by 
Ireturned from vacation this past week unaware of Arizona news including the primary election results. As I was in Hawaii, I was too busy enjoying myself and did not take time to follow what was going on in Arizona. The Hawaii newspapers did not mention Arizona election results. On my first morning back in Oracle, a friend informed me that John Huppenthal and Tom Horne had been defeated in the primary election. I was ecstatic if not somewhat surprised. Then later I saw that the Go Daddy Girl Christine Jones also lost her bid for election. Too bad, no border wall for Sheriff Paul.
Then there was Adam Kwasman – remember him at the protest in Oracle? He made the national news rushing to stop a bus of unaccompanied immigrant children only to find out it was school children from Marana on their way to the Y-Camp. We can thank an Oracle lady for reminding him that the bus was coming. On his Facebook page, Kwasman says, “Hispanic outreach is so important for Republican victory.” Then he goes out and gets Joe Arpaio’s endorsement and blocks a bus of immigrant children seeking a safe haven. Yes, that will get you the Hispanic vote. The Republicans have about as much of a chance of winning the Hispanic vote as the U of A basketball team has of having a losing season this year.
Kwasman was heavily backed by the Tea Party including endorsements by Sarah Palin and Ted Cruz. It seems that the border hawks and anti-Mexican candidates did not have the support of the Arizona electorate. Maybe Arizonans are tired of the anti-immigrant rhetoric and the embarrassment and loss of business that being known as the State of Hate has caused. Incumbents Huppenthal and Horne are the latest casualties to fall from the hate and fear coalition that included Russell Pearce and Andy Thomas. Will Joe Arpaio be the next to fall? A campaign to register more Hispanic voters and get them to the polls has been launched. They will be coming for Arpaio in 2016 if he decides to run. This makes one wonder if the Tea Party has lost some of their influence.
Republican Andy Tobin who defeated Kwasman and will be running for US Representative against incumbent Ann Kirkpatrick has said that the Tea Party has lost strength. He noted that only a hand full of people had attended an event he was present at during the primary. This race will be a tough one to call.
The Republican primary has left some openings for Democratic candidates to possibly win some positions in November. They now have a good chance to seat a Democrat as attorney general, secretary of state, superintendent of public instruction and even governor. Doug Ducey has Tea Party support though he has not been as vocal on border issues as other Republicans. He may have made a mistake in not attending a conservative radio station event at Grand Canyon University where Sarah Palin was speaking. After all she endorsed him. It’s not nice to disrespect the “Darling” of the Tea-Publicans. Look for Ducey to tap dance towards the moderate Republicans while singing Kumbaya calling for the party to unite behind him. One poll shows Ducey and Fred Duval even. Duval is already drawing support and endorsements from some Republicans. If registered Democrats get to the polls in numbers in November and Independents vote to move the state forward, Arizona could begin turning into a purple state.
Author’s Note:
I have been given the opportunity to express my opinion and viewpoints on politics, national, state, and local issues as well as life in general. I hope to inform you as well as entertain you, make you smile or make you mad. I will use humor, sarcasm and occasionally anger to express my views. My intention is to hold politicians accountable sometimes bringing some heat on them and if my views make you angry or hot, remember that like my humor, it is a dry heat. These opinions are entirely my own and do not reflect the views of Copper Area News Publishers.
John Hernandez lives in Oracle. He is retired and enjoys writing and traveling. He is active in the Oracle Historical Society. He covers numerous public events, researches historical features and writes business/artist profiles.
by by