Democracy, Freedom, Decency, Knowledge, and The Fate of the Middle Class Are on the Ballot on November 8, 2022

It is time to vote.

If you have not already sent in your mail-in ballot or voted early, it is vital that you turn out and cast a ballot in tomorrow’s November 8, 2022 elections.

Every election is important but given the extremist quality of the Trump Republicans running up and down the office this cycle, one can safely say that this contest represents a fork in the road for this state and country’s future because Democracy, Freedom, Decency, Knowledge, and the fate of the Middle Class are all on the ballot.

Democracy is on the ballot because many of Arizona’s Trump Republican nominees (Kari Lake, Mark Finchem, Abe Hamadeh)want to make it harder for you to vote. They will not even accept the results if they lose and have threatened to possibly deny your choice for President if the candidate they favor loses as well. Do you really want a person in office that will take your right to vote away?

Freedom is on the ballot because, in addition to suppressing your right to vote, these same Trump Republicans want to take away a woman’s right to choose. They want to deny same-sex couples the right to marry. Some may also favor doing away with mixed-race marriages. Others want to deny you the chance to purchase birth control. Do you really want to vote for a candidate that will make women second-class citizens, deny you the right to marry the person you love, and have the ability to practice safe sex?

Decency is the third issue on the ballot. In addition to being Undemocratic and against basic freedoms, these fringe Trump Republicans openly consort with White Nationalists, Anti Semites, sexual predators, and convicted felons (Wendy Rogers, David Stringer, Steve Bannon, and Donald Trump come to mind) like nothing is wrong. They go after LGBTQ children, treating them like pariahs and denying them to participate in the sports team they are comfortable with. Let’s say this again. They are going after children. Do you want a public servant that will make policies that will adversely affect minority groups or discriminates against children? Do you want to support a candidate that hypocritically complains about crime but pals around with convicted felons or supports sexual predators?

The fourth issue on the ballot is knowledge. These fringe extremist Trump Republicans, from the top of the ticket, the Congressional Level, the Legislative District level, and the school board level, deny virtually all aspects of reality. They deny election results. They deny science. They deny climate change and the remedies to combat it. They deny the importance of vaccinations and safety precautions during a pandemic. They deny history as it really happened. The Trump Republican for Governor, Ms. Lake, even told supporters that we have too much math, science, and history in schools. Do you really want people serving in office that wants to dumb you and your children down?

The final issue on the ballot is the continued existence of the middle class. The Trump Republicans talk the charlatan game of saying their policies will help everyone but history (which they do not want you to learn) tells a different story. Over the last forty years, all Republican policies have been geared toward one economic goal in mind: help the wealthy and shrink the middle class.

Look at Arizona.

They have passed tax cuts that greatly help the rich while giving crumbs to the middle and working class.

They secured passage of a Voucher Expansion Bill that helped…wait for it…the rich.

Have they fully funded public schools on a regular basis? Never!

Have they expanded KidsCare to help struggling children get quality health care? No!

Did Arizona’s House Republican Congressional Delegation support the Bipartisan Infracture Law and the CHIPS Act that will create many well-paying middle-class, blue-collar, and green-collar jobs? No!

Did Arizona’s House Republicans support the Inflation Reduction Act which will reduce prescription drug costs for Seniors? No!

Also, remember it was the Republican Senate plan that called for cutting and possibly eliminating Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid.

And for all their moaning and groaning about crime, what have they done to help law enforcement do their jobs? It was the federal government, with united Republican opposition (including all of Arizona’s House Delegation) that provided funding for first responders, including the police. It was largely the Democrats, with no help from Arizona’s House Republicans that passed the first gun safety legislation in 30 years.  Also, remember many of these Trump Republicans, because their twice impeached, twice David Duke endorsed master may be on the verge of getting indicted, now want to break up and defund the F.B.I. Law and Order Party, my tuchus.

With a track record like this, does anyone really believe Republicans will be good for the middle class and work to expand it?

Democracy, Freedom, Decency, Knowledge, and the fate of the Middle Class are all on the ballot tomorrow.

Please do your part and vote for the nominees that will work to strengthen all of those issues.

Vote for the candidates that actually care about you.

Vote for the candidates that have an actual record of helping you and your community.

Vote for the candidates that have actual proposals to help make your and your children’s lives better.

Vote for the candidates that will fully fund public schools.

Vote for the candidates that will protect your right to vote and personal freedom.

Vote for the candidates that will actually fund law enforcement.

Vote for the candidates that believe in reality and will combat climate change.

Vote for the candidates that will grow the middle class.

Democrats, up and down the ballot, starting with Katie Hobbs and Mark Kelly and ending with your local school board candidates, have repeatedly demonstrated that they are the candidates that will work on all the issues that will lift people up and move the state and country forward.

The Trump Republicans, have regularly shown that they will not work for the people or the betterment of the state or country.

If you do not believe me, click here to read the words of disenchanted Republicans who penned an election-eve plea to mainstream Republicans to deny the election of Trumpist Kari Lake.

Or watch this Lincoln Project ad created by former Republicans showing how ill-advised it would be to elect January 6, 2021 participant Mark Finchem.

Or read this letter from retired school leaders supporting the reelection of Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman.

I am honored to have received the endorsement of these retired School Superintendents from across the state. These school leaders understand that I am the right person to continue serving as State Superintendent for all of Arizona's students, families, and educators. pic.twitter.com/Tm77cWPMG1

— Kathy Hoffman (@kathyhoffman_az) October 20, 2022

Or see how Attorney General Nominee Kris Mayes, Corporation Commission Nominees Lauren Kuby and Sandra Kennedy, and Treasury Nominee Martin Quezada fared in their debates against their reality-challenged opponents.

Send the Trump Republican candidates up and down the ballot like Kari Lake, Blake Masters, Mark Finchem, Abe Hamadeh, Tom Horne, and Kimberly Yee a message at the ballot box that their way is not the Arizona or American way and send them home, never to return to public life again.

Please remember to turn out and vote tomorrow.