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DOJ investigates Arizona voter drives days before election

A former GOP election official questions the timing.

Election

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Justice Department" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2026/10/25/trump-doj-midterms-interference" data-vars-content-id="cfaf39f0-113f-422c-afd9-a8ee3820e933" data-vars-headline="DOJ investigates Arizona voter drives days before election" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2026/10/25/trump-doj-midterms-interference" target="_self">Justice Department</a> is investigating the Arizona voter registration efforts of three Democratic-aligned groups after an &quot;undercover&quot; video purported to show volunteers willing to register non-citizens.Why it matters: The Friday announcement comes four days before the Nov. 3 election, and nearly a month after Arizona&#x27;s registration deadline passed, timing one Republican former elections official says could sow unnecessary doubt about the results.

Katie Hobbs wins reelection in Arizona governor's race

Hobbs' victory keeps Arizona's governor's office in Democratic hands and denies Republicans a major pickup.

News

Arizona <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Gov. Katie Hobbs" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/08/06/aarp-poll-hobbs-biggs" data-vars-content-id="eeea3e3b-dcaf-46a8-bd48-6b1d5f4f9afa" data-vars-headline="Katie Hobbs wins reelection in Arizona governor&#x27;s race" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/08/06/aarp-poll-hobbs-biggs" target="_self">Gov. Katie Hobbs</a> defeated Republican Andy Biggs to win a second term, keeping the battleground state&#x27;s governor&#x27;s office in Democratic hands, the AP projects. Why it matters: Hobbs has acted as a check on the Republican-controlled Legislature for the past four years, but with Democrats poised to potentially win both the House and Senate, she and her party could have a tremendous impact.

Democrats again seek elusive control of Legislature

A few districts will determine if Democrats win the Legislature for the first time since the 1960s.

Arizona Democrats have gotten used to saying &quot;This could be our year&quot; as they try to win <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="control of the Legislature" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2024/06/24/legislative-races-to-watch-arizona-primary-2024" data-vars-content-id="3bea28bf-d0d9-43cf-a28c-ccd3a257c945" data-vars-headline="Democrats again seek elusive control of Legislature" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2024/06/24/legislative-races-to-watch-arizona-primary-2024" target="_self">control of the Legislature</a> — and hopes are high that 2026 could finally be their year.Why it matters: With Gov. Katie Hobbs <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="favored to win" data-vars-click-url="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/polls/arizona-governor-election-polls-2026.html" data-vars-content-id="3bea28bf-d0d9-43cf-a28c-ccd3a257c945" data-vars-headline="Democrats again seek elusive control of Legislature" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/polls/arizona-governor-election-polls-2026.html" target="_blank">favored to win</a> reelection next week, control of the Legislature will likely determine whether Arizona has a split government or one-party Democratic control.

New voter ID system could speed up counting of early ballots

30% of Maricopa County voters who delivered early ballots in the primary used the new option.

Arizonans have a new option this year to bypass the signature verification process for early ballots, potentially speeding up the state&#x27;s <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="infamously long vote-counting process" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2024/09/19/expect-delayed-election-results-again" data-vars-content-id="b68a86c4-6f8a-4477-88b5-ac9abbca5c0a" data-vars-headline="New voter ID system could speed up counting of early ballots" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2024/09/19/expect-delayed-election-results-again" target="_self">infamously long vote-counting process</a>.Why it matters: Ballot-counting in Arizona can <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="take days" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/2022/11/14/hobbs-narrow-lead-lake-gains-arizona-governor" data-vars-content-id="b68a86c4-6f8a-4477-88b5-ac9abbca5c0a" data-vars-headline="New voter ID system could speed up counting of early ballots" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/2022/11/14/hobbs-narrow-lead-lake-gains-arizona-governor" target="_self">take days</a> or even <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="more than a week" data-vars-click-url="https://apnews.com/article/arizona-government-and-politics-7661ea46b45f432db0e893137598b581" data-vars-content-id="b68a86c4-6f8a-4477-88b5-ac9abbca5c0a" data-vars-headline="New voter ID system could speed up counting of early ballots" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://apnews.com/article/arizona-government-and-politics-7661ea46b45f432db0e893137598b581" target="_blank">more than a week</a> to determine winners in the closest races.

A Phoenix City Council frontrunner's conflict of interest concern

Ed Hermes is a partner at a law firm that frequently lobbies the city.

