Seditionist and Arizona
Representative
Anthony Kern. Above
photo taken at
January 6
insurrection.
Virulent homophobe Anthony Kern is a far-right,
MAGA
Republican extremist, a January 6
insurrectionist and a member of the State
Senate beginning January 9, 2023 representing
District 27. Kern a founding member of the
radical pro-insurrectionist "Freedom
Caucus". He
was a member of the Arizona House of
Representatives, representing District 20 in the
State House of Representatives from January 5,
2015 to January 11, 2021 and in the On
January 6, 2021 he attended the Stop the Steal
rally in Washington, D.C., and
was present at
the subsequent attack on the U.S. Capitol
Building. Kern posted a video to his Twitter
account which showed his attendance of the
event, and in which he stated: "I will put
politics aside if I never win another election.
Trump, every time I heard him on TV, it was like
he was my friend. Why? Because here's the
President of the United States who was sticking
up for little old me."
Kern was among eleven
Arizona Republicans who in December 2020 claimed
to be "alternate electors" and signed a
fraudulent certificate of ascertainment
asserting
Trump had won the 2020 presidential
election. Republicans in six other states also
signed false certificates. He later said that if
vice president Mike Pence chose to certify the
bogus certificates, which would exceed his
constitutional authority, it would be "just a
nice Constitutional lesson for all America to
see." In April 2021 Kern was among the people
helping to count and inspect ballots as part of
the 2021 Maricopa County presidential ballot
audit ordered by the state Senate, though the
contract for the audit said that the ballot
counters would be nonpartisan. Kern ran for election to the U.S. House to represent
Arizona's 8th Congressional District. Kern ran
for election to the U.S. House to represent
Arizona's 8th Congressional District. He lost in
the Republican primary on July 30, 2024. He left
office on January 13, 2025. Kern
has filed a
Statement of Interest with the Arizona Secretary
of State and is running for election to the
State Senate for LD27 in the 2026 election.
Arizona
State
Senator (and
former
Representative)
Anthony
Kern
has a long
history of
sponsoring,
co-sponsoring,
and
aggressively
supporting
legislation
classified
by LGBTQIA+
advocacy
organizations
as highly
detrimental
and harmful.
(ref 1)(ref 2)
As a leading
voice of the
far-right
Arizona
Freedom
Caucus, Kern
frequently
centers his
legislative
platform on
"culture
war"
battles.
While
supporters
view his
bills as
necessary to
protect
minors,
public
morality,
and
traditional
values,
major civil
rights
organizations—including
the
ACLU of
Arizona
and the
Human Rights
Campaign—track
his
legislative
actions as
direct
attacks on
the dignity,
safety, and
legal
recognition
of LGBTQ+
individuals.
(ref 1)(ref 2)(ref 3)
(ref 4)(ref
5)(ref
6)
His specific
legislative
record and
public
anti-LGBTQ+
actions
include:
1.
Sponsoring
Sweeping
Criminal
Prohibitions
on Drag
Performances
Kern has
been the
main
architect of
Arizona's
legislative
crackdown on
the art of
drag, making
national
headlines
for his
intense
rhetoric on
the issue.
SB 1028
(Criminalizing
Drag in
Public):
Kern
primary-sponsored
SB 1028,
which
sought
to make
it a
felony
to host
drag
performances
on any
public
property
or in
any
venue
where
the show
"could
be
viewed
by a
minor".
Critics
noted
the
broad
wording
would
effectively
criminalize
family-friendly
pride
celebrations,
theater
productions,
and drag
story
hours.
During
committee
hearings,
Kern
explicitly
called
drag
shows
"evil"
and
framed
the
bills as
a battle
between
"good
versus
evil".
(ref 1)(ref 2)(ref 3)
(ref 4)(ref
5)(ref
6)
SB 1030
(Zoning
Restrictions):
He
sponsored
SB 1030
to
legally
reclassify
any
business
hosting
drag
performances
as an
"adult
cabaret"
or
adult-oriented
business.
This
would
subject
local
businesses
to heavy
zoning
penalties
and
restrictive
operating
permits.
Both
measures
passed
the
legislature
before
being
vetoed
by
Governor
Katie
Hobbs.
