By Alexander Lomax The first election results dropped from the night, and absolutely nothing is set in stone at this moment, but there is definitely plenty of certainty and more than enough question marks to keep us hitting refresh on our browser constantly. First, Scottsdale. One councilmember is likely advancing and a few incumbents are fighting for their seats. Scroll … Read More
Buckle Up Phoenix and Scottsdale: Soon You Will Not Be Able to Escape the LD4 Senate Race
By Vanessa Rogers Legislative District 4 voters are about to learn what it feels like to be a battleground. The money pouring into this Senate race already signals a fall onslaught of mailers, TV spots and digital ads that will be impossible to avoid. The Money Is Already Absurd Incumbent Republican Sen. Carine Werner started the year with $272,939 already … Read More
Are the North Scottsdale Democrats Getting Money from Axon to Attack Barry Graham? This is Suspect…
By Ronald Sampson Barry Graham has a target on his back this election cycle, and the paint job looks familiar. Orange and black yard signs are popping up across north Scottsdale attacking the councilman, paid for by a group calling itself NorScoDems PAC, doing business as North Scottsdale Democrats. Graham posted the signs to Facebook this week, along with the … Read More
A Birthday Post That Reminded Us What Grace Looks Like
By Alexander Lomax George W. Bush turned 80 this week. Bill Clinton, the man who denied his father a second term in 1992, wrote him a birthday message that said more about American politics than most speeches. Clinton called their friendship one of the great gifts of his life. He said it reminded him that long before politicians take sides, … Read More
Guest Editorial: Has This Election Now Become the Nastiest in Scottsdale History?
By Bob Littlefield Dear Friends, During the last 20+ years I have waged eight campaigns for City Council and Mayor for Kathy and me. Each of them had some level of lying and personal attacks directed against us. Even Councilwoman Kathy, whose record re-election victory in 2022 showed how popular she is with the voters, was subjected to lies and … Read More
Handicapping the Election: Arizona’s 1st Congressional District Primaries
By Alexander Lomax David Schweikert is gone. The longtime Republican congressman vacated Arizona’s 1st Congressional District to run for governor, and the seat he held since 2011 is now a free-for-all. It has favored Democrats in seven of the last nine statewide or presidential contests since 2020. Both primaries reflect that uncertainty: crowded, competitive, and unresolved. The Republican Primary: Trump’s … Read More
Maricopa County’s Election Office, Now Starring in Its Own Chaos
Justin Heap campaigned for Maricopa County Recorder on a simple promise: he would restore trust in elections that he and his allies claimed had been mishandled. It was a message built on suspicion of process, chain of custody, and procedural integrity. Eighteen months into the job, those very concerns are now being raised about his own office. A Scanner, a … Read More
Guest Editorial: The Truth Is…
By Raoul Zubia You deserve better. Too many residents feel like Scottsdale City Hall is no longer listening to them. Restoring trust starts with electing adults in the room who understand the importance of long-term planning, transparency, and respect for constituents. Scottsdale is one of the best cities in America to live, work, and raise a family. But the jewel … Read More
America’s Tourism Slump: Scottsdale Is Starting to Feel It
The numbers looked fine last year. More than 11 million visitors came to Scottsdale in 2024, generating a record $3.7 billion in economic impact and supporting over 36,000 local jobs. City officials were justifiably proud. That baseline matters now, because what is happening in 2025 and 2026 cuts directly against it. The United States recorded roughly 4 million fewer international … Read More
Consequences for Political Parties Run Amok: the Recent Firing of a Democratic Party Staffer Implies Fault (and Change)
A Recap of the Allegations In late April, the Arizona Progress & Gazette reported on allegations that the Arizona Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee had quietly routed money to benefit one candidate over another in a contested primary: specifically, that $15,000 moved from the Navajo County Democratic Committee to Arizona List, which then paid $10,000 to a consulting firm whose services … Read More