Turning Arizona Blue

Our conversation with Lauren Kuby, candidate for the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC), demonstrates that down ballot races can have an enormous impact on our economy, consumer affordability and environmental sustainability. Democrats Lauren Kuby and Sandra Kennedy are running for two seats on the ACC this fall in the hopes of joining current Commissioner Anna Tovar to form a "Blue" majority against Republican and utility company efforts to block renewable energy standards and solar power development.Please go to laurenkuby.com and reelectkennedy.com to support and vote for both to power Arizona into a new era of sustainable and economic growth and protection of our valuable natural resources.A big thank you to our sponsor the Maricopa County Democratic Party for its support. Please visit  the MCDP website to volunteer your time and donate to help elect Democrats from the bottom to the top of the ballot in 2022.Turning Arizona Blue (TAB) the podcast is partnering with The Mule News, an online news service dedicated to Maricopa County Democratic politics. Please subscribe for free and confirm your subscription at https://themulenews.com/.Please subscribe to TAB where you get podcasts and follow Turning Arizona Blue on our Facebook page and on Twitter @TurningAz. Please reach us at turningazblue@gmail.com for financial and advertising support on our TAB and The Mule News platforms. Turning Arizona Blue Podcast:Facebook PageTwitterInstagramThe Mule News online news service

Joyful. For me at the opportunity to interview my friend Laura Terech, Democratic candidate for the Arizona House of Representatives. We dug deep about her experiences and motivation -- as a teacher and political activist -- to run for public office. "Hurtful."  Was how she described decades of public education neglect by the Republican majority in the AZ Legislature. Pride. What Laura feels as a running mate to Senator Christine Marsh in LD 4 due to Christine's commitment to public education and her guts to stay in the arena despite enduring family tragedies.Grateful. To have Laura as the kind of friend who encouraged me and others  to challenge ourselves to speak up on the issues before the Legislature to help make a difference.A big thank you to our sponsor the Maricopa County Democratic Party for its support. Please visit  the MCDP website to volunteer your time and donate to help elect Democrats from the bottom to the top of the ballot in 2022.Turning Arizona Blue (TAB) the podcast is partnering with The Mule News, an online news service dedicated to Maricopa County Democratic politics. Please subscribe for free and confirm your subscription at https://themulenews.com/.Please subscribe to TAB where you get podcasts and follow Turning Arizona Blue on our Facebook page and on Twitter @TurningAz. Please reach us at turningazblue@gmail.com for financial and advertising support on our TAB and The Mule News platforms. Turning Arizona Blue Podcast:Facebook PageTwitterInstagramThe Mule News online news service

Teddy Roosevelt said, " The credit belongs to the man [or woman -- updated] who actually is in the arena. . . Who spends himself in a worthy cause." Adam Metzendorf's "credit" is double-fold for entering a Democratic primary with Jevin Hodge for a Congressional seat, losing, and not only endorsing his opponent, but working 24-7 for Jevin and other other down-ballot candidates like Julie Gunnigle and causes in Maricopa County.Adam has set a new gold standard for going above and beyond his own self-interest to helping other candidates and issues succeed in the upcoming Nov. elections. Please listen as Adam's professional and political experiences have blended to provide him a platform to change Arizona for the better -- even without his name on the ballot.A big thank you to our sponsor the Maricopa County Democratic Party for its support. Please visit  the MCDP website to volunteer your time and donate to help elect Democrats from the bottom to the top of the ballot in 2022.Turning Arizona Blue (TAB) the podcast is partnering with The Mule News, an online news service dedicated to Maricopa County Democratic politics. Please subscribe for free and confirm your subscription at https://themulenews.com/.Please subscribe to TAB where you get podcasts and follow Turning Arizona Blue on our Facebook page and on Twitter @TurningAz. Please reach us at turningazblue@gmail.com for financial and advertising support on our TAB and The Mule News platforms. Turning Arizona Blue Podcast:Facebook PageTwitterInstagramThe Mule News online news service

"Duty, Honor, Country." More than words, these are the values that drive Dana Allmond to run for the AZ House of Representatives in LD17 from the Tucson area.Values that Dana committed to as a cadet at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, in achieving the rank of Lt. Colonel (now retired) and still guide her today to serve the citizens of Arizona.In this wide-ranging interview, we cover the issues of voting rights, education and reproductive rights. We also explore the impact and experiences her military career will have on serving in the AZ Legislature; and how her values determined her responses to the Jan 6th insurrection and her resignation from an advisory council to Senator Krysten Sinema (D AZ).Our takeaway is that Dana Allmond has the leadership and integrity to serve the causes and people of Arizona. And the voters in LD 17 will have the "honor" of electing her on Nov. 8th. Please go to her website link allmond4az.com and support her candidacy.A big thank you to our sponsor the Maricopa County Democratic Party for its support. Please visit  the MCDP website to volunteer your time and donate to help elect Democrats from the bottom to the top of the ballot in 2022.Turning Arizona Blue (TAB) the podcast is partnering with The Mule News, an online news service dedicated to Maricopa County Democratic politics. Please subscribe for free and confirm your subscription at https://themulenews.com/.Please subscribe to TAB where you get podcasts and follow Turning Arizona Blue on our Facebook page and on Twitter @TurningAz. Please reach us at turningazblue@gmail.com for financial and advertising support on our TAB and The Mule News platforms. 

Adrian Fontes wants to protect democracy in Arizona as the next Secretary of State. U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) was in the U.S. Capitol on Jan 6, 2021 when our democracy was directly threatened by MAGA Republican extremists nationally.Together, in this episode, they relate what's at stake and how Adrian's election in Arizona will help preserve democracy with the defeat of election-denier and insurrectionist Mark Finchem who was at the Capitol that day."The nation is watching the Secretary of State's race in Arizona," Klobuchar said. Adrian, "with his background . . . is just the perfect next Secretary of State  for the state of Arizona."Please go to https://electfontes.com/ to do your part to protect democracy in Arizona.A big thank you to our sponsor the Maricopa County Democratic Party for its support. Please visit  the MCDP website to volunteer your time and donate to help elect Democrats from the bottom to the top of the ballot in 2022.Turning Arizona Blue (TAB) the podcast is partnering with The Mule News, an online news service dedicated to Maricopa County Democratic politics. Please subscribe for free and confirm your subscription at https://themulenews.com/.Please subscribe to TAB where you get podcasts and follow Turning Arizona Blue on our Facebook page and on Twitter @TurningAz. Please reach us at turningazblue@gmail.com for financial and advertising support on our TAB and The Mule News platforms. 

Post the overturning of Roe v. Wade, the national media is calling the 2022 race for Maricopa County Attorney the most significant "battleground" election due to the office being the third-largest prosecutorial jurisdiction in the country.And one candidate, Julie Gunnigle, has put it all on the line vowing "not now, not ever" to criminalizing abortion healthcare. By contrast, her opponent played a critical role in the Roe decision by helping expand SCOTUS with an extremist jurist.Please listen as this mother, fighter and advocate outlines her "Peoples Plan for Real Justice" to protect vulnerable populations, enact criminal justice reform and overturn decades of political corruption and favoritism in the Maricopa County Attorney Office.Go to https://gunnigle2022.com/ to sign up and support Julie in this down-ballot, local race with national implications. We can and must win this race.A big thank you to our sponsor the Maricopa County Democratic Party for its support. Please visit  the MCDP website to volunteer your time and donate to help elect Democrats from the bottom to the top of the ballot in 2022.Turning Arizona Blue (TAB) the podcast is partnering with The Mule News, an online news service dedicated to Maricopa County Democratic politics. Please subscribe for free and confirm your subscription at https://themulenews.com/.Please subscribe to TAB where you get podcasts and follow Turning Arizona Blue on our Facebook page and on Twitter @TurningAz. Please reach us at turningazblue@gmail.com for financial and advertising support on our TAB and The Mule News platforms. 

