by Denise Gieseke
Arizona has been creeping ever bluer in the last decade, and Democrats have a real shot at dominating in the Grand Canyon state this year! With a handful of tossup races, we can make a real difference in this battleground state that Biden won by less than 1%. We must position ourselves for another election subversion attempt in 2024. Organizations on the ground in Arizona need our help, and they’re creating actions specifically for out-of-state volunteers like us.
Key 2022 Races:
- US Senator Mark Kelly — up for reelection in a tossup race. Unlike the other Arizona senator, Kelly voted with Biden 98% of the time since taking office.
- Governor — tossup race. Keep an eye on Katie Hobbs, who gained national attention following her forceful defense of Arizona voting integrity in 2020 as secretary of state.
- Arizona State Senate — need 1 seat to tie the chamber
- Arizona State House — need 1 seat to tie the chamber
- Arizona Secretary of State — This position was essential in combating the Big Lie following the 2020 presidential elections. We need a solid ethical person in this office. Reginal Bolding, house minority leader, is a strong contender.
Why do we care about the Arizona State House?
Republicans throughout the nation are trying to legislate voter suppression, disempower communities of color, outlaw abortion care, hobble educators, endanger LGBTQIA+ people, and trample workers’ rights in our states. Arizona Republicans are at the forefront of this assault, and Arizona is a hotbed for election subversion. Here are just a few gambits making advances in the Arizona state house recently:
- Outlaw video recording police within 8 ft of interactions, without permission from law enforcement officer
- Limit access to voting drop boxes, which is particularly punitive to rural and tribal communities
- Force teachers to ‘out’ LGBTQIA+ students to parents, even if doing so could lead to abuse or abandonment
- Ban abortions after 15 weeks
- Allow concealed carry of guns on campuses
- Legalize use of deadly force to protect property
- Attack minimum wage and prohibit public workers from organizing union members
Democrats need to take control of the Arizona State House so we can move from playing defense to taking charge and advancing our own progressive agenda. Issues are rarely advanced at a federal level until they gain sufficient traction within states.
Take action now!
Phonebank
This is the point in the election cycle when we learn which issues are important to voters, get our candidates on the ballot, and start molding call lists into finely honed tools for delivering our voters to the booths in November.
- Phone Bank for Out-of-State Volunteers designed by M4AZ (Mission for Arizona). Most Days
- Swing Left San Francisco Phone Bank into Arizona. Want a later nighttime option? No problem! Arizona is 2 hours behind us. Wednesdays & Saturdays
Donate
Conventional wisdom says early money is 4 times more valuable than donations made near the end of the election cycle. NOW is the time to give!
Grassroots allies work year-round to develop the voter base in communities by connecting people with services, earning trust, and living our progressive values.
Banner photo: Grand Canyon Powell Point Evening Light 02 2013.jpg — Tuxyso / Wikimedia Commons / CC-BY-SA-3.0
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