The State 48 News

Mayes Cleared Hobbs. Now They Both Have a PR Problem.

The State 48 News — Mon, 31 Aug 2026 15:51:15 GMT

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes closed her criminal investigation into Governor Katie Hobbs and Sunshine Residential Homes without filing charges.

That did not close the story.

Mayes announced August 21 that investigators had reviewed more than 100,000 documents, campaign-finance records, procurement records, bank documents, state emails and chats and…

Hobbs Claimed a Water Victory. Then Arizona Paid Fondomonte $7 Million.

The State 48 News — Mon, 17 Aug 2026 13:49:55 GMT

On Feb. 12, 2025, the Arizona State Land Department wrote a check for exactly $7 million to Fondomonte Arizona LLC, the Saudi-owned agricultural company Gov. Katie Hobbs had spent two years portraying as a symbol of everything wrong with the state’s groundwater policies.

The transaction appears in Arizona’s OpenBooks system as a miscellaneous operating e…

Breaking News: Clean Elections Complaint Alleges Myers and Thompson Reused Public Campaign Signs Without Required Payment

The State 48 News — Fri, 14 Aug 2026 02:47:45 GMT

A new complaint filed with the Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission alleges Corporation Commissioner Kevin Thompson and Commissioner Nick Myers reused campaign signs purchased with public funds during their 2022 campaigns without properly purchasing those assets for use in the 2026 election cycle.

The notarized complaint, filed August 13 by Meriss…

Does Katie Hobbs Deserve to Be Rehired?

The State 48 News — Sun, 02 Aug 2026 22:38:32 GMT

Gov. Katie Hobbs and her allies are already working to define Rep. Andy Biggs as an “extreme MAGA Republican” rather than running on her own record.

Republicans can’t afford another messaging problem.

Arizona voters have plenty of substantive issues to debate: affordability, education, public safety, water and the basic competence of state government.

Thi…

Why Sine Kerr Is the Right Choice for Lieutenant Governor

The State 48 News — Sat, 01 Aug 2026 16:22:28 GMT

Opinion | Jeremiah Cota, San Carlos Apache Tribal Member, Laveen, Arizona

This November, Arizona voters will have the opportunity to make history by electing a governor and, for the first time, a lieutenant governor. I applaud Andy Biggs’ decision to select former state Sen. Sine Kerr as his running mate.

For those unfamiliar with Kerr, she is a Buckeye d…

Unity Without Standards Isn’t Unity

The State 48 News — Tue, 28 Jul 2026 04:32:51 GMT

OPINION | By Anthony Dunham, 2026 Republican candidate for Arizona Senate, Legislative District 17

In the days following my primary loss, I had two brief conversations with the state GOP chairman. He made it clear that his top priority is unifying the Republican Party across Arizona.

I agree. We must unite.

But the question is: at what cost?

Too often, uni…

Kevin Thompson’s Outside Consulting Becomes Central Issue in Arizona Corporation Commission Race

The State 48 News — Sat, 25 Jul 2026 16:15:40 GMT

BEFORE YOU BEGIN

Grab a cup of coffee, get comfortable, and settle in. This isn’t a quick article. It’s a deep dive into one of Arizona’s most powerful, and least understood, elected bodies.

As the general election begins, this report previews what is likely to become one of the Democrats’ central lines of attack against Arizona Corporation Commissioner …

The Stories That Stopped Arizona From Scrolling

The State 48 News — Thu, 23 Jul 2026 08:50:53 GMT

The 2026 Arizona primary is in the rearview mirror, and what a ride it was. State 48 News spent the cycle talking with candidates up and down the ballot, though our coverage leaned heavily Republican for one simple reason: they actually returned our calls.

To our Democratic friends, the invitation still stands. We don’t bite, the interviews aren’t that …

LD10 Fallout: Ciara Anderson Blames AI, Volunteers for Veteran References; Rep. Blackman Weighs In

The State 48 News — Mon, 13 Jul 2026 04:40:38 GMT

State 48 News recently published a report detailing the military record of LD10 candidate Ciara Anderson. If you missed that story, we encourage you to read it first for context.