Like a bad Vampire movie, what was once dead -- AZ expanded school voucher programs -- are back to suck the life-blood out of public education to  benefit private education interests.Arizona voters overwhelmingly stopped school voucher expansion in 2018. Only to have the MAGA Republican extremists in the AZ Legislature raise it up again as a "Universal Voucher Expansion" that will siphon $1 billion in public school funding to private corporations and other "dark money" contributors out to destroy public education that a vast majority of Arizonans support.In this episode, we'll hear from Marisol Garcia  and Chico Robinson with the Arizona Education Assn. (AEA); Beth Lewis and Raquel Mamani with SOS Arizona; AZ Democratic Senate candidates Jeanne Casteen and Cindy Hans; and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Kathy Hoffman and State Rep. Sarah Ligouri. All are supporting a statewide petition drive for signatures to stop voucher expansion in AZ -- again.Please go to https://teamsosarizona.com/ to find where to sign petitions and get petitions for your family, friends and community to sign.A big thank you to our sponsor the Maricopa County Democratic Party for its support. Please visit  the MCDP website to volunteer your time and donate to help elect Democrats from the bottom to the top of the ballot in 2022.Turning Arizona Blue (TAB) the podcast is partnering with The Mule News, an online news service dedicated to Maricopa County Democratic politics. Please subscribe for free and confirm your subscription at https://themulenews.com/.Please subscribe to TAB where you get podcasts and follow Turning Arizona Blue on our Facebook page and on Twitter @TurningAz. Please reach us at turningazblue@gmail.com for financial and advertising support on our TAB and The Mule News platforms. 

For the 2022 Arizona elections, Democrats are focused on "Bottom-Up" races -- the ones closest to the people -- and start at the bottom of our ballots. A great example are school boards elections that will determine the future of public education in every district, city and town in Arizona. In this episode, we talk to Mary Gaudio (https://www.marygforsusd.com/home) and Robb Vaules (https://www.vaulesforsusd.com/) running in the Scottsdale Unified School District (SUSD).We find their issues in urban Maricopa County are the same issues and consequences faced in rural Kingman, small town Payson and tribal areas of the state. They are: the neglect of public school funding; the threat of universal vouchers -- rejected by voters in 2018 and back again -- that would put tax dollars in private school systems with no accountability, and the culture war attacks on educators and school board members across the state.A big thank you to our sponsor the Maricopa County Democratic Party for its support. Please visit  the MCDP website to volunteer your time and donate to help elect Democrats from the bottom to the top of the ballot in 2022.Turning Arizona Blue (TAB) the podcast is partnering with The Mule News, an online news service dedicated to Maricopa County Democratic politics. Please subscribe for free and confirm your subscription at our website https://themulenews.com/.Please subscribe to TAB where you get podcasts and follow Turning Arizona Blue on our Facebook page and on Twitter @TurningAz. Please reach us at turningazblue@gmail.com for financial and advertising support on our TAB and The Mule News platforms. 

Recently, the Rural Action Summit in Prescott, AZ gathered progressive organizers, democratic activists, volunteers and PC's for Direct Voter Contact Training for rural Arizona.Personal canvassing, phone banking and social media contacts are the most effective means of increasing voter turnout for an election. Jay Ruby, Events Chair for the Yavapai County Democratic Party, hosted a full-day of training for several dozen leaders, organizers, volunteers and supporters to turn Arizona Blue in 2022!In this episode, the summit organized several statewide candidates to address the attendees. You'll hear from Democrats: Congressman Tom O'Halleran,  Kris Mayes for AZ Attorney General, Martin Quezada for AZ State Treasurer, Lauren Kuby for AZ Corp. Commission, and Kathy Hoffman AZ State Superintendent of Public Instruction. And John Lutes, Chair, Yavapai County Democratic Party.A big thank you to our sponsor the Maricopa County Democratic Party for its support. Please visit  the MCDP website to volunteer your time and donate to help elect Democrats from the bottom to the top of the ballot in 2022.Turning Arizona Blue (TAB) the podcast is partnering with The Mule News, an online news service dedicated to Maricopa County Democratic politics. Please subscribe for free and confirm your subscription at our website https://themulenews.com/.Please subscribe to TAB where you get podcasts and follow Turning Arizona Blue on our Facebook page and on Twitter @TurningAz. Please reach us at turningazblue@gmail.com for financial and advertising support on our TAB and The Mule News platforms. 

The national carnage of gun violence against children in schools and racist mass shootings against Latinos in El Paso, Jews in Pittsburg and Blacks in Buffalo is the shame of America. But there is hope in grass-roots movements like Mothers Demand Action nationally and here in Arizona. We talked to Marie Thearle, volunteer leader of the Arizona chapter for the organization. Marie outlines the educational programs to raise awareness and the advocacy work they do to fight anti-gun safety laws in the AZ legislature and elect "gun sense" candidates to office down and up the ballot. To support MDA go to momsdemandeaction.org. A big thank you to our sponsor the Maricopa County Democratic Party for their support. Please visit  the MCDP website to volunteer your time and donate to help elect Democrats from the bottom to the top of the ballot in 2022.Turning Arizona Blue (TAB) the podcast is partnering with The Mule News, an online news service dedicated to Maricopa County Democratic politics. Please subscribe for free and confirm your subscription at our website https://themulenews.com/.Please subscribe to TAB where you get podcasts and follow Turning Arizona Blue on our Facebook page and on Twitter @TurningAz. Please reach us at turningazblue@gmail.com for financial and advertising support on our TAB and The Mule News platforms. 

Listen to a special invitation from Jay Ruby and Yavapai County Democrats to their Rural Action Summit in Prescott, AZ on Friday, June 11th. Direct voter outreach training for rural activists to turn AZ Blue in 2022.For details go to: https://www.mobilize.us/yavapaicounty/event/454891/?emci=92e7a1ce-57d9-ec11-b656-281878b8c32f&emdi=a4a5bfad-dbd9-ec11-b656-281878b8c32f&ceid=2157186

Running as Democrats in rural red districts in Arizona requires creative strategies to build voter awareness. Yavapai County Democrats have accomplished that with the Clean Slate for Democracy candidates for the AZ State Legislature in LD1. Three Democratic Clean Elections candidates have joined together to challenge the extremist Republican candidates and current legislators to achieve a blue majority in the AZ Senate and House of Representatives. Jay Ruby, campaign manager, introduces us to Mike Fogel for Senate and Cathy Ransom and Neil Sinclair for the two House seats. Each candidate talks about the Democratic values gaining hold in rural AZ over the past decades in the areas of education, the economy and environmental progress.Please support their efforts by going to: https://cleanslateazld1.com/.A big thank you to our sponsor the Maricopa County Democratic Party for their support. Please visit  the MCDP website to volunteer your time and donate to help elect Democrats from the bottom to the top of the ballot in 2022.Turning Arizona Blue (TAB) the podcast is partnering with The Mule News, an online news service dedicated to Maricopa County Democratic politics. Please subscribe for free and confirm your subscription at our website https://themulenews.com/.Please subscribe to TAB where you get podcasts and follow Turning Arizona Blue on our Facebook page and on Twitter @TurningAz. Please reach us at turningazblue@gmail.com for financial and advertising support on our TAB and The Mule News platforms. 

