“Knowledge is Power”
View this email in your browser ELECTION INFORMATIONGet Ready for the Midterms! Early Voting Begins October 7Election Day is November 3 Primary ResultsTwo excellent websites to view results:Rural Organizing Initiative includes partisan and non-partisan races.AZ Secretary of State includes federal, state and legislative races. AZ Democratic candidates for the general election are:Jonathan Nez, CD-02 House of RepresentativesGovernor Katie HobbsSecretary of State Adrian FontesAttorney General Kris MayesNick Mansour, TreasurerTeresa Lebya Ruiz, Supt. of Public EducationBrian Matlock, State Mine InspectorClara Pratte, Jonathan Hill, Corporation CommissionChristine Dargon, LD-1 SenateSandy Zalecki, LD-2 House Statistics of Interest:AZ – # of registered voters 4,306,554# of cast votes 1,078,985Turnout – 25.05% Yavapai County:# of registered voters 172,971# of cast votes 57,36733.17% of voters – the highest % in the state Yavapai County—Voters per Party (last quarterly report)Republican – 98,341Independent – 58,948Democrat – 34,035Libertarian – 1,643No Labels – 1,915Green – 155 Key Takeaways Conservative Shift for GOP: Republican primary voters heavily favored hard-line and Trump-endorsed candidates across key statewide and federal ballots. Rep. Andy Biggs is a hard-line Trump loyalist trying to win the governorship, and Alexander Kolodin, an election denier of “Kraken fame,” aims to become the Secretary of State, the top election official. General Election Outlook: Political analysts view the upcoming gubernatorial and congressional showdowns as critical battlegrounds that will test whether Republicans can break a statewide losing streak or if Democrats can defend key legislative and executive seats. We have to work diligently to reach out to left-leaning Republicans and Independents to retain our Democratic Trifecta and other critical state officials. Pay attention to: Copper State Victory – the official coordinated campaign team for Arizona Democrats. It organizes field operations, volunteers, and voter outreach across the state. A field office is located at the Yavapai Democratic Party Headquarters, 101 W. Goodwin St., Prescott. Democratic Women of the Prescott Area – during the run-up to the midterms, they:Fight for what matters – Reproductive rights, healthcare and equalityTake action – Petitions, postcarding and rapid-response campaignsEngage with – elected officials and support campaigns Yavapai Democratic Party – inspires and empowers Democrats in Yavapai County and organizes to elect Democrats to public office at every level of government. Prescott Indivisible – promotes social justice and political accountability through advocacy and activism while advancing humanitarian, inclusive and progressive values at all levels of civic engagement.  Why we should be prepared for November! Read this article from the NY Times. The head of our FBI is planning to be hosted by Russian intelligence. Politico reported yesterday that FBI Director Kash Patel is planning a trip to Russia, likely in mid-October, to Moscow and St. Petersburg. He would be the first sitting FBI director to set foot in Russia since 2013. His host, according to a U.S. official, would likely be the FSB—Russia’s security service, the direct successor to the good old Soviet KGB. Why we must remember to keep up the fight for sensible gun control reform. During the week of July 13, there were 13 separate mass shooting events in the United States, in which 12 people were killed and 47 were injured. Keep up with the attempt of the Goldwater Institute to convince a court to block the “Protect Education, Accountability Now Act” from the November ballot by disqualifying tens of thousands of voter signatures supporting it. Read More from the AZ Mirror. Do the math:420,000 signatures were turned in256,000 were needed164,000 would need to be disqualified  DWPA HAPPENINGSHelp Shape DWPA’s Future As DWPA looks ahead to 2027, we are beginning the important work of identifying members who may be interested in taking on a leadership role. We are looking for people to serve as Chair, Vice Chair, and two Membership Co-Chairs. These are wonderful opportunities to bring your ideas, talents, and energy to DWPA and help shape the future of our organization. You do not need to decide today—and expressing interest is not a commitment. Maybe you have wondered about becoming more involved. Maybe you know someone who would be a great fit. Or maybe you simply want to learn more about what one of these roles involves. There will be plenty of information, support, and help