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Arizona Rep. David Stringer Standing By Comments About African Immigrants

Arizona Rep. David Stringer
Howard Fischer/Capitol Media Services
Arizona Rep. David Stringer answers questions in June 2018 about his comments, which were interpreted by some as racist.

Despite rebukes from fellow Republicans and some outright calls for his ouster, Arizona Rep. David Stringer is sticking by comments he made last month, suggesting that African immigrants to the U.S. “don’t blend in” like Caucasians of European descent.

Speaking before the Prescott Valley Town Council, Stringer said his statements were factual, but also inaccurately reported.

“What I actually said is defensible, truthful, factually accurate and can be supported by academic research. The problem that I have now is that my statements have been misreported."

But Prescott Valley Vice Mayor Lora Lee Nye admonished Stringer at the meeting. “With all due respect, please think before you speak," she said.

Stringer resigned as chair of the House Sentencing and Recidivism Reform Committee last week but has no plans to give up his seat voluntarily.

Republican House Speaker-elect Rusty Bowers has called Stringer's comments, "vile."

Tom Maxedon was the host of KJZZ’s Weekend Edition from 2017 to 2024.