(ref 1)(ref 2)(ref 3)
(ref 4)(ref
5)
2. Targeting
Healthcare
and Legal
Identity
Recognition
Kern’s
opposition
to
transgender
rights dates
back to his
early terms
in the House
of
Representatives:
(ref 1)(ref 2)
Banning
Gender-Affirming
Surgeries
(2017):
Kern was
the
sole
sponsor
of a
bill
designed
to
completely
prohibit
Arizona's
Medicaid
agency
(AHCCCS)
from
providing
coverage
for
gender-affirming
medical
treatments
or
surgeries.
(ref 1)(ref
2)
(ref 3)
Blocking
Gender
Recognition:
Utilizing
his past
power as
the
House
Rules
Committee
Chair,
Kern
personally
blocked
numerous
bills
from
even
receiving
a vote.
This
included
killing
bipartisan
measures
that
would
have
allowed
nonbinary
gender
markers
on
driver's
licenses,
ensured
death
certificates
accurately
reflected
an
individual's
gender
identity,
and
repealed
Arizona's
obsolete,
defunct
constitutional
ban on
same-sex
marriage.
(ref)
3. Killing
Non-Discrimination
and
Conversion
Therapy
Protections
During his
tenure as
House Rules
Chair, Kern
effectively
weaponized
his
committee
seat to halt
civil rights
protections
for LGBTQ+
Arizonans:
Nondiscrimination
Protections:
He
systematically
blocked
statewide
legislation
aimed at
protecting
LGBTQ+
residents
from
systemic
discrimination
in
housing,
employment,
and
healthcare.
(ref)
Conversion
Therapy
Bans:
Kern
consistently
killed
proposed
legislative
bans on
gay
conversion
therapy,
a
practice
widely
condemned
by major
medical
associations
for
causing
severe
psychological
harm to
LGBTQ+
youth.
(ref)
4. Directing
Legislative
Attacks on
Public
Universities
In 2024,
Kern turned
his
legislative
focus onto
state higher
education,
introducing
a package of
bills aiming
to restrict
university
diversity
initiatives:
(ref)
University
Defunding
Pushes:
Kern
publicly
attacked
the
Arizona
Board of
Regents
and
state
universities,
labeling
them
"anti-American
indoctrination
camps"
for
hosting
inclusive
courses
and
student
events
that
cater to
people
of color
and
LGBTQ+
students
(such as
specialized
student
receptions
and
safe-zone
spaces).
(ref)
5. Alarmist
Rhetoric &
Public
Controversies
Kern has
faced
intense
public
blowback and
calls for
resignation
from fellow
lawmakers
due to
recorded
remarks
disparaging
the
community.
In a leaked
audio
recording
from a Tea
Party
activist
meeting,
Kern stoked
fears by
warning his
conservative
base that a
"literal
LGBTQ take
over"
would occur
under
progressive
governance,
while
simultaneously
comparing
standard,
inclusive
public sex
education to
pornography.
(ref)
- - - - -
Beyond his
direct
legislative
sponsorships
and
committee
blockades,
Senator
Anthony Kern
has targeted
the LGBTQIA+
community
through a
series of
highly
publicized
media
appearances,
explicit
floor
declarations,
and
aggressive
institutional
crackdowns.
His actions
outside of
routine bill
voting
include:
1.
Broadcasting
Anti-LGBTQ+
Rhetoric on
a Pro-Hitler
Talk Show
The Stew
Peters
Show
Appearance:
In May
2024,
Kern
generated
massive
national
controversy
when he
used the
Arizona
Senate's
official
broadcast
facility
to
record a
video
segment
for Stew
Peters,
an
infamous
far-right
conspiracy
theorist
known
for
sharing
antisemitic
propaganda.
(ref 1)(ref
2)
Unchallenged
Slurs:
During
the
broadcast,
Peters
repeatedly
targeted
a recent
drag
story
hour
event at
the
state
capitol,
falsely
asserting
that
children
were
present
and
labeling
a local
drag
performer
a
"mentally
ill
satanic
pedophile".
Kern did
not push
back
against
any of
the
anti-LGBTQ+
attacks
or
slurs,
instead
actively
using
the
platform
to warn
the
audience
that
their
"tax
dollars
are
going"
to fund
extreme
degradation.