with the transition. For now, we simply ask you to start thinking about the possibilities. Click HERE to read a description of the open positions.Could one of these roles be right for you—or someone you know?Send an email to dwpa@dwpaaz.org  Expand DWPA’s Community Reach DWPA is expanding its social media presence—and we’d love your help! Connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube, where we share timely updates, event information, photos, videos, and our growing “Questions for Crane” series. You can also visit the DWPAAZ website to find photos and videos from DWPA events, along with news, upcoming activities, and other resources. One of our goals is to reach a broader audience, especially younger people who care about democracy, civic engagement, and making a difference. Social media is one of the best ways to start those conversations and introduce new people to DWPA. Here’s how you can help:Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.Visit the DWPAAZ website.Like, comment on, and share our posts.Invite your family, friends, and neighbors to follow us, too. Every like, share, and new follower helps extend our reach and introduces more people to the work DWPA is doing in our community. Together, we can build a stronger, more connected, and more engaged community—one post at a time! July 22 DWPA Luncheon Meeting SummaryMembers passed the revisions to the By-Laws. They will be published on the dwpaaz.org website this month.Blue Wave stickers are available at DWPA meetings. They are 5” in diameter – perfect for display on cars.Rosi Granecki received two free tickets to the Cosmos Theatre for “The Last Five Years”. Dates available from August 20-August 30. DWPA is sponsoring two shows to support this women-led 501(c)3 non-profit organization, dedicated to creating and presenting transformative, thought-provoking, interdisciplinary theatre and education that encourages empathy and strengthens connection among a diverse, inclusive community. CALL TO ACTION AND SCAM UPDATE  Join Copper State Victory and the Yavapai County Democratsin Prescott to knock on doors!Sunday, July 26 from 10:30 am -1:30 pm.Sign up by clicking on the image above.  Scam Update Courtesy of Wells Fargo With big-ticket sporting events, concerts and festivals planned this year, scams targeting unsuspecting fans are on the rise.Scammers are creating fake websites and selling fraudulent tickets and merchandise to steal your money, as well as your personal and financial information. Here are a few ways to protect yourself.Only buy tickets and merchandise from official websites. Always verify the URL is legitimate before entering payment info.Be cautious of unsolicited offers or deals that seem too good to be true.Avoid payment requests using cryptocurrency, gift cards, or wire transfers.Watch for red flags like typos or overly urgent offers.When a website asks you to verify that you’re human, clicking on pictures is common. Be cautious of other requests, like entering keyboard shortcuts. UP CLOSE WITH CANDIDATES  Neighbor2Neighbor: Driving Political EngagementNeighborhood political house parties build trust and social cohesion. Informal, in-home settings remove traditional meeting intimidation, turning strangers into engaged community members. DWPA believes strongly in these grassroots gatherings. Putting their money where their mouth is, the organization recently implemented the Neighbor2Neighbor program to reimburse those hosting house parties for some out-of-pocket expenses.On June 20, new DWPA member Colleen McNally, a retired Maricopa County Superior Court judge, hosted a fundraiser for Deborah Howard, candidate for the Arizona House in LD-27, considered a swing seat. The event was co-hosted by Maria Lynam, Diane McQueen, and Julie Pindzola. McNally sent postcard invitations to many neighbors and welcomed a small but mighty group to her home.DWPA chair Tracy Smiles and LD1 candidate for the Arizona House Sandy Zalecki made brief presentations, followed by an inspiring talk by Howard about community, friendship, and the interesting ways she and her team are reaching out to the folks in LD27. Leading by helping groups focus, come to consensus, and commit to common goals, she is familiar with how state government works and is widely seen as a stellar Democratic contender.Though the turnout was small due to competing events on Prescott’s calendar, the energy in the room was extremely positive. Supporting flippable seats throughout the state is a key action item in the 2026 DWPA Strategic Plan.