Democratic voters, Independents  and disenchanted Republicans -- in addition to the motivation to eliminate extremists from  every elective office -- will have three voter initiatives on the 2022 ballot to secure "good governance" in our state.Provided we all pitch in to get signatures on petitions to place them on the ballot, the Stop Dark Money, Healthcare Rising and Arizonans for Fair Elections initiatives could make the difference in significant voter turnout. Collectively: they will stop anonymous political advertising, eliminate predatory debt collection practices in healthcare and will secure voting rights for everyone.We recently caught up with initiative spokespersons Terry Goddard, Crystal Carrillo and Rita Meehan at an AZ Democratic LD4 meeting in Phoenix.A big thank you to our sponsor the Maricopa County Democratic Party for their support. Please visit  the MCDP website to volunteer your time and donate to help elect Democrats from the bottom to the top of the ballot in 2022.Turning Arizona Blue (TAB) the podcast is partnering with The Mule News, an online news service dedicated to Maricopa County Democratic politics. Please subscribe for free and confirm your subscription at our website https://themulenews.com/.Please subscribe to TAB where you get podcasts and follow Turning Arizona Blue on our Facebook page and on Twitter @TurningAz. Please reach us at turningazblue@gmail.com for financial and advertising support on our TAB and The Mule News platforms. 

Electing Democratic legislators is the surest way to overturn the slim majorities in the AZ House and Senate of right-wing, extremist-elites who are cutting taxes for the rich, grossly underfunding public education and casting uncertainty in democracy itself.Democratic candidates Mariana Sandoval for the House and current House Rep. Brian Fernandez for the Senate in LD23 have been working on the education, economic and environmental issues that impact most Arizonans left out of the policy power structure in AZ. Well, no longer! With our collective help in electing candidates like Sandoval and Fernandez and others, we will simultaneously have a democratic majority in both chambers of the Arizona Legislature and restore the governance values that most Arizonans support.A big thank you goes to our sponsor the Maricopa County Democratic Party for their support. Please visit  the MCDP website to volunteer your time and donate to help elect Democrats from the bottom to the top of the ballot in 2022.Turning Arizona Blue (TAB) the podcast is partnering with The Mule News, an online news service dedicated to Maricopa County Democratic politics. Please subscribe for free and confirm your subscription at our website https://themulenews.com/.Please subscribe to TAB where you get podcasts and follow Turning Arizona Blue on our Facebook page and on Twitter @TurningAz. Please reach us at turningazblue@gmail.com for financial and advertising support on our TAB and The Mule News platforms. 

"Arizona is ground zero," says Matt Caffrey, senior director, grassroots community organizing for Swing Left, the national political organization. As this episode is published on April 22, Matt is traveling to Arizona to support local organizations of all stripes to help elect Democrats in 2022.Like a Marvel hero, Matt is swopping in with support to help different GOTV efforts with programs and political infrastructure to increase progressive voter turnout for the national, state and local elections. Please go to swingleft.org and check out the Arizona page for activities and to find local chapters of Swing Left to support with your time, talents and treasure.A big thank you goes to our sponsor the Maricopa County Democratic Party for their support. Please visit  the MCDP website to volunteer your time and donate to help elect Democrats from the bottom to the top of the ballot in 2022.Turning Arizona Blue (TAB) the podcast is partnering with The Mule News, an online news service dedicated to Maricopa County Democratic politics. Please subscribe for free and confirm your subscription at our website https://themulenews.com/.Please subscribe to TAB where you get podcasts and follow Turning Arizona Blue on our Facebook page and on Twitter @TurningAz. Please reach us at turningazblue@gmail.com for financial and advertising support on our TAB and The Mule News platforms. 

Paul Weich, candidate for the AZ House of Representatives in LD 12, deserves special recognition for taking time away from his own campaign to raise awareness for three voter initiatives critical to Democratic success in the November election. Recently, Paul and others put on the Democracy Never Sleeps 24-hour telethon to support the initiatives Stop Dark Money, Healthcare Rising and Arizonans For Fair Elections.  Each needs over 230,000 petition signatures by July to make the ballot. Please go to azdemocracyneversleeps.com to read about each one and sign a petition.Paul believes that increased support for the initiatives will equate to a larger voter turnout for Democratic candidates down and up the ballot.A big thank you goes to our sponsor the Maricopa County Democratic Party for their support. Please visit  the MCDP website to volunteer your time and donate to help elect Democrats from the bottom to the top of the ballot in 2022.Turning Arizona Blue (TAB) the podcast is partnering with The Mule News, an online news service dedicated to Maricopa County Democratic politics. Please subscribe for free and confirm your subscription at our website https://themulenews.com/.Please subscribe to TAB where you get podcasts and follow Turning Arizona Blue on our Facebook page and on Twitter @TurningAz. Please reach us at turningazblue@gmail.com for financial and advertising support on our TAB and The Mule News platforms. 

A decade ago, when Arizona's legislative sessions were dominated by large Republican majorities, then House Minority Leader, Eric Meyer set in motion a vision to reverse those majorities in both chambers. Along with then Senate Minority Leader Katie Hobbs, they established the Arizona Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (ADLCC) to elect more Democrats.Over time, the ADLCC's hard work paid off to where  -- in this 2022 election -- Democrats are a few seats away in each chamber of realizing that vision. They, and Democrats across the state, have brought Arizona to the edge of reversing attacks on voter suppression, women's reproductive rights, public education, environmental progress and economic equity.Eric Meyer makes the strong case for our supporting the ADLCC by going to adlcc.com to bring sanity and good governance back to Arizona by electing a Democratic legislative majority.Also, a big thank you to our sponsor the Maricopa County Democratic Party for their support. Please visit  the MCDP website to volunteer your time and donate to help elect Democrats from the bottom to the top of the ballot in 2022.Turning Arizona Blue (TAB) the podcast is partnering with The Mule News, an online news service dedicated to Maricopa County Democratic politics. Please subscribe for free and confirm your subscription at our website https://themulenews.com/.Please subscribe to TAB where you get podcasts and follow Turning Arizona Blue on our Facebook page and on Twitter @TurningAz. Please reach us at turningazblue@gmail.com for financial and advertising support on our TAB and The Mule News platforms. 

Turns out, interviewing a younger version of yourself can be enlightening and deflating at the same time. Enlightening because Ricardo Serna, President of the Maricopa County Young Democrats (MCYD) offers his analysis of youth voting in previous AZ elections, its impact and influence on MCYD strategies for 2022. Deflating, because at 26, Serna has been involved in 37 campaigns in six years. Me at 26 and President of the Alexandria, VA YD's -- ah not so much. In this episode, Serna applies his political experience and analysis to energize the MCYD's, create new programs and engage young voters at all levels. Listening to him will motivate you to support them by going to mcydems.org donating and encouraging your young family members and friends to get involved.Also a big thank you to our sponsor the Maricopa County Democratic Party for their support. Please visit  the MCDP website to volunteer your time and donate to help elect Democrats from the bottom to the top of the ballot in 2022.Turning Arizona Blue (TAB) the podcast is partnering with The Mule News, an online news service dedicated to Maricopa County Democratic politics. Please subscribe for free and confirm your subscription at our website https://themulenews.com/.Please subscribe to TAB where you get podcasts and follow Turning Arizona Blue on our Facebook page and on Twitter @TurningAz. Please reach us at turningazblue@gmail.com for financial and advertising support on our TAB and The Mule News platforms. 

