For Immediate Release
Saturday, May 7, 2022
Contact: Hannah Goss, hgoss@azdem.org
Senate Showdown: A Week of Bad Takes, Bad Endorsements, and Bad Candidates
PHOENIX — Welcome to this week’s edition of the ‘Senate Showdown’ — a weekly roundup of the latest news in Arizona’s “crowded,” “costly,” and “chaotic” GOP Senate primary.
With “no clear frontrunner,” these amateur candidates will be busy duking it out well into the summer, ahead of Arizona’s August primary date. Until then, the Arizona Democratic Party’s ‘Showdown’ is here to help you keep track of this race’s breaking news, cringiest Tweets, and nastiest doses of infighting.
On a serious note:
ROE AND BEYOND: In the wake of the draft opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade, the men in this GOP Senate primary, out of step as ever, rejoiced. While millions of Arizonans — the majority of whom support their right to safe and legal abortion — brace themselves for a post-Roe reality, Brnovich, Masters, and Lamon are planning to take their dangerous anti-choice agendas nationwide, running on plans to institute a federal abortion ban, end exceptions for abortions in cases of rape and incest, and criminalize providing reproductive health care.
Here’s what else you missed this week:
CONGRATULATIONS, WE GUESS: Yesterday, Congresswoman, conspiracy theorist, and known antisemite Marjorie Taylor Greene endorsed Blake Masters, joining a contentious contingent of MAGA Republicans including Congressman Madison Cawthorn in backing Peter Thiel’s puppet. Clearly, some people have standards for who they surround themselves with, and then some people are Blake Masters.
A NO SHOW AND A STROKED EGO: Last Saturday, Mark Brnovich dodged Blake Masters’ one-on-one debate challenge. Even so, the night was still notable thanks to a phone call from “kingmaker” Donald Trump, during which the former president attacked Brnovich and praised Masters. Our only question: How much did Peter Thiel shell out for that ninety seconds of flattery to boost his protege’s otherwise stagnant campaign?
CA$HING IN: This week, Jim Lamon continued to tout endorsements from local elected officials across the state that he bought with cold, hard cash. Maybe money can’t buy happiness, but clearly, it can buy some low-hanging GOP elected officials and their endorsements.
IS THERE AN OPTION #4?: As POLITICO reported this week, a “decidedly weak” field of three, third-rate candidates translates into a three-way horserace for a GOP Senate primary. Brnovich has the name ID, Lamon has the war chest, and Masters has Peter Thiel. Us? We have a long, hot summer ahead of us.
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