WASHINGTON — Democrats’ path to taking back the Arizona Senate became clearer after GOP candidate Wendy Rogers won the Republican primary for LD-06’s Senate seat.
If you don’t believe us, just take a look at what Rogers’ fellow Republicans have to say:
- Wendy Rogers’ ticket mate in LD-06, Representative Walt Blackman encouraged voters to vote for GOP incumbent Senator Slyvia Allen because “Wendy Rogers doesn’t know a thing about the district, she is not from the district… and she is actually just trying to run so she can go to Congress.”
- The county’s GOP committee went on the record attacking Rogers. It urged voters away from Rogers, saying that she doesn’t live in the district, has lied about receiving endorsements from notable Republicans, and has a “history of foul ethics.” The committee’s chair said Rogers will be a “weak candidate going up against a Democrat.”
- Current and former GOP legislators are fearful of what a Wendy Rogers primary victory would mean for the seat. Retiring state Representative Bob Thorpe said that “if you lose a campaign twice you’re finished. [Rogers has] been doing it now for a decade.” Former House Speaker Kirk Adams posed the question: “Could [Rogers] win the general election, or hand that seat to the Democrats…?”
- The American Federation of Children, a conservative dark money group, published an entire website dedicated to attacking Rogers and a negative ad that showed Rogers saying she wants to privatize Social Security.
- State Representative Walt Blackman’s wife wrote an open letter attacking Rogers’ campaign and one of her supporters, saying Rogers “owes apologies” and made “personal false attacks” on a former GOP opponent.
- Republican state House candidate and Rogers’ ticket mate Brenda Barton implied that Rogers isn’t even a resident of LD-06 and thus not eligible to run for the state Senate seat.
“With candidates like Wendy Rogers on the ballot, Democrats’ path to flipping the Senate is crystal clear,” said Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee Jessica Post. “Members of Rogers’ own party say she can’t win, she doesn’t know, or even live in, the district, and she’s not a strong candidate. On that, we agree.”
Wendy Rogers will face Democrat Felicia French in November. Felicia French spent 32 years as a combat veteran, saved lives as a medevac helicopter pilot and registered nurse, and taught college students. With an opponent like Wendy Rogers, French has a much clearer path to the state Senate.
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