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.

A former Missouri legislator writes about the craziness in the Missouri legislature, but she could have been writing about the AZ lege

Pointed to this by Taegan Goddard's Political Wire.

From an op/ed in the Kansas City Star -

I saw booze, guns and fights on the Missouri House floor. Voters must fix this mess 

BY Stacey Newman Special To The Star

The Kansas City Star’s Feb. 17 editorial, “Of dogs and dysfunction: Anarchy in Jefferson City,” was so right on the money. As a nine-year veteran of the Missouri House, I can wholeheartedly vouch that dysfunction is the legislature’s middle name.

 

As do most voters, I expect legislators to be serious when they take their oath of office. I want to trust they will treat their offices with reverence instead of middle school immaturity — I really do.

 

My first late-night session as a freshman involved debate over a pornography bill. Arguments proceeded way past midnight as I was introduced to #molegafterdark. Coffee cups are allowed on House chamber desks, yet during evening sessions, many of those cups contain alcohol. I was appalled at the drunken debate, remembering how hard I campaigned just to be sitting at one of those desks. Surrounding us were the words carved at the very top of the House chamber: “Liberty, Justice, Law, Progress, Truth, Knowledge, Honor.” Yeah, right.

I can't speak to there being any actual fights on the floor of the AZ legislature; I really don't know.

As for booze, while I HAVE seen some behavior that reeks of "under the influence", but absent seeing consumption of alcohol, or an actual blood test, or even smelling booze on someone's breath, I'm not prepared to accuse someone of legislating while intoxicated.

Lastly, guns?

Well, I was there when then-state senator Lori Klein packed some heat at a state of the state address.

And the AZ lege hasn't become classier since then.