Arizona Democrats took an important step toward denying Republicans control of the State Senate for the first time in a long time.
The unique opportunity presented itself late in the campaign cycle when State Sen. Jake Flake, a Republican, fell off his horse and died of the complications. (This is rural Arizona.) Republicans were able to replace Flake on the ballot, but Democrats had no candidate on the ballot and had to scramble.
With one more Democratic seat, the chamber would be deadlocked, denying Republicans the chairmanships. The Democrats put forward Bill Jeffers, a Holbrook rancher, as a write-in candidate. He needed about 375 write-in votes in the primary to appear on the general election ballot. He received more than 900.
We still have to win the general election, but the Republican candidate is weak and acknowledged as a nut job by many Republicans.
As a precinct committeeman, I worked outside the polls in Pinetop-Lakeside, AZ to explain to our Democratic primary voters the need to write-in Jeffers. During the long day, I gained a unique insight into why people are Republicans. Of course, the very rich are Republicans because the party serves their interests. Many others hope to be rich someday. But there is another group.
In Arizona we have a 75-foot limit around the polls within which campaigning is not allowed. A Republican came out, looked at the sign and said I was violating the law because I was beyond the limit. I explained to him the voting occurred inside the limit and the campaigning outside. So when you wonder why people are Republicans, don’t overlook stupidity.