About General Election Endorsements
Humane Voters of Arizona (HVA) is an all-volunteer, non-partisan organization supporting state legislators and candidates who advocate for animals and their protection via legislation and other legal measures.
The HVA Board and Election Team approves all candidate endorsements, which are based primarily on voting records of the past two legislative sessions, analyses of actions that candidates have taken in the past with regard to animal protection issues, and on their stated positions on these issues. For candidates who do not have a historical record and have not provided written position statements (survey responses or other documents), we have made no endorsements. In the survey response section, we try to acknowledge candidates who have submitted excellent survey responses. We recommend that voters review those surveys and contact candidates if they have questions.
When making endorsements, HVA may also consider other factors in a race in addition to voting records and surveys.Some endorsed candidates may not have excellent voting records but would likely be more supportive on animal protection issues than their opponents.
In primary races where there are no HVA endorsements, please refer to legislative reports (for incumbents and former legislators), and candidate survey responses which are posted on this website.
“Single-Shot” Voting”: In Arizona House races voters choose two representatives for each legislative district. In LDs where HVA has endorsed only one candidate, please consider casting a single vote for the endorsed candidate, which will maximize their odds against opponents where votes are split.
For federal election endorsements visit Animal Wellness Action or Sierra Club Grand Canyon Chapter.
For information on Arizona judges visit the AZ Commission on Judicial Performance Review.
Be a Voice for Arizona’s Animals by registering and voting in our state elections. Please share this voter guide with other animal advocates and encourage them to vote. If you’re not sure what legislative district you reside in, you can get all information at Arizona.Vote. To find your polling place go to Find Your Polling Place.
Candidates who support animal protection need your help! Please consider pitching in to help HVA elect animal-friendly legislators and to volunteer on their campaigns! If you can help, please contact us at info@humanevotersaz.org.
Arizona State Legislature
Arizona State Senate
LD 2 Judy Schwiebert (i)
LD 3 John Kavanagh (i)*
LD 4 Christine Marsh (i)*
LD 5 Lela Alston (i)
LD 6 Theresa Hatathlie (i)
LD 8 Lauren Kuby *
LD 9 Eva Burch (i)
LD 10 Robert Doyle *
LD 12 Mitzi Epstein (i)
LD 15 Alan Smith *
LD 16 T.J. Shope (i)
LD 17 John McLean *
LD 18 Priya Sundareshan (i)*
LD 20 Sally Ann Gonzales (i)*
LD 21 Rosanna Gabaldón (i)
LD 22 Eva Diaz (i)
LD 23 Brian Fernandez (i)
LD 26 Flavio Bravo (i)*
LD 29 Eric Stafford *
Arizona House of Representatives
LD 1 Selina Bliss (i)
LD 1 Quang Nguyen (i)
LD 2 Ari Bradshaw *
LD 2 Stephanie Simacek *
LD 4 Kelli Butler †
LD 4 Matt Gress (i)* †
LD 5 Sarah Liguori (i)
LD 6 Mae Peshlakai (i)
LD 6 Myron Tsosie (i)
LD 7 Walt Blackman * †
LD 7 Nancy Hartl *
LD 8 Brian Garcia *
LD 9 Lorena Austin (i)
LD 9 Seth Blattman (i)*
LD 11 Junelle Cavero (i) *
LD 12 Patty Contreras (i)*
LD 12 Stacey Travers (i)
LD 16 Teresa Martinez (i)
LD 16 Keith Seaman (i)
LD 18 Nancy Gutierrez (i)*
LD 18 Chris Mathis (i)
LD 20 Alma Hernandez (i)
LD 20 Betty Villegas (i)
LD 21 Consuelo Hernandez (i)
LD 22 Lupe Contreras (i)
LD 22 Elda Luna-Nájera (i)
LD 23 Mariana Sandoval (i)*
LD 24 Lydia Hernandez (i)
LD 26 Quanta Crews (i)
LD 27 Deborah Howard *
Key
LD = Legislative District
(i) = Incumbent
* = Responded to HVA Questionnaire
†= Comments Added
Please Note: HVA has not endorsed candidates in all legislative districts. In legislative races where there are no HVA endorsements, please refer to legislative reports (for incumbents and former legislators) and candidate survey responses.
If you have questions or comments, please contact us at info@humanevotersaz.org.
Comments
Kelli Butler (LD 4 House) is a former state legislator with an excellent voting record on animal protection and citizen initiative rights (see HVA 2017-2022 Legislative Reports).
In the LD 4 House race, HVA endorsed two candidates for the two available seats. Kelli Butler has an outstanding voting record and Matt Gress was one of only four members of his party to support all animal protection bills included in our 2024 scorecard. However, based on her survey response, Karen Gresham is a strong supporter of animal protection and citizen intiative rights. Please refer to candidate survey responses and 2023-2024 legislative reports for more information on candidates.
Walt Blackman (LD 7 House) is a former state legislator who sponsored and helped pass the 2019 bill that penalizes intentionally or knowingly harassing working animals in law enforcement vehicles.
Candidates with Excellent Survey Responses
HVA would like to acknowledge the following general election candidates who submitted very good survey responses with detailed comments. We recommend that voters review those responses. You can access all surveys here.
