2024 Voter Guide
October 2, 2024
Voting Guide: Candidates
I highly recommend our local Legislative District 2 Voting Guide which is based on the belief that every Arizonan - no matter their race, background, or income - deserves the freedom, opportunity, and security to achieve their American dream.
This compact voting guide includes recommendations for candidates for state, county, city, school board and bond elections as well as federal races for Congress, US Senate, and President. You can even download, print it out, or email a link to your friends and family! (It even includes links to ballot propositions.)
Please take special note that in the State House Representative category, your ballot will say that you can vote for two candidates. HOWEVER, in LD2, we urge you to vote for ONLY Stephanie Simacek in that category. This strategy increases the odds of a Democrat winning one of the two house seats, ensuring more equal representation for the LD2 community. You're not throwing away your second vote, you're supercharging the first one.
Click on the ballot image below to zoom into a full-sized ballot guide or visit PhoenixVotes.org
Voting Guide: State Propositions
For a more thorough understanding of ALL of the mostly terrible state propositions, I recommend Civic Engagement Beyond Voting's (CEBV) explainer here. In a nutshell, they recommend Yes on Prop 139, and No on all other statewide measures (Those are the ones with a 100 or 300 number.)
However, my opinion differs from that of CEBV on one in particular. I am NOT opposing Prop 140. I am concerned about potential unintended consequences, but I think it's a better option than Prop 133 which would cement partisan primaries in the AZ constitution.
Prop 140 Creates Open Primaries: Neutral
Amends the AZ Constitution to create open primaries for all voters, whatever their party. All candidates would appear on the same ballot. While I appreciate the attempt to moderate extremism by reforming our primary system, I’m also concerned about unintended consequences, so I am not recommending how to vote. However, please note that Prop 140 and Prop 133 conflict. If both pass, the one with the most votes will be enacted.
Spotlight on Prop 139: Protecting Our Personal Healthcare Decisions from Politicians: YES!
Since Roe v Wade was struck down by the US Supreme Court, the legality of abortion healthcare has been turned over to individual state control. That's why I share the conviction of more than 800,000+ Arizonans who signed a citizen initiative last spring. We demanded a vote to amend the AZ Constitution to ensure our daughters have the same fundamental right to receive abortion care that generations have had - and here is that vote. Pregnancy is complicated, and we can't know every circumstance a woman faces. Placing this fundamental right in the state Constitution will mean that politicians can’t interfere with our personal healthcare freedom without voter approval.
Here's a little further explanation of some of the especially bad statewide propositions that want to amend the Arizona constitution (the 100's) to silence the voice of voters.
And some other bad ideas that would make it harder for cities as well as the state to address the homelessness crisis and other needs. (the 300's). See the non-partisan CEBV link for more important details on other propositions.
Prop 133: Cements Partisan Primaries: NO!
Enshrines Arizona’s current partisan primary system into the AZ constitution. It would ensure that only the most extreme candidates can survive a primary, cementing a system that’s unfair to independent voters and blocks any future reform.
PROP 134: Silences Voters: NO!
Requires citizen initiatives to collect signatures from a percentage of voters in all 30 legislative districts across Arizona. This means any single district would get veto power over the rest of the state. It targets citizen-led initiatives only, not referrals from the legislature.
PROP 136: Also Silences Voters: NO!
Allows anyone to sue to invalidate a citizen initiative, even before signatures have been collected to place it on the ballot. This targets citizen-led initiatives only, not referrals from the legislature. Citizens would have to focus on a barrage of lawsuits before voters even have a chance to weigh in.
Prop 137: Ends Voters' Right To Remove Bad Judges: NO!
Eliminates the retention process for judges. Currently, Arizonans vote on whether to retain judges every 4-6 years. But this would remove all citizen oversight and grant lifetime appointments for Arizona judges. My opponent in this race - the current Republican LD2 State Senator - cast the deciding vote for this referral that would ensure her husband, who is up for judicial retention this year, would be shielded retroactively from removal, even if citizens vote not to retain him.
Prop 312: Asks Taxpayers to Shoot Ourselves in the Foot: NO!
Requires cities and counties to give property owners tax refunds if the county or city “declines to enforce” existing laws that criminalize common activities for people experiencing homelessness. This doesn’t fix homelessness, and by penalizing cities makes it even more difficult for them to address the problem. By giving tax refunds to some property owners, it also pushes the tax burden for our streets, police, firefighters, parks and libraries onto the rest of us.
Prop 315: Blocks Fiscally Responsible Budgeting to Address the Needs of Arizonans: NO!
Blocks Arizona agencies from creating rules that would increase regulatory costs by more than $500,000 over 5 years. This would prevent the state from directing funds to address public health and safety like adding the staff desperately needed to address the abuse of elders and people with disabilities in assisted living facilities.
Voting Guide: County Propositions
I highly recommend a YES vote on the two Maricopa County Propositions.
Prop 479: YES!
