Republican-Led Maricopa BOS Hands Senate Seat to Far-Left Democrat, Kiana Sears

With three Democrats in the running, did the BOS pick the most extreme?

The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors unanimously appointed Kiana Sears to represent Legislative District 9 (LD 9) in the Arizona State Senate, succeeding Senator Eva Burch, who resigned earlier this month.

Laura Metcalfe and Ryan Winkle were the other two Democrats under consideration. The Board of Supervisors posted questionnaire responses from all three candidates, which can be found here.

It’s no surprise that Democrats nominated Sears—she’s a capable, seasoned advocate and politician. What may raise eyebrows, however, is that her appointment was ultimately made by a majority-Republican body.

State 48 News often uses GROK images, but we can’t take credit (or blame) for this one. This is Kiana Sears’ own photo, straight from her website

Senator Burch, a Democrat from Mesa, announced her resignation effective March 14, 2025, citing challenges in balancing her legislative duties with her career as a healthcare provider. She expressed concerns over the $24,000 annual salary for state…