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Wayne Schutsky

@wschutsky.bsky.social
557 followers 143 following 417 posts

1/3 of the Politics Desk @kjzzphoenix.bsky.social

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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · 06/10/2026
Trump, politics and lawfare take center stage in Arizona's attorney general race. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...
kjzz.org
Trump, politics and lawfare take center stage in Arizona's attorney general race
Four years ago, Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes won the office by less than 300 votes. Now, she’s hoping her track record taking on President Trump, fake electors and predatory businesses will ...
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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · 28/09/2026
After a controversial federal database suggested as many as 60 noncitizens cast ballots in past Maricopa County elections, an investigation by County Attorney Rachel Mitchell found that number was much lower. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...
kjzz.org
Maricopa County Attorney Mitchell finds 8 noncitizens voted in past elections
After a controversial federal database suggested as many as 60 noncitizens cast ballots in past Maricopa County elections, an investigation by County Attorney Rachel Mitchell found that number was muc...
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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · 17/09/2026
The "One, Big Beautiful Bill" is front and center in the race to represent southern AZ's CD6, as Republican Rep. Juan Ciscomani and Democrat JoAnna Mendoza paint different pictures of how that legislation is helping — or harming — its residents. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...
kjzz.org
The 'One, Big Beautiful Bill' is front and center in the race to represent Arizona's CD6
The "One, Big Beautiful Bill" is front and center in the race to represent southern Arizona’s Congressional District 6, as Republican Rep. Juan Ciscomani and Democrat JoAnna Mendoza paint different pi...
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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · 15/09/2026
The Arizona Attorney General’s Office and Glendale Police Department believe they’ve identified who killed Jim Chafin in 1987, resolving a nearly 40-year-old cold case. But questions about the circumstances surrounding Chafin’s death remain. www.kjzz.org/kjzz-news/20...
kjzz.org
Investigators identify suspected killer in 1987 Glendale cold case. But questions remain after suicide
The Arizona Attorney General’s Office and Glendale Police Department believe they’ve identified who killed Jim Chafin in 1987, resolving a nearly 40-year-old cold case. But questions about the circums...
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Reposted by Wayne Schutsky
KJZZ Phoenix @kjzz.org · 08/09/2026
Katie Hobbs and Andy Biggs, the Democrat and Republican nominees for governor, have wildly different plans for Arizona’s water future.
kjzz.org
Hobbs, Biggs have wildly different water plans. Voters will choose conservation or augmentation
Katie Hobbs and Andy Biggs, the Democrat and Republican nominees for governor, have wildly different plans for Arizona’s water future. That means the choice voters make this November will point the st...
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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
Conservative activists working with Turning Point Action posted fake images claiming a group of Dems, including a state lawmaker, are supporting Republican Andy Biggs in the AZ Gov race. The posts, now deleted, could violate election laws passed in 2024. www.kjzz.org/elections/20...
kjzz.org
Turning Point activists use fake posts to claim Democrats are backing Biggs for Arizona governor
Conservative political activists working with Turning Point Action posted fake images on social media claiming a group of Democrats, including a progressive state lawmaker, are supporting Republican A...
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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
New federal court filings reveal that efforts to build an ICE detention center in Surprise are progressing slowly, and the Department of Homeland Security has indicated there is no rush to open the facility. Filings first flagged by @arizonaslaw.bsky.social www.kjzz.org/politics/202...
kjzz.org
ICE detention center in Surprise still paused as environmental review makes slow progress
New federal court filings reveal that efforts to build an ICE detention center in Surprise are progressing slowly, and the Department of Homeland Security has indicated there is no rush to open the fa...
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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
A judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by LUCHA against the top two Republicans at the Arizona Legislature, who banned activists from entering the House and Senate earlier this year, saying the suit is moot because the ban ended with the legislative session. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...
kjzz.org
Federal judge dismisses lawsuit filed by progressive group LUCHA barred from Arizona Legislature
A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit filed by a progressive group against the top two Republicans at the Arizona Legislature, who banned activists from entering the House and Senate earlier this year.
