AZ redistricting maps take shape…out of public view

Arizona politicos are keenly attuned to the latest and likely final maps, which will determine the state’s partisan and demographic makeup in congress and the state legislature for the next decade. Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission members (read their bios), have reportedly heard from the public at statewide meetings and town halls. What they heard and how well they listened is unspecified.

FiveThirtyEight supplies overviews of each state on the left side of this Arizona page updated Dec. 19, 2021, though the focus for SRAZ readers is definitely Arizona. There is a lot riding on how the districts are configured. Placing your cursor over each proposed district provides the name and party of the incumbent congressional officeholder and the partisan leaning of the district. It’s obvious, for example, that Arizona’s Congressional District 2 is outsized to give Republican-turned-democrat (making the switch in 2014), incumbent Tom O’Halleran a boost in a Republican majority district. The map still shows democrat Ann Kirkpatrick as a candidate, though she is resigning after this term, having fallen and sustained injuries while intoxicated, causing her to go into alcohol rehab.

The Princeton Gerrymandering Project report card — yes, that’s actually its name — gives Arizona’s congressional map an A overall and in partisan fairness, with Cs in competitiveness and geography.

We’ll know soon enough if those are fact-based grades or a political charade.

Ballotpedia, a non-partisan online political encyclopedia, provides an excellent overview of state-by-state redistricting procedures. It includes background information on federal requirements for congressional redistricting, state legislative redistricting, state-based requirements, redistricting methods used in all 50 states, gerrymandering, and recent court decisions.

Arizona’s Independent Redistricting Commission has put out this list of the Final Decision Meetings scheduled for December and available to the public online. One is taking place this morning Dec. 20. at 9:00 am, with two more scheduled for Tues. and Wed. It is topped with this message: “Details coming soon,” and disallows in-person commenting.

RINO AZ Sen. Paul Boyer and the friends he keeps

To say that Arizona State Senator Paul Boyer is unpopular in his district would be the height of understatement. The iffy Republican is known for ignoring the elected precinct committeemen in the district he represents, who helped get him elected. Openly hostile, Boyer never attends the monthly district meetings where he is expected to give legislative updates. It’s no surprise he is currently the subject of a recall within District 20.

This is the recent statement issued by Donald Trump, 45^th President of the United States, in which he refers to Paul Boyer as a “RINO” and endorses “highly respected” former State Representative Anthony Kern who is mounting a primary senate challenge to Boyer.

You might wonder what Boyer busies himself with when he isn’t reviling Republicans and the Maricopa County election audit.

National File provides the answer, complete with touchy-feely photographs with Boyer posing with fellow state Sen. Otoniel “Tony” Navarrete, a District 30 Democrat. Navarrete, a 2017 founding member of the Legislature’s LGBTQ Caucus resigned last week after being booked into Maricopa County jail following his arrest by Phoenix Police. During a monitored phone call, police taped Navarrete graphically apologizing to one of his victims.

Navarrete has been charged with seven felonies for having sexual contact with minor boys. If convicted he could serve up to 50 years in prison.

SRAZ has provided this recent timeline.

How do your AZ House, Senate members measure up?

The Arizona Free Enterprise Club has a wealth of information that reflects its pro-growth, limited government vantage point.

It is also known for rating the state Senate and House members, a legislative scorecard many fiscally conservative Republicans await each year. 

Additionally, the organization posts timely articles, follows key legislation and is informative on a wide range of issues. Today’s lead article is titled, “Biden Administration Wants to Silence People They Don’t Agree With.”

Start your day with knowledge. Spend some time on the Arizona Free Enterprise Club’s site.

Arizona Repugnant acts repugnantly, election integrity takes back seat

Facts ignored as local newspaper spins AZ news, files legal action

An array of insider information makes it clear national news blog Gateway Pundit (GP) has sources within the Arizona political sphere that reliably keep us abreast of news without the leftist distortions of the local AZ Republic newspaper which has earned its widely used name, The Arizona Repugnant. Most recently GP exposed the duplicity of two RINOcrat state Senators Michelle Ugenti-Rita and Paul Boyer who colluded with democrats to kill an election integrity bill. GP also provided truthful coverage of the 2020 Maricopa County election audit, which concluded June 25. Although the Trump-hating local newspaper demeans the process and those overseeing the recount, other states are discussing emulating our ballot recount. Wisconsin, where Joe Biden won by a slim margin, has officially launched an audit, according to National File.

