Arizona Morning Briefing 10-20: Feely and Sinema Are Friends, Hermes Changes His Abortion Tune, ACLU Is Totally “Nonpartisan in SecState race, and More

•SINEMA HAS THE FEELY–Republican Congressional candidate Jay Feely told the Arizona Republic that former Senator Krysten Sinema is supporting his campaign. This follows mid-month reports that Sinema was talking up Feely among business leaders. She hasn’t given him money or spoken up publicly. They have “bonded” over their “worldviews.” “I want our country to be better for Republicans, for Independents, and for Democrats,” Feely said. “I’m happy to have her support.”

•WE CAN’T GO ON FOREVER WITH SUSPICIOUS LETTERS– Democratic U.S. Reps. Greg Stanton, Yassamin Ansari and Adelita Grijalva disclosed that someone had addressed suspicious letters to their offices. Letters to Ansari and Grijalva went to former office addresses. Authorities intercepted a letter addressed to Stanton’s Mesa office before delivery. The FBI and U.S. Postal Inspection Service are investigating. Officials also disclosed that the white powder discovered in Secretary of State Adrian Fontes’ office last week wasn’t hazardous. Wired reported that similar letters had appeared in 32 states. The Democratic Socialists of America denied involvement, despite its apparent abbreviation appearing on the return address of a letter intercepted in Utah.

•HERMES GETS THE MESSAGE ON ABORTION–Planned Parenthood has endorsed District 4 Phoenix City Council candidate Ed Hermes–even though a right-to-life PAC gave Hermes a nearly-perfect score on a questionnaire 2o years ago. “The unborn child should never be aborted, but after his or her soul has rejoined with God, I would not vote to stop the use of his or her tissue/organs to save a life of another child,” he wrote. Hermes has since “studied the issue,” he says.

•EXPENSIVE CAMPAIGNS–Arizona’s Family reported that Governor Katie Hobbs’ campaign has spent more than $17 million, compared with just over $5 million by her opponent, Rep. Andy Biggs. Outside spending further complicates the picture. Groups supporting Biggs or opposing Hobbs have collectively spent more than $21 million, while the Democratic Governors Association has spent $14 million and the Republican Governors Association has spent nothing. The Navajo County Democratic Committee has spent more than $33 million on Hobbs and other Democratic candidates, which seems…high.

•ACLU INVESTS IN AZ SECSTATE CAMPAIGN–The national ACLU announced a $500,000 voter-education campaign focused specifically on Arizona’s contest between Democratic incumbent Adrian Fontes and Republican challenger Alexander Kolodin. Working with its Arizona affiliate, the organization plans to send candidate-position guides to more than 230,000 voters. The ACLU describes the campaign as nonpartisan and says it neither endorses candidates nor contributes to their campaigns. “Arizona’s secretary of state is entrusted with upholding Arizona election law and abiding by the state and U.S. Constitutions. It is imperative that Arizona voters know where candidates stand when it comes to protecting the fundamental right to vote.” said Victoria López, Executive Director for the ACLU of Arizona. Ah, yes, the good old nonpartisan modern ACLU!