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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · 03/09/2026
A longtime AZ DCS official backed up allegations that a state group home operator and Democratic donor tried to leverage his connections to Gov. Katie Hobbs to obtain a rate increase, but the new info doesn't implicate Hobbs in any alleged wrongdoing. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...
kjzz.org
Another former Arizona Department of Child Safety official weighs in on pay-to-play investigation
A longtime Arizona Department of Child Safety official backed up claims by the agency’s former director, who alleged a state group home operator and Democratic donor offered to help him keep his job i...
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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · 02/09/2026
The Democratic candidate running to be the state’s next schools chief is facing allegations her campaign brought politics too close to Arizona classrooms in violation of a law banning the use of school resources to influence an election. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...
kjzz.org
Democratic AZ superintendent candidate faces complaint over classroom campaign photo ops
The Democratic candidate running to be the state’s next schools chief is facing allegations her campaign brought politics too close to Arizona classrooms.
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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · 28/08/2026
Mean tweets and accusations: why the Arizona Free Enterprise Club wants 2 Republican utility regulators removed from the APS rate case. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...
kjzz.org
Utility regulators criticized Arizona Free Enterprise Club. Now it wants them off the APS rate case
The Arizona Free Enterprise Club wants to remove two of the state’s top utility regulators from an ongoing APS rate case over comments they’ve made disparaging the far-right interest group.
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Reposted by Wayne Schutsky
Sasha Hupka @sashahupka.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
NEW: Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell tells me her office is wrapping up its probe into 60 voters referred by Recorder Justin Heap. They were alleged to be noncitizens — but not all are. Investigators are “finding there are citizens… some, but not all of them.”
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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · 27/08/2026
The Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission greenlit further investigation into three candidates based on evidence they didn’t actually qualify for millions in public funding awarded to their campaigns. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...
kjzz.org
AZ Clean Elections to continue probe into 3 candidates who received millions in public funding
The Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission greenlit further investigation into three candidates based on evidence they didn’t actually qualify for millions in public funding awarded to their camp...
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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Not all public school backers think the federal voucher is a bad thing. I talked to one Valley superintendent who thinks it could be a boon for his district.
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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
The Trump admin's top education official visited AZ to tout a new federal voucher program that will let Americans redirect their tax dollars to pay for school expenses — a program Arizonans won’t actually be able to access unless Gov. Katie Hobbs opts in. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...
kjzz.org
Arizona public school advocates are split over Trump's $1,700 'Big, Beautiful' school voucher
The Trump administration’s top education official visited Arizona to tout a new federal voucher program that will let Americans redirect their tax dollars to pay for school expenses – a program Arizon...
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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
The Trump admin's top education official visited AZ to tout a new federal voucher program that will let Americans redirect their tax dollars to pay for school expenses — a program Arizonans won’t actually be able to access unless Gov. Katie Hobbs opts in. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...
kjzz.org
Arizona public school advocates are split over Trump's $1,700 'Big, Beautiful' school voucher
The Trump administration’s top education official visited Arizona to tout a new federal voucher program that will let Americans redirect their tax dollars to pay for school expenses – a program Arizon...
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Reposted by Wayne Schutsky
Arizona Mirror @azmirror.com · 26/08/2026
“(T)he Arizona Mirror made blistering assertions that, frankly, corroborate my investigation thus far,” Clean Elections Executive Director Tom Collins wrote in letters to three fringe candidates story via @caitlinsievers.bsky.social
azmirror.com
Clean Elections set to demand $4.7M repayment from candidates amid fraud allegations
A Clean Elections repayment order could force three candidates to return $4.7M after a fraud investigation
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Reposted by Wayne Schutsky
Arizona Mirror @azmirror.com · 25/08/2026
Three candidates shared nearly 4,000 donors to qualify for $4.7 million in public campaign cash. Six of those voters said they never gave them a dime and don't know how they were listed as backing their campaigns. story via @caitlinsievers.bsky.social
azmirror.com
‘With 1,000% certainty’: Voters say candidates faked their donations to get public campaign cash
An Arizona campaign finance fraud investigation found forged $5 donations behind $4.7M in public campaign funds
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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · 21/08/2026
Following a two year investigation, the Arizona Attorney General’s Office found no evidence that Gov. Katie Hobbs engaged in a pay-to-play scheme with a political donor who owns the state’s largest group home operator. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...
kjzz.org
Arizona attorney general clears Gov. Hobbs in pay-to-play investigation
Following a two year investigation, the Arizona Attorney General’s Office found no evidence that Gov. Katie Hobbs engaged in a pay-to-play scheme with a political donor who owns the state’s largest gr...