Maricopa County and all cities and tribes within it voted unanimously to approve this vital plan to ensure we have the highways, roads, and public transportation needed for approve this vital plan for our population and job growth. A “yes” vote continues the tax until 2045. A “no” vote will lead to even greater traffic congestion and even gridlock in some areas.
Prop 486: YES!
Allows the Maricopa Community Colleges to continue to serve as a pipeline to our workforce and will NOT raise taxes! It simply changes the 1980-era expenditure base on which the expenditure limit is calculated. If that base is NOT adjusted, our community colleges will be forced to cut up to $100 million in vital workforce training programs.
Voting Guide: City Propositions
I highly recommend a YES vote on the three City of Phoenix propositions.
Prop 487: YES!
Allows Phoenix residents to grant permission for the city to continue to control its budget instead of having to use a state-imposed formula.
This will NOT raise taxes! An independent Task Force recommended continuing this Home Rule Option that has been in place since 1999. Without voter approval, cities would instead be limited to state-imposed formulas. Vote yes to support local control.
Prop 488: YES!
Asks voters to ratify the Genral plan for the City of Phoenix. This will NOT raise taxes! This is required as a technical approval of the plan for the City of Phoenix submitted by the Deputy City Manager and the Planning and Development Department and adopted by the City Council.
Voting Guide: School District Bonds & Overrides
While the current one-seat Republican majority party in the Arizona State Legislature continues to fight against providing schools with long promised - and desperately needed funding for facilities and teacher salaries, our local school districts are forced to come to voters for the crucial support our students need.
Our locally-elected School District Governing Boards have carefully planned these bond and override elections to ensure that they create NO NEW TAX RATE INCREASE.
Even if we no longer have school-age children, the public schools chosen by 90% of Arizona families are fundamental to ensuring we have the strong workforce and thriving economy we all need. I urge a YES vote.
Learn more about the Deer Valley Bond & Override proposal here
Learn more about the Glendale Union High School District's Bond proposal here.
Voting Guide: Judges
In a nutshell, Gavel Watch recommends yes on all judges EXCEPT for the following.
AZ Supreme Court Justice Clint Bolick: NO!
Gov. Ducey appointed Justice Bolick to the AZ Supreme Court in 2016 when he stacked the court with additional justices who would rule the way he wanted. Bolick had no prior judicial experience but plenty of ideological benefits for the libertarian, deregulatory, socially conservative and pro-school-voucher agenda. Close friends with Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas since the 1980s, Bolick has for decades espoused Federalist Society doctrines …In 2007, he became the Vice President for Litigation at the libertarian Goldwater Institute. He has also been active in the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC), which pushes copycat pro-corporation legislation in state legislatures around the US. In May 2024 he also upheld Arizona’s 1864 territorial-era abortion ban.
AZ Supreme Court Justice - Kathryn Hackett King: NO!
Justice King is a member of The Federalist Society, which promotes the appointment of conservative & libertarian judges in order to influence the direction of courts nationwide. In May 2024 Justice King voted with the majority to reinstate Arizona’s 1864 territorial ban on abortions…. In 2024 she attended a conference at the
Georgetown Center for the Constitution, which focuses on constitutional originalism, is one of the guises used to justify some ultra-conservative and deregulatory decisions. Prior to her appointment to the highest court in Arizona, King was Gov. Ducey’s Deputy General Counsel.
Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Christopher A. Coury: NO!
The JPR scores are gravely concerning with regard to the responses of litigants/witnesses/pro per litigants. The combined “Poor” + “Unacceptable” scores for Integrity were 28% and Communication 24%. Temperament 32%; Judge Coury ruled against the Invest in Ed initiative in July 2020 with a disdainful, contemptuous, and unprofessional decision… As the appellate court that overturned his ruling noted, the decision included conditions for the initiative's 100-word statement that were clearly unachievable. We believe that the judge's sneering comments in the decision and in court are unacceptable in our justice system.
Court of Appeals Division 1 Kellie L. Johnson: NO!
Our Legislative District Will Determine the Direction of our State & Nation
We need YOU to help elect an Arizona legislature focused on the real issues we face like the teacher, affordable housing, and water shortage crises; keeping our families safe from gun violence; and reducing healthcare and other costs. Turning out voters for LD2, will help elect Democrats all the way up the ballot
Be a part of history by volunteering for our campaign today!
Join a Community Canvass. We're knocking doors so we can listen to fellow voters about what's important to them. We want to elect listeners like Stephanie Simacek to the State House and me to the Senate who will truly represent our community Use this link to find a day and time that works for you. We'll buddy you up with someone experienced. We need door knockers and drivers.
Donate! We need everyone's help to pay for the staff, literature, and other advertising that are essential to winning these very competitive races.
Visit OUR LD 2 Campaign office at 1524 W. Bell Road (behind the Discount Tire, next to the Liberty Tax office). Come help us make phone calls, write postcards, and/or launch a canvass!