2024 Statements of Interest: The Differences Between Counties Can Be Stark

I realize that it's early and that things could, and probably will, change.

Also, just because someone declares an interest in a elected office doesn't mean that they will appear on a ballot.

I would expect a better Democratic candidate turnout in a county won by Joe Biden in 2020 and Katie Hobbs in 2022 (Maricopa).

In Pima County, seven of the 14 people who have filed statements of interest and declared a party affiliation (one I has filed) are Democrats.  50%.

In Maricopa County, three out of 21 people who have filed are Democrats.  ~14%.

I don't know much (OK, *anything*) about Pima County politics, so I'll leave commenting on the candidates there (so far) to someone who knows more than I do; in Maricopa County, the only name that I recognize (other than incumbents running for re-election) is Jerry Sheridan, one of Joe Arpaio's deputies and a failed 2020 candidate for sheriff.  He wants to run for county sheriff again.

Maricopa County school board candidates are listed here;  As those races are nominally non-partisan (someone should tell the Rs that), none list a declared party affiliation.

Eli Crane (R - AZCD1) draws his first opponent

 While, as a first-termer, he may face a primary challenge from another R, this challenger is a Democrat.

Though with choosing to be saddle partners with the likes of Andy Biggs and Paul Gosar, the challenger probably won't be the only one.

Lindsay Bowe, a Prescott-located activist, has filed paperwork with the FEC to form a committee for the run.

Amber Faith will be the committee treasurer.

Someone's running for POTUS...and that would be a step down if he wins

Note: I don't normally mock candidates for office simply for declaring that candidacy (in person, I tend to be shy and quiet, just not hypocritical), but on this one, the temptation was too strong. :)

From an FEC organizational filing -

Note2: In addition to being the committee's custodian of records, Snider is the candidate.

Now, I'm not an expert on religion, but I'm pretty sure that "President" isn't on the level of "Messiah". :)

The CD1 candidate field is getting crowded

Kurt Kroemer, an experienced exec for non-profits, has formed a committee in the D race to unseat the vulnerable R David Schweikert.

Kroemer has already started his campaign - he sent out a mass text on Wednesday.

He joins Amish Shah, a doctor and member of the Arizona Legislature, and Andrei Cherny, a former chair of the Arizona Democratic Party, in the race.  

They may be the earliest entrants, but I don't expect them to be the last ones.

Disclosure time: While I haven't made a decision as yet, because of a move, I now live in CD1 and will be voting in this primary.

Well, we have the first official Democratic primary for Congress. Actually, we have two.

And it's still early.

On 4/4, Phoenix City Council member Yassamin Ansari formed a committee for a run at replacing Senate candidate Ruben Gallego (D) in CD3.

On 4/5, State Senator and former chair of the AZ Democratic Party (ADP), Raquel Teran formed one for a run at the same seat.

It's widely expected that Laura Pastor will jump into the race, too.

On 4/6, a name who's a bit of blast from the past, former ADP chair and 2012 candidate for Congress, Andrei Cherny formed a committee for a run at the CD1 seat held by ethically challenged R David Schweikert.  He joins current State Rep. and doctor. Amish Shah in the race.

I do expect there to be Democratic primaries in R held districts CD2 (Northern AZ) and CD6 (in Southern AZ), so 2024 should be a popcorn-riffic year.

And I haven't even discussed the many Rs who will run for the U.S. Senate, none of whom has formed a committee as yet.

At the AZ Lege, some folks are setting things up for it to become an example of "what's old is new again"

And, for once, I'm talking about the Rs' desire to return society to the 1930's or earlier (you know, times of massive corruption, massive breadlines, and massive lynchings).

Nope, I'm talking about how certain former members of the legislature are seeking to return there.

I've already written about the candidacy of former Senate president Steve Yarbrough in his quest to return to the lege, this time in the House.

It's still early, but Republican former rep Walt Blackman has formed a committee for a return to the House from LD7.  In 2022, he ran for Congress and lost in the primary. -

Republican Vince Leach is looking to return to the Senate from LD17 -

He's not exactly a good public servant, but he lost a primary fight with the wildly controversial Justine Wadsack, the current state senator from that district and someone who laughs at sane when she sees it in her rearview mirror.

Also having a committee is former legislator Bob Stump, but I'm not sure that he's running - it's a *very* old committee and isn't set up for his current district.

The committee is set up for LD9 but he lives in LD27.

State Rep. Amish Shah files for a run for Congress

Dr. Amish Shah, a Democratic State Representative from LD5 has formed a committee with the FEC for a candidacy for Congress.

He's not running for Ruben Gallego's soon-to-be vacant seat, but is challenging the unethical David Schweikert instead.  In 2022, Schweikert won re-election by a little over 3K votes over Jevin Hodge, a Democrat with lots of energy but almost no name recognition.  He's vulnerable.

The treasurer for the committee is Heather Mrowiec.

The form filed with the FEC is here.

Steve Yarbrough (R-Giant Sucking Sound) looking to return to the Arizona legislature

I generally don't write about legislative races, but a name that's a blast from the past has formed a committee to run for a seat in the AZ House.

From the website of the Arizona Secretary of State -

Yarbrough is a former president of the state senate.

From the 2018 member roster for the state senate -

I've referred to him as a "Giant Sucking Sound" because of his penchant for benefitting from funds taken from public education and given to private and charter schools, funds laundered through his entity, the Arizona Christian School Tuition Organization (ACSTO).

He's still involved with ACSTO (as his campaign email address indicates), but is no longer the official head of it -he's *just* a director.

From the Arizona Corporation Commission -

Note: Though his committee formation indicates that it is formed for a run in LD17, I think that he lives in LD12 or 13 now; 17 is his former district designation.  

Since redistricting, LD17 is now a southern AZ district.