<a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Phoenix City Council candidate Ed Hermes" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/10/06/phoenix-city-council-district-4-voter-guide-2026" data-vars-content-id="34ecc3d6-c5e5-49aa-a065-e6e647c2f38e" data-vars-headline="A Phoenix City Council frontrunner&#x27;s conflict of interest concern" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/10/06/phoenix-city-council-district-4-voter-guide-2026" target="_self">Phoenix City Council candidate Ed Hermes</a> is also a partner at the largest law firm in the state, and if elected, he&#x27;d have to navigate significant conflict of interest concerns.Why it matters: Hermes&#x27; firm, Snell &amp; Wilmer, regularly has business involving the city — including lawsuits against it — and Hermes wouldn&#x27;t be able to participate as <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="a councilmember" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/05/05/phoenix-city-council-limit-homeless-parks-food-distribution-medical-care" data-vars-content-id="34ecc3d6-c5e5-49aa-a065-e6e647c2f38e" data-vars-headline="A Phoenix City Council frontrunner&#x27;s conflict of interest concern" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/05/05/phoenix-city-council-limit-homeless-parks-food-distribution-medical-care" target="_self">a councilmember</a> in anything involving his employer.

Kelly's Senate reelection plans are up in air

Kelly's plans will affect both Democrats and Republicans who are eyeing his seat.

U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly is <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="eyeing the 2028 presidential race" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/07/28/senators-ruben-gallego-mark-kelly-president-2028" data-vars-content-id="56a27765-8c28-4538-818f-d2e9a65c65e0" data-vars-headline="Kelly&#x27;s Senate reelection plans are up in air" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/07/28/senators-ruben-gallego-mark-kelly-president-2028" target="_self">eyeing the 2028 presidential race</a>, but he also has a big decision to make: whether to seek reelection.Why it matters: Kelly&#x27;s decision will affect the plans of potential candidates for a highly competitive Senate seat on both sides of the aisle.

GOP fades, Democrats jump in Arizona pre-election voter registration

Democrats have picked up nearly 30,000 voters since the July primary.

Republican voter registration continued to decline ahead of <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Arizona&#x27;s 2026 elections" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/09/01/jay-feely-trump-endorsement-midterms-november" data-vars-content-id="d5bdbad3-af20-400b-acb0-7d3e3e906a84" data-vars-headline="GOP fades, Democrats jump in Arizona pre-election voter registration" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/09/01/jay-feely-trump-endorsement-midterms-november" target="_self">Arizona&#x27;s 2026 elections</a> while Democratic registration experienced a post-primary jump, according to figures released Wednesday by the Arizona Secretary of State&#x27;s Office.Why it matters: The trends could reflect voter optimism (or the lack of it) in an election that sees Gov. Katie Hobbs and other Democrats in statewide office hoping to fend off <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="GOP challengers" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/09/23/andy-biggs-goodreads-great-replacement-theory-books" data-vars-content-id="d5bdbad3-af20-400b-acb0-7d3e3e906a84" data-vars-headline="GOP fades, Democrats jump in Arizona pre-election voter registration" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/09/23/andy-biggs-goodreads-great-replacement-theory-books" target="_self">GOP challengers</a>.

Scoop: Maricopa County never OK'd lawmaker's "excellence award"

The state lawmaker has touted the award, which the county board of supervisors never voted to give him.

In late September, <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="GOP state Rep. Matt Gress" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2025/01/28/chips-salsa-isaac-school-district-budget-drama" data-vars-content-id="fbb583ba-6285-4fb6-a72c-315c4782ff1a" data-vars-headline="Scoop: Maricopa County never OK&#x27;d lawmaker&#x27;s &quot;excellence award&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2025/01/28/chips-salsa-isaac-school-district-budget-drama" target="_self">GOP state Rep. Matt Gress</a> touted on social media that he&#x27;d been given the &quot;Maricopa County Excellence Award&quot; — only the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="county board of supervisors" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/08/04/final-stamp-on-a-silky-smooth-primary" data-vars-content-id="fbb583ba-6285-4fb6-a72c-315c4782ff1a" data-vars-headline="Scoop: Maricopa County never OK&#x27;d lawmaker&#x27;s &quot;excellence award&quot;" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/08/04/final-stamp-on-a-silky-smooth-primary" target="_self">county board of supervisors</a> never voted to establish any such honor.Why it matters: The pseudo-award shines a spotlight on Gress, who faces perhaps the toughest re-election fight of any state lawmaker.

Explaining Tempe's tax-increasing Proposition 424

The measure would bump Tempe's sales tax by half a percentage point.

Tempe voters will decide a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="heated local issue" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/09/25/tempe-weighs-municipal-alpr-camera-ban-flock" data-vars-content-id="12a40211-dde3-4b17-b346-409a082215f3" data-vars-headline="Explaining Tempe&#x27;s tax-increasing Proposition 424" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/09/25/tempe-weighs-municipal-alpr-camera-ban-flock" target="_self">heated local issue</a> this cycle — a sales tax increase.Why it matters: Approving Proposition 424 would boost the city&#x27;s sales tax 0.5 points to 2.3% — the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="highest of any East Valley city" data-vars-click-url="https://azdor.gov/sites/default/files/document/TPT_RATETABLE_01012026.pdf" data-vars-content-id="12a40211-dde3-4b17-b346-409a082215f3" data-vars-headline="Explaining Tempe&#x27;s tax-increasing Proposition 424" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://azdor.gov/sites/default/files/document/TPT_RATETABLE_01012026.pdf" target="_blank">highest of any East Valley city</a> but still lower than that of Phoenix.

