A staple of Arizona’s most conservative coalition of lawmakers is running to rejoin the state legislature.
Anthony Kern is seeking to once again represent the 27th legislative district, held by incumbent Republican State Sen. Kevin Payne. Kern and Payne are the only two Republicans in the race; three Democrats have filed statements of interest.
Kern last represented that district in the Arizona Senate from 2023 to 2025. Kern departed from the state legislature in order to make his unsuccessful run for the 8th Congressional District in 2024. Prior to the state senate, Kern represented the 20th legislative district in the Arizona House of Representatives from 2015 to 2021.
While in the legislature, Kern built a reputation as one of its more outspoken conservative members. This was reflected by his membership with the Arizona Freedom Caucus, and A-ratings for conservative lawmaking from the Conservative Political Action Committee, NumbersUSA, American Conservative Union, National Rifle Association, and Keep Arizona Free.
Kern held a number of committee leadership positions, including chairmanships of the Senate Judiciary and Elections Committee and the House Rules Committee, and a vice chairmanship of the Senate Public Safety Committee.
President Donald Trump and Turning Point USA have been among a number of Republican powerhouses to take notice of Kern. Trump commended Kern as “an incredible fighter for election integrity,” and pardoned him from the 2020 Trump electors case put together by the Biden Department of Justice. Turning Point USA’s affiliate, Turning Point Action, has endorsed Kern.
Although the federal charges against Kern and other electors were dropped, Democrat Attorney General Kris Mayes has pursued her own case. A court of appeals ruled last month in a loosely related case that Mayes illegally withheld communications in which she conspired with States United Democracy Center to prosecute Trump’s allies.
Prior to joining the legislature over a decade ago, Kern worked in municipal code enforcement and other public safety roles in the West Valley.
It appears that this background — combined with his repeated public commitments to limiting administrative rulemaking and expanding legislative oversight of regulations — has influenced a take from Kern that puts him at odds with other Republican lawmakers, though not with fellow conservatives.
Kern’s platform includes an opposition to automatic license plate readers (APLRs), such as the Flock Safety cameras. Unlike Kern, Payne as chairman of the Senate Public Safety Committee sponsored a bill in support of APLRs earlier this year, SB 1111.
Other aspects of Kern’s platform include healthcare reform, proposing health providers must offer one single price for products and services, and health insurance premiums and medical expenses must be tax-free; and private property protections, proposing a removal of certain alleged loopholes to squatter prevention laws.
Kern has described himself as pro-life, an election integrity advocate, an opponent to illegal migration, and a supporter of parental rights and school choice.
He has lived in LD27 for nearly 40 years and attends Fresh Start Church in Peoria.
The Arizona Clean Elections Commission is scheduled to host the LD27 primary debate on June 22.
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Arizona Congressman David Schweikert (R-AZ01) announced his candidacy for Governor of Arizona on Tuesday and will face fellow Republicans Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ05) and Karrin Taylor Robson in the 2026 Primary.
In a statement to The Hill, Schweikert said, “Arizona is at a crossroads that will be decided by the outcome of next year’s race for governor. Arizonans will have the opportunity to decide if our future is one of economic growth and prosperity for all Arizonans, or a future where we become another California.”
“I’ve spent my career fighting for conservative pro-growth policies that strengthen the economy, promote job growth, and protect taxpayers, and that’s exactly what I intend to do as Arizona’s next governor,” he added.
Speaking to James T. Harris on 550 KFYI on Wednesday, Schweikert said, “Washington, D.C., particularly Congress, is unredeemable,” adding, “Congress is unsavable. I think Arizona, though, is savable.”
The congressman’s decision to join the race has generated mixed responses within the Arizona Republican Party and among top conservative figures. Tyler Bowyer and key figures in Turning Point Action and Turning Point USA have thrown their endorsement behind Biggs. Both Biggs and Taylor Robson were endorsed by President Donald Trump in April, but he has not yet commented on Schweikert’s bid as of this report.
Robson campaign advisor Jeff Glassburner said in a statement, “Our campaign welcomes Congressman Schweikert to the campaign trail. He is a career politician with a well-documented history of opposing President Trump, including abandoning his district at a critical time when President Trump and House Republicans relied on his presence to secure re-election and maintain our House majority. This comes after earlier this year, when he ‘slept’ through and didn’t vote for the President’s marquee piece of legislation, the Big Beautiful Bill,” according to the Arizona Daily Independent.
The Biggs campaign reacted by stating, “No matter what the field looks like, polls have been clear: Arizona Republican primary voters are supporting our campaign. We’ll keep working and building on our lead over the coming months.” He also linked to a recent poll that shows Biggs in a commanding lead over both Robson and Schweikert.
