• CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE REPORTS ALLEGED SEXUAL ASSAULT–In a story that garnered significant national coverage, Democratic CD8 nominee Bernadette Greene-Placentia told the Phoenix New Times on Wednesday that two men allegedly  sexually assaulted her while she was repairing a campaign sign in Sun City at 3 a.m. on August 14. According to reports, the main attacker allegedly called Greene-Placentia a “Democratic bitch”. She reported the attack two weeks later, and told police she’d washed the clothes from that night so they couldn’t obtain any DNA evidence. Police say the investigation is ongoing.

Both Arizona Senators condemned the attack, and the campaign of Greene-Placentia’s opponent, Rep. Abe Hamadeh, put out this statement: “I have read the disturbing story and call upon authorities to investigate these serious allegations thoroughly, including finding all possible camera footage of the time and place in order to prosecute the crime to the fullest extent of the law. No American should become a victim of a crime in their own community.”

•TURNING POINT BETS BIG ON BIGGS–The Washington Sun reported Wednesday evening that Turning Point PAC Arizona has committed more than $18 million to advertising supporting  the struggling campaign of Republican gubernatorial nominee Andy Biggs and attacking Governor Katie Hobbs, according to its examination of state campaign-finance disclosures. The PAC spent approximately $270,000 on the 2022 governor’s race. It reportedly booked at least $14 million in September advertising alone, followed by two additional $1.7 million purchases and smaller buys in early October. “If Andy Biggs loses, Turning Point loses,” Republican strategist Barrett Marson told the Sun. “That hurts them probably with donors, their image.”

• GREEN CANDIDATES LOSE ANOTHER ROUND–The Arizona Court of Appeals rejected an attempt to block the Clean Elections investigation of Green Party nominees Risa Lombardo and Duwayne Collier on Tuesday. The Citizens Clean Elections Commission unanimously refused to quash subpoenas seeking campaign records. The commission also extended its October 29 investigative deadline because the candidates haven’t provided the requested information. The requested records involve, among other things, the candidates’ dealings with Republican-connected contractors and a Nevada company that received more than $1.2 million from their campaigns.

• FEELY BREAKS WITH TRUMP ON WATER —CD1 candidates Jay Feely and Amish Shah debated on Wednesday. Feely explicitly opposed the Trump administration’s Colorado River cuts. He argued that Arizona shouldn’t shoulder disproportionate reductions when it has undertaken extensive conservation efforts. That’s a meaningful disagreement with the administration whose endorsement helped him win the Republican nomination. The candidates also disagreed about data centers. Shah said he opposed building them in CD1, while Feely preferred leaving those decisions to local communities. An October 1 FirstStrategic poll placed Shah ahead 44–41, with 14% undecided.