Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes says he won’t take action against any political candidate or office holder who uses campaign cash on personal security.
State law doesn’t address whether security is an allowable campaign expense.
But Aaron Thacker with the Secretary of State’s Office says freeing up campaign money for protection has received bipartisan support.
“People should be able to live in a Democratic institution where due process holds people accountable and not the threat of violence," Thacker said.
Thacker says it’s an unprecedented but necessary use of campaign funds after recent events of political violence, including the shootings of two Democratic lawmakers in Minnesota and the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
“We need to make sure the people who want to become elected officials or are currently elected officials have the ability to protect themselves," Thacker said.
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The marijuana holiday 4/20 is on Monday. It falls about 10 weeks before the deadline to submit enough signatures so Arizona voters could decide in November whether to outlaw dispensaries. -
President Donald Trump showered praise on several Arizona candidates he’d already endorsed at a campaign event in Phoenix on Friday and gave shoutouts to several candidates for the first time. -
Rep. David Marshall resigned from the Arizona Legislature on Friday, days after the Navajo County Board of Supervisors appointed him the next county recorder — an appointment that could face legal challenges over claims it violates the state Constitution. -
A Superior Court judge found the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors illegally took away Recorder Justin Heap’s information technology team and must give that staff back in an order that resolves a yearlong battle over control of the county’s elections. -
Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs is outraising her Republican opponents several times over ahead of this year’s primary elections. And Congressman David Schweikert is trailing far behind his Democratic and Republican opponents.