No matter what the field looks like, polls have been clear:
Arizona Republican primary voters are supporting our campaign. We’ll keep working and building on our lead over the coming months. pic.twitter.com/Q0FRi5sw6u
Schweikert’s decision to challenge Arizona’s incumbent Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs will require him to vacate his District 1 Congressional seat, rated by Cook Political as an R+1 ‘Toss-up.’ By comparison, the district 5 seat opened by Rep. Andy Biggs’ run for Governor is far more secure at R+10. This state of affairs was commented upon by Arizona State Senator Jake Hoffman, who openly criticized Schweikert for his decision and accused AZGOP Chairwoman Gina Swoboda of influencing him to do so in a post on X on Tuesday.
Hoffman wrote, “Well, this tweet aged well. The AZGOP Chair worked behind the scenes to push Schweikert to run for Governor. Now one of America’s most important House swing districts is in jeopardy. And she’s put the congressional majority for @realDonaldTrump at risk. Very stupid.”
Well this tweet aged well.
The AZGOP Chair worked behind the scenes to push Schweikert to run for Governor.
Now one of America’s most important House swing districts is in jeopardy.
And she’s put the congressional majority for @realDonaldTrump at risk.
Swoboda denied the accusations, stating officially that she follows the AZGOP bylaws, which prohibit her from endorsing candidates in the primary.
The Arizona Freedom Caucus also criticized the retiring congressman, writing, “David Schweikert is losing his own congressional district to Biggs in the Governor’s race polling TRUE STORY: David was over being in Congress, but his ego, and the ego+bank acct of his consultant, refused to let him just gracefully retire They chose to divide the GOP instead.”
A recent Pulse Decision Science poll showed Biggs as the clear frontrunner in the Arizona Republican gubernatorial primary.
Turning Point USA held a vigil for Charlie Kirk at the Desert Financial Arena at Arizona State University on Monday. Thousands of people, young and old, showed up to honor the life of Kirk.
According to an email from Turning Point USA’s ASU Chapter, the vigil to remember Kirk, who was assassinated on Wednesday, was held under high security conditions with a ‘clear bag’ policy in effect and a prohibition on any banners, flags, and signs of any shape or size in the arena.
Initially, student attendance was prioritized on Sunday, September 14th, with general attendees asked to join a waiting list; however, by Sunday evening, the restriction was removed, and all attendees were invited to RSVP.
Tyler Bowyer, COO of Turning Point Action, wrote in a post to X, “Please join us tonight to celebrate his life and pray. We have a long week ahead of us and the entire Turning Point ecosystem feels your love and prayers. The students in particular deserve to feel it, especially in such a memorable place for us. ASU!”
In an email, Dr. Owen Anderson, faculty advisor of the chapter wrote:
“I hope you can join us tonight. To understand what Charlie Kirk was doing, you have to remember his context.
Charlie was debating edgy university students who often used profane language and hurled insults at conservatives and Christians. He wasn’t playing cards at a retirement home.
In a setting where anti-Christian professors were never challenged, and where many Christian intellectuals felt pressured to compromise with leftism and remain silent, Charlie Kirk changed all of that.
Suddenly, conservative and Christian students felt they could speak up and defend their beliefs. They saw how wrong it was to pay tuition for ideological training camps. Charlie inspired them to have courage. And being courageous is loving because it presents the truth to students who are captive to unbelief.”
Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist leader and co-founder of Turning Point USA and Turning Point Action, was silenced by an assassin’s bullet at Utah Valley University (UVU) on Wednesday.
As Kirk took questions in his well-known debate format, seated beneath a tent as part of The American Comeback Tour, a single loud shot rang out across the open air.
Kirk was addressing a question on the recent string of mass shootings involving transgender Americans in what would be his last public exchange.
“Do you know how many transgender Americans have been mass shooters over the last 10 years?” Kirk was asked.
“Too many,” Kirk replied.
The individual answered that there were five.
“Do you know how many mass shooters there have been in America over the last 10 years?” Kirk was then asked.
He responded, “Counting or not counting gang violence?”
Within a fraction of a second, Kirk was shot and seen reacting immediately as it struck the left side of his neck. He bled profusely and slumped to the ground.
Kirk was rapidly airlifted from the scene to an area hospital where he was pronounced dead a little over two hours later.
A person of interest was arrested shortly after the shooting at the university but was later released. However, at 3:31 p.m. MDT, FBI Director Kash Patel announced the arrest of a second subject, who was also subsequently released after questioning. The assassin is still at large as of this report.
Turning Point USA is based in Arizona and has been a major force in state and local politics as well as on the national scale since Kirk moved the organization’s headquarters from Chicago to Phoenix in 2018.
