damien Patton.
Sean Noble, the President of American Encore, said, “There has been a lot of criticism of our nation, its founders, and our history. People tend to forget that our founding documents talk about an aspiration of ‘a more perfect union.’ We are a country that strives to do better and better over time, and I think we need to recognize that we have in fact gotten better.”
Noble added, “But the nation doesn’t get better without the people getting better, so we wanted to tell individual stories about getting better to encapsulate that theme. We hope that it will inspire people to face their challenges and improve themselves, while demanding better leaders as well.”
In its showcase of Lincoln, American Encore writes, “If Lincoln had completely surrendered after any of his many political defeats, the United States may have disintegrated during or after the Civil War, altering the course of our entire planet. Yet because of his legendary perseverance and strength, Lincoln’s story still inspires millions of people around the globe.”
In its showcase of Johnson, American Encore writes, “From start to present, Alice has proven she embodies the power of second chances, bringing a steady stream of light to those around her as a force for good.”
And in its showcase of Patton, American Encore writes, “As an entrepreneur, engineer, and founder of Banjo, his groundbreaking work in real-time detection has left a lasting impact across multiple industries. Patton’s journey, characterized by both professional triumphs and personal transformation, is the quintessential picture of American grit.”
The organization promotes itself as “dedicated to helping our nation and its leaders rise to the test and to confront these challenges,” which it identifies as “the expansion of government bureaucracy, an assault on free enterprise, and challenges to America’s defense of freedom and democracy around the globe.” American Encore promises to “defend freedom, promote free markets, work to expand economic opportunity, and make the case for the American ideals of liberty and democracy, both at home and abroad.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
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