Ending more than a year of speculation about his political future, Mesa Mayor Scott Smith announced his candidacy for governor, adding another big-name candidate to the already crowded field for the Republican primary.

The past year included perhaps the most significant changes to Arizona’s election laws since the creation of the Clean Elections system and independent redistricting more than a decade earlier.

Specter of anonymous campaign spending looms over 2014

Next year’s elections are shaping up like 2012 — organizations with generic names, big checkbooks and secret contributors spending millions to influence Arizona’s elections.

When asked how his vote for Medicaid expansion could threaten his chances at another term in the Arizona Legislature, Senate Majority Leader John McComish points to an Arizona Capitol Times newspaper hanging in a frame behind his desk “The risk of defiance,” the headline reads. “What will GOP senators’ ‘no’ votes on immigration bills cost them?”

Huge Arizona legislative districts spur debate about costs, meeting constituents’ needs

As lawmakers and hopeful candidates embark on their 2014 campaigns, many would probably be surprised to learn that they are running for some of the most populous legislative districts in the United States.

WASHINGTON – With a year until the next election, Democratic freshmen in three competitive Arizona congressional districts are continuing to stockpile cash for their re-election bids, according to the latest campaign finance reports.

Newly minted attorney general candidate Mark Brnovich hit the campaign trail and laid out his case for why GOP voters should choose him over Tom Horne, bashing the incumbent attorney general for legal and ethical problems that have plagued him and alleging that Horne hasn’t done enough to defend conservative principles.

Arizona candidates will be able to accept contributions of up to $4,000 starting on Friday after a Maricopa County judge denied a request to block the new contribution limits from going into effect.

Mysterious visits to south Phoenix home became catalyst for new elections law

Rey Valenzuela was at his home in south Phoenix during election season last year when a young man, clipboard in hand, knocked on his door and asked for his wife.

Historians will determine the just-completed Arizona legislative session as the most significant in memory. An unlikely coalition, which included a hard-nosed, conservative and partisan governor, teamed together to pass Medicaid expansion.