____________________The following week, Linda Goldinger hosted a house party for 40, featuring Dr. Terry Leyba Ruiz, candidate for State Superintendent of Public Education, along with PUSD Superintendent Clark Tenney. Superintendent Tenney highlighted PUSD’s rising test scores and low teacher turnover, along with the challenge of sustaining success with shrinking resources. Since 2024, the district has lost 180 students (5% of enrollment) to the ESA voucher program, reducing state funding awarded on a per-pupil basis. To maintain momentum, PUSD is requesting a budget override measure, which will cost the average homeowner roughly $72 per year in property taxes to secure a 5% raise for teachers and school staff.Dr. Ruiz focused on the hallmarks of her campaign: public education advocacy, teacher recruitment and retention, stricter oversight of the voucher program, and development of an Office of Rural and Small Schools—all messages she promotes in her “On the Road with Ruiz” statewide listening tour. She brings 35 years of education experience, spanning from her time as a high school math teacher to serving as the President of Glendale Community College, and is the only educator in the race for this key educational role. She will advocate for increased state investment in public education, restore trust and respect for teachers, and increase transparency by creating a public taxpayer fund dashboard.The two educators answered questions, many focused on the Protect Education Act._____________________Unsolicited feedback from event participants shows the impact of these neighborhood forums. “It felt great to be in a room of good, engaged people.” “It was very informative!” “I really enjoyed how different the presentation was compared to the other meetings I’ve gone to.” The Neighbor2Neighbor Program is available for grassroots events both big and small. The program will reimburse up to $200 per gathering, depending on the size and scope. A large event will typically qualify for more support than a small coffee social or meetup. For more information, visit https://dwpaaz.org/neighbor2neighbor or contact the DWPA Chair at dwpa@dwpaaz.org.  Governor Katie Hobbs Opens Prescott Field OfficeOn Wednesday, July 22, Governor Katie Hobbs opened the first field office in Prescott. Hobbs greeted a full house of enthusiastic admirers along with the CD2 candidate Jonathan Nez. The office is located at the Yavapai Democratic Party Headquarters, 101 W. Goodwin St., Prescott (Basement Suite), and is open Monday-Friday, 11am-3pm. You are invited to stop by, pick up signs and buttons, and sign up for Calls to Action. MEET THE AUTHOR  Click the image to RSVP. Click HERE to learn more about the author and her books. UPCOMING EVENTS  Click here to RSVP   VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY We love supporting other nonprofit organizations that make a difference in our community. Empty Bowls has been fighting hunger in Prescott for more than 20 years, and it’s a fun way to give back, meet new people, and support neighbors in need.Volunteers are needed for setup, cleanup, and many other non-physical tasks. If you’d like to help, contact Dixie King at 661-619-2735 or dixieleeking1955@gmail.com by August 1. Please include your T-shirt size to receive a free Empty Bowls volunteer shirt. CONTINUING EVENTS   Join DWPA’s Progressive Community! We are reaching out to our neighbors with community gatherings and petition drives.Our mission is to “engage, inform and unite”.Join us and assist us in reaching out across the quad-cities and beyond. Click here to join or renew your membership. Thank you to our DWPA Members and Friends for continuing to demonstrate that we are “Stronger Together”. Click here to receive your Stronger Together pin with a recurring donation.  Until Next Time Thank you for reading our newsletter! If you know someone who would enjoy it, please forward it to a friend. And don’t forget to follow us on social media using the links below to stay connected with everything happening at DWPA. We’ll leave you with one final thought: One of the quickest ways to bring more joy into your own life is to brighten someone else’s. Every day, look for a small opportunity to help another person—even if it’s something only you know about. Kindness has a wonderful way of coming back to us.     Copyright (C) 2026 Democratic Women of the Prescott Area (DWPA). All rights reserved.Our mailing address is: P.O. Box 1644 Prescott, AZ 86302 Want to change how you receive these emails?You can update your preferences or unsubscribe |
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