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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · 17/08/2026
When Gov. Katie Hobbs picked former Republican John Giles as her running mate, her campaign pitched it as an olive branch to Arizona voters from across the political spectrum. But there aren’t any real differences in their political views on display so far www.kjzz.org/politics/202...
kjzz.org
Former Republican John Giles leans in to Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs' platform
When Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs picked former Republican John Giles as her running mate last week, her campaign pitched the move as an olive branch to Arizona voters from across the political spectru...
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Reposted by Wayne Schutsky
KJZZ Phoenix @kjzz.org · 15/08/2026
A clean-energy slate narrowly won control of SRP’s district board in April. They just lost it.
kjzz.org
Clean-energy slate loses narrow control of SRP board, following new appointment
A clean-energy slate narrowly won control of SRP’s district board in April. They just lost it.
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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · 14/08/2026
The AZ Clean Elections Commission voted to release over $300k in public campaign funding to Republican Ralph Heap, despite finding “reason to believe” he violated state campaign finance laws. It could still claw back $$/impose other penalties in the future www.kjzz.org/politics/202...
kjzz.org
AZ Clean Elections Commission finds 'reason to believe' Republican Ralph Heap violated law
The Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission voted to release hundreds of thousands of dollars in public campaign funding to Republican Ralph Heap, despite finding “reason to believe” he violated s...
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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · 12/08/2026
The AZ Free Enterprise Club sent a cease and desist letter to Republican Corporation Commissioner Nick Myers, who accused it of offering to help him skirt campaign finance laws four years ago. Myers says he stands by the claims. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...
kjzz.org
AZ Free Enterprise Club sends GOP official cease-and-desist letter over campaign finance claims
A conservative special interest group in Arizona is considering legal action against a sitting Republican official who accused it of offering to help him skirt campaign finance laws four years ago.
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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
In a sworn affidavit, the owner of Mesa Sign Shop says he agreed to extend a line of credit to Ralph Heap's campaign without a written contract and still hasn't sent the invoice more than 2 months after signs were completed.
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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Also our first substantial response to separate allegations Heap didn't disclose who paid for signs. His atty now says the sign shop extended him a line of credit. But Clean Elex rules say those lines of credit should still be disclosed at the time of agreement.
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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · 10/08/2026
Some updates on the Ralph Heap Clean Elections saga, including a new complaint alleging he didn't disclose who paid for signature gatherers who helped him qualify for the ballot. Heap's atty denied the claims. www.kjzz.org/elections/20...
kjzz.org
Arizona Corporation Commission candidate Ralph Heap now facing 3 campaign finance complaints
Arizona Corporation Commission candidate Ralph Heap is facing another campaign finance complaint. Now he’s accused of failing to disclose who paid to collect thousands of voter signatures his campaign...
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Reposted by Wayne Schutsky
KJZZ Phoenix @kjzz.org · 06/08/2026
A new audit has concluded that the agencies responsible for Arizona’s Paid Parent Caregiver program failed to implement cost-control measures required by state law. www.kjzz.org/the-show/202... 📷 Wayne Schutsky/KJZZ
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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · 06/08/2026
An Arizona woman who used fake court documents to secure her father’s early release from prison last year has been arrested in Texas for forging documents in a child custody dispute. www.kjzz.org/kjzz-news/20...
kjzz.org
Arizona woman who helped father get out of prison with fake court documents arrested in Texas
An Arizona woman who used fake court documents to secure her father’s early release from prison last year has been arrested in Texas for forging documents in a child custody dispute.
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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
Update: Hoffman denied Myers’ allegations re: the election four years ago. And Tim La Sota, Heap’s atty, denied the broader allegations that Heap’s campaign coordinated with other campaigns to install signs. Neither said who paid for Heap’s signs.
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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · 05/08/2026
As Republican Ralph Heap faces allegations he violated AZ law by failing to report who paid for his campaign signs, a GOP official accused the Arizona Free Enterprise Club and state Sen. Jake Hoffman of asking him to engage in a similar scheme 4 yrs ago. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...
kjzz.org
Who paid for Republican Arizona Corporation Commission candidate Ralph Heap's campaign signs?
