Arizona Laws

Sen. Steve Gallardo is asking the U.S. Department of Justice to intervene to protect minority voting rights and prevent the removal of Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission members.

The Governor’s Office announced that there will not be a special session on redistricting Tuesday.

If could get any crazier, I’d like to see it. Arizona’s decennial “independent” redistricting process has been nothing short of spectacular for journalists. The intrigue, outrage and paranoia took hold quickly and the twists and turns have continued without stop.

The mayor of the third-largest city in Arizona has thrown his support behind congressional candidate Matt Salmon, a potential game-changing blow in the district’s race.

Republican Olivia Cortes, who could face a civil fine for failing to report contributions to her campaign, insists that the paid effort to gather signatures on her behalf was uncoordinated with her campaign.

Democratic redistricting commissioners Jose Herrera and Linda McNulty lambasted Gov. Jan Brewer for what they called a coordinated attempt to interfere with the work of the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission.

Senate Republicans have been told by leadership to prepare for a possible special session on Tuesday to deal with the Independent Redistricting Commission, the Arizona Capitol Times learned today.

Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission Chairwoman Colleen Mathis responded Monday for the first time about allegations that she violated open meeting laws, acknowledging that she spoke with two Republican commissioners about a mapping consultant but denying that the conversations were illegal or improper.

An attorney for the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission said the host of allegations lobbed at the panel by Gov. Jan Brewer are not grounds for removing individual commissioners, and that the governor is not following the constitutional process for ousting members of the IRC.

Arizona authorities plan to release more details at a Monday news conference about their bust involving a major drug smuggling ring.