Arizona Morning Briefing, 10-26: Lombardo Stays on the Ballot, 24 Voters are Safe To Vote, and More

•THE FIVE-DOLLAR FOLLIES REACH THE SUPREME COURT–On Friday, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled that the Citizens Clean Elections Commission lacks authority to overturn the secretary of state’s certification of candidates for public campaign financing. The beneficiaries are Green Party candidates Risa Lombardo and Duwayne Collier, whose disputed $5 contributions helped unlock millions in taxpayer-funded campaign money. But the court didn’t stop the investigation into allegedly fraudulent contributions. Nor did it decide what penalties might be available if Clean Elections establishes wrongdoing. Attorney Tim La Sota celebrated the ruling as a rebuke of the commission’s “malevolent bureaucrats.” Clean Elections Executive Director Thomas Collins, the most malevolent of bureaucrats, says the investigation continues.

•HEAP SETTLES ON 24 VOTERS, DEMOCRACY RESTORED–Following court-ordered mediation October 23, Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap restored active status to 24 U.S. citizens whose registrations his office had restricted. A 25th voter had already independently supplied proof of citizenship. Heap’s office issued early ballots to 18 affected voters on the Active Early Voting List. Attorney General Kris Mayes agreed to dismiss her lawsuit. Heap says his office acted properly once it received adequate documentation. The Attorney General’s Office continues to dispute his legal authority to restrict those voters in the first place.

•TURNING POINT WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHETHER YOUR NEIGHBOR HAS VOTED, LOL–Howard Fischer reports this morning in the Arizona Capitol Times that Turning Point’s TPAction application provides remarkably easy access to its list of likely conservative voters who haven’t returned their early ballots. According to Fischer, virtually anyone can register with a name, address and phone number, then access maps showing targeted voters, their addresses, party affiliations and ballot-return information. Democratic organizers use comparable voter-targeting software, but their MiniVAN system requires authorization to access specific lists. Fischer asked Turning Point executive Tyler Bowyer how the organization selected its targets. Bowyer replied: “Why would I tell you that?” followed by “LOL.”

•ED HERMES MAY NEED TO RECUSE HIMSELF FROM PHOENIX–Axios reported Friday that Phoenix District 4 City Council frontrunner Ed Hermes, last seen in these pages reversing his stance on abortion rights, is a partner at Snell & Wilmer, Arizona’s largest law firm. The firm regularly represents clients before the city, including in litigation against Phoenix. According to Axios, Snell has 13 registered city lobbyists representing more than 260 clients. Its attorneys have represented clients in matters voted on by the council at least eight times since January 2025. Hermes says he’ll comply with conflict-of-interest rules and recuse himself when necessary. There’s going to be a whole lot of recusing if he wins.