Making sense of Phoenix's most crowded City Council race

Eight candidates are vying to replace Councilmember Laura Pastor.

Four seats on the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Phoenix City Council" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/05/05/phoenix-city-council-limit-homeless-parks-food-distribution-medical-care" data-vars-content-id="3e6edce6-1c3e-4abc-bcb1-a02400b8ade6" data-vars-headline="Making sense of Phoenix&#x27;s most crowded City Council race" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/05/05/phoenix-city-council-limit-homeless-parks-food-distribution-medical-care" target="_self">Phoenix City Council</a> are up for grabs this cycle, and the most intriguing and unpredictable is the wide-open, eight-candidate race to represent District 4.Why it matters: The race, to replace termed-out <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Councilmember Laura Pastor" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2023/08/29/laura-pastor-congressional-district-1-3-phoenix" data-vars-content-id="3e6edce6-1c3e-4abc-bcb1-a02400b8ade6" data-vars-headline="Making sense of Phoenix&#x27;s most crowded City Council race" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2023/08/29/laura-pastor-congressional-district-1-3-phoenix" target="_self">Councilmember Laura Pastor</a>, features a host of mostly left-of-center candidates who could tip the Democrat-heavy council in a more progressive direction.

Sheriff's office outsourced investigations to Cyber Ninjas-tied firm

The firm, AZ Truthfinder, has been paid $270,000 since June 2025.

The <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Maricopa County Sheriff&#x27;s Office" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2024/07/31/maricopa-county-election-results-sheriff-recorder-supervisors" data-vars-content-id="3e30cc9a-4252-4f25-a1b0-05f8d4e14998" data-vars-headline="Sheriff&#x27;s office outsourced investigations to Cyber Ninjas-tied firm" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2024/07/31/maricopa-county-election-results-sheriff-recorder-supervisors" target="_self">Maricopa County Sheriff&#x27;s Office</a> (MCSO) failed to properly vet a firm with ties to the <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="Cyber Ninjas audit" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2022/09/27/one-year-after-arizona-election-audit-questions-linger" data-vars-content-id="3e30cc9a-4252-4f25-a1b0-05f8d4e14998" data-vars-headline="Sheriff&#x27;s office outsourced investigations to Cyber Ninjas-tied firm" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2022/09/27/one-year-after-arizona-election-audit-questions-linger" target="_self">Cyber Ninjas audit</a> of the 2020 election before awarding it an investigative contract, per a newly-unsealed report from the court-appointed monitor overseeing the agency.Why it matters: The report calls into question the administration of Sheriff Jerry Sheridan as MCSO pushes for an end to the monitor&#x27;s oversight, which was imposed by a federal judge in 2013 as the result of class-action racial profiling case.

Scoop: Biggs left positive reviews of Islamophobic and anti-immigrant books

Biggs is seeking to project a more moderate image in his bid to unseat Gov. Katie Hobbs.

Politics

A Goodreads account seeming to belong to <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="GOP nominee for governor Rep. Andy Biggs" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/09/15/andy-biggs-senate-president-freedom-caucus-governor" data-vars-content-id="d29648c5-6235-4b34-add0-3863bae22c00" data-vars-headline="Scoop: Biggs left positive reviews of Islamophobic and anti-immigrant books" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/09/15/andy-biggs-senate-president-freedom-caucus-governor" target="_self">GOP nominee for governor Rep. Andy Biggs</a> left positive reviews for books that argue the growth of Muslim and Latin American populations threaten predominantly white Western societies.Why it matters: The apparent endorsements of books promoting extreme anti-immigrant views come as Biggs — one of the most conservative members of Congress — seeks to project a <a class="gtmContentClick" data-vars-link-text="more moderate image" data-vars-click-url="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/08/03/andy-biggs-plays-it-safe-with-lieutenant-governor-pick" data-vars-content-id="d29648c5-6235-4b34-add0-3863bae22c00" data-vars-headline="Scoop: Biggs left positive reviews of Islamophobic and anti-immigrant books" data-vars-event-category="story" data-vars-sub-category="story" data-vars-item="in_content_link" href="https://www.axios.com/local/phoenix/2026/08/03/andy-biggs-plays-it-safe-with-lieutenant-governor-pick" target="_self">more moderate image</a> in his race to unseat Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs.

Election 🗳️

Katie Hobbs wins reelection in Arizona governor's race

DOJ investigates Arizona voter drives days before election

A Phoenix City Council frontrunner's conflict of interest concern

Kelly's Senate reelection plans are up in air

GOP fades, Democrats jump in Arizona pre-election voter registration