(ref)
2. Targeting
Incarcerated
Individuals
Surgical
Treatment
Bans:
According
to civil
rights
dossiers
tracked
by
groups
like
American
Bridge
PAC,
Kern
introduced
specific
targeted
measures,
such as
HB 2294,
seeking
to
legally
prevent
transgender
individuals
who are
incarcerated
within
the
Arizona
Department
of
Corrections
from
accessing
or
receiving
medically
necessary
gender-affirming
surgical
operations.
(ref 1)(ref
2)
(ref 3)
3. Public
Resistance
to Repealing
"No Promo
Homo"
Statutes
Defending
Antiquated
School
Restrictions:
Before
its
eventual
repeal
under
legal
threat,
Arizona
maintained
a
decades-old
"No
Promo
Homo"
statutory
law that
strictly
prohibited
public
school
health
educators
from
portraying
homosexuality
as a
safe or
positive
lifestyle
choice.
While a
bipartisan
coalition
eventually
moved to
repeal
the
archaic
language,
Kern
repeatedly
weaponized
the
debate
to
advance
the
false
narrative
that
inclusive
public
health
education
was
inherently
designed
to
"sexualize
children"
and act
as
pornography.
(ref 1)(ref
2)
(ref 3)
4.
Rhetorical
Warfare on
Transgender
Visibility
"Legislating
Out of
Existence":
During
intense
legislative
floor
debates
on his
various
public
bans,
Kern has
repeatedly
rejected
compromise
or civil
decorum.
In
public
committee
rooms,
he
continuously
defended
sweeping
regulatory
measures
despite
formal
warnings
from
LGBTQ+
citizens
that the
vague
legal
language
was
intentionally
engineered
to
"legislate
them out
of
existence"
or make
it a
crime to
simply
exist in
a public
space as
a
transgender
individual.
(ref)
- - - - -
State
Senator
Anthony Kern
is widely
considered
one of the
most
controversial
figures in
modern
Arizona
political
history.
Beyond his
anti-LGBTQ+
actions, his
career has
been defined
by criminal
indictments,
election
subversion,
law
enforcement
scandals,
and campaign
finance
violations.
The
major
controversies
defining
his
career
include:
1. The
Arizona
"Fake
Electors"
Criminal
Case
Kern was a
primary
figure in
attempts to
overturn the
2020
presidential
election
results.
(ref)
The
Fraudulent
Document:
On
December
14,
2020,
Kern and
10 other
Arizona
Republicans
met and
signed a
fraudulent
certificate
claiming
Donald
Trump
won
Arizona's
electoral
votes.
(ref 1)(ref
2)
Grand
Jury
Indictment:
In April
2024, an
Arizona
grand
jury
indicted
Kern on
nine
felony
counts,
including
conspiracy,
fraudulent
schemes,
and
forgery.
Kern
pleaded
not
guilty
and
actively
fundraised
for a
congressional
run off
his
status
as an
indicted
official.
(ref 1)(ref
2)
(ref 3)
(ref 4)
Federal
vs.
State
Legal
Battles:
President
Trump
issued a
federal
pardon
protecting
Kern
from
future
federal
charges
related
to the
scheme.
However,
the
Arizona
Supreme
Court
and
state
prosecutors
noted
that
this has
no
effect
on the
state-level
criminal
prosecution,
which
continues
to wind
through
courts.
(ref 1)(ref
2)
(ref 3)
2. The
January 6
Capitol
Attendance &
Campaign
Cash Abuse
Presence
at the
Riot:
Kern was
photographed
and
filmed
in the
crowd
on the
steps of
the U.S.
Capitol
during
the
January
6, 2021
insurrection.
He was
wearing
a
signature
"Trump"
sweater
and
chanting
alongside
rioters.
(ref)
Illegal
Travel
Funding:
A formal
campaign
finance
complaint
revealed
that
Kern
illegally
used his
campaign
donor
funds
to pay
for his
personal
travel
expenses
to
Washington
D.C. for
the
rally.
State
law
strictly
prohibits
using
campaign
cash for
non-election
activities.
(ref 1)(ref
2)
3. Fired for
Dishonesty &
The "Brady
List" Cop
Scandal
Kern’s
background
in law
enforcement
is a
frequent
source of
controversy.
