Democrats tried to get rid of some strings attached to a restoration of cash assistance benefits pushed by Gov. Doug Ducey, but their efforts were ultimately unsuccessful.

Democratic Sen. Carlyle Begay is now a Republican. The Ganado lawmaker announced Monday morning his switch to the Republican Party, a move he said is an extension of his independent streak at the Arizona Capitol. But Democrats categorized the move as no surprise for a lawmaker who often bucked his party to vote in favor of Republican-led bills.

In response to education funding plans proposed by the governor and legislative Republicans, Democrats today released their own school funding plan, boasting that their proposal would raise nearly $4 billion dollars over 10 years without increasing taxes.

Arizonans aren’t impressed with job Gov. Doug Ducey’s first five months in office, according to a poll conducted by a Democratic firm that showed far more disapproval than approval for his job performance.

In downtown Phoenix’s Democratic stronghold of Legislative District 24, House Minority Leader Chad Campbell is stepping down from the post he has held for the past eight years as one of the district’s two representatives. That is creating a power vacuum and a bitter battle between two Democrats vying to replace him.

Democrats plan to travel to six cities this summer to evaluate potential sites for the 2016 Democratic National Convention.

Presumptive Democratic gubernatorial nominee Fred DuVal unveiled a plan for spurring job growth in Arizona that includes improving K-12 and higher education, expanding tax credits for research and development, reducing regulatory burdens and giving preference to in-state companies that compete for government contracts.

Phoenix Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego’s proposed legislation to legalize recreational marijuana in Arizona has some in the medical marijuana industry worried about losing their businesses.

At a Pima County Republican Party luncheon in Tucson, voters arrive to hear a speech from the latest GOP candidate to enter the race to serve Arizona’s 2nd Congressional District.

The three Republicans aiming for the chance to take on Democratic freshman Congresswoman Kyrsten Sinema are beginning to craft their message and try to raise enough money to compete with the incumbent’s massive campaign war chest.