Jay Ruby, LD 1 House
Marcia Smith, LD 1 House
Karen Gresham, LD 4 House
Mary Ann Mendoza, LD 9 House
Gregg Frostrom, Jr. LD 19 House
Michelle Altherr, LD 23 Senate
Barbara Fike, LD 28 House
Candidates in Other Races
HVA focuses endorsements primarily on legislative races. However, we believe it is important for voters to learn about the position of other candidates on animal protection.These are former members of the legislature with excellent voting records who are currently pursuing other offices.
U.S. Senate
Ruben Gallego is a former state representative who strongly supported animal protection and the right to citizen intiatives (see HVA 2011-2014 Legislative Reports). He has continued to protect animals and voter rights as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives. HVA endorsed Ruben Gallego in every election throughout his legislative term.
U.S. House of Representatives
Amish Shah, candidate for Congressional District 1, is a former state representative who has demonstrated a strong commitment to animal protection and citizen initiative rights. Dr. Shah sponsored bills that would have repealed the law prohibiting local ordinances that ban sales of puppy mill dogs, legislation to outlaw the practice of declawing cats, and other animal protection bills (see HVA 2019-2023 Legislative Reports). See Animal Wellness Action press release endorsing Dr. Shaw. HVA endorsed Amish Shah in every election during his legislative term.
Kirsten Engel, candidate for Congressional District 6, is a former state legislator who has an exceptional voting record on protecting animals and citizen initiative rights (see HVA 2017-2021 Legislative Reports). HVA endorsed Kirsten Engel in every election throughout her legislative term.
Maricopa County Board of Supervisors
Steve Gallardo, candidate for Maricopa County Board of Supervisors District 5, is a former state legislator who consistently voted to protect animals and citizen initative rights (see HVA 2005-2008, 2011-2014 Legislative Reports). HVA endorsed Steve Gallardo in every election during his legislative term.
Pima County Board of Supervisors
Matt Heinz, candidate for Pima County Board of Supervisors District 2, is a former state legislator with an excellent voting record for supporting animals and citizen initative rights (see HVA 2009-2012 Legislative Reports). HVA endorsed Matt Heinz in every election throughout his legislative term.
Ballot Measure Recommendations
HVA urges animal advocates to reject measures referred to the ballot by legislators that threaten our citizen initiative process, which is our most important tool for protecting animals. Arizona’s citizen initiative process is a constitutional right enacted at statehood in 1912. One of the Arizona founders’ biggest concerns was the right of citizens to pass laws when the legislature refused to act. The first citizen initiative passed in Arizona recognized women’s right to vote. Thanks to grassroots citizen ballot measures, voters banned indiscriminate leghold traps, snares, and poisons on public lands in 1994. Cockfighting was outlawed in 1998. In 2006, voters prohibited the inhumane confinement of pregnant pigs and calves raised for veal in industrial agricultural operations. All these measures failed in the legislature yet were passed by Arizona voters, most by landslide margins. In 1998 the Voter Protection Act was passed to prevent the legislature from undermining citizen initiatives passed by voters. Over the years, the legislature has placed a number of referendums on the ballot that could have destroyed our public initiative process but voters overwhelmingly defeated most of referred measures, indicating the strong determination of citizens to defend voting rights.
Vote NO on Prop 134
Prop 134 would require citizen initiative campaigns to collect signatures from 10 percent of electors from each legislative district in order to qualify for the ballot. Currently, initiative campaigns must submit signatures from 10 percent of all voters statewide, not in each of the 30 legislative districts. This measure would make it virtually impossible for grassroots groups to place citizen initiatives or referendums on the ballot. While wealthy campaigns might be able to hire enough petition circulators, it would be insurmountable for campaigns that rely primarily on volunteers. The other factor is that an initiative could be blocked by a small number of residents in one or more legislative districts who can gather enough opposition. This would allow a small minority to make decisions for the majority of voters. If Prop 134 had been in place at the time, it could have prevented the initiatives that banned traps and poisons on public lands, cockfighting, and inhumane farm animal confinement from being placed on the ballot.
Vote NO on Prop 136
Prop 136 would allow anyone to file a lawsuit in court to challenge the constitutionality of citizen initiatives while campaigns are still gathering signatures to place a measure on the ballot. If a court finds the measure unconstitutional, it prohibits the Secretary of State from certifying or printing the measure on the ballot. Prop 136 would force citizen initiative campaigns to raise large amounts of money to fight constitutional challenges from anyone who opposes the initiative. This would make it virtually impossible for grassroots citizen initiative campaigns to place a measure on the ballot. Had this measure been in effect, it could have blocked animal protection initiatives from even reaching the ballot for voters to consider.
Vote NO on Prop 315
Prop 315 would grant the Arizona Legislature power over rulemaking authority of state agencies. For example, this measure could overturn the Arizona Department of Agriculture’s rule that provides more humane treatment of laying hens by requiring that eggs produced and sold in Arizona must come from hens free from cage confinement. It could also overturn the Arizona Game and Fish Department’s rule that banned predator killing contests throughout the state. Predator killing contests are organized events in which participants compete for prizes based on the number of animals killed. Before Game and Fish enacted the ban, hundreds of animals—including coyotes, foxes, bobcats, and mountain lions were killed at these events all year long in Arizona.
Vist the HVA Resource webpage for further information on state and federal elections and candidates.
If you have questions or comments on this voter guide, please contact us at info@humanevoters.org.