He was
fired from
the El
Mirage
Police
Department
after he was
caught lying
to
supervisors
about city
equipment he
had lost.(ref
1)(ref
2)
The
Brady
List
Placement:
Because
of his
documented
track
record
of
lying,
Kern was
permanently
placed
on
Maricopa
County's
"Brady
List"—an
official
index of
law
enforcement
officials
with a
reputation
for
dishonesty
or
misconduct.
(ref)
Self-Serving
Legislation:
Once
elected
to the
legislature,
Kern
faced
fierce
backlash
when he
introduced
a bill
explicitly
designed
to
scrub or
hide the
names of
officers
(like
himself)
from
public
Brady
Lists,
which
critics
called a
blatant
abuse of
legislative
power to
hide his
past.
(ref 1)(ref
2)
Lapsed
Credentials:
In July
2026,
his
political
opponents
exposed
campaign
flyers
where
Kern
claimed
to be an
active
"certified
peace
officer,"
despite
state
records
proving
his
certification
had
expired
years
prior.
(ref)
- - More on
El Mirage
Police
Anthony Kern
was fired
from the El
Mirage
Police
Department
in 2014 for
workplace
dishonesty,
resulting in
his
permanent
placement on
Maricopa
County’s
Brady List.
His internal
personnel
files and
state
regulatory
records
reveal a
multi-year
history of
disciplinary
infractions,
misleading
claims about
his law
enforcement
credentials,
and attempts
to use his
political
office to
suppress his
own records.
(ref 1)(ref
2)
(ref 3)
Firing from
the El
Mirage
Police
Department
The Core
Offense:
Kern
worked
for the
El
Mirage
Police
Department
as a
civilian
code
enforcement
officer.
Public
records
show he
was
terminated
after
lying to
his
supervisor
about
losing
city
property.
Specifically,
he
falsely
claimed
he had
repaid
the city
for a
lost
tablet
computer.
(ref)
Pattern
of
Misconduct:
The
termination
report
noted
that the
lie was
the
culmination
of a
string
of other
disciplinary
problems
and
workplace
infractions.
(ref)
Financial
Self-Dealing:
Investigative
records
from
Phoenix
New
Times
and
watchdogs
like
Progress
Arizona
revealed
that
prior to
his
firing,
Kern
also
directly
lobbied
the
Mayor of
El
Mirage
to grant
himself
a pay
increase.
(ref 1)(ref
2)
The Maricopa
County
"Brady List"
Placement
Official
Identification:
Because
he was
officially
terminated
for
dishonesty,
the
Maricopa
County
Attorney’s
Office
placed
Kern on
its
Brady
List.
This is
an
official
database
of law
enforcement
personnel
with
documented
histories
of
lying,
criminal
track
records,
or
integrity
issues.
(ref 1)(ref
2)
Legal
Impact:
Under
U.S.
constitutional
law,
prosecutors
are
legally
required
to
disclose
a
"Brady"
designation
to
defense
teams,
as the
individual’s
testimony
is
considered
legally
compromised
and
unreliable
in
court.
(ref)
4. Banned
from Using
State
Capitol
Broadcast
Facilities
Following
his
controversial
May 2024
video
appearance
on the
online show
of
antisemitic
conspiracy
theorist
Stew Peters,
Senate
Leadership
took
disciplinary
action
against him.
Senate
President
Warren
Petersen
officially
revoked
Kern's
privileges
to use the
Capitol's
media
broadcast
room,
stating that
leadership
did not
condone his
use of
official
taxpayer
resources to
elevate a
platform
known for
Holocaust
denial.
(ref 1)(ref 2)
5.
Prayer-Group
"Tongues"
Controversy
Kern drew
intense
criticism
and
separation-of-church-and-state
complaints
when he
allowed a
group of
religious
activists
into the
state Senate
chambers.
The group
gathered
around the
state seal
painted on
the Senate
floor,
knelt, and
began loudly
praying in
tongues over
the
government
building.
The incident
went viral,
drawing
national
criticism
for blurring
the lines
between
state
operations
and
Christian
nationalism.
