Press Release: What to Know About Republicans in LDs 9, 13
Spoiler alert: Republicans re-run 2022 playbook, oppose abortion and LGBTQ+ rights
ARIZONA – Four days until the July 30th Primary Election, who’s on the ballot in Arizona’s most competitive East Valley legislative districts, LDs 9 and 13?
In LD9, a district decided by less than 1 percent of the vote in 2022, far-right, Kari Lake-style Republican candidates Robert Scantlebury (Senate) and Mary Ann Mendoza (House) are seeking a rematch after losing the seat in 2022. Registered lobbyist Kylie Barber (House) is a newcomer with old (and unpopular) ideas. Here’s what voters should know:
Robert Scantlebury, Senate
As a police officer, he oversaw an excessive use of force incident in which an officer he was directly supervising repeatedly punched a detained man in the head. The violence was caught on video, with Scantlebury on the scene standing idly by. Scantlebury later said, “I think they handled it appropriately.”
Mary Ann Mendoza, House
Ally and official campaign surrogate of the 2020 Trump campaign.
Has worn blackface and brownface on multiple occasions.
Banned from Twitter for pushing blatant anti-semitic and Q-Anon conspiracies.” She was later pulled from the 2020 RNC lineup after her anti-semitic social media posts were exposed.
Kylie Barber, House
Watched from the Arizona House gallery in April 2024 in support of the 1864 near-total abortion ban.
Stated opposition to protecting abortion rights in the Arizona State Constitution.
Stands by controversial “conversion therapy,” which has been denounced by the vast majority of human rights and LGBTQ+ organizations as severely psychologically harmful.
In LD13, Republican candidates include J.D. Mesnard for the Senate, and Julie Willoughby and Jeff Weninger for the House. This is their record of working to ban abortion and oppose protections for LGBTQ+ individuals:
J.D. Mesnard, Senate
Opposes nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ Arizonans.
Introduced legislation to reduce the minimum wage for tipped employees.
Voted against repealing the 1864 abortion ban.
Has ties to the anti-LGBTQ+ organization Alliance Defending Freedom.
Julie Willoughby, House
Voted against repealing the 1864 abortion ban and celebrated the overturning of Roe v Wade.
Opposes nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ+ Arizonans.
Endorsed by Kari Lake in 2022.
Jeff Weninger, House
Supported Arizona’s strict 15-week abortion ban.
Voted for an unconstitutional bill prohibiting the filming of police officers.
Voted for a bill that allows loaded firearms on a college campus.
Democrats are only two seats away in both the State House of Representatives and the State Senate from flipping control of the legislature for the first time in 60 years. Democrats are ready to combat Republican extremism and provide serious leadership for Arizonans.