WASHINGTON — According to a report released by the Institute for Research and Education on Human Rights (IREHR), 872 Republican state legislators, including 12 Arizona Republican legislators, are members of far-right Facebook groups. Today’s Republican lawmakers belong to groups promoting conspiracy theories, disinformation, and bigotry – and later turn the hate they see online into policies that threaten our most fundamental liberties. Extremism has become a core tenet of the Republican Party and Arizona Senate Republicans are no exception, refusing to expel Oath Keeper Senator Wendy Rogers from the Senate after she suggested the Buffalo racist attack was a false flag and repeatedly spread Great Replacement theory rhetoric.
“Extremism and alt-right views are no longer a fringe of the GOP — instead, radical views are rapidly becoming the norm of the Republican Party,” said DLCC President Jessica Post. “Hate and division have become the GOP’s guiding light — and it has dangerous consequences for the future of our country. Electorally, the only way to challenge deadly extremism, protect our basic freedoms, and protect our democracy is to elect Democrats to statehouses this fall.”
Read the IREHR report here.
On the heels of the racist attack in Buffalo, it is crystal clear that far-right radicalization is a threat to the health and safety of our country. This radicalization represents a threat to voting access, LGBTQ+ rights, reproductive freedom, and the very safety of people of color.
Arizona House Republicans in Far-Right Facebook Groups:
- Speaker Pro Tempore Travis Grantham (HD-12)
- Rep. Brenda Barton (HD-6)
- Rep. Justin Wilmeth (HD-15)
- Rep. Tim Dunn (HD-13)
- Rep. Jacqueline Parker (HD-16)
- Rep. John Kavanagh (HD-23)
- Rep. Joseph Chaplik (HD-23)
Arizona Senate Republicans in Far-Right Facebook Groups:
- Majority Whip Sonny Borrelli (SD-5)
- Sen. Wendy Rogers (SD-6)
- Sen. Warren Petersen (SD-12)
- Sen. Nancy K. Barto (SD-15)
- Sen. Kelly Townsend (SD-16)
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