(ref 1)(ref 2)(ref 3)
(ref 4)
"Republican Anthony
Kern, a former lawmaker now running for
state Senate, calls himself a "certified
peace officer" in a campaign mailer. State
records show it's not true. The mailer shows
Kern in uniform as a Tombstone Marshal's
Office deputy or reserve deputy, but doesn't
indicate when the photo was taken. Kern was
a Tombstone deputy for three years but left
the small town's police force in 2019. The
mailer also describes Kern as a "Reserve
Deputy Marshal," but that couldn't be
confirmed. Tombstone Marshal Bob Randall
didn't return emails or phone messages."
Jul. 9, 2026
Anthony Kern
4.
Conscience Rights for
Professionals: Prohibiting the
government from
SUPPORT
denying required
licensure or certification to individuals
because of their religious or political
beliefs.
(That good old
fashioned "Religious Freedom")
5.
Conscience Rights for
Faith-Based Organizations: Exempting
faith-
SUPPORT
based organizations (e.g.
adoption/foster care providers, private
schools) from regulations that cause them to
violate their sincerely held religious
beliefs.
(Allowing discrimination against LGBTQIA
people in adoption, foster care, schools or
any religious business or institution.)
8 (a)
Parental Rights in
Gender Identity Counseling: Allowing
parents to
SUPPORT
obtain professional
counseling for a child struggling with
gender confusion to help the child find
comfort with his or her biological sex.
(The dangerous and
disproven "Reparative Therapy")
10.
Free Speech at School:
Protecting teachers and students from being
SUPPORT
forced to refer to a
person by inaccurate pronouns that do not
align with the person’s sex.
12.
Transparency in School
Curriculum & Activities: Giving parents
SUPPORT
access to the curriculum,
presentations, and activities that their
children are learning in school and allowing
them to opt their children out of school
extra-curricular activities, presentations,
or specific lessons to which the parents
object.
("Extra-curricular activities" such as
Gender and Sexuality Alliances, GLSEN Youth
Programs, It Gets Better Project & etc.)
13.
Medical Rights of
Conscience: Protecting health care
workers from
SUPPORT
losing their jobs if they
decline to participate in a procedure or
treatment that violates their personal
beliefs and conscience.
(Such as advancing the
treatment of a transgender or transitioning
patient.)
14.
Women’s Privacy:
Preventing males who identify as female from
entering
SUPPORT
sex-separated spaces
intended for females, such as showers,
locker rooms, bathrooms, dormitories,
women’s shelters, prisons, etc.
(Just another way of
discriminating against members of the Trans
community)
"It’s been five years
since former President
Donald Trumpincited an insurrection at
the US Capitol in order to remain in office.
A lot of Arizonans were involved in this
effort on Jan. 6, 2021—from writing
legislation to overturn the will of the
voters to attending the riot. Some have
faced consequences; many are still in
positions of power. Here’s a reminder of who
they are:"
"A Glendale Republican
lawmaker is no longer allowed to access
legislative broadcast equipment after the
Arizona Mirror reported on May 3 that
he
used the Senate’s broadcast studio to appear
on a far-right talk show last week with a
host who has declared Adolf Hitler a “hero.”"
[ . . .] "In a statement to 12News reporter
Brahm Resnik on Monday, a spokeswoman for
Senate President
Warren Petersen said that he disapproved
of how Kern used taxpayer-funded
legislative resources. “The Senate President
does not approve of how the Senator chose to
use the legislative broadcast resource last
week, as a result, his privileges to use
those resources for future interviews has
been revoked,” the statement said. "
"A
Glendale Republican lawmaker who
was present for the violence at
the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 and
is facing criminal charges for
being a fake elector used
legislative video equipment to
appear on a far-right talk show
this week with
a host who has declared Adolf
Hitler a “hero.”
On May 1,
Sen. Anthony Kern
appeared on the
Stew Peters
show to discuss a Drag Story
Hour that was hosted the day
before in a basement meeting
room in the Arizona House of
Representatives. Kern joined the
show live on video from the
state Senate, which has a video
broadcast studio.
The April
30 drag event in the House was
hosted by Rep. Lorena Austin,
D-Mesa, the nation’s first
nonbinary Chicane legislator.
When Republicans, who have spent
the last several years crusading
against drag and the LGBTQ
community, learned about the
event, it sparked an outcry."
