Saguaro Signal desk
Elections
Campaigns, election administration, polling, and the road to November.
Elections
In LD27, Republicans face a real test on surveillance, not slogans
LD27’s GOP Senate primary has become a referendum on automated license plate readers. With no statewide rules in place, the Payne, Kern split will shape whether Arizona imposes guardrails or rejects expanded surveillance at the Capitol.
Elections
State AI deepfake laws face first big test in 2026 midterm elections
This election year has already produced multiple examples of AI campaign content — some labeled, some not. The post State AI deepfake laws face first big test in 2026 midterm elections first appeared on Arizona Capitol Times .
Elections
Live: Arizona primary election updates
A sign directs drivers into the ballot drop-off lane outside the Maricopa County Tabulation and Election Center in Phoenix on Tuesday, July 21, 2026. (Photo by Samad Khan/Cronkite News) " data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/cronkitenews.azpbs.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/0V5A6355-scaled.jpg?fit=780%2C520&ssl=1" />...
Elections
Arizona’s July 21 primary: Where to vote, what to bring and when to expect election results
The Arizona primary election is today, and the winners will advance to the November ballot, where Democrats hope that a historically unpopular Donald Trump will allow them to retain control of key statewide offices in the Grand Canyon State. All registered voters in the state, even those not registered with a...
Elections
School voucher advocates sue to keep ESA reform measure off the November ballot
The Goldwater Institute is attempting to convince a court to block the “Protect Education, Accountability Now Act” from the November ballot by disqualifying tens of thousands of voter signatures supporting it. The citizens initiative, headed by public schools advocacy organization, Save Our Schools Arizona, turned...
Elections
How to vote in Arizona’s primary on Tuesday: A last-minute guide
Voters still hoping to cast ballots in Tuesday’s primary election still have plenty of time to do so. The post How to vote in Arizona’s primary on Tuesday: A last-minute guide first appeared on Arizona Capitol Times .
Elections
Arizona's GOP Primary Is a Test of Addition, Not Just Volume
The Biggs-Schweikert primary is really an argument about whether Arizona Republicans can turn intensity into a statewide majority.
Elections
Arizona should not manage wild horses by straw poll
Imagine if the Arizona Department of Transportation decided where to build a new highway based on a confidential straw poll instead of a traffic study. The post Arizona should not manage wild horses by straw poll first appeared on Arizona Capitol Times .
Elections
Border czar Tom Homan pledges body cameras for ICE traffic stops after 22 shootings this term
WASHINGTON — In the wake of two fatal shootings in Texas and Maine, U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement officers will wear “at least one body camera” during traffic stops, Tom Homan, the president’s border czar, said over the weekend. Homan, who President Donald Trump has tasked with leading his mass...
Elections
LD27 Primary Pits Kern Against Payne Over State Surveillance
Automated license plate readers (ALPRs) becomes focal point of race The post LD27 Primary Pits Kern Against Payne Over State Surveillance appeared first on Arizona Globe .
Elections
Campaign finance roundup: Firm sued by Arizona AG funnels $600K to PAC backing Petersen
A company that runs mobile home parks throughout the United States is backing Senate President Warren Petersen to be the next Arizona attorney general after running afoul of the current officeholder. The post Campaign finance roundup: Firm sued by Arizona AG funnels $600K to PAC backing Petersen first appeared on...
Elections
Fontes's BallotBot Needs Public Receipts, Not Just a Launch Announcement
BallotBot may help voters, but an official AI assistant should come with public testing, visible limits, and post-election performance data.
Elections
Arizona schools-chief primary election has officially become the most expensive in decades
The amount of money at play in the race for Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction has far eclipsed previous cycles. The post Arizona schools-chief primary election has officially become the most expensive in decades appeared first on Cronkite News .
Elections
Endorsements meet disclosure in LD10 as Sheridan says he didn’t know of Anderson’s court-martial
Sheriff Jerry Sheridan says he did not know LD10 candidate Ciara Anderson had a Bad Conduct Discharge when he endorsed her.
Elections
Sued firm fuels PAC for Petersen. Taxpayers need receipts, not headlines.
Arizona Mirror reports the BoaVida Group, sued by AG Kris Mayes after heat‑wave outages, is now the largest donor to a PAC backing Warren Petersen for AG.
Elections
ICE traffic-stop shootings put Arizona’s cooperation policies under the microscope
A report that ICE agents have shot at 22 people this term, most during traffic stops, raises immediate questions for Arizona about cooperation, oversight, and basic transparency.
Elections
LUCHA adds poll observers as DOJ plans monitors; counties stress the 75-foot rule
Progressive group LUCHA is training hundreds of volunteer poll observers to watch Arizona vote centers, as DOJ plans federal monitors and counties emphasize the 75-foot rule and de-escalation.