Give credit to Aaron Connor for the idea of doing a Poker N' Politics episode.  The goals being for good Democrats to come  together, relax, have fun and recharge for the election year ahead.  Fortunately, Adrian Fontes and Jevin Hodge were able to join Aaron and the Ole Podcaster for this, hopefully, first in a series of episodes sitting around a poker table to laugh, tell stories and some friendly competition. It was a great evening that we cut down to a digestible length for you to hear the best of the banter and gain insights to their personalities.We want to thank my wife Patricia Williams for hosting the evening with food and beverages. And a thank you to Queen of Hearts Casino Parties for providing a professional poker dealer. How about some Democratic women candidates or politicos for the next Poker N' Politics episode?Also a big thank you to our sponsor the Maricopa County Democratic Party for their support. Please visit  the MCDP website to volunteer your time and donate to help elect Democrats from the bottom to the top of the ballot in 2022.Turning Arizona Blue (TAB) the podcast is partnering with The Mule News, an online news service dedicated to Maricopa County Democratic politics. Please subscribe for free and confirm your subscription at our website https://themulenews.com/.Please subscribe to TAB where you get podcasts and follow Turning Arizona Blue on our Facebook page and on Twitter @TurningAz. Please reach us at turningazblue@gmail.com for financial and advertising support on our TAB and The Mule News platforms. 

I know. After this past year, we Democrats are tired. Tired of the pandemic, the big lie, Arizona seditionists in Congress and a right-wing extremist majority legislature in our state Capitol.But, we have cause to rally around our values and issues as represented by our Democratic leadership in the legislature -- Reginald Bolding, Minority Leader in the House and Rebecca Rios, Minority Leader in the Senate.This truly dynamic duo, recently laid out their "Blueprint for a Better Arizona" before the legislative session began. In a blistering account of Republican policies, Bolding and Rios set an agenda that supports: saving democracy, voting rights, women's reproductive rights, public education, the environment, the Equal Rights Amendment and LGBTQ issues.With their leadership and our focus on these issues -- and holding the right-wing Republicans accountable for every single vote they cast -- we have a golden opportunity to elect a Democratic majority to the state legislature in 2022.  Let's get busy "making good trouble."A big welcome and thank you to our sponsor the Maricopa County Democratic Party for their support. Please visit  the MCDP website to volunteer your time and donate to help elect Democrats from the bottom to the top of the ballot in 2022.Turning Arizona Blue (TAB) the podcast is partnering with The Mule News, an online news service dedicated to Maricopa County Democratic politics. Please subscribe for free and confirm your subscription at our website https://themulenews.com/.Please subscribe to TAB where you get podcasts and follow Turning Arizona Blue on our Facebook page and on Twitter @TurningAz. Please reach us at turningazblue@gmail.com for financial and advertising support on our TAB and The Mule News platforms. 

Aaron Connor took on the task of challenging for the office of Maricopa County Assessor in 2020 -- the first Democrat to run for the position in decades. We own him, for running, educating the voters about property taxes and almost winning an office few care about.As we close out 2021, he has the election bruises, credibility and a unique perspective for our review of the past year and the 2020 elections in Arizona. Aaron's look back and to the future is a smart, funny and engaging as is he.Turning Arizona Blue (TAB) the podcast is partnering with The Mule News, an online news service dedicated to Maricopa County Democratic politics. Please subscribe for free and confirm your subscription at our website https://themulenews.com/.Please subscribe to TAB where you get podcasts and follow Turning Arizona Blue on our Facebook page and on Twitter @TurningAz. Please reach us at turningazblue@gmail.com for financial and advertising support on our TAB and The Mule News platforms. 

In this episode, a celebration and new beginning for the Maricopa County Democratic Party (MCDP). Recently, an overflow crowd of 300-plus supporters, candidates and elected officials attended the Grand Opening of MCDP's new headquarters.We captured sound bites from almost a dozen attendees about what the event signified for Maricopa Democrats going forward. MCDP chair Nancy Schriber opened the event with the significance of this new headquarters rising like a Phoenix after the previous offices were destroyed by a firebomb over a year ago.Here you'll capture the hope, commitment and solidarity of building on MCDP's successes to Turning Arizona Blue in local, county, state and national races in 2022 and beyond.Turning Arizona Blue (TAB) the podcast is partnering with The Mule News, an online news service dedicated to Maricopa County Democratic politics. Please subscribe for free and confirm your subscription at our website https://themulenews.com/.Please subscribe to TAB where you get podcasts and follow Turning Arizona Blue on our Facebook page and on Twitter @TurningAz. Please reach us at turningazblue@gmail.com for financial and advertising support on our TAB and The Mule News platforms. 

It's the two minute warning! Do or die for the opportunity to turn AZ Blue in 2022. We must engage in the final act of the AZ Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC) -- in these last few weeks -- to fight for fair and competitive Congressional and Legislative districts.Deborah Howard is back to implore us to fight to the end in public hearings and written comments to the IRC.  Go to irc.az.gov to find the hearing dates and locations and how to submit your views.  She also provides messages to communicate and how to find support in legislative districts and political organizations.The end game is Turning the AZ legislature Blue by just two districts to increase public education funding, protect women's health and create a fair tax system. Your engagement now will make a difference in the decade to come.Turning Arizona Blue (TAB) the podcast is partnering with The Mule News, an online news service dedicated to Maricopa County Democratic politics. Please subscribe for free and confirm your subscription at our website https://themulenews.com/.Please subscribe to TAB where you get podcasts and follow Turning Arizona Blue on our Facebook page and on Twitter @TurningAz. Please reach us at turningazblue@gmail.com for financial and advertising support on our TAB and The Mule News platforms. 

The Black Engagement Committee (BEC) of the Maricopa County Democratic Party (MCDP) has been active for several years organizing, getting out the vote and serving the needs of their community. Currently under new leadership, the BEC is organized to support Democratic legislative districts (LDs) in the county as never before.Co-chairs Karl Gentles and Pastor Warren Stewart are engaged in building partnerships in the LDs to increase Black precinct committee persons to help: increase voter registration and turnout, support the work and issues of the party, and develop Black candidates to win county and legislative seats. As former candidates themselves, Gentles and Stewart bring their experience, activism and commitment to go from “protest in the streets to power in political seats.”In this episode, they discuss the change in the political climate wrought by the murders of George Floyd and others and their strategies to impact future elections in Arizona with Black voters and candidates on the ballot.Turning Arizona Blue (TAB) the podcast is partnering with The Mule News, an online news service dedicated to Maricopa County Democratic politics. Please subscribe for free and confirm your subscription at our website https://themulenews.com/.Please subscribe to TAB where you get podcasts and follow Turning Arizona Blue on our Facebook page and on Twitter @TurningAz. Please reach us at turningazblue@gmail.com for financial and advertising support on our TAB and The Mule News platforms. 