"Democratic
members of the Arizona House of
Representatives are having their
privileges to use meeting rooms
in the chamber revoked after
they used a room in the basement
to host a drag story hour
alongside Planned Parenthood on
Tuesday.
Rep. Lorena
Austin, D-Mesa, the nation’s
first nonbinary Chicane
legislator, reserved the room so
that Planned Parenthood
Advocates of Arizona could hold
a drag story hour on Tuesday
morning. When Republicans, who
have spent the last several
years crusading against drag and
the LGBTQ community, learned
about the event, it sparked an
outrcy."
[ . . . ]
"Kern
and Sen. Justine Wadsack,
a Republican from Tucson, have
both called for ethics
complaints to be filed. Wadsack
has also said Austin should be
expelled. Kern has attempted to
pass legislation that would have
criminalized drag performances.
The measure was vetoed by Gov.
Katie Hobbs. Other republicans
are also calling for
Toma to restrict Austin’s
access in the House. "
Arizona’s
11 fake
electors
sign a
document
in
Phoenix
on Dec.
14 2020,
falsely
claiming
that
they
were the
state’s
electors
and that
Donald
Trump
won the
presidential
election
in
Arizona.
Screen
capture
by AZGOP
A grand jury
has indicted 18 people,
including two Arizona state
senators and the former head of
the Arizona Republican Party, in
a fake elector scheme that aimed
to install
Donald Trump as the
president after he lost the 2020
election to Joe Biden. The
Arizona Attorney General’s
Office has not released the
names of everyone who was
indicted, but all 11 fake
electors were charged:
"A
clandestine gathering of
pro-forced birth Christian
nationalist activists on the
Arizona state Senate
floor—joined by Republican state
Senator Anthony Kern—went
mega viral online. First shared
on TikTok by user Tony Cani (@ynotcani),
it quickly spread to Instagram,
Reddit, Facebook and X. On X,
Cani stated the video was sent
to him by someone who wants to
remain anonymous out of fear of
reprisals." [ . . . ] "At one
point in the video, two people
stop to look around seemingly to
make certain they don't get
caught."
"Republican state Sen.
Anthony Kern, who is
under investigation for falsely claiming he
was a legitimate elector for Donald Trump in
Arizona in the 2020 election,
lambasted the case as a political
prosecution Monday in what amounted to a
brief campaign speech. "And just to let you
know I will not be taking any questions,"
were his first words to reporters after
calling a news conference on a plaza outside
Maricopa County Superior Court in downtown
Phoenix. Kern's prepared remarks spanned
four minutes and wavered between criticism
of Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs and Attorney
General Kris Mayes — who is investigating
the electors — and promoting his run for
Congress. Kern declined to say what he was
doing at the courthouse, or whether he had
received a grand jury subpoena tied to
Mayes' investigation."
"Arizona’s House
Education Committee advanced a bill Tuesday
that would allow public school teachers and
administrators to post and discuss the Ten
Commandments in the classroom. State Senator
Anthony Kern, the bill’s sponsor,
says the Ten Commandments shaped the
country's heritage. “Our history is the Ten
Commandments,” the Republican from Glendale
told the committee Tuesday afternoon. “Our
history is Judeo-Christian values."
"When he’s not turning
his back on Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs
(during her State of the State address) or
campaigning to move up the political food
chain (in Congress) or awaiting word on
whether he’s going to jail (as a fake
elector), Kern is donning his armor
to battle the forces of evil. From what I
can tell, Kern is against clean air, state
universities and democracy — at least when
it comes to selecting the nation’s
president. His Senate Bill 1195 would bar
any government agency from promoting
“Marxist” ideas. You know, “anti-freedom”
stuff like biking or riding a bus to work or
eating less meat or reducing greenhouse gas
emissions or researching climate change."
"A legislator
affiliated with the
American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC)
who served as a fake elector from Arizona
during the 2020 presidential election is
proposing legislation that state lawmakers —
not voters — should get the final say on
choosing Arizona’s presidential electors.
The bill’s sponsor, state Senator Anthony
Kern (R-27), is currently under
investigation by Arizona’s Attorney General
for falsely certifying that then-President
Trump had won the state’s Electoral
College votes in 2020 instead of Joe Biden.