Michelle Ugenti-Rita, who has a scandal-plagued personal history, is now arrogantly running for Secretary of State, a mere heartbeat, recall or impeachment away from the governor’s office. Those scenarios are not unheard of in Arizona.

Now the Epoch Times exposes the lengths to which the seriously failing* Arizona Republic/Repugnant will go to undermine the audit. Senior reporter Jack Phillips writes:

The Arizona Republic said it has “filed a special action in Maricopa County Superior Court seeking financial records and communications about the audit from the [Arizona] Senate and Cyber Ninjas,” the Florida-based company that is carrying out the review of voting equipment and 2.1 million ballots in Maricopa.

Rather than supporting ballot verification, the newspaper and its legal team seek to obscure the facts to play into its own skewed narrative, from which there can be no dissent.

* Phoenix Business Journal

All mail-in ballots: Dem’s strategy undermines election integrity

Coronavirus now being used to boost leftist scheme of all mail-in ballots

Ronna McDaniel, Chairwoman of the Republican National Committee, has written a masterful exposé of the Democrat scheme to undermine our nation’s traditional election process. 

Make time to read “Democrats’ Coronavirus voting plan — this is the way to undermine democracy.” McDaniel zeros in on multiple examples of voter fraud that the scheme enables.

Those who still read the far-left Arizona Republic, which has continued to hemorrhage subscribers — even after their massive exodus following its blunderous 2016 presidential endorsement of Hillary Clinton — have witnessed all mail-in ballots take center stage, as the Coronavirus is manipulated to promote this major agenda issue.

In a now futile effort to save itself by virtue of a rare conservative op-ed, the newspaper provided space for Republican state Rep. Shawnna Bolick (LD 20) to respond with, “All-mail voting would only compromise the integrity of elections.” The legislator is blandly identified in the by-line as an “opinion contributor.” She is a member of the House Elections Committee.

Within days of one another, radical columnist EJ Montini and former sob story queen, turned political henchman, Laurie Roberts, headlined their columns with nearly identically choreographed screeds, regurgitating the same agendized slop:

Montini: Arizona should go to all-mail balloting.

Roberts: Coronavirus shows need for all-mail vote this year.

Just prior to these deceptive pitches, an out-of-control former state legislator-turned-lobbyist declared on KAET’s ‘Horizon’ that Republican Gov. Ducey and GOP legislators “should be shot,” (video in link) if they don’t implement a statewide mail-in ballot plan. The reaction to this leftist’s brazen invitation to assassination was so swift, Chris Herstam is now unemployed.

This Dem dream scheme, taking full advantage of the current health crisis, is raw political sewage, repackaged as a benefit rather than a deceptive con that is less secure, ripe for ballot manipulation and an invitation to fraud.  Early ballots can be requested and those who desire them have long been able to be placed on the permanent early voting list. One is a choice. The other a Democrat-led mandate. 

McPolitics as usual? Robert Graham eyes state legislature

Over a year and three funerals later, it was natural to assume we had heard the last of John McCain.

Nope.

Last week, the local Hillary-endorsing newspaper contained an insert with a smirking John McCain in full color gracing the cover page. It was headlined, “2^nd shot for McCain vision,” describing an “ideas competition,” though sounding more like a threat than a promise. The failing newspaper still worships at the McCain altar, routinely covering him and his family.

Now we’re hearing that McCain sycophant Robert Graham, a former AZ GOP chairman, and the CEO of ROI Global Partners, a lobbying and public relations group promising “World Class Results,” is weighing the idea of running for a state House seat in Legislative District 15. Both House seats will be open due to the current members going head-to-head competing for the single senate seat. No doubt it will be a cakewalk for slickster McCain protégé Graham.

He has now reconfigured himself as a solid Trump supporter though he boycotted Trump’s initial Phoenix campaign rally that had to be moved twice to larger venues to accommodate the enormous crowd. Graham was conveniently “out of town.”  John McCain and Jeff Flake made no such excuses. They refused to support Donald Trump even as he was the Republican nominee. Both stated neither they nor their families would vote for Trump — who became president without them.