Anderson maintains that she does not consider herself a veteran and does not campaign as one. She says references describing her as a veteran were either generated by artificial…

LD10 Candidate Ciara Anderson’s Military Record Raises Questions About Disclosure and Veteran Status

The State 48 News — Sun, 12 Jul 2026 21:12:47 GMT

Arizona Republican LD10 House candidate Ciara Anderson has repeatedly described herself as an Air Force veteran in candidate profiles and voter guides.

However, during her campaign, she did not clearly disclose to voters that she was convicted of a crime in the military, served four months in military prison, received a reduction in rank, and that the …

Arizona’s Golden Tickets: A Guide to the Republican Primary Endorsements Shaping the 2026 Election

The State 48 News — Wed, 01 Jul 2026 01:52:45 GMT

Primary season is officially here, and for Arizona Republicans, some of the most closely watched contests are shaping up to be hard-fought battles with major implications for the future of the state.

While races for Governor and Congress continue to draw attention, the contests generating some of the strongest grassroots interest are for Attorney General, State Treasurer, and Superintendent of Public Instruction. These offices may not always command the biggest headlines, but they wield significant influence over Arizona’s legal, financial, and educational future.

As candidates make their final push toward the July 21 Republican Primary, endorsements, slate cards, mailers, and the coveted “golden ticket” recommendations are flooding voters’ mailboxes and social media feeds.

State 48 News does not endorse candidates and will not be making recommendations in these races. However, voters frequently ask which organizations, elected officials, and political coalitions are backing which candidates. To help inform voters, we have compiled a list of the various “golden tickets” and recommendation guides currently circulating throughout Arizona Republican circles.

The goal is simple: provide transparency so voters can see who is supporting whom before casting their ballots. Caution: Some of these guides are by established political groups and others are individual opinions.

Among Arizona’s grassroots organizations, the Arizona Tea Party’s voter guide remains one of the most detailed and influential resources available to Republican primary voters. Unlike many endorsement flyers that simply list preferred candidates, the guide provides explanations for its recommendations, giving voters insight into candidates’ records, positions, and qualifications.

The recommendations are developed through a consensus-driven process involving members of the organization rather than serving solely as the opinion of its leadership. While the group is led by Dan Farley, the voter guide is intended to reflect the collective judgment of the organization and its grassroots membership.

The Tea Party does not issue a graphic for all of their recommendations so you have to visit their website. Below a graphic of some of their top picks:

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HUGE DISCLAIMER: State 48 News is not endorsing any of the voter guides, recommendations, or candidates included in this compilation.

In full transparency, there are recommendations in some of these guides with which we strongly and in some cases vehemently — disagree.

However, in the interest of fairness and providing voters with a complete picture of the various influences shaping the Republican primary, we have included every voter guide and “golden ticket” submitted to us, regardless of whether we agree with its recommendations.

Our goal is not to tell voters how to vote, but to show voters who is supporting whom so they can make their own informed decisions.

So let’s get started. In no particular order.

The Strong Communities Action PAC

Crimson Saguaro

Patty Porter LD12 and has held high-ranking positions within the party.

“AZRA” - Arizona Republican Assembly

Turning Point Action

Barbara Parker, former state legislator and member of Freedom Caucus

Ashley Earle, precinct committeeman and has held former party positions.

City of Maricopa Republican Club

Free Enterprise Club PAC: “Freedom Club PAC”

National Freedom Coalition

Grassroots Grandmas

Restoring Faith In Yuma

Senator Hildy Angius

We received an overwhelming response from readers, activists, and grassroots organizations who submitted voter guides and golden tickets for inclusion. Some guides could not be definitively attributed, while others are included here due to space limitations in the sections above.

