Arizona Morning Briefing, 10-29: Turning Point Backs Biggs Big, Graham Versus Axon Redux, Heap Argues With Data Journalist, and More

•TURNING POINT BIG BIGGS BET–Turning Point Action has spent $18 million on Rep. Andy Biggs‘ effort to unseat Gov. Katie Hobbs this year, more than three times what Biggs’ own campaign has spent, the Republic reported. Biggs told Stacey Barchenger that the late Charlie Kirk personally recruited him to run. “Charlie was a huge Andy Biggs fan,” said Tyler Bowyer, chief operating officer for Turning Point. Gov. Hobbs has received more than $20 million out-of-state funding as well. With Election Day approaching, she maintains a double-digit lead in the polls.

•MORE MUD IN SCOTTSDALE–Scottsdale Councilman Barry Graham has published a new attack on Better Together PAC. Attorney General Kris Mayes’ office is reviewing its campaign-finance practices. The PAC received $335,000 from a Virginia super PAC and spent heavily against Graham, Michelle Ugenti-Rita and Bob Littlefield during Scottsdale’s council primary. Its chairman has worked as a lobbyist for the Axon development firm, and its treasurer is a former Axon spokesman. Graham alleges that a senior Axon executive gave rival Raoul Zubia $5,000 two days after Zubia endorsed the company’s controversial apartment development.

• THE DEFENDANT’S FAMILY IS HELPING BANKROLL HIS PROSECUTOR’S OPPONENT–An October 28 Arizona Republic investigation found that relatives and associates of former Apache County Attorney Michael Whiting contributed more than $50,000 to Republican attorney general candidate Warren Petersen. Whiting is facing public-corruption charges brought by Democratic incumbent Kris Mayes’ office. Eight contributors reportedly gave the $5,500 individual maximum. Petersen’s campaign says the contributions came with no conditions and that he made no promises to revisit the case.

• APS GIVES TO THE GOP GROUP FUNDING ITS REGULATOR’S ALLIES–KJZZ reported Wednesday afternoon that Arizona Public Service gave $255,000 to GOPAC in 2026, according to IRS filings. GOPAC funds Regulators Roundtable Arizona, which has spent $10,000 supporting incumbent Corporation Commissioner Kevin Thompson. There’s someone fresh to blame if your power goes out.

• JUSTIN HEAP AND THE NEVERENDNG SIGNATURE-REJECTION ARGUMENT–ABC15 data journalist Garrett Archer and County Recorder Justin Heap clashed on October 28 over signature verification. Archer contends that removing voter-identifying information from verifiers’ screens has contributed to increased initial ballot-signature rejections. Heap says the change removes unnecessary personal information, including party affiliation, and protects impartial verification. Heap accused Archer of spreading election misinformation. Archer pointed to an earlier rise in rejections and challenged Heap’s explanation. In general, we don’t like it when politicians accuse journalists of deliberately spreading “misinformation.”

• ARIZONA POLITICAL SIGNS ARE THE LAMP OF FREEDOM–Arizona Agenda investigated the state’s unusually permissive campaign-sign laws and obtained fresh enforcement figures from local governments. The city of Scottsdale alone has impounded more than 2900 campaign signs this election cycle. The city of Phoenix has logged 53 separate complaints. State Senator John Kavanagh wrote in the comments of the article that “Campaign signs are the sight of freedom. If you dislike them, try North Korea.” It’s either Chandler or Pyongyang. There is no middle ground.