Arizona Morning Briefing, 11-10-26: Kavanagh Assumes Republican Senate Leadership, McCains and Turning Point Assign Blame, Dems Win Mining Inspector, and More

•KAVANAGH TO LEAD SENATE REPUBLICANS– Arizona Senate Republicans elected John Kavanagh minority leader Monday, completing the leadership transition following their historic electoral defeat. Tim Dunn becomes assistant minority leader, while Leo Biasiucci takes the minority whip position. Kavanagh also appointed Mark Finchem to a newly designated position: Deputy Assistant Minority Leader of Communications. “Minority” is a very apt term; the GOP caucus will have just 10 members, down from 17, as Democrats move toward a 20-seat supermajority. Kavanagh said rebuilding the Republican majority requires earning voters’ trust and promised to work with Democrats where possible.

•DEMOCRATS SIGNAL THEY’LL ABANDON DEFENSE OF ABORTION RESTRICTIONS—One area where the parties almost certainly won’t work together is abortion policy. Incoming Senate President Priya Sundareshan and House Democratic spokesperson Robbie Sherwood told Capitol Media Services that the new legislative majorities don’t intend to continue the Republican leadership’s defense of abortion restrictions in court. Sundareshan said Democrats would take an approach more closely aligned with Attorney General Kris Mayes, who’s declined to defend the restrictions. The laws include restrictions on abortion-related telemedicine, mandatory waiting periods and requirements governing medical appointments.

Republican leaders Steve Montenegro and Warren Petersen have been defending the statutes after Mayes declined to do so. A court order currently blocks restrictions. On December 17, when the Arizona Court of Appeals will next hear arguments, Republicans will still control legislative leadership.

•PLEASE DON’T CALL US NO LABELS–The No Labels Party is continuing its effort to rename itself the Arizona Independent Party despite losing its November election contests. In new appellate filings, attorney Matthew Adler argues that the party has a constitutional right to choose its name without collecting signatures to qualify again as a new political party.

Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Greg Como previously ruled that the proposed change amounted to a potentially misleading switch for voters who’d supported the original party. Adler’s 47-page appeal challenges that reasoning, arguing that Arizona law doesn’t expressly prohibit recognized political parties from changing their names. In other news, the Republican Party is considering changing its name to The Awesome Party, or possibly “Gary,” in an attempt to revive its popularity in Arizona.

•CRANE SURVIVES; ARIZONA CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION SET— Republican Eli Crane defeated former Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez in CD2, leading approximately 49.7% to 48.5%. Crane won the same district by approximately nine percentage points in 2024. His much narrower victory this year completes the picture of Arizona’s congressional elections. Arizona’s incoming U.S. House delegation will consist of five Democrats and four Republicans, reversing the outgoing 6–3 Republican advantage. Crane’s margin was outside Arizona’s automatic recount threshold. The results remain unofficial pending certification.

•DEMOCRAT FLIPS ARIZONA MINE INSPECTOR’S OFFICE—The Associated Press called the state mine inspector race Monday for Democrat Brian Matlock, who defeated Republican incumbent Les Presmyk. Republicans have controlled the office for approximately 50 years. Arizona is the only state that elects its mine inspector. The office oversees mining safety, the securing of abandoned mines, and the ghost of an old Superstition prospector that vows to haunt anyone who dares disturb his treasure.

•McCAINS VS. TURNING POINT–Both sides fired nasty shots in a brewing Republican civil war in an Arizona Republic piece. John McCain’s daughter Meghan wrote on X, “My Dad was the last sitting Senator to easily win as a Republican and is still beloved in Arizona. There are lessons from his legacy to be learned and you only further alienate the vital independents by disrespecting him.” Turning Point’s chief operating officer Tyler Bowyer fired back that the McCains backed Martha McSally twice, losing the state both its Senate seats. Jack McCain, McCain’s son, fired back on X, accusing Bowyer of “blame shifting” and called Turning Point a “guarantor of Republican losses.” Bowyer accused Meghan McCain of relying on her father’s name, calling it “playing the Daddy’s name fiddle every time a Republican loses.” He concluded: “It’s loser stuff.” Divorce is hard.