Elections
AZ GOP Treasurer Race Heats as Norton, Haley Punch Harder
Nasty primary leaves pundits wondering if winner can survive the general The post AZ GOP Treasurer Race Heats as Norton, Haley Punch Harder appeared first on Arizona Globe .
Elections
Trump raises alarms, DHS raises threats. Arizona still awaits instructions
Trump warned of foreign election meddling without offering proof, the Arizona Mirror reports. A day later, DHS threatened prosecutions, raising federalism questions for Arizona while offering little actionable guidance so far.
Elections
Arizona high court: No public comment requirement for elections rulebook, but transparency is still a choice
Arizona’s high court said the Secretary of State isn’t required to take public comment before updating the state’s elections rulebook. The mandate is gone, but nothing stops the office from choosing a transparent, public process anyway.
Elections
Fontes pushes back on Trump speech and reported DHS pressure, but where’s the plan?
After a Trump speech the Arizona Mirror described as filled with false fraud claims, Secretary of State Adrian Fontes pushed back at reported DHS pressure on states. Arizonans now need the documents and the plan, not just the punchlines.
Elections
Judge finalizes Arizona prison healthcare takeover
Key Points: Judge orders five-year prison healthcare receivership, appoints candidate Receiver gains broad healthcare authority; department plans immediate appeal Court aims to quell unconstitutional care after 14 years of litigation […] The post Judge finalizes Arizona prison healthcare takeover first appeared on...
Elections
High court says public comment on Arizona elections manual is not required
The Arizona Secretary of State is not required to allow public comment on new versions of the state’s elections rulebook, the state’s highest court wrote in a Friday opinion that explained an order the court issued nine months prior. In the October order, the Arizona Supreme Court said that the state’s Election...
Elections
DHS chief threatens to prosecute election officials as Trump escalates fight over state voter rolls
Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin threatened on Friday to prosecute election officials in states that don’t “participate in securing the elections” ahead of the November midterms. Election officials who do not comply with administration directives to enhance security of voting machines and to share voter...
Elections
‘Suck on a salt lick’: Fontes fires back after Trump election speech, DHS pressure on states
Arizona’s top election official and top prosecutor both had strong words for President Donald Trump and his administration after a prime-time speech on Thursday that was filled with false claims of widespread voter fraud. Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes bristled at the prospect of the U.S. Department of...
Elections
Biggs builds a late-cash edge as Hobbs spends fast; Schweikert in the red
Q2 filings show Biggs well ahead of Schweikert in GOP money, while Hobbs posts a far larger haul and an even larger burn. The ratios in the headlines do not match the math, and the cash-on-hand tells the real story heading into Tuesday’s primary.
Elections
LUCHA trains volunteers to be poll observers amid security concerns
Arizona's voting sites will have plenty of eyes on them this election season, including poll monitors from political parties, the U.S. Department of Justice, congressional monitors and perhaps more. The post LUCHA trains volunteers to be poll observers amid security concerns first appeared on Arizona Capitol Times .
Elections
Hobbs banks $2.6M in Q2 and fires first TV salvo as GOP rivals lag in cash
Hobbs’ $2.6 million Q2 haul fueled an early ad blitz, outpacing GOP rivals. The bet: define the race before the July 21 Republican primary. The risk: a fast burn rate before voters tune in for the fall.
Elections
Biggs Outraises Schweikert 9x; Hobbs Triples Biggs
Despite her fundraising advantage, Biggs polling is just 5-point behind The post Biggs Outraises Schweikert 9x; Hobbs Triples Biggs appeared first on Arizona Globe .
Elections
Trump, offering no proof, claims foreign meddling threatens US elections in speech slammed for stoking voter fears
The nation’s election infrastructure is vulnerable to cyberattacks by foreign actors, President Donald Trump said during a primetime address Thursday night, citing a batch of documents he declassified — but providing no proof broad interference actually occurred or affected an election outcome. Democrats and...
Elections
Hobbs raised $2.6M in Q2, more than the GOP field, fueling her early ad blitz in reelection bid
Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs raked in campaign donations during the second quarter of 2026, collecting about $2.6 million — but she also spent big as she launched a high-dollar advertising campaign boasting about her record as governor. Campaign finance reports for April 1 through June 30 show that Hobbs had more than...
Elections
Trailer park firm sued by Kris Mayes is the biggest donor to a PAC backing Warren Petersen
A trailer park management company being sued by Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes is spending big to back one of Mayes’ GOP opponents in a bid to defeat her in November. Mayes filed a lawsuit against the BoaVida Group last year after electricity outages during a deadly summer heat wave left residents at...
Elections
Judge weighs whether Arizona anti-DEI measure can be on November ballot
Key Points: Judge considers ballot qualification challenge to anti-DEI ballot measure Plaintiffs claim measure illegally combines disjointed constitutional provisions Supporters claim stronger anti-discrimination, foes fear free speech violations A Maricopa […] The post Judge weighs whether Arizona anti-DEI measure...