Was it a coincidence or gratitude that Robert Graham’s namesake son, Rob, was appointed to the U.S. Naval Academy by John McCain?

Gov. Ducey, McRINOs, Dems, reward Kate McGee for turning LD 28 blue

To call this invitation to a toney fundraising reception at the Phoenix Country Club preposterous would be the height of understatement. Gov. Doug Ducey is listed as the “Honored Guest.”

The no-attendance-price specified invitation hosted by a load of McCain allies, lobbyists, RINOs, Democrats, and few scattered surprises, states individual donors are limited to $5,200 and couples can only donate $10,400. Those are top limits, but sends a clear message: Pikers are not who LD 28 candidate Kate Brophy McGee hopes to attract.

There’s a back story to this swank soiree that needs to be told. State Senator Kate Brophy McGee was so busy attempting to manipulate the 2018 election in Legislative District 28 that she barely squeaked back into the state senate, winning by a razor-thin margin of 50.1% over an emboldened newcomer educrat who captured 49.9% — separating them by only 267 votes. This was beyond shocking in the formerly longtime Republican stronghold where decades once passed without a single Democrat being elected.

This near loss was not a fluke. Brophy McGee was the recipient of Republican wrath for pulling strings to influence the election in an effort to bring her RINOcrat buddy Kathy Petsas on-board for one of the two House seats.  Petsas — who targeted conservatives and aided Democrats as far back as 2012 — lost.

McGee’s 2018 machinations were responsible for two Democrats winning both district House seats while bumping highly qualified Republican incumbent Maria Syms, the sole pro-life candidate. Syms’ exceptional career includes having served as an Assistant Attorney General, Assistant U.S. Attorney, Paradise Valley Town Councilwoman, and a State Representative. She has a proven track record advocating for education, law enforcement, public safety and border security.

During that election Brophy McGee, described by the Hillary-endorsing Arizona Republic as a “moderate,” actively courted Democrats, declaring  her gratitude for their endorsements. Ducey, in a major miscalculation, endorsed Brophy McGee and Petsas, even recording a robocall urging Republicans to support Petsas.

Now the Democrat unionist teacher who almost routed Brophy McGee is emboldened and running again — recently hosting a Saturday night kickoff event. Despite being outspent by almost two-to-one, Leftist Christine Porter Marsh came within spitting distance of Brophy McGee. The Dems are banking on turning the entire district blue. With the two House seats now in the left’s column and scheming Brophy McGee in the Senate, Conservatives think it already is.  If Republican Ducey is supporting McGee out of fear of losing Legislative District 28 entirely, he needs to put some conditions on his endorsement. It’s unlikely that he has.

Another version of this invitation was originally posted two weeks ago, Aug. 18, previous to the addition of the host committee. In an effort to provide our well-informed readers with the most accurate information, this updated invitation, including the committee makes for interesting reading.

Ducey glibly deflects counting illegals with ice cream

Diversity reigns supreme as 2020 census revs up

While Gov. Doug Ducey, the former CEO of Cold Stone Creamery ice cream stores, makes the news with his signing of ‘Ice Cream Freedom Day’ legislation, (H. B. 2178), a much more consequential  executive order flew under the radar.

April Fools’ Day brought a news release informing Arizonans that Ducey, via an executive order, created the Arizona Complete Count Committee (AZCCC).

Full of puffery and numerous whereas(es), his order, complete with a gold seal, forms a 19 person committee — 2 Chairs and 17 government and “outreach” liaisons — who serve at his pleasure, and will be “subject to change at any time.”

 “All members of the AZCCC, except for members one through five, shall each form a subcommittee to work on matters related to the census count that correspond to their specific liaison role. They are encouraged to select subcommittee members [a maximum of 25 each] that represent different geographical areas of the state, have a diverse set of experiences and qualifications, and can represent the perspectives and needs of traditionally hard to count populations.”

Apparently, their overarching duty will be to ensure an accurate head count for the 2020 Census, since it will affect $millions in federal allocations. The Executive Order states, “Each Arizonan who is not counted is estimated to represent an $887 loss to the State in federal funding allocation, meaning that even a one-percent undercount would represent a loss to the State of $62 million per year for a decade, for a total loss of $620 million.”

