The Republican-controlled state Legislature has spent much more money on lawsuits since Democratic Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes was elected.
Before Mayes took office in 2023, the state had a Republican Legislature and a Republican attorney general, but for the past two years, legislative leaders have taken it upon themselves to argue lawsuits on the state's behalf when Mayes chooses not to.
Last year, the state House participated in 22 lawsuits and spent $1.2 million on outside counsel. In contrast, they only participated in six lawsuits in 2022 and spent slightly more than $92,000 that year.
From 2023 to now, the House has spent $2.5 million on outside counsel.
So far this year, the House has spent more than $380,000 on 14 lawsuits.
House Speaker Steve Montenegro did not respond to a request for comment, but Senate President Warren Petersen (R-Gilbert) confirmed that Mayes is the reason for the shift, calling her quote “MIA.”
Petersen is also running for attorney general in 2026.
The money was spread out to 16 law firms, some of which got many more cases than others. The firms used for the most cases were Statecraft, Snell & Wilmer and James Otis Law Group LLC at 13, 12 and 12 respectively.
Since 2023, the House paid James Otis Law Group LLC $664,212; Snell & Wilmer $584,042; and Statecraft $369,695, with most of the money going to “general advice and litigation,” according to public records.
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