Kern won his bid for state senator in 2022
with Trump’s endorsement and is now a member
of Arizona’s state Freedom Caucus." [ . . .
] "While a former state representative, he
was listed as a speaker at the Stop the
Steal rally in Washington on January 6,
participated in the insurrection, promoted
it on social media, and subsequently lied
about his level of involvement."
Jacob Chansley, also
known as the "QAnon
Shaman" wears a
feather headdress
and face paint at
Wesley Bolin Plaza
in Phoenix on June
1, 2023. Chansley
was more
conservatively
dressed, but still
donned an American
flag bandana, during
his visit to the
Arizona Capitol the
week of Feb. 19.
Photo by Caitlin
Sievers | Arizona
Mirror
"Jacob
Chansley, more commonly
known as the QAnon Shaman, was a
guest of Glendale Republican
Anthony Kern at the Arizona
Capitol this week, allowing
Chansley access to areas where
the public is generally
prohibited.
Chansley is
known for being one of the most
recognizable members of the
crowd that breached the United
States Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021
while wearing a horned hat, face
paint and no shirt. His actions
that day led to a 41-month
prison sentence, a portion of
which he served at the Federal
Correctional Institute in
Safford. He was released early
in March to a half-way house,
and returned to his home in the
Valley on probation in May 2023.
Chansley sought to vacate the
ruling, citing dubious reporting
by former Fox anchor Tucker
Carlson.
On Feb. 20,
Kern introduced Chansley and
others as his guests at the
Arizona Senate. Kern himself is
tied to the events of Jan. 6 as
he was photographed in areas of
the Capitol that rioters
breached. Kern has stated on
multiple occasions that he never
entered the Capitol itself.
Other senators, like Goodyear
Republican
Janae Shamp, were also
present that day."
"A Senate panel voted
Wednesday to provide a legal basis in law
for any Arizonan to file suit against any
level of government they contend is
"furthering Marxist ideologies.''" [ . . . ]
"Peoria Republican Sen. Anthony Kern's
measure, SB 1195, would also bar spending
taxpayer dollars to promote, advocate or
plan to, among other examples,
reduce motor vehicle traffic through biking
or public transit, reduce greenhouse gas
emissions, limit increases in global
temperatures, reduce consumption of meat or
dairy products, or anything "furthering
Marxist ideologies including stakeholder
capitalism.'"
"Some Arizona
lawmakers want to make brass knuckles
illegal after multiple crimes involving the
weapons — some attributed to the now
infamous Gilbert Goons — have been
perpetrated in the Valley. Sen.
John Kavanaugh, R-Fountain Hills, worked
with a teen who was attacked by another teen
who was wearing brass knuckles to craft
Senate Bill 1183 — which would make the
possession and transfer of brass knuckles a
misdemeanor in Arizona." [ . . . ] "But
Sen.
Anthony Kern, a Republican from
Glendale, applied the claim that Republicans
often make about gun restrictions to brass
knuckles: That banning them would leave
law-abiding citizens who want to use them
for self-defense vulnerable to criminals who
would use them regardless of the law."
"A state senator being
investigated by Attorney General Kris Mayes
for his role as a “fake elector’’ is now
opening a legislative investigation into her
Glendale Republican Anthony Kern said
since Mayes, a Democrat, took office in
January 2023 there has been “a flood of
questionable activity’’ from her office. He
said that includes a “witch hunt’’ against
local elected officials for the votes they
have taken,’’ an obvious reference to Mayes’
decision to prosecute two Cochise County
supervisors for delaying the certification
of the 2022 election results."
"Arizona
actually had two fake elector
plots—one a bunch of sovereign
citizen goobers and the other
organized by the Arizona
Republican Party. The GOP was
very proud of their crime,
filming the whole thing and
posting photos on their Twitter
account. They smiled as they
committed a felony, telling
Republicans that theirs is the
“only slate of 11 you need to
worry about,” not the sovereign
citizens and certainly not the
duly elected and qualified
electors. The happy faces in
that photo are probably not
smiling now. Attorney Kenneth
Chesebro, who pled guilty in the
Georgia racketeering case, was
one of the movers behind the
fake electors scheme nationwide,
and as part of his plea deal
he’s agreed to testify against
other co-conspirators."
