On January 30, 2025, the Globe reported that Freshman Democrat Rep. Lydia Hernandez (Elda) Luna-Nájera (D-22) caused the Tolleson District to pay nearly half a million dollars in a settlement after findings of sexual harassment and retaliation. Even earlier, on January 18, 2025, the Globe reported that Luna-Nájera faced sexual harassment allegations stemming from her former role as the Tolleson Union High School District board president and current member.

At that time, the Globe spoke with Senate President Warren Petersen, who remarked that he “would be surprised” if Luna-Nájera remained in office through the end of the legislative session. However, House ethics penalties, including removal from office, require formal action by a member of the House. The Globe has confirmed that no one has filed any ethics complaints with the House Ethics Committee.

Despite these allegations against Luna-Nájera and others, Andrew Wilder, the Republican Majority Caucus’s Director of Communications, confirmed that the House has filed no ethics complaints against any member during this session. The confirmation came in response to a follow-up inquiry by the Globe. And, given the intensity of recent legislative battles and public accusations, this news is both unexpected and revealing.

Petersen, who’s been outspoken about legislator accountability, has no jurisdiction over House members as a Senator. Meanwhile, House Speaker Steve Montenegro has declined to respond to multiple requests for comment.

Adding to the pattern of the House failing to hold members accountable, freshman legislator Rep. Anna Lynn Abeytia (D-24) is making headlines for a string of campaign finance violations. Her transgressions include failing to file mandatory reports, ignoring Clean Elections audits, and failing to provide proper documentation for funds channelled to her domestic partner. While these issues are currently under investigation by the Citizens Clean Elections Commission, no House member has yet made a referral to the House Ethics Committee. With the 2025 session now nearing its end, that window appears to be closing.

Taken together, the accountability silence from House leadership, the absence of formal ethics complaints, and the unresolved investigations into freshman lawmakers paint a troubling picture. And, while public confidence hinges on transparency and accountability, it appears that political expediency may once again take precedence over ethical oversight at the Arizona Capitol. And while ethics shouldn’t be partisan, it begs the question of what would happen if the roles were reversed? Would Democrats let Republicans off the hook? As the session draws to a close, voters are left to wonder: if not now, when? And if no one in the House is willing to act, who will?

The Globe will update this story as details unfold.