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Arizona Democracy Advocate Honored at Anti-Corruption Awards

Posted by Cathy Stewart on November 06, 2019 at 8:48 AM

The 19th Annual Anti-Corruption Awards

Independent Voting’s Annual Anti-Corruption Awards was held in New York City on Friday, October 25, in lower Manhattan. Over one hundred guests attended the event established 19 years ago to shine a spotlight on leaders in civic and political life who challenge the status quo and fight for systemic change. This year’s event honored Jane Kleeb, Katie Fahey and Adrian Fontes. 

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If Democrats lose Arizona, they can blame their stupid presidential primary decision

Posted by Danny Battista on October 03, 2019 at 7:00 AM

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Opinion: Jackie Salit - October 3, 2019

Democrats will pay dearly for excluding independents from presidential primaries. They need independents to win in Arizona and nationally.  

The Arizona Democratic Party voted down a resolution on Sept. 21 to open the party’s presidential primaries in March to the state’s 1.3 million independent voters.

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County recorder pushes to open Presidential Preference Election

Posted by Danny Battista on September 25, 2019 at 2:38 PM

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Dennis Welch - September 25, 2019

TEMPE, AZ (3TV/CBS 5) - Maricopa County Recorder Adrian Fontes left open the possibility that he might sue the state to let independent voters participate in Arizona's Presidential Preference Election.

"I think all options are on the table right, now," Fontes said Tuesday during a stop at ASU's Tempe Campus to register new voters.

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Arizona Democratic Officials: Pick a Party or Don't Vote

Posted by Danny Battista on September 24, 2019 at 6:31 PM

Shawn Griffiths - September 24, 2019

The Arizona Democratic Party has given the state’s 1.3 million independent voters a hard snub ahead of the 2020 election. Party officials rejected a proposal Saturday to open its presidential preference election, despite urging from younger party activists and nonpartisan reformers to support the idea.

Instead, both major political parties continue to send voters a clear message: “Pick a party” or don’t vote.

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Could Arizona progressives wreck Democrats' 2020 chances?

Posted by Danny Battista on September 21, 2019 at 7:00 PM

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Yvonne Wingett Sanchez, Arizona Republic | azcentral.com - September 21, 2019

Arizona Democrats are rallying ahead of 2020, hoping to turn the red-leaning state blue to elect a Democratic president for the first time since Bill Clinton’s win here in 1996 and seize a second U.S. Senate seat.

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Arizona Democrats Debate Opening Primary to Independents

Posted by Danny Battista on September 21, 2019 at 6:05 PM

U.S. News & World Report Homepage

Jonathan J. Cooper, Associated Press - September 21, 2019

PHOENIX (AP) — A group of independents and some Democrats are making a longshot push to convince the Arizona Democratic Party to open its presidential primary to voters who decline to join a political party.

The effort is forcing Democratic activists to weigh their inclusive values against fears of conservative meddling.

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Should Arizona's Democrats allow independents to vote in primary? It's up for debate

Posted by Danny Battista on September 20, 2019 at 6:35 PM

KNXV - Phoenix, Arizona

Garrett Archer - September 20, 2019

PHOENIX — Maricopa county recorder Adrian Fontes will be bringing reams of papers with him to the State Democratic meeting tomorrow.

Fontes will ask the state committee to allow him to introduce an emergency resolution that will open Arizona’s presidential preference election to the state’s almost 1.3 million independents, or “party not declared” registrants. Since its creation in 1996, the presidential preference election has been a “closed” election, which means that voters that wish to participate must be registered in one of the state’s recognized political parties.

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