Arizona was a "swing state" in 2020  -- capable of delivering votes nationally to either party -- in part because of the increased Democratic turnout in rural areas. While accounting for only nine percent of voters in Arizona, eight of the thirteen rural counties in Arizona increased Democratic vote margins from zero (remained even) to five percent from the 2016 to 2020 elections.In this episode, we talk with three people who represent hundreds of Arizona Democratic activists in very Red rural districts who fight against divisive and sometimes threatening political environments to increase Democratic voter registration and turnout. Matt Capalby, a Carpenters Union consultant from Flagstaff, provides a statewide perspective on the history and future of turning rural districts more Blue. Karen Ann Moscato, president of the River Valley Democrats in Mohave County, is raising the visibility of Democrats despite the intimidation of right-wing extremists. And Jay Ruby, from Yavapai County, is connecting with Democrats to show they are not alone in rural Arizona.   Turning Arizona Blue (TAB) the podcast is partnering with The Mule News, an online news service dedicated to Maricopa County Democratic politics. Please subscribe for free and confirm your subscription at our website https://themulenews.com/.Please subscribe to TAB where you get podcasts and follow Turning Arizona Blue on our Facebook page and on Twitter @TurningAz. Please reach us at turningazblue@gmail.com for financial and advertising support on our TAB and The Mule News platforms.

There are only a few remaining days where your signature on Arizona petitions can fight voter suppression, restore critical public education funding and eliminate "Dark Money" in our  elections. Between now and September 29th, your "John or Jane Hancock" on petitions in Arizona can reverse Republican legislation to subvert voting rights and public education, and restore accountability in our elections.In this episode we talk with Eric Kramer the director of Arizona Deserves Better about the statewide petition signing effort in Arizona to get six referendums and one initiative on the ballot in 2022 to save Democracy in Arizona. He highlights efforts in Tucson and Coconino, Yavapai  and Maricopa counties.Then, we drill down on petition signing efforts in Maricopa County with political activists John Ainlay and Mary Fortney and educatorJennifer Chastain. Their examples of hard work, long hours and comitment -- in this rush to overturn drastic policy measures -- should inspire us to lend our signatures and support to this "good trouble" effort.Turning Arizona Blue (TAB) the podcast is partnering with The Mule News, an online news service dedicated to Maricopa County Democratic politics. Please subscribe for free and confirm your subscription at our website https://themulenews.com/.Please subscribe to TAB where you get podcasts and follow Turning Arizona Blue on our Facebook page and on Twitter @TurningAz. Please reach us at turningazblue@gmail.com for financial and advertising support on our TAB and The Mule News platforms.

I know, I said I was taking August off. But I couldn't pass up the opportunity to talk to one of the most recognizable figures in Maricopa County Democratic politics -- who is not elected.John David Herman Volunteer -- as he is known --  has had several roles with the Maricopa County Democratic Party over the past dozen years. He started volunteering on phone banks, became a phone bank captain and later a neighborhood organizer and area director.  Currently he is the "volunteer" office manager and self described "gatekeeper" for incoming phone calls and visitors -- before the offices were destroyed by a firebomb last year --  who he delights in telling them "where to go." We talk about his political upbringing with the labor movement, his many professional careers  and our shared background working in radio in Florida. Our conversation brings out his true character as a "Renaissance man" on many subjects and his passion for volunteering in the political arena.Turning Arizona Blue (TAB) the podcast is partnering with The Mule News, an online news service dedicated to Maricopa County Democratic politics. Please subscribe for free and confirm your subscription at our website https://themulenews.com/.Please subscribe to TAB where you get podcasts and follow Turning Arizona Blue on our Facebook page and on Twitter @TurningAz. Please reach us at turningazblue@gmail.com for financial and advertising support on our TAB and The Mule News platforms.

First up, a quick reminder that signing time-sensitive petitions before mid-September will allow AZ voters the chance to overturn draconian measures for voter suppression and cuts to public education funding.  While another petition will fight "dark money" in our politics.Second, this episode highlights Democratic values through volunteerism at the United Food Bank in Mesa, AZ. We learn about the monumental challenge of combating food insecurity in AZ and follow Dems from LDs 12, 17, 25 and 28 in an evening shift filled with energy, music, fun and commitment.Turning Arizona Blue (TAB) the podcast is partnering with The Mule News, an online news service dedicated to Maricopa County Democratic politics. Please subscribe for free and confirm your subscription at our website https://themulenews.com/.Please subscribe to TAB where you get podcasts and follow Turning Arizona Blue on our Facebook page and on Twitter @TurningAz. Please reach us at turningazblue@gmail.com for financial and advertising support on our TAB and The Mule News platforms.Scheduling Note: TAB and The Mule News will take a break in August and we'll be back in September.

As a commemoration of the Freedom Riders of the 60's civil right movement, Arizona Freedom Riders left Phoenix on the first celebration of the Juneteenth holiday to push once again for voting rights legislation in Washington, D.C.Four buses carrying almost 200 young and older Black, Latinx, White, middle class, poor, laborers and clergy of modern-day Freedom Riders; journeyed together to push for The John Lewis Voting Rights and the For the People Acts.  Organized by Unite Here Local 11 and Black Voters Matter they gathered to support the “For the People Act” Freedom Ride 2021.This episode caught the sounds of the "send off" event with Maria Hernandez of Unite Here, AZ State Sen. Juan Mendez, AZ State Rep. Athena Salman, AZ Speaker of the House Reginald Bolding and a personal friend Patricia Thomas with Indivisiblewestphx.Turning Arizona Blue (TAB) is sponsored by Matters of State Strategies a top political consultancy for Democratic candidates and issue campaigns in need of an edge in competitive and changing Arizona districts in 2022. Contact them at info@mattersofstatestrategies.com. Turning Arizona Blue the podcast is partnering with The Mule News, an online news service dedicated to Maricopa County Democratic politics. Please subscribe for free and confirm your subscription at our website https://themulenews.com/.Please subscribe to TAB where you get podcasts and follow Turning Arizona Blue on our Facebook page and on Twitter @TurningAz. Please reach us at turningazblue@gmail.com for financial and advertising support on our TAB and The Mule News platforms.

Matt Grodsky, is one of those people in politics who was there at the beginning of Turning Arizona Blue, the podcast, and we are pleased we can return a favor by way of this interview.Matt is Vice President and Director of Public Affairs at Matters of State Strategies (MOS) a political consultancy in Arizona. Back then, he helped arrange one of our first "big name" interviews and is now a much appreciated advertiser to Turning Arizona Blue.Matt talks about his career in Arizona politics, volunteering for campaigns, as director of communications for the Arizona Democratic Party and the goals of MOS to help turn Arizona bluer. Matt also announces a free crash-course to potential candidates called "So, You Think You're Running for Office." The webinar is June 9th at 5:30 pm and please register at MOS' Facebook page.Turning Arizona Blue is sponsored by Matters of State Strategies a top political consultancy for Democratic candidates and issue campaigns in need of an edge in competitive and changing Arizona districts in 2022. Contact them at info@mattersofstatestrategies.com. Turning Arizona Blue the podcast is partnering with The Mule News, an online news service dedicated to Maricopa County Democratic politics. Please subscribe for free and confirm your subscription at our website https://themulenews.com/.Please subscribe to TAB where you get podcasts and follow Turning Arizona Blue on our Facebook page and on Twitter @TurningAz. Please reach us at turningazblue@gmail.com for financial and advertising support on our TAB and The Mule News platforms.

