More voters in the state are shedding their party affiliations in favor of identifying themselves as independent, yet nonpartisan candidates are still having trouble gaining political traction.

Although utility deregulation was a colossal failure in California, Libertarian Rick Fowlkes says turning the energy industry over to the free market in Arizona will be his top priority if he is elected to the Corporation Commission this November.

Jorge Luis Garcia says he’s bit worried that he is a Tucson state senator who has little name recognition in the Phoenix area, where most of the state’s votes are found.

Activists say Latinos, feeling the pressure of the recession and concerned about the effects of SB 1070, will flock to the polls and wield the influence of their numbers. This is not the first year activists have touted the voting potential of Latinos, who make up an estimated 31 percent of Arizona’s population. But political scientists and activists have differing views about whether this will be the year.

As the year began, Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer faced a competitive field of fellow Republicans who wanted her job, with some GOP critics sensing she was particularly vulnerable as she sought voter approval of a sales tax increase she'd proposed to shore up the state budget.

Former U.S. Rep. J.D. Hayworth had a much-needed opportunity Friday night to refocus Arizona's Republican Senate primary on incumbent John McCain, and he came out swinging.