Author
Hamadeh asks for more ballot inspections to prove AG’s race was unfairly won
Abraham Hamadeh’s third appeal to nullify the results of the race for Arizona attorney general he lost last year hinges on permission to inspect more ballots, which attorneys for his Democratic opponent say proves that his claims continue to be evidence-free. On Tuesday, Mohave County Superior Court Judge Lee Jantzen heard arguments on whether or […]
A slew of GOP-backed anti-LGBTQ bills race towards Hobbs’ veto stamp
Arizona Republicans sent a spate of anti-LGBTQ proposals to Gov. Katie Hobbs on Monday, forging ahead with the discriminatory legislation despite warnings that doing so endangers the lives of trans youth. Rep. Lorena Austin, D-Mesa, admonished GOP lawmakers for voting to pass Senate Bill 1001, which would prevent teachers from respecting their students’ name changes […]
Hobbs signs budget, touts it as a ‘compromise’ by ‘pragmatic leaders’
With the stroke of a pen on Thursday, Gov. Katie Hobbs approved a $17.8 billion dollar budget, despite criticism from progressive organizations and many in her own party. In an emailed statement, the Democrat celebrated her first budget as a win for bipartisanship that reflects the split government leading Arizona. “Today, we showed what happens […]
Pro-immigrant groups disappointed with Hobbs’ budget, look to the future
Latino voters turned out in force to help deliver the state’s top position to Gov. Katie Hobbs, but pro-immigrant groups say the newly approved budget, the culmination of her first year in office, fails to live up to their hopes. The Democrat positioned herself as an advocate for Latinos across the state, earnestly courting their […]
Public school advocates decry failure to cap universal school vouchers, call for revised budget
Gov. Katie Hobbs’ failure to fulfill her promise to scale back universal school vouchers incensed public education advocates, who on Tuesday urged lawmakers and the Ninth Floor to reassess the latest budget proposal before it crosses the finish line. Late in the day on Monday, Republican lawmakers released the $17.8 billion dollar proposal crafted after […]
Arizona readies for influx of migrants at the border with expiration of Title 42
With Title 42 set to expire this week, eliminating a pandemic-era policy that fast tracked migrant expulsions, Gov. Katie Hobbs vowed to partner with local officials to ease the expected strain on border communities. “The state of Arizona stands ready to assist our border communities…in any way that we can,” she said, during a Monday […]
Mayes: Effort to revive Arizona’s abortion ban should be dismissed
The anti-abortion doctor attempting to restore Arizona’s near-total abortion ban has no legal standing in the case and his petition should be rejected by the court, according to Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes. Last December, the state’s appeals court upheld a 2022 law that prohibits most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy over a near-total […]
Facing a housing crisis, Arizona lawmakers propose overriding city control
Arizona is short more than 200,000 homes to match demand and lawmakers think they can fix that by gutting local zoning regulations, a strategy that has drawn heated opposition from cities across the state. The state’s supply of affordable housing options is dismal, with only 24 rental homes available for every 100 extremely low income […]
Arizona AG Kris Mayes joins 22 other states to defend mifepristone
As legal battles continue over the FDA approval of abortion drug mifepristone, Arizona and nearly two dozen Democrat-led states urged the court to preserve access to the medication. On Tuesday, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes joined 22 other states and the District of Columbia in filing an amicus brief with the U.S. Court of Appeals […]
Top Arizona Republicans ask to defend trans athlete ban in court
GOP leaders are hoping to defend Arizona’s trans athlete ban, which they helped pass, after the attorney general refused to do so. Last month, two trans athletes and their families filed a lawsuit seeking to nullify a 2022 law that bars them from joining school sports teams consistent with their gender identity. In the lawsuit, […]
Advocates rally to allow undocumented immigrants to get driver’s licenses
Miah Gomez grew up dreading car rides. The 18-year-old’s parents, who have lived in Arizona for decades, are undocumented and getting behind the wheel without a license is an ever present risk. “It’s always scary just stepping out of the house, let alone driving on the roads,” she said. Arizona is home to more than […]
GOP push to override veto of ‘tamale bill’ fails after Democrats balk at going against Hobbs
An attempt by Arizona Republicans to rebuke Gov. Katie Hobbs for vetoing a bill aimed at expanding the sale of homemade foods failed after most legislative Democrats sided with her, slamming the move to override her veto as just another effort to undermine her. Last week, Hobbs rejected House Bill 2509, dubbed the “Tamale Bill,” […]