***Editor’s Note:. Added after the initial publication.

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Phoenix Schools Platforming Calvin Terrell Through “Cultural Awareness” Programming Should Raise Concerns

Mon, 11 May 2026 13:01:53 GMT

Alhambra High School’s “Cultural Awareness Day 2026” flew under the radar but promotional materials revealed a full-day event centered around “diversity,” “equity & inclusion,” “empathy & understanding,” and “civic connection,” featuring special guest speaker Calvin Terrell.

According to the event flyer, students spent the school day participating in gra…

BREAKING: Court Rules BOS Overstepped, Orders Power Returned to Recorder

The State 48 News — Fri, 17 Apr 2026 04:47:51 GMT

In a decisive ruling issued April 16, 2026, a Maricopa County Superior Court judge found that the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors overstepped its authority in its ongoing dispute with Recorder Justin Heap, ordering the Board to restore key election functions and resources to the Recorder’s Office.

This wasn’t a close call, the court overwhelming sma…

Constitutional Rebuke: Court Rejects Ballot Challenge Against LD30 Candidate David Rose

The State 48 News — Thu, 09 Apr 2026 07:00:11 GMT

Republican Jennifer Esposito, who narrowly lost her bid for Mohave County Supervisor and once again on the ballot, is now at the center of a high-profile legal loss that raises broader questions about judgment and potential governance.

Her lawsuit to remove Republican Legislative District 30 candidate David Rose from the ballot was not just rejected. It …

“Not a Glitch — A Crime”: Gillette Unloads on Arizona Voter System, Points to Richer Email and Sends Federal Criminal Referral

The State 48 News — Sun, 15 Mar 2026 02:42:16 GMT

Arizona Rep. John Gillette (R-Kingman) dropped a political grenade during a legislative hearing this week, presenting what he called years of evidence showing serious irregularities in Arizona’s voter registration system — and announcing a criminal referral to the U.S. Department of Justice and Department of Homeland Security.

Jay Feely on Immigration: How a Haiti Mission Relationship Shaped His Perspective

The State 48 News — Fri, 13 Mar 2026 22:54:54 GMT

Behind the politics of immigration, Feely says there is a personal story that shaped how he sees the issue.

In the conversation below, Feely explains how a mission trip and his relationship with a young man from Haiti helped shape his views on immigration.

“Deeply Corrupt” Arizona Lawmakers Advance Sweeping DCS Reforms Amid Allegations of Systemic Bias and a Broken System

The State 48 News — Sun, 22 Feb 2026 18:42:58 GMT

The DCS hearing went on for over three hours. These five minutes exposed the most horrifying truths about Arizona’s child welfare system.

Pinal County Took Millions Under an Illegal Tax — Residents May Never Get Up to $50 Million Back

The State 48 News — Wed, 18 Feb 2026 13:08:39 GMT

Nearly four years after the Arizona Supreme Court ruled that Pinal County’s transportation excise tax was illegal, a new political fight has emerged at the Arizona Legislature: what to do with tens of millions of dollars collected under the unlawful tax, money that came from Pinal County residents and businesses.

While more than $39 million has already b…

Testify or Be Removed: Maricopa Board Escalates Fight With Recorder Justin Heap

The State 48 News — Tue, 17 Feb 2026 12:34:12 GMT

The latest flare-up between Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap and the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors is no longer just a public spat over election operations. It has turned into a direct confrontation over compelled sworn testimony, the hiring of outside legal counsel by a sitting supervisor, political retreat by another, and the Arizona Republ…

Buckle Up: AZGOP’s Chair Fight Heads to Prescott Valley

The State 48 News — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 07:59:18 GMT

Arizona Republicans will choose their next party chair at the AZGOP’s Mandatory Meeting on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2026, at the Findlay Toyota Center in Prescott Valley, a high-stakes gathering that will set the stage for Republicans heading into the 2026 cycle.

There are four candidates for seeking to replace Gina Swoboda for chairman: Sergio Arellano, Rober…