Arizona officials from both sides of the aisle issued statements following the assassination of Kirk. Arizona House Speaker Steve Montenegro stated, “God bless American hero Charlie Kirk and his family. His horrific assassination today is a devastating tragedy that strikes at the heart of our nation. Charlie was a fearless voice who inspired millions with his faith, his devotion to freedom, and his conviction to defend America’s founding principles.”
Montenegro added, “This was political terrorism. Violence aimed at silencing any voices must be confronted and dealt with justly and without hesitation. Charlie is now with his Heavenly Father, but his legacy will endure in the movement he built, the young people he awakened, and the truth he spoke without apology.”
Congressman Andy Biggs issued a statement on X, saying, “Erika and Charlie’s young children are in my family’s prayers as I know the Lord will cover them in love. Cindy and I ask everyone to continue praying and sending strength to the Kirk family. We have tragically lost a tremendous leader and a friend. But his most important role was as a loving husband, father, and devout Christian who shared his faith unapologetically. Charlie Kirk was an inspiration to an entire generation and will be remembered as someone who changed the course of our country.”
Erika and Charlie's young children are in my family's prayers as I know the Lord will cover them in love. Cindy and I ask everyone to continue praying and sending strength to the Kirk family.
We have tragically lost a tremendous leader and a friend. But his most important role… https://t.co/5FOonkQvXL
In a post to X, Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen responded to Kirk’s assassination, saying, “I am absolutely shocked, sickened, and outraged to hear about the passing of Charlie Kirk. Today was a dark day where evil was on full display. He was singular, indispensable, and irreplaceable. America will not be the same without him.”
The top-ranking Democrats in Arizona, Governor Katie Hobbs and Attorney General Kris Mayes, condemned “the violent attack” and “the horrific act of violence against Charlie Kirk,” respectively.
Congressman Abe Hamadeh (R-AZ08) wrote in a statement:
“Charlie Kirk was a force to be reckoned with. He was a Happy Warrior for the conservative cause.
He was martyred doing what he did best – talking to young people and sharing ideas. That is what is supposed to happen on our college campuses, and throughout our country: sharing diverse opinions and entertaining others’ points of view in the pursuit of a brighter future.
We will not let a lone gunman snuff out the bright fire Charlie lit in the hearts of young patriots who share the America First agenda and make up the Make America Great Again Movement, nor will we stop our efforts to bridge the political divide through conversation.
We will carry on what he started and build on his lasting legacy of inspiring the next generation of American leaders.
I urge everyone to join me in praying for the soul of this faithful patriot, his beautiful family, and our country.”
Video footage of Senator Ruben Gallego donning an apron and flipping burgers for the cameras in Iowa appears to show the publicity stunt backfiring on the Arizona Democrat as a chorus of merciless boos could be heard arising from the heckling crowd.
The video, shared by Turning Point Action Field Representative John J. Trotta IV, picked up traction on X with Trotta writing, “Ruben Gallego gets overwhelmingly booed while flipping patties at the Iowa State Fair. Iowans see right through radical Ruben and know he’s nothing but a fraud!”
Ruben Gallego gets overwhelmingly booed while flipping patties at the Iowa State Fair.
Host of The Afternoon Addiction on 550 KFYI Garrett Lewis shared the post with the caption, “Iowans are brutal to @RubenGallego! It’s so good! So savage! You love to see it!”
Senior Advisor for the U.S. Agency for Global Media Kari Lake shared a much different memory of her 2024 trip back to her childhood home, writing, “I had a wonderful time at the Iowa State Fair last year. I even got to educate a New York Times reporter about the various genders. ‘The New York Times should try to milk a cow and then try and milk a bull and see how that goes.’”
Lake quipped in a comment, “Of course, @RubenGallego thinks cows have nuts, so he might be in for a rude awakening there too,” referring to an August 2023 video of Gallego lampooning Republicans as people whose “cultural identity” consists of owning guns and driving jacked up trucks with “cow nuts” hanging off their tailgates.
Notabl, as AZ Free News observed at the time, “Cows don’t have testicles, or ‘nuts’; only bulls do. Hence the centuries-old proverbial folly, ‘milking the bull.’ Furthermore, if Gallego knew anything about pickup trucks, the ‘nuts’ hang from the tow hitch, NOT the tailgate.“
A torrent of posts from Turning Point Action COO Tyler Bowyer followed, with Bowyer writing in one, “Ruben Gallego is upset because we ruined his trip to Iowa. Just wait until he goes to New Hampshire!”
He followed this up with the observation that “This guy was making Pfizer burgers in Iowa today? Or was that just for Tacos. We know who owns Ruben between Big Pharma and George Soros!”
This guy was making Pfizer burgers in Iowa today? Or was that just for Tacos.
After his Iowa debacle, Gallego is set to visit the West Valley next to deliver a Capitol update at the West Valley Regional Chamber on Wednesday, according to the West Valley View.