Slowly, surely and thankfully we are crawling out from under the COVID cocoon to actually meet and greet fellow Democrats who are working hard to register voters, build networks and protest against voter suppression, the "fraudit" and the filibuster rule. "Out there" is where we can reclaim the energy, passion and purpose of making "good trouble."We follow Chris Miller and his LD1 crew to engage new voters in Anthem. We join State Rep and ADP Chair Raquel Teran at a rally to support the John Lewis Voting Rights Act and the For The People Act. We meet young activists like Stephanie Maldonado with LUCHA fighting the "Faudit" at the State Capitol and we catch up with AZ House Minority Leader Reginald Bolding and State Rep Athena Salman encouraging hundreds at a downtown Phoenix rally to protest the U.S. Senate filibuster procedure.Turning Arizona Blue is sponsored by Matters of State Strategies a top political consultancy for Democratic candidates and issue campaigns in need of an edge in competitive and changing Arizona districts in 2022. Contact them at info@mattersofstatestrategies.com. Turning Arizona Blue the podcast is partnering with The Mule News, an online news service dedicated to Maricopa County Democratic politics. Please subscribe and confirm your subscription at https://themulenews.com/.Please subscribe to TAB where you get podcasts and follow Turning Arizona Blue on our Facebook page and on Twitter @TurningAz. Please reach us at turningazblue@gmail.com for financial and advertising support on our TAB and The Mule News platforms.

The Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission (IRC) is currently in business to redraw the Congressional, state legislative, county and even local government election lines. Deborah Howard, coordinator for Indivisible Arizona's redistricting team, provides us the background on the IRC process, the commissioners and encourages everyone to get involved. But the partisanship for an "independent" body has already begun. Deborah takes us through political lines already being crossed and the hiring of a mapping consultant with a tainted history in Arizona and other states. Deborah's hope, that in our already divided and polarized political environment, the five IRC members will rise to the occasion with redistricting  lines that are fair and competitive.Turning Arizona Blue is sponsored by Matters of State Strategies a top political consultancy for Democratic candidates and issue campaigns in need of an edge in competitive and changing Arizona districts in 2022. Contact them at info@mattersofstatestrategies.com. Turning Arizona Blue the podcast is now partnering with The Mule News, an online news service dedicated to Maricopa County Democratic politics. Please subscribe and confirm your subscription at https://themulenews.com/.Please subscribe to TAB where you get podcasts and follow Turning Arizona Blue on our Facebook page and on Twitter @TurningAz. Please reach us at turningazblue@gmail.com for financial and advertising support on our TAB and The Mule News platforms.

Good friend Mark Heier is back -- by popular demand I should point out. Mark got some notice on our Facebook pages after our discussion following the 2020 elections. We talked then about the marijuana initiative passing. Mark labeled the now legal product "Jazz Cabbage" catching the attention of listeners.Mark, retired from the video production business, quips again is this episode. Listen for it. We discuss the Maricopa County ballot recount, the AZ State Republican agenda in the legislature, Gov. Ducey, the Jan. 6th insurrection and lastly President Joe Biden. Turning Arizona Blue is sponsored by Matters of State Strategies a top political consultancy for Democratic candidates and issue campaigns in need of an edge in competitive and changing Arizona districts in 2022. Contact them at info@mattersofstatestrategies.com. Turning Arizona Blue the podcast is now partnering with The Mule News, an online news service dedicated to Maricopa County Democratic politics. Please subscribe and confirm your subscription at https://themulenews.com/.Please subscribe to TAB where you get podcasts and follow Turning Arizona Blue on our Facebook page and on Twitter @TurningAz. Please reach us at turningazblue@gmail.com for financial and advertising support on our TAB and The Mule News platforms.

Judy Stahl's campaign to unseat Congressman Paul Gosar is one of drawing clear distinctions of representation. Her vision is one of responding to the real needs of people with solutions for rural infrastructure, health care and a lack of jobs and housing for Veterns.Gosar's values are based on fear. Creating divisions among us based on voter suppression, the Big Lie, rejecting Arizona's votes in a national election and supporting insurrection and white supremacy. Stahl believes her values -- in this uphill battle -- and her decades as a Prescott small business owner and community activist, will make a difference in a district where more voters are rejecting the ultra right wing politics of fear.Turning Arizona Blue is sponsored by Matters of State Strategies a top political consultancy for Democratic candidates and issue campaigns in need of an edge in competitive and changing Arizona districts in 2022. Contact them at info@mattersofstatestrategies.com. Turning Arizona Blue the podcast is now partnering with The Mule News, an online news service dedicated to Maricopa County Democratic politics. Please subscribe and confirm your subscription at https://themulenews.com/.Please subscribe to TAB where you get podcasts and follow Turning Arizona Blue on our Facebook page and on Twitter @TurningAz. Please reach us at turningazblue@gmail.com for financial and advertising support on our TAB and The Mule News platforms.

As we political junkies know, it is a difficult journey to support and elect good, qualified candidates for political office. Well, it is even more difficult to remove politicians who have violated our trust with acts of insurrection and support for white nationalist and voter suppression efforts. Difficult but necessary.In this episode, we're following two Arizona efforts to remove Republicans -- Congressman Paul Gosar and Arizona State Representative Mark Finchem from office.Jay Ruby from Prescott, gathered voters from around CD4 and held a rally against Gosar as he was speaking in Payson, AZ. Ruby who played Abraham Lincoln – on stilts no less – organized a lively and entertaining demonstration. We’ll take you to the rally and you’ll hear from Ruby and others who support the effort to #RemovePaulGosar.Chesney Richter is the manager of Rural Arizonans for Accountability, the group promoting the recall of Rep. Finchem in LD 11 which covers parts of Pinal and Pima Counties. Richter outlines the rationale for and the difficult process to remove Finchem from the State Legislature. In a narrow window of time, the RecallFinchem campaign hopes to gather enough petitions to have the Arizona Secretary of State order a recall election this November.Turning Arizona Blue the podcast is now partnering with The Mule News, an online news service dedicated to Maricopa County Democratic politics. Subscribe at https://themulenews.com/.Please subscribe to TAB where you get podcasts and follow Turning Arizona Blue on our Facebook page and on Twitter @TurningAz. Please reach us at turningazblue@gmail.com for financial and advertising support on our TAB and The Mule News platforms. 

The journey of Grant Woods goes from John McCain's staff, to Republican Attorney General of Arizona for two terms, to fighting the extreme right-wing takeover of the Republican Party, to supporting national and state Democrats in the Trump era and finally registering as a Democratic voter. His journey is filled with his own character defining decisions that he praised John McCain for -- principles above party, integrity before political expedience and empathy first.In this episode, Grant Woods talks about the Trump takeover of his former party, the Arizona Republican Party's shameful voter suppression efforts, the potential of the Biden administration, and his working and personal relationship with John McCain his mentor and friend.  Turning Arizona Blue the podcast is now partnering with The Mule News, an online news service dedicated to Maricopa County Democratic politics. Subscribe at https://themulenews.com/.Please subscribe where you get podcasts and follow Turning Arizona Blue on our Facebook page and on Twitter @TurningAz. Please reach us at turningazblue@gmail.com for financial and advertising support on our TAB and The Mule News platforms.

Many Arizona voters are talking about Adrian Fontes and his future in Arizona politics. And he is listening, really listening. In this episode, the former Maricopa County Recorder (2016-2020) talks about the attempts at voter suppression by Republicans in the current Arizona legislative session. Rightly so, for under Andrian's watch, voter registration and voter participation in elections was the highest ever. Accountability and transparency in his office was increased and election integrity and accuracy were secured -- and proven in the courts.Adrian also talks about the impact the November election's "Big Lie" and the January 6th insurrection in Washington, DC on our Democracy, and his re-engagement into Arizona politics as an activist and/or an elected official.The Turning Arizona Blue podcast is now partnering with The Mule News an online news service dedicated to Maricopa County Democratic politics. Go to https://wwwthemulenewscom.godaddysites.com/the-mule-news-front-page and subscribe.Please also subscribe to Turning Arizona Blue where you get podcasts; leave a review at our Facebook page Turning Arizona Blue; follow us on Twitter @TurningAZ; and email us at turningazblue@gmail.com. For contributions and advertising to support TAB and The Mule News go to http://paypal.me/turningazblue.

