SOSAZ Public Education is on the Ballot Nov. 5 |
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72 days! We have 10 short weekends to make the case to Arizona voters to vote for many key issues — the state legislature, school board races, school bond & override funding measures, AZ Supreme Court justices, and critically important propositions.
Sound like a lot? IT IS. We’re lucky to have many partners in this fight, and a grassroots army of volunteers who are ready to fight like hell for public education. And when we fight —- WE WIN. If you can’t pitch in with canvassing, phonebanking or texting, donate to our August Game Night Fundraiser which benefits our Public Education Defense Fund — your $5, $50, or $500 allows us to print flyers, knock doors, make calls, send texts, put up signs, place ads, and SO MUCH MORE!
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So what’s on your ballot? When it comes to public education, a LOT. And the ballot is likely to be 2-3 pages long in most jurisdictions. We’ll be printing sample guides and have digital voter guides ready to launch soon, but we wanted to break down some key races for you this week! Find the 🗳️for our recommendations below.
The AZ Legislature: AZ’s legislature was named by Politico as the #1 Battleground to flip in the entire US. The candidates are there, the math is there, and the polling is there. But voters don’t know all of the candidates, so we run the risk that they won’t vote down ballot. THIS is why door knocking, calling and texting voters, and sending mailers is so critical. If we want to fund K12 schools, to change policies that hurt AZ students and educators, to feed AZ students — and to stop the madness of MAGA book bans, attacks on LGBTQ+ students, universal vouchers, and tax cuts for the rich that are robbing our budgets, we have to get the job done NOW.
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School Boards: MAGA school board candidates are attempting to get onto (or in many cases take over) Arizona school boards. They’re propped up by Moms for Liberty, Turning Point USA, and other extremist groups who do not believe in public education. These types of candidates are losing across the US, as voters reject MAGA (even in red states like Florida, where voters last week overwhelmingly rejected DeSantis’ candidates!). SOSAZ has recruited, trained, and supported hundreds of school board candidates across Arizona in 2024 — and now we are ready to elect these candidates! When we talk to voters about state legislative candidates, we talk about school board candidates as well — every time.
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Bonds & Overrides: At least 40 school districts across Arizona are putting school funding measures to local voters on the November ballot.
🗳️ You can see a full list here — we recommend a YES vote on every single measure.
The vast majority of these measures do not increase property taxes, and are continuations of tax provisions voters have already passed. In general, these measures fund school facilities, safety infrastructure, teacher pay, full-day kindergarten, buses, technology, etc —- you know, the things our legislature should be funding (but won’t). Soon, we will right that ship. Until then, vote yes for every school bond, override, or site sale in your Prop 400s list. |
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AZ Supreme Court Justices: This year, everyone in the state has the chance to vote on retaining Justices Clint Bolick & Kathryn King. Both justices are members of the Federalist Society and have have a history of dangerous decisions that have major implications on public education and other key issues well beyond this year’s abortion ruling:
In 2022, Justices Bolick & King joined the Court’s decision to toss former Gov. Ducey’s “flat tax” from the ballot after SOSAZ, AEA, Stand for Children and other education advocates gathered hundreds of thousands of signatures to let Arizona voters weigh in on the measure. 5 justices sided with Bolick’s former Goldwater Institute, which argued that tax measures are “immune from repeal by voters.” Now, the flat tax has created a $1.8 billion budget deficit.
In 2019, Justice Bolick joined the Court’s 4-3 decision in the now infamous Brush & Nib case, which created a legal precedent allowing businesses to discriminate against LBGTQ+ persons that was upheld by the US Supreme Court.
In 2021, Justice Bolick joined the Court’s action to overrule a lower court’s decision on Prop 208, a major 2021 citizen-powered initiative to tax wealthier Arizonans and provide more than $800 million in funding to public education. The ruling that it was likely “unconstitutional” abandoned the court’s own precedent regarding severability to reach the desired outcome, as noted by Justice Ann Timmer in her dissent, granting lawmakers more power to undermine voter-approved measures they disapprove of.
Further, it’s important to note Bolick held extreme, anti-public education positions prior to becoming a judge. He was VP of Litigation for the libertarian Goldwater Institute, he founded the right-wing Institute for Justice, and he worked to establish and litigate the diversion of public funds to private schools through voucher programs alongside Betsy DeVos.
🗳️ We recommend a DO NOT RETAIN vote for both Justices Bolick and King. This would give Gov. Hobbs two AZ Supreme Court appointments in January. We also recommend a NO vote on Prop 137, which would eliminate voters’ ability to weigh in on judges through retention elections, stripping our right to hold them publicly accountable. Sarcastic thanks to the AZ Legislature for referring that doozy to the ballot, and making it retroactive to protect their friends King & Bolick 🙄
We’ll be back soon with a run down of propositions — until then, jump in where you can and help us help Arizonans vote pro-public education! |
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Full Weekly Education Report HERE. |
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Meet Nate — he attended our virtual tabling training, was provided with a bag of supplies and chose a spot to set up & talk to voters. Thank you for stepping up and leading, Nate! |
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#TeamSOSAZ volunteers are fired up and knocking thousands of doors every week! THANK YOU to these knockstars for putting in the work to elect pro-public education candidates! |
| Meet Roxy — She spends her time helping register voters in Santa Cruz County. Be like Roxy and you can help register voters in your community too! |
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🔥When we elect a pro-public school Legislature and school boards this November, it’s going to be because of everyone who stepped up and stepped out of their comfort zones to talk to voters. If you’ve been meaning to jump in and get involved, NOW is the time. We have 10 weeks left to make massive change for our state!!
