Happy Sunday, everyone.
With nearly all votes counted and Maricopa County posting final, unofficial results, I wanted to share how voters decided on this year’s record number of propositions. The majority of measures failed, many by significant margins.
One standout was Prop 139, which passed with 61.6% of voters supporting the right to abortion access—garnering nearly two million votes. Unfortunately, Propositions 312, 313, and 314 passed as well, raising concerns about their potential impact.
Prop 312, in particular, could pose serious challenges. If cities face lawsuits under this measure, it could drain funding needed for vital services like housing, homelessness prevention, and public safety.
Prop 313 sparked bipartisan opposition from many voters I spoke with, who felt it was too complex an issue to address with such severe penalties and no exceptions. One voter even raised an important question: Would allegations like those against former Congressman Matt Gaetz result in life imprisonment if tried under this law in Arizona? It seems the answer is yes.
Prop 314 is currently in limbo, as its implementation depends on a parallel bill in Texas successfully navigating constitutional challenges.
On a local note, one critical race appears headed for a recount: County Board of Supervisors District 3, where Danny Valenzuela trails Kate Brophy McGee by just 160 votes.
This past week also brought me back to the legislature, where I am now working full-time on policy and strategy for the upcoming session. I am working on legislation related to childcare, criminal justice reform, water, and housing - just to name a few. As a result, The Rundown may hit your inbox less frequently over the next few weeks, but I will stay in touch with updates on community events and listening sessions.
I want to hear from you—your policy ideas, concerns, or life experiences that I can help address. Please feel free to reach out and stay connected. I look forward to seeing you at an event soon.
With kindness,
Sarah