Elections
Sheridan States ‘I Was Not Aware’ of Endorsee Anderson’s Court-Martial
Controversy erupts after GOP Candidate Anderson’s Military Record comes to light The post Sheridan States ‘I Was Not Aware’ of Endorsee Anderson’s Court-Martial appeared first on Arizona Globe .
Elections
Saguaros are burning while invasives spread. Candidates owe voters a plan, not a slogan.
Cronkite News details fires and invasive grasses wiping out saguaros and the wildlife they support.
Elections
Democrats see path to flip Arizona Legislature as national statehouse map tilts toward them
Following a string of special election victories, Democrats have a path to flip several Republican-held legislative chambers and break GOP supermajorities in states across the country this November. High prices and overall voter dissatisfaction with Washington have put control of the U.S. House and Senate in play...
Elections
Mirror flags Lombardo’s ‘sham’ Green bid and a just‑born Nevada vendor. The fix is transparency.
Arizona Mirror reporting says Risa Lombardo’s publicly financed Green Party bid sent 78% of its funds to a Nevada company formed 13 days before it was paid, a pattern the outlet says could trigger major legal trouble.
Elections
Maricopa’s election fight ends in chambers. Taxpayers now need the receipts
If Maricopa County’s election dispute is over “on paper,” as reported, the next step is simple: release the agreement and the full bill, litigation and compliance, scored in dollars per ballot, with targets tied to measurable results.
Elections
Maricopa County’s election dispute is finally over — at least on paper
Officials in one of the nation’s biggest swing counties huddled in separate, windowless jury chambers at a courthouse Monday. Outside, a summer monsoon storm unleashed dust, wind, rain, and lightning over Phoenix. Inside, long after business hours, a local judge hurried back and forth, carrying proposed terms from...
Elections
Clock running on Prop. 314 as ACLU seeks last-minute block: Arizona needs clarity, not slogans
With Prop. 314 set to take effect this week, the ACLU has asked a federal court to stop it. Voters approved the measure, but without clear protocols and public reporting, Arizona risks confusion and uneven enforcement on day one.
Elections
Trump disables federal election agency. Arizona needs dates, not slogans.
Trump removed all three remaining members of the federal election commission, disabling the agency as his administration seeks to reshape voting rules. Arizona now needs dates, documents, and contingency plans, not slogans.
Elections
Report raises disclosure questions about LD10 candidate Ciara Anderson’s military record and “veteran” label
A report says LD10 Republican candidate Ciara Anderson touted ?Air Force veteran? status while not clearly disclosing a military conviction, four months of confinement, a rank reduction, and a bad conduct discharge.
Elections
Racism doesn’t hide in Arizona’s GOP. It’s a campaign strategy.
The racist attacks targeting Arizona Republicans Kimberly Yee and Quang Nguyen are among the ugliest moments of this year’s Arizona primary. They’re also entirely predictable. Yee is the state treasurer and Chinese American. Rep. Nguyen, who’s seeking re-election, is Vietnamese. Both are conservative Republicans,...
Elections
A mystery company, a MAGA activist and $1.1M: Inside Risa Lombardo’s ‘sham’ Green Party candidacy
Risa Lombardo, a former local GOP official who is accused of being a sham Green Party candidate for Arizona governor, spent 78% of her public campaign funding to pay a single Nevada business that was created 13 days before her first payment to it. And those payments could constitute major violations of Arizona’s...
Elections
ACLU asks federal court to block Prop. 314’s border-crossing crime days before it takes effect
An Arizona law that would empower local police officers and state judges to arrest and deport people who cross the state’s southern border without authorization is set to go into effect in just four days. An immigrant rights legal group is suing to prevent that from happening. In 2024, 61% of voters cast their...
Elections
LD10 Fallout: Ciara Anderson Blames AI, Volunteers for Veteran References; Rep. Blackman Weighs In
The LD10 candidate disputes responsibility for veteran references in voter guides. Rep. Walt Blackman says allegations should be fairly investigated.
Elections
LD10 Candidate Ciara Anderson’s Military Record Raises Questions About Disclosure and Veteran Status
Bad Conduct Discharge, confinement, and reduction in rank raise questions about Anderson’s portrayal of her military service, while critics invoke Arizona’s Stolen Valor law.
Elections
Fearing troops or ICE at the polls, Arizona organizers train hundreds as election observers
As President Donald Trump’s Department of Justice has said it plans to send election monitors to Arizona and other swing states, community organizers are focusing on training hundreds of locals on how to be election observers — with an emphasis on what to do if the National Guard or immigration agents arrive at the...
Elections
Judge blocks Arizona elections rule barring ‘intimidating’ and ‘harassing’ clothing
A federal judge on Tuesday blocked a provision in Arizona’s elections rulebook that prohibits people at polling places from “wearing clothing, uniforms or official-looking apparel intended to deter, intimidate, or harass voters.” Judge Michael Liburdi’s ruling came fewer than two weeks before the Grand Canyon...