One new announcement for 2021; and the first episode in season two of Turning Arizona Blue (TAB) the podcast is here. First, on this episode of Turning Arizona Blue, Dr. Shad Marvasti (Dr. Shad to almost everyone), provides a comprehensive perspective on the COVID-19 crisis here in AZ. Dr. Shad serves as Director of Public Health, Prevention and Health Promotion at the U of A College of Medicine in Phoenix. Dr. Shad addresses: AZ’s status as the world’s worst for infections; Gov. Ducey’s lack of critical mitigation after August, 2020; vaccinations will not address the short-term crisis; damage from Trump’s lack of national leadership; our national treasure Dr. Fauci is free and in charge; and systemic structural racism is causing health disparities in America. Second, TAB is now partnering with a new, online news service dedicated to Maricopa County Democratic politics. Soon, The Mule News will be available. No, not the traditional donkey of Democratic politics, we need a stronger, bolder symbol in prospecting for votes and victories all up and down the ballot in Maricopa County. Be on the lookout for The Mule News. Please subscribe to and like Turning Arizona Blue where you get podcasts; leave a review at our Facebook page Turning Arizona Blue; follow us on Twitter @TurningAZ; and email us at turningazblue@gmail.com. For contributions and advertising to support TAB go to http://paypal.me/turningazblue.

Arizona voters gave teachers, parents and students an overdue and much warranted funding mechanism to raise our schools out of the bottom in US rankings. Our collective voter shame finally overcame decades of drastic cuts by Arizona Republican Governors and Legislators — more than in any other state.In this episode, David Lujan, Director of the Arizona Center for Economic Progress and a former AZ State Representative and Senator, and a spokesperson for the coalition that supported "Yes on 208," talks about the win last month and the decades fight against anti-progress politicians and private special interests to elevate public education in Arizona. John Little, former City Manager for Scottsdale and a 50-year career public servant, provides perspective on how local jurisdictions have not expanded support for public education because the state has not mandated an “education” component in their general planning or master plans. This lack of inclusion, fails to promote the importance of public education funding for quality schools to a communities’ economic development. Little says there is a “tangible . . . provable . . . relationship” between high preforming schools and increased property values and economic process.Jennifer McDowell, with children in public schools and seven years on school boards in the Scottsdale Unified School District, relates the devastating impact of these past decades on teachers in terms of their careers and love of teaching and motivating students. And now, the emotional distress of teaching in a pandemic environment on their health, being caught in political wars with some parents, and the constant changing of health requirements from state officials. Please subscribe to and like Turning Arizona Blue where you get podcasts; leave a review at our Facebook page Turning Arizona Blue; follow us on Twitter @TurningAZ; and email us at turningazblue@gmail.com. For contributions and advertising to support TAB go to http://paypal.me/turningazblue.

Every election has its successes and lessons to be learned by the candidates, party officials, volunteers and voters. Steven Slugocki, Chair, Maricopa County Democratic Party, talks about those two sides of the 2020 election and how they are to be expanded and applied in the next Arizona statewide and local elections in 2022.The upsides of: increased voter turnout from moderates, liberals, progressives and the Black and Hispanic communities; crossover votes from Republicans and Independents; and passage of school funding and marijuana initiatives -- all took hard work, long hours and commitment from all involved. The downside was some 100,000 voters who did not fill out their entire ballot for the local elections.The keys to Turning Arizona Blue in the next election will be: hold and improve those gains with impactful policies from the Biden Administration that improve our daily lives in the next two yearstranslate those policies into votes for state, legislative and local races up and down the ballot in 2022, andreach deep into communities to educate voters on the importance of local races.Please subscribe to and like Turning Arizona Blue where you get podcasts; leave a review at our Facebook page Turning Arizona Blue; follow us on Twitter @TurningAZ; and email us at turningazblue@gmail.com. For contributions and advertising to support TAB go to http://paypal.me/turningazblue.

Turning Arizona Blue is back with Arizona wins thanks to Democratic GOTV efforts at the state, county and local levels from party organizations, district committees, volunteers and the voters. While we succeeded in the Biden/Harris and Mark Kelly contests, and despite record turnout from Democrats, Independent and moderate/anti-Trump Republicans, it wasn't enough to overcome our traditional Red-state voters in the down ballot races.My friend Mark Heier is back to celebrate the wins and discuss translating Biden policies in the next two years into Arizona Blue wins at the state, congressional, legislative and local levels. Two-years of positive and impactful policies at the national level will help hold those independent and moderate Republican voters as potential voters up and down the ballot in 2022. And without Trump on the ballot, those Republican office holders will not have the political cover and turnout of the Trumpian voting cult.In future podcasts, we'll analyze the upsides and downsides of this election and turn to what we can all do on this journey of Turning Arizona Blue.Please subscribe to and like Turning Arizona Blue where you get podcasts; leave a review at our Facebook page Turning Arizona Blue; follow us on Twitter @TurningAZ; and email us at turningazblue@gmail.com. For contributions and advertising to support TAB go to http://paypal.me/turningazblue.

This episode covers several topics where I could grab some audio from: a highly respected polling source; the sounds and energy from the PHX Women's March; and two friends discussing topics of the day.Lucas Holtz, Political Operations Director for The Lincoln Project, updated us on the polling trends in Arizona for the national political campaign. There is good news in the numbers and a warning you'll want to hear.The PHX Women's March had several hundred women, men and a few politically active dogs showing support for women's issues. The marchers had energy and enthusiasm and several gave their reasons for demonstrating for what the late Rep. John Lewis would call "good trouble."Lastly, two friends from Indivisible West in AZ -- Sharli Schaitberger and Patricia Thomas -- stopped by to offer their perspectives on AZ Prop 208, the public education funding initiative and Republican political hypocrisy.Please subscribe to and like Turning Arizona Blue where you get podcasts; leave a review at our Facebook page Turning Arizona Blue; follow us on Twitter @TurningAZ; and email us at turningazblue@gmail.com. For contributions and advertising to support TAB go to http://paypal.me/turningazblue.

With the help of Steven Slugocki, Chair of the Maricopa County Democratic Party, we get a lesson on "single shots" for candidates running for the AZ Legislature. Voting districts in AZ have two House of Representatives seats in each election. Usually, there are two Democrats and two Republicans vying for those seats. Voters may casts ballots for two candidates. But in some districts there may be two candidates of one party and only one candidate from another. Thus, a voter has the opportunity to vote only for the Democrat in the race -- a single shot -- and not cast their second vote that will dilute the first vote.Steven provided three great examples of the impact "single shot" voting might have in turning the AZ Legislature Blue. Steven provides commentary on each of these candidates and their races. They are Suzanne Hug running in LD 25 (suzanne.az.mail@gmail.com), Eric Kurland running in LD23 (erickurland6@aol.com), and Kristin Dybvig-Pawelko running in LD 15 (KDPforLD15@gmail.com).Please subscribe to and like Turning Arizona Blue where you get podcasts; leave a review at our Facebook page Turning Arizona Blue; follow us on Twitter @TurningAZ; and email us at turningazblue@gmail.com. For contributions and advertising to support TAB go to http://paypal.me/turningazblue.

