Arizona Guide
Upcoming Election
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Your Elected Officials
Governor
C-
Katie Hobbs
(D)
Despite long reputation for reforming agenda, refuses to answer anything on marijuana.
Attorney General
U.S. Senate
A-
Mark Kelly
(D)
U.S. Senate
B+
Kyrsten Sinema
(I)
While avoiding the topic in general, Sinema has issued statements calling for the federal government to allow state programs to operate without interference and for increased access for veterans.
U.S. House District 1
C
David Schweikert
(R)
U.S. House District 2
U.S. House District 3
A+
Ruben Gallego
(D)
Longest AZ champion on the issue, both at the state and federal levels. As a state legislator, Gallego was the first to introduce legislation for full adult use in AZ.
Gallego supports full legalization and regulation
U.S. House District 4
A
Greg Stanton
(D)
U.S. House District 5
F
Andy Biggs
(R)
As former President of the AZ State Senate, Biggs has been a dedicated obstacle to reform despite numerous meetings in both PHX and DC.
Introduced bill prohibiting state money from being used for marijuana research 4/21/16
U.S. House District 6
U.S. House District 7
A+
Raul Grijalva
(D)
U.S. House District 8
F
Debbie Lesko
(R)
Outspoken against legalization as late as 2018, continues to vote against progressive legislation reform in 2019.
U.S. House District 9
F
Paul Gosar
(R)
Despite repeated meetings and a medical degree as a dentist, Gosar has consistently stayed on wrong side of issue, even for vets, Proposed some draconian anti-cannabis bills over the years.
State Senate District 1
State Senate District 2
State Senate District 3
F
John Kavanagh
(R)
A former Manhattan cop, this guy is AZ's most colorful and most dogged prohibitionist. Kavanagh has already been a scourge in both houses. Not as funny as he thinks he is, either.
State Senate District 4
C
Christine Marsh
(D)
State Senate District 5
A-
Lela Alston
(D)
Longtime supporter, as both a state senator and state representative Alston has signed on key bills, though not taken a leadership role on this issue.
State Senate District 6
State Senate District 7
D+
Wendy Rogers
(R)
On Vote Smart’s Political Courage 2018 Survey Rogers is on record as opposing cannabis reforms, but considers it a state’s rights issue, so doesn’t feel she has to take a position on the issue as a congressional candidate. Wrong.
State Senate District 8
A+
Juan Mendez
(D)
A leader in AZ legislative cannabis reform, Mendez has filed and backed bills for years on reform.
State Senate District 9
State Senate District 10
D+
David Farnsworth
(R)
Based on the track record of LD16 legislators like Rep. Kelly Townsend and Senator Farnsworth, he may be right. Another prohibitionist leader, Farnsworth held several meetings on reform, but voted against it. Filed 3 anti-cannabis bills last session.
State Senate District 11
C+
Catherine Miranda
(D)
Despite leadership position hasn't advanced cause.
State Senate District 12
B
Mitzi Epstein
(D)
While Epstein has spoken in favor of cannabis reform bills, she is less active than several of her allies in the House.
State Senate District 13
D-
Javan Mesnard
(R)
State Senate District 14
D
Warren Petersen
(R)
Though Petersen has claimed to support cannabis reform, his record hasn’t shown it. When he talks about the issue in his caucus he's still speaking reefer madness.
State Senate District 15
State Senate District 16
C
T.J. Shope
(R)
For years Shope has quietly supported cannabis reforms and shown some leadership on a couple of bills.
State Senate District 17
State Senate District 18
State Senate District 19
C-
David Gowan
(R)
A returning state legislator who has opposed the issue in the past.
State Senate District 20
State Senate District 21
A
Rosanna Gabaldón
(D)
Another longtime supporter, Rep Gabaldon has seen personal medical miracles for her family and friends. Gabaldon writes: “Cannabis use is an issue that needs to be addressed in our state, and I would support legalizing recreational use. Arizona suffers from high incarceration rates, where non-violent offenders are jailed alongside violent offenders, which can lead to high recidivism rates. This places a burden on our law enforcement and a financial burden on our state.”
