Release: Republicans Defend Mary Ann Mendoza as Photos of Her in Black and Brown Face are Confirmed
Arizona Democrats call on Mary Ann Mendoza to withdraw, running mate Kathy Pearce to speak out
PHOENIX, AZ – Pressure has been growing on the Arizona Republican Party to respond to the latest in a series of scandals besetting their candidates. Last Friday, The Copper Courier broke the story that Republican State House District 9 candidate, a friend of Donald Trump, and promoter of anti-Semitic conspiracies, Mary Ann Mendoza appeared in several leaked photographs wearing blackface and brownface. Last night, ABC 15 confirmed that the photos are of Mendoza. US Rep. Debbie Lesko, who endorsed Mendoza, defended the blackface by claiming that voters don’t care. Former Republican US House candidate Kathleen Winn defended it by claiming that, "Whatever makeup she wore is no worse than drag queen's."
Mendoza has yet to respond. Other endorsers, including the Arizona Republican Party, Gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake, and United States Representative Andy Biggs, have yet to respond either.
The Democratic candidates in the race, Lorena Austin and Seth Blattman, have called for Mendoza to drop out and for her running mate Kathy Pearce to demand the same. On Monday, the East Valley NAACP demanded that Mendoza respond to the allegations. And Tuesday, Eva Burch, Democratic State Senate District 9 candidate, called for her opponent to address the use of blackface by his running mate.
Also Tuesday, the Arizona Democratic Party, Maricopa County Democratic Party, and the Arizona Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee issued a joint statement condemning the mounting GOP scandals.
“Mary Ann Mendoza engaged in an especially vile and racist use of blackface and refuses to respond. It is long past time that she apologize and withdraw from the race. And it is long past time that those who have endorsed her demand she do so. The residents of Legislative District Nine in Mesa and Tempe deserve representation at the Capitol that will serve the interests of everyone, that is what Lorena Austin and Seth Blattman will do,” said Arizona Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee Executive Director Elsa O'Callaghan.
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