Maricopa County in Arizona (Phoenix and suburban areas) has a greater population than 25 states and is the fastest growing county in the nation. So, the lesser known political offices in the county, have a larger than expected impact on the populations they serve. In this episode, we give some exposure to two offices and the experienced and innovative Democrats running to serve Maricopa County residents.One office is the Maricopa County Assessor. The assessor applies an evaluation to all properties -- private, commercial, non-profit and public for the purpose of taxation. Aaron Conner has over 26 years experience in the IT and mortgage industry where he dealt with property appraisers and assessors for decades. Aaron will bring his technology experience to upgrade an office lacking in customers service advancements.The other is Maricopa County Superintendent of Schools. That office is charged with replacing district school board vacancies, handling administrative functions for smaller school districts and running schools for foster-home and homeless children, and another for juveniles in the justice system. Jeanne Casteen, a mother with school-age children, a Master's degree in education and decades of teaching experience is running for that office. Casteen was motivated to run for this office to achieve funding, teacher retention and administrative goals outside the walls of her classrooms.The success of each of these down-ballot candidates will be essential in establishing a Blue voter base in the upcoming elections for other county, legislative, state-wide, Congressional and Presidential races in Arizona.Please subscribe to and like Turning Arizona Blue where you get podcasts; leave a review at our Facebook page Turning Arizona Blue; follow us on Twitter @TurningAZ; and email us at turningazblue@gmail.com. For contributing and advertising to support TAB go to http://paypal.me/turningazblue.

If the AZ Corporation Commission is to renew itself again: independent of utilities, transparent in its rate making, and dedicated to expanding renewable resources; we have no other option than vote for all three of AZ's Solar Team. Democrats Bill Mundell, Shea Stanfield and Anna Tovar have the experience and commitment to create a sustainable future for Arizona.After decades of utilities spending dark money to elect Republican Commissioners who went along with a succession of rate increases; we, the citizens, consumers and environmental concerned voters, have the obligation to fight for these candidates. The AZ Corp Comm, that controls so many important aspects of our economy and environment, is too critical to continue its mission impacted by dirty money and politics.Please subscribe to and like Turning Arizona Blue where you get podcasts; leave a review at our Facebook page Turning Arizona Blue; follow us on Twitter @TurningAZ; and email us at turningazblue@gmail.com. For contributing and advertising to support TAB go to https://paypal.me/turningazblue?locale.x=en_US.

Maricopa County Attorney is another critical down-ballot office on the road to Turning Arizona Blue. And Julie Gunnigle has the experience, intellect and empathy to turn this office in the right direction after decades of Republican control, party politics and mismanagement.Julie Gunnigle served as Assistant State Attorney in Cook County Illinois, prosecuting public corruption and financial crimes -- that's where she gained her legal TOUGHness. Her law degree is from the University of Notre Dame and her positions on issues (Gunnigle2020.com) will improve criminal justice here -- that's where her SMARTs and belief in accountably can end the county cronyism. Born and raised in Maricopa County, gives Julie the understanding to regard all its various communities with a FAIR, empathetic and justice oriented approach to this powerful position. Please subscribe to and like Turning Arizona Blue where you get podcasts; leave a review at our Facebook page Turning Arizona Blue; follow us on Twitter @TurningAZ; and email us at turningazblue@gmail.com.

If we are intent on a tsunami wave of Blue voter turnout in Arizona for the top and middle of the Democratic ballot, then we must must double and even triple our efforts for the down-ballot candidates for Maricopa County Board of Supervisors. Going deep Blue for the five BOS district offices, will insure success for: other County-wide offices; AZ State Legislative, Congressional and Senate races; and secure AZ's 11 Electoral College votes for Joe Biden for President.These candidates are the most diverse, intelligent and community-oriented team ever assembled for each BOS office. They include: District 1, Jevin Hodge; District 2, Deedra Abboud; District 3, Whitney Walker; District 4, Suzanne Story; and District 5, incumbent Steve Gallardo.Please subscribe to and like Turning Arizona Blue where you get podcasts; leave a review at our Facebook page Turning Arizona Blue; follow us on Twitter @TurningAZ; and email us at turningazblue@gmail.com.

Just like an old Arizona prospector, digging up nuggets and gems in the desert, I have excavated a gem in friend Mark Heier, an astute observer of people and politics. Mark's perspective on the recent RNC convention and the absurdity of it all, offers a rich load of satire even during this most serious election. Together, we cover Donald's and Ivanka's speeches, a comparison to the DNC convention, and the criminality of this administration.Also, with the help of CNN we cover 20 lies in Donald Trump's 70 minute acceptance speech -- an average of one every three-and-a-half minutes. He must be so proud.Please subscribe to and like Turning Arizona Blue where you get podcasts; leave a review at our Facebook page Turning Arizona Blue; follow us on Twitter @TurningAZ; and email us at turningazblue@gmail.com.

Michael Muscato, Democratic candidate in AZ CD8, got into the race because the incumbent, Rep Debbie Lesko (R), was responding to district issues solely out of the Republican Party playbook -- with little regard to the everyday issues of her constituents. By contrast, Muscato, raised in the district and a local businessman, has outlined specific positions with real impact on the middle-class district residents, such as immigration, healthcare, education, the environment and gun violence. Go to muscato4congress.com to learn more. Another reason for the interest in this race is whether Donald Trump will be a help or hindrance to Lesko in this race. With Democratic gains in recent AZ congressional elections and polls indicating Arizona turning blue this fall, an early indicator will be how CD8 voters respond to Muscato's energy and empathy with their real issues.Please subscribe to and like Turning Arizona Blue where you get podcasts; leave a review at our Facebook page Turning Arizona Blue; follow us on Twitter @TurningAZ; and email us at turningazblue@gmail.com.

Signa Oliver, Arizona and Phoenix community activist, offers her perspective on Kamala Harris joining the Biden campaign as Vice Presidential candidate. Signa has transformed her leadership skills; as a Phoneix police officer, a graduate of the Thurgood Marshall School of Law, an attorney and prosecutor with the US Army JAG corp, and Chief HR officer for Arizona government and private entities; into working on behalf of social justice and progressive political candidates. Also, host Ron Williams, with apologies to David Letterman, offers his Top Ten List for voting for Biden/Harris and state and local candidates in the effort to turn Arizona Blue. Please subscribe to and like Turning Arizona Blue where you get podcasts; leave a review at our Facebook page Turning Arizona Blue; follow us on Twitter @TurningAZ; and email us at turningazblue@gmail.com.

Following episodes about Arizona state and local politics, this episode takes us up to a 30,000-foot view of the national election in an essay I wrote. More specifically, the need for overarching messaging about the moral bankruptcy of Donald Trump's policies and governing. Not his personal moral bankruptcy -- litigated extensively in the media -- but the morality or lack thereof of his administration of our justice system, a national pandemic and our health care, the environment, and appointments of soon-to-be criminals. Oddly, for our blue-leaning political perspective, I begin this overview with a history lesson with stalwart conservatives President Ronald Reagan and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher and their views of the Soviet-era empire of the Cold War.Please subscribe to and like Turning Arizona Blue where you get podcasts; leave a review at our Facebook page Turning Arizona Blue; follow us on Twitter @TurningAZ; and email us at turningazblue@gmail.com.