State Senate District 22
State Senate District 23
State Senate District 24
State Senate District 25
D
Sine Kerr
(R)
A midterm replacement, Kerr kept under the radar, but did vote for SB1420, the testing bill
State Senate District 26
C
Raquel Terán
(D)
A Democratic party leader, Teran’s strong progressive record and campaign material do not appear to address cannabis reform directly.
State Senate District 27
D
Anthony Kern
(R)
During HR1820 (the testing bill) Kern used his speeches to belittle and insult cannabis medical patients. His votes on the bill aside, Kern needs educating.
State Senate District 28
State Senate District 29
State Senate District 30
C-
Sonny Borrelli
(R)
Despite a strong anti-legalization stance, Borrelli has emerged as a leading GOP reformer on medical cannabis issues, pushing through the 2018 hemp bill and working over a year on an unsuccessful bill that would have established testing standards for the industry.
State House District 1
State House District 2
State House District 3
State House District 4
State House District 5
A+
Jennifer Longdon
(D)
Usually, only incumbents can truly be judged on their past work, but Longdon actually worked in the industry, making her one of the strongest cannabis candidates on record this election. See for yourself: “I was involved in the MMJ movement in its early days in Arizona as a caregiver. I briefly worked for the first collective in the state. I also helped write several dispensary applications for the first lottery and my pro-MMJ article appeared in the Phoenix New Times. Further, I support legalization of cannabis for recreational use. I would like to see cannabis treated and taxed like alcohol.”
State House District 6
B-
Jamescita Peshlakai
(D)
Signed on several bills over the years, but no leadership on issue.
State House District 7
C
David Cook
(R)
Office mate of leading GOP reformer Kevin Payne, Cook supported the hemp and testing bill.
State House District 8
A
Athena Salman
(D)
This is another deep blue district with strong support for cannabis reform. Working w LD26 Senator Juan Mendez, Salman has taken a vocal stance for cannabis reform.
State House District 9
State House District 10
State House District 11
State House District 12
State House District 13
C
Jennifer Pawlik
(D)
Like Steve Weichert, a returning candidate for LD17 Senate, Pawlik has a track record of challenging the GOP incumbents on a variety of issues … but avoiding this one.
State House District 14
B-
Travis Grantham
(R)
An urban moderate conservative, Grantham has grown to to a supporter on defelonization, hemp and testing.
State House District 15
State House District 16
State House District 17
State House District 18
State House District 19
D
Gail Griffin
(R)
Staunch opponent.
State House District 20
A
Andrés Cano
(D)
Responding to our 2nd round, Cano writes, “I support legalization of medical and recreational marijuana. I believe that legalization will not only bring in additional revenue for our schools-- it will also lower rising costs that have contributed to an expensive, discriminatory criminal justice system.”
State House District 21
State House District 22
A-
Lupe Contreras
(D)
While never a leader on the issue, Contreras has provided steady support and signed onto reform bills for the past several years.
State House District 23
State House District 24
State House District 25
C
Tim Dunn
(R)
New to legislature, no clear track record so far.
State House District 26
State House District 27
A+
Kevin Payne
(R)
The real deal, Payne was the driving force in the House behind the testing bill HR1820 and plans an aggressive reform agenda for the 2019 legislative session.
B
Ben Toma
(R)
Another mid-session replacement, Toma was attentive in meetings, but did not commit to reform positions. One of the few GOP candidates to reply to our survey, Toma writes: “VERY UNfamiliar with cannabis personally INDIFFERENT to federal government current policy INDIFFERENT to Arizona’s MMJ program WILL advocate for reducing AZ criminal penalties if elected Slightly OPPOSES state and federal legalization/decriminalization.”
State House District 28
C-
David Livingston
(R)
Formerly resistant, has lightened position somewhat, assisted the testing bill this year.
State House District 29
D
Steve Montenegro
(R)
State House District 30
D
Leo Biasiucci
(R)
A former Green Party candidate, Biasiucci had claimed to support cannabis reform measures in 2016. However, his dramatic party shift and current billing as a “Trump Conservative,” bring all his positions into question.