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Recent Articles from Jim Small
Aguirre exploring run for Grijalva’s U.S. House seat
In 2010, U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva narrowly staved off a challenge from a Republican upstart.
Next year, Grijalva’s fight may begin in the primary, as a former Democratic state senator says she is mulling a run against the five-term incumbent.
Challenges to political district maps will face a high hurdle
The independent panel tasked with drawing new political lines that the state will use for the next decade is expecting to wrap up its work in the next few weeks, despite opposition from many of the Republicans that control state government.
Dems vow to recall moderate Republicans if they toe party line
The head of the Arizona Democratic Party says he will seek to recall four moderate Republican senators if they go along with Gov. Jan Brewer’s plan to remove members of the Independent Redistricting Commission.
Once-secret poll: Mormons narrowly support Lewis in recall election
It may have been conducted a month ago, but a previously secret poll of the District 18 race shows that the Mormon community is deeply divided over the contest between Senate President Russell Pearce and charter school administrator Jerry Lewis.
County GOP officials rally to get Pearce ‘opponent’ on ballot
An executive officer of the Maricopa County Republican Party and longtime supporter of Senate President Russell Pearce said she was part of a coordinated effort to help a woman she’s never met qualify as a candidate for the Nov. 8 special recall election against Pearce.
No dog days of summer for politics this year
In 2011 politics, there were no dog days of summer. In fact, there was hardly time for us political reporters to catch our breath, as the stories seemed to multiply every week.
Brewer planning China ‘trade mission’
Gov. Jan Brewer will be racking up some frequent flier miles next month when she heads up a team of Arizona government officials and business leaders that will be traveling to China in hopes of attracting Chinese business investments in Arizona.
Is the sky really falling on Arizona Republicans?
Republicans have railed against the Independent Redistricting Commission, saying it intends to draw political lines that turn the state over to Democrats.
But the combination of constitutional requirements, federal regulations and voter registration numbers make for a reality that is far different from any tea partier’s nightmare scenario.
Current IRC map became more competitive over time
Arizona Democrats have said they want a legislative map that will be used for the next decade to significantly increase the number of competitive districts in order to give more voters an actual choice when they go to ballot boxes every other November.
Challenging race ahead for Jeff Flake?
It’s Christmas in August. I couldn’t be more excited that wealthy Mesa investor and businessman Wil Cardon announced last week that he was going to challenge Jeff Flake for the Republican nomination for the U.S. Senate.
Campaign says Lewis has more than enough ballot signatures
A spokesman for the man that many expect will provide Senate President Russell Pearce with the stiffest competition in November’s recall election said the campaign has already collected signatures from enough voters to get Jerry Lewis’ name on the ballot.
Ray Rottas, former lawmaker and state treasurer, dies at 83
Ray Rottas generally flew below the political radar, both when he served as a state senator and the state treasurer during the 1970s and 80s, but those close to him say his impact on Arizona public policy remains to this day, and his death last month leaves a void in Arizona politics.
