Primary Ballots Are In!

While I've decided who I'm going to vote for in some of the primary races, regardless of how they turn out, everyone involved seems to be a decent human being.  As such, there won't be any "nose-holding" in the general election.

No matter who emerges from the primaries, I hope the runners-up stay involved in the political process.  Their energy is needed, both to help the primary winners in the general election, and to be leaders for the rest of us.

When I "hold my nose" and vote for someone in spite of my misgivings because that person is better than the alternative, I may be right about the "better" part, but I still usually regret the vote (see: Sinema, Kysten).

Having said that, I *have* made a few decisions.

In the governor's race, I'll be voting for Katie Hobbs.  I've known her since she was an LD24 legislator and I lived in LD24.  She was impressive then, is impressive as Secretary of State, and I think that she'll make a great governor.

In the race for secretary of state, I'll be voting for Adrian Fontes.  He did a fantastic job as Maricopa County Recorder, and will be an outstanding SOS.

I live in LD5 now (didn't move; just got redistricted) and that's where I haven't made up my mind yet.

All pics (except the ballot) from the website of the AZSOS; federal candidates here; statewide candidates here, and legislative candidates here.

State Committees update

I was going to refer to this as a federal committee update as both are registered with the IRS (which is how they came to my attention). but neither is registered with the FEC and both are registered with the Arizona Secretary of State.

As such, this is a State Committees update.

Silvey is running as a write-in candidate in the R primary for State Senate in LD5.

From the website of the AZSOS -

Disclosure time: I live in LD5, and will NOT be voting for either R write-in candidate. :)

I generally don't cover PACs here, but this one contains contains a blast from the past.

The treasurer of the PAC, Heather Carter, is a former state legislator (2013-2021) and currently a yoga instructor.  And always a Republican.

My guess, given the date of formation of the committee, is that it is going to disburse money in the R primary.

From the IRS' website, for both committees -

From the AZSOS' website, also for both committees -

Moving

No, I'm not moving as in changing addresses, but I am moving as in changing legislative districts thanks to the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission.

I'm currently in LD27, with Rebecca Rios, Reginald Bolding, Marcelino Quinonez, and (formerly) Diego Rodriguez in the state legislature.  Rodriguez is running for Arizona Attorney General.

Because of redistricting, I'm moving to LD5, which has one state senator, Lela Alston, in it, and four state representatives, Kelli Butler, Sarah Liguori, Jennifer Longdon, and Amish Shah in it.

As there are only two representative slots in each district, I expect something to give here, with one or more of the four to choose to do something else, like run for a seat in Congress.

From Jeremy Duda of the Arizona Mirror -

Who won and who lost with the new legislative districts?

Political fortunes for a number of incumbent lawmakers shifted last week when the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission approved its final legislative map, granting a reprieve to some who were facing trouble and giving others new headaches as they head into their re-election campaigns.

Two of the new districts are shaping up to be intraparty free-for-alls, one for each party, with multiple incumbents pitted against each other.

[snip]

In central Phoenix, four incumbent House Democrats face a similar scenario in the new District 5. The new district combined portions of the old District 24, represented by Jennifer Longdon and Amish Shah, and District 28, represented by Kelli Butler and Sarah Liguori. Now, all four face the prospect of slugging it out for the new district’s two House seats.

Longdon, who serves as assistant House minority leader, said the quartet plans to talk it out and find out what everyone’s plans are, though they haven’t had time to do so since the AIRC finalized the new legislative map last week. Sen. Lela Alson plans to seek re-election in the district, blocking off the Senate as a possible avenue for any of the four. 

“It’s not unknown. Every 10 years some incumbents face this,” Longdon said. “What’s most important for me is that we make sure that, should we all end up running for these two seats, … it’s a very positive campaign on everyone’s part. And I trust the voters of LD5 to make the best possible decision.”