A Good Beginning Toward Building a Progressive Governing Majority in Arizona

Yesterday was a good beginning toward building a progressive governing majority in Arizona. Democrats appear to  have prevailed in some state house races :

  • Jennifer Jermaine in LD 18
  • Jennifer Pawlik in LD 17
  • Aaron Lieberman in LD 28.

 

Democrats also prevailed in local contests (notably school board) laying the groundwork and foundation for future progressive advances.

Democrats should also take comfort in recruiting many capable and compelling local and congressional candidates who gave Republicans a run for their money and performed well against the odds. Hopefully, many of these candidates will decide to run again.

  • It may take until March but Kate Gallego appears to be the odds-on favorite to be the next Mayor of Phoenix.
  • Jennifer Longdon, a role model for people who can overcome great adversity, coasted to victory as a State Representative in LD 24.
  • Anne Kirkpatrick came back into the political arena to win in Congressional District Two.
  • Former Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton, possibly on a career track to run for Governor in 2022, easily won Congressional District Nine.
  • Kathy Hoffman, who went from political novice to perhaps becoming the next Superintendent of Public Instruction, may be a rising star.
  • The races for Katie Hobbs and Kyrsten Sinema, as of Nov. 7, are still too close to call with up to 500,000 votes in Maricopa County still to be counted.

Youth turnout rose dramatically. Yes, yesterday was a good beginning.

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Arizona List Survey: Huge Voter Support for Stop Dirty Money & Invest in Ed Initiatives

According to a new survey by the Arizona List:

  • Arizona Voters are strongly in favor of public initiatives to Stop Dirty Money and Invest in Ed.
  • Voters are divided on ballot initiatives to stop school vouchers (known as “Empowerment Scholarship Accounts.”)
  • There are three primary issues voters care about: comprehensive immigration reform including a pathway to citizenship, fully funding public education and affordable access to healthcare.

The Arizona List is a committee for pro-choice Democratic women in Arizona. The survey of 1,200 likely November 2018 voters in Arizona was conducted by veteran pollster Lisa Grove of Anzalone Liszt Grove research.

The results were shared exclusively with The Blog For Arizona. Subscribe to our blog at https://blogforarizona.net/subscribe-to-blog-for-arizona/

Popular initiatives

Stopping dirty money in politics is overwhelmingly popular with 78% of voters voting “yes.” Outlaw Dirty Money is an initiative that would change the Arizona constitution to say that any non-profit spending more than $10,000 on a political campaign would have to disclose donors who contribute at least $2,500.

Supporters say people should vote yes because it will increase transparency in our elections. It will require any front organization that gets money from the anti-consumer, anti-public school and anti-worker billionaires like the Koch brothers to disclose the original sources of the dark money.

65% of voters are in favor of the Invest In Ed initiative. It increases K-12 funding in the classroom, raises teacher and support staff salaries, and adds full-day kindergarten, by raising income taxes on individuals earning more than $250,000 and households earning more than $500,000.

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Arizona AFL-CIO & PALF endorsements (So. AZ) for 2018 Primary

“Announcing Arizona AFL-CIO and Pima Area Labor Federation candidate endorsements: SOUTHERN ARIZONA ELECTIONS: Legislative District 2: Senate: Andrea Dalessandro House: Rosanna Gabaldon House: Daniel Hernandez Legislative District 3: Senate: Sally Ann Gonzales Senate: Betty Villegas House: Andres Cano House: Olivia Cajero-Bedford Legislative District 4: Senate: Lisa Otondo House: Charlene Fernandez House: Gerae Peten Legislative District … Read more

Alliance 4 Action’s endorsements for 2018 Arizona Primary

from their website, www.alliance4action.org: “Who We Are We are an alliance of progressive individuals in southern Arizona working to ensure a caring and inclusive country. We will act together to protect and strengthen our values, human and civil rights. The alliance4action (a4a) is a citizens activist group that has become a powerful agent for creating … Read more

Great News from the State Board of Education

Great News from the State Board of Education. The agenda item pertaining to possibly disciplining participants in the Red for Ed Walk Out has been pulled from Monday’s Board Agenda. This is a victory for the power of the people and all the advocates, led by the two Democratic Candidates for Superintendent of Public Instruction (Kathy … Read more