As Republican Corporation Commission candidate Ralph Heap faces allegations that he violated Arizona law by failing to report who paid for his campaign signs, a sitting GOP official accused the Arizon...
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Reposted by Wayne Schutsky
KJZZ Phoenix @kjzz.org · 04/08/2026
House Speaker Mike Johnson and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent are visiting Arizona this week to meet with business leaders alongside Rep. Juan Ciscomani, who is seeking re-election in one of the country’s few competitive congressional districts.
kjzz.org
U.S. House Speaker Johnson, Treasury Secretary Bessent to visit Arizona on Wednesday
House Speaker Mike Johnson and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent are visiting Arizona this week to meet with business leaders alongside Rep. Juan Ciscomani, who is seeking re-election in one of the cou...
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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · 03/08/2026
A law firm aligned with President Donald Trump is suing Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes over how he plans to describe a Republican election reform proposal on November general election ballots. www.kjzz.org/elections/20...
kjzz.org
Trump-aligned law firm sues Arizona secretary of state over Prop. 144 language
A law firm aligned with President Donald Trump is suing Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes over how he plans to describe a Republican election reform proposal on November general election ballot...
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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · 29/07/2026
A Maricopa County judge has removed a so-called “poison pill” measure from the general election ballot that critics called a veiled attempt to undermine a competing school voucher reform initiative. Republican lawmakers plan to appeal. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...
kjzz.org
Judge removes Arizona school voucher 'poison pill' measure from November ballot
A Maricopa County judge has removed a so-called “poison pill” measure from the general election ballot that critics called a veiled attempt to undermine a competing school voucher reform initiative.
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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · 17/07/2026
Clara Pratte grew up in a rural town on the eastern edge of the Navajo Nation without running water or electricity in her home. Now she’s asking voters to send her to Phoenix to regulate the utilities that serve millions of Arizonans across the state. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...
kjzz.org
How Clara Pratte's childhood on the Navajo Nation inspired her run for AZ Corporation Commission
Clara Pratte grew up in a rural town on the eastern edge of the Navajo Nation without running water or electricity in her home. Now she’s asking voters to send her to Phoenix to regulate the utilities...
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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
Because he’s an elected official with powers written into state law. The law - and recent court orders - require the board and recorder to work together to run elections.
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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · 15/07/2026
The Maricopa County Supervisors and Recorder Heap reached a settlement to resolve their election dispute. It gives Heap control of early voting and the board runs Election Day, emergency voting and tabulation. Heap also gets $$$ for more staff and IT. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...
kjzz.org
Maricopa County supervisors and recorder agree to settlement to resolve election fight
The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors and Recorder Justin Heap have agreed to a settlement to resolve their dispute over control of the county’s elections, which has dragged on for over a year.
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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · 14/07/2026
The two Republicans seeking re-election to the Arizona Corporation Commission are running on a platform of “promises made, promises kept,” saying they’ve fought to implement conservative policies at the agency that regulates most of the state’s utilities. www.kjzz.org/elections/20...
kjzz.org
Trump, Arizona and coal: Why 2 Republican utility regulators are facing a challenge from the right
The two Republicans seeking re-election to the Arizona Corporation Commission are facing a challenge from the far right by critics, bolstered by President Donald Trump, who claim they haven’t done eno...
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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · 11/07/2026
The president of the Professional Fire Fighters of Arizona didn't mince words when asked about an anti-union referral sent to the ballot by GOP lawmakers “The firefighters feel abandoned, they feel betrayed, and they feel pissed.” www.kjzz.org/elections/20...
kjzz.org
'They feel pissed': Arizona firefighters speak out against Republican anti-union ballot measure
A proposal sent to the November ballot by Republican lawmakers to undercut Arizona’s teachers unions has drawn the ire of police and firefighters across the state, who believe the measure would also h...
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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · 09/07/2026
Gov. Katie Hobbs issued an executive order barring state employees from using insider information to make money on prediction markets, and she's urging independent bodies like courts and the Arizona Legislature to do the same. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...
kjzz.org
Hobbs bars Arizona state employees from using inside information to bet on prediction markets
Gov. Katie Hobbs issued an executive order barring state employees from using insider information to make money on prediction markets.