The Constitutional reason for the census is not money. Its purpose is to determine how many congressional seats are apportioned in the U.S. House of Representatives. Redistricting of Arizona’s state and local legislative representatives is also impacted by the count.

These facts make it mystifying that Gov. Ducey  places an extraordinary premium on “ensuring a complete and accurate count of all those residing here, including those who have historically been hard to count, such as young children, multi-family housing residents, military families, non-native English speakers, low-income residents, minorities, and rural residents.”

Military, minorities, farmers, low income Americans and family groups have always been counted. The non-native English speakers are highly likely to be illegal aliens. Are they now the go-to population in determining our congressional representation and state legislative redistricting? As of the 2018 election, 5 of our 9 congressional seats are held by Democrats and the Republican majority in the state legislature is no longer assured.  Isn’t that enough to suit Republicrat Doug Ducey? 

Harsh truths underscore internecine AZ GOP battles

RINO proxies more prized by establishment cronies than voting conservative committeemen

The Arizona Daily Independent runs another topical comic —- this one channeling Frosty Taylor’s well respected Republican Briefs.

In the tradition of Thomas Nast, imparting harsh truths via political cartoon, “Lines Up Proxies” (link) underscores the trickery leading up to the Republican intra-party elections where new county and state leadership will be chosen by elected precinct committeemen and state committeemen at their respective January meetings.

AZ GOP Chairman Jonathan Lines who oversaw unparalleled Republican losses in the November 6, 2018 General Election, is arrogantly running for reelection rather than the nearest door. Lines, selected by his predecessor Robert (Mc)Graham, was rarely seen in AZ GOP headquarters. He lives 200 miles away in Yuma and has 11 children and a roofing business to keep him busy.

Be sure to read first two paragraphs following the cartoon. They are anything but funny, as the establishment proxy high jinks are exposed and best summed up in this single sentence: “It’s as though John McCain is still pulling the strings from his grave.”

Dr. Kelli Ward, a former two-term state senator, is the conservative running for Arizona Republican Chairman. SRAZ supports her candidacy. Read about her and her unifying vision for the Arizona Republican Party moving forward to the 2020 elections.

AZ GOP chairman’s race, rehab of RINO Brophy McGee linked

AZ GOP in desperate need of new leadership

The Hillary Clinton endorsing Arizona Republic is going to great lengths to give a warm and fuzzy embrace to Kate Brophy McGee, the type of Republican the left-wing newspaper can tolerate. She was recently given prominent coverage including an oversized photo, on Page One of the Valley and State section, proclaimed as a leading advocate for abused children.

The architect of a Machiavellian scheme to replace incumbent conservative House member Maria Syms with fellow RINOcrat, Kathy Pappas Petsas in Legislative District 28, Brophy McGee barely squeaked into office, with a mere 267 vote lead over far left Democrat Christine Porter Marsh. The final tally was 50.1% to 49.9% in the once bright red district.

Shenanigans in the district were given a boost by mailings such as this one, sent out under the auspices of the AZ GOP and shamefully green lighted by chairman Jonathan Lines.

As a result of the malicious machinations, eminently well qualified incumbent Syms lost. Her career includes serving as an Assistant Attorney General, Assistant U.S. Attorney, Paradise Valley Town Councilwoman, and state Representative — in addition to being the only pro-life conservative of the pack.  The subversive tactics had further devastating ramifications for Republican residents of the district. Both House seats were won by Democrats. Fittingly, Brophy McGee’s recruit, agitator Kathy Pappas Petsas, who gained notoriety for wanting to “dekookify” or purge, conservatives from the party ranks, came in dead last.

Not satisfied with the damage he’s overseen, Lines who lives in Yuma and is rarely spotted at AZ GOP headquarters, is gearing up for another term as party chairman when the state statutory reorganization meeting takes place January 26, 2019. Besides being a party to the despicable mailers, he was in charge as unprecedented statewide Republican losses took place —- resulting in the GOP now being the minority in the state‘s congressional delegation. The Yuma roofing contractor needs to stay at home tending to leaky roofs and parenting his 11 children. If the Arizona Republican Party is going to be resuscitated, we need someone who can breathe life into its now flailing carcass rather than give a second chance to the one who rang its death knell.