Mesnard asks for immunity from ousted member’s lawsuit
A former House speaker wants the state's high court to rule that the concept of legislative immunity is so broad that he cannot be sued for defamation by ousted Rep. Don Shooter.
Judge won’t stop Democrat county recorder from telling voters how to correct ballots
Voters in at least one Arizona county are getting instructions on how to "correct'' a wrong vote that may be illegal.
Powerless lawmakers meet with owners of closed businesses
Republican lawmakers who have been spinning their wheels since spring have turned to meeting with lobbyists and owners of shuttered industries to search for ways to help them reopen — but they’re still limited in what they can accomplish.
Ugenti-Rita jumps to commanding lead
Sen. Michelle Ugenti-Rita appears to have a weathered a sexual harassment scandal and holds an overwhelming lead over her GOP primary opponent, Scottsdale attorney Alex Kolodin, in Legislative District 23.
Ugenti-Rita defends seat against spectrum of detractors
Bright yellow signs blasting Sen. Michelle Ugenti-Rita as “ethically compromised” litter roads in Scottsdale, where the 10-year incumbent seeks to fend off a primary challenge from a well-funded opponent. It’s... […]
Even amid COVID, scandals set the tone at the Legislature
The 2020 session was, in some ways, the story of two scandals: one that rocked the Capitol and continued reverberating weeks after the Legislature adjourned, and one that quickly fizzled... […]
Looters beware, legislator wants law to allow shooting them
A Republican lawmaker who wants to allow business owners to maim or kill looters is under fire from progressive activists who say she’s inciting violence — and from her primary... […]
Few contested primaries for independents to influence
Independent voters don’t have many contested races in Maricopa County in which they can sway the outcome with Arizona primary elections roughly two months away.
Senate calls it quits, leaves House to decide what’s next
The Senate notified the House early Friday afternoon that it had ended its legislative work, ending the session and killing hundreds of bills. The lower chamber has yet to accede to the request, leaving senators in an indefinite recess.
A majority under pressure reveals legislative fissures
Early the morning of May 7, a Thursday, a motley crew of senior Senate Republicans and their Democratic counterparts, disregarding a chorus of conflicting desires from the membership as a whole, pulled the plug on the 2020 legislative session.
Passage of resolution to overturn Ducey’s order a very long shot
The plan hatched by some of the Legislature’s most vocal conservatives to reopen the state’s economy hinges on a concurrent resolution that would overturn the governor’s emergency declaration.
Leaders reverse course, reconsider sine die adjournment
House and Senate leaders are abandoning their nascent plans to adjourn the Legislature sine die on May 1 after rank-and-file Republicans revolted, according to lawmakers in both chambers.