Our conversations with voters show that they want to vote for schools but have NO IDEA who supports them. These easy chats are met with gratitude — people just want to know who to vote for that aligns with their values. If you can’t walk doors in this heat, no worries — you can drive and offer relief (and A/C!) for our knockers. Busy on the weekends? No worries, try a phonebank virtually with our team — we’re a lot of fun, and you can talk to voters from your couch! Training and support always provided 🙂💪🍎🗳️
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Phoenix – LD 2 Taco Tuesday
Tuesday, Aug. 27 – 5:00-7:30pm
REGISTER HERE Chandler – LD 13 Taco Tuesday
Tuesday, Aug. 27 – 5:30-7:30pm
REGISTER HERE Mesa – LD 9 Paletas y Puertas
Tuesday, Aug. 27 – 5:30-8:00pm
REGISTER HERE Goodyear – LD 23
Thursday, Aug. 29 – 5:00-7:00pm
REGISTER HERE
Mesa – LD 9 Thirsty Thursday
Thursday, Aug. 29 – 5:30-7:30pm
REGISTER HERE Paradise Valley – LD 4
Saturday, Aug. 31 – 8:45am-12:15pm
REGISTER HERE Mesa – LD 9
Saturday, Aug. 31 – 9:00am-12:00pm
REGISTER HERE Phoenix – LD 2
Saturday, Aug. 31 – 9:30am-12:00pm
REGISTER HERE Goodyear – LD 23
Sunday, Sept. 1 – 5:00-7:30pm
REGISTER HERE |
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Phoenix – LD 2 Taco Tuesday
Tuesday, Aug. 27 – 5:00-7:30pm
REGISTER HERE Chandler – LD 13 Taco Tuesday
Tuesday, Aug. 27 – 5:30-7:30pm
REGISTER HERE Mesa – LD 9 Paletas y Puertas
Tuesday, Aug. 27 – 5:30-8:00pm
REGISTER HERE Goodyear – LD 23
Thursday, Aug. 29 – 5:00-7:00pm
REGISTER HERE Mesa – LD 9 Thirsty Thursday
Thursday, Aug. 29 – 5:30-7:30pm
REGISTER HERE Paradise Valley – LD 4
Saturday, Aug. 31 – 8:45am-12:15pm
REGISTER HERE Mesa – LD 9
Saturday, Aug. 31 – 9:00am-12:00pm
REGISTER HERE Phoenix – LD 2
Saturday, Aug. 31 – 9:30am-12:00pm
REGISTER HERE Goodyear – LD 23
Sunday, Sept. 1 – 5:00-7:30pm
REGISTER HERE |
| Maricopa Unified & LD 16
w/ Shawnté Rothschild
Tuesday, Aug. 27 – 5:30-7:30pm
REGISTER HERE
Deer Valley Unified & LD 2
w/ Spanish calls
Thursday, Aug. 29 – 5:30-7:30pm
REGISTER HERE
Marana Unified & LD 17
Tuesday, Sept .3 – 5:30-7:30pm
REGISTER HERE Scottsdale Unified & LD 4
Wednesday, Sept. 4 – 5:30-7:30pm
REGISTER HERE Deer Valley Unified & LD 2
w/ Spanish calls
Thursday, Sept. 5 – 5:30-7:30pm
REGISTER HERE Unable to join a scheduled phonebank?
Access our Phonebank Hub to make calls at your convenience! |
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Maricopa Unified & LD 16
w/ Shawnté Rothschild
Tuesday, Aug. 27 – 5:30-7:30pm
REGISTER HERE
Deer Valley Unified & LD 2
w/ Spanish calls
Thursday, Aug. 29 – 5:30-7:30pm
REGISTER HERE Marana Unified & LD 17
Tuesday, Sept .3 – 5:30-7:30pm
REGISTER HERE Scottsdale Unified & LD 4
Wednesday, Sept. 4 – 5:30-7:30pm
REGISTER HERE Deer Valley Unified & LD 2
w/ Spanish calls
Thursday, Sept. 5 – 5:30-7:30pm
REGISTER HERE
Unable to join a scheduled phonebank? Access our Phonebank Hub to make calls at your convenience! |
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NEW #Vote4PublicEd Volunteer Training Series
New to volunteering during an election? Ready to jump in and make a difference? Check out each of the topics for the 6-part series HERE. Text to Win!! Make a Difference from Your Couch
Sunday, August 25 – 3:00-4:00pm
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Up Next: Sunday, September 1 – 3:00-4:00pm
What on Earth is “Canvassing”? How to Knock Doors and Make a Serious Difference! |
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Every dollar contributed to this fund will go directly towards electing pro-public education candidates up and down the 2024 ballot, from school board to the state legislature. |
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Contact Us [email protected] Save Our Schools Arizona
PO Box 28370
Tempe, AZ 85285
United States Paid for by Save Our Schools Arizona. Not authorized by any candidate. |
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