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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · 08/07/2026
The AZ Supreme Court has sided with Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap in his ongoing election fight with the county’s Board of Supervisors, adopting an interim election administration plan proposed by Heap as primary early voting is already underway. www.kjzz.org/elections/20...
kjzz.org
Arizona Supreme Court sides with Maricopa County Recorder Heap in election fight
The Arizona Supreme Court has sided with Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap in his ongoing election fight with the county’s Board of Supervisors.
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Reposted by Wayne Schutsky
ProPublica @propublica.org · 07/07/2026
Four states are standing in the way of a water rights deal that tribes say would help them build more housing, grow sustainable economies and better protect public health. “It’s a fundamental human rights issue,” said one law professor. w/ @kjzz.org
propublica.org
Native American Tribes Came Together to Secure Their Rights to Colorado River Water. Four States Are Stalling the Deal.
Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming are resisting the deal because it would allow the Navajo and Hopi to lease water to cities downstream, likely the growing towns around Phoenix.
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Reposted by Wayne Schutsky
KJZZ Phoenix @kjzz.org · 06/07/2026
A new group handing out free American flags to Arizonans is actually a part of Turning Point Action’s latest effort to harvest voter data ahead of the 2026 election. www.kjzz.org/elections/20...
kjzz.org
Turning Point Action uses free flags to collect Arizona voter data
A new group handing out free American flags to Arizonans is actually a part of Turning Point Action’s latest effort to harvest voter data ahead of the 2026 election.
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Reposted by Wayne Schutsky
KJZZ Phoenix @kjzz.org · 06/07/2026
A candidate running for Congress in a deep-red East Valley district claimed Maricopa County’s Republican Party is backing his campaign — but the party chairman says that’s not true.
kjzz.org
CD5 candidate claims he's backed by Maricopa County GOP. But the party says otherwise
A candidate running for Congress in a deep-red East Valley district claimed Maricopa County’s Republican Party is backing his campaign — but the party chairman says that’s not true.
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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · 06/07/2026
Sexting, Buford Pusser and America's sheriff: The race to replace Andy Biggs in Arizona's deep-red CD5 started out as competition between candidates trying to out MAGA each other. Now, it's turned into something else entirely. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...
kjzz.org
Sexting, Tennessee and America's sheriff: The race to replace Andy Biggs in Arizona's deep-red CD5
The Republican primary in Arizona’s 5th Congressional District started out as a competition to see which candidate could out-Trump the other in the deep-red region, but sordid allegations against the ...
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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · 04/07/2026
Just your daily reminder there’s no such thing as a free lunch (or flag). Happy 4th of July!
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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · 04/07/2026
He also told me they don’t collect/use your information. Which, again, as a get out the vote effort, isn’t true. The form says they can call/text you for voter engagement, donations, etc.
Vote.org privacy policy at the bottom of a voter registration form.
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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · 04/07/2026
When I asked what’s the difference, he told me it was a privately funded get out the vote effort. He also told me it was nonpartisan. But, in addition to the Vote.org form, Fly the Flag site’s contact link goes to Turning Point Action, an explicitly partisan group.
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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · 04/07/2026
With some prodding, the guy at the booth did tell a lady she could also use the beballotready.gov site run by Maricopa County. But he encouraged us to use the Fly the Flag website instead.
beballotready.gov
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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · 04/07/2026
The folks at the booth encourage you to check your status at flytheflag.com-, which uses the form created by Vote.org-, a Turning Point-adjacent effort I’ve reported on in the past. www.kjzz.org/politics/202...
kjzz.org
How an upcoming Trump rally in Phoenix could bolster Turning Point's effort to gather voter data
An upcoming Turning Point USA rally in Phoenix with President Donald Trump appears to be part of a larger effort by the conservative organization to collect voter data ahead of the 2026 election cycle...
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Wayne Schutsky @wschutsky.bsky.social · 04/07/2026
During a morning run, I saw a Fly the Flag booth giving out free flags for people who register to vote or prove they’re registered. Sounds like a great thing to do on the 4th. It’s also part of Turning Point’s latest voter data harvesting effort. Let me explain. 1/6
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