"Republicans upset
over a "lack of control" on free speech at
Arizona State University say they may look
into the prospect of slashing funds to
colleges, The Arizona Republic reported.
State Sen. Anthony Kern (R) said that
lawmakers are working on bills that will put
"guardrails" around the Arizona Board of
Regents. " [ . . . ] ""They protested the
appearance of Charlie Kirk, a talk show host
and founder of the conservative organization
Turning Point USA, and conservative talk
show host Dennis Prager.""
"Some Republican
candidates running for Congress in Arizona's
8th district continue to argue that the 2020
and 2022 elections in Arizona were stolen
from their party and made those complaints a
central theme of a Wednesday forum." [ . . .
] "The 8th Congressional District forum was
hosted by conservative activist
Merissa Hamilton, who lost a bid for
Phoenix mayor in 2020 and now runs a
political group called EZAZ.org. Jenna
Rayne, an Arizona State University student
and chair of the West Valley Young
Republicans, moderated the forum with
Hamilton.
Abe Hamadeh, who lost a bid for Arizona
attorney general last year and continues to
file lawsuits challenging that outcome,
Masters, and state Sen. Anthony Kern
participated.
Jacob Chansley, often known as the QAnon
Shaman for his protest persona, attended the
event but was not allowed to speak because
he plans to run as a Libertarian and the
event was for Republican candidates only,
according to the hosts."
"They
called it “The Signing.” Eleven
fake electors for President
Donald Trump convened at the
state Republican Party
headquarters in Phoenix,
Arizona, on December 14, 2020.
They broadcast themselves
preparing to sign the documents,
allegedly provided by a Trump
campaign attorney, claiming that
they were the legitimate
representatives of the state’s
electoral votes." [ . . . ] "Now
those fake electors find
themselves under new legal
scrutiny as the Arizona attorney
general announced a broad
investigation into their actions
and their public campaign that
could open the electors up to
increased legal liability,
according to experts who spoke
with CNN." [ . . . ] "Of the 11
fake electors in Arizona, five
were the most publicly vocal
members advocating the scheme in
the state:
Kelli Ward, the chairperson
of the state party and her
spouse, Michael Ward; state Rep.
Anthony Kern, then a
sitting lawmaker;
Jake Hoffman, a newly
elected member of the Arizona
House; and Tyler Bowyer, a top
state official with the
Republican National Committee."
"An Arizona GOP
legislator who was among the rioting crowds
at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, is
facing a campaign finance complaint alleging
that he illegally used cash from a failed
re-election bid to attend the insurrection.
The complaint against Sen. Anthony Kern,
R-Glendale claims that Kern improperly used
campaign funds from his failed 2020
re-election to travel to Washington, D.C.,
to attend the events of Jan. 6, 2021,
including airfare and a hotel stay. “These
travel expenses occurred during the same
time that Senator Kern traveled to
Washington, D.C. for a rally at the United
State Capitol on January 6, 2021 – a rally
that ultimately turned violent and led to
the death of seven people,” the complaint
filed with the Arizona Secretary of State’s
Office"
"Three current and
former Republican lawmakers have been
rebuffed by the state Court of Appeals in
their bid to avoid paying the legal fees of
a Democrat who a trial judge said was
unfairly sued by them." [ . . . ] "In a
unanimous ruling Thursday, the three-judge
panel said that Yuma County Superior Court
Judge Levi Gunderson was absolutely
justified last year in requiring
Mark Finchem, Sen. Anthony Kern,
R-Glendale; and U.S. Rep.
Paul Gosar, R-Bullhead City, to shell
out $75,000 that Charlene Fernandez, then a
state representative from Yuma, had to pay
to her attorneys to successfully defend
against a defamation suit they brought
against her. He tossed their claim, ruling
the lawsuit “was brought for an improper
purpose, having been filed against a
political opponent primarily for the
purposes of harassment.”"
"Eleven
Arizona Republicans signed a
document representing a
nonexistent organization and
declared, “We are the electors
who represent the legal voters
of Arizona.” It was part of a
scheme by the Trump campaign to
organize phony electors in seven
states. Attorney General Kris
Mayes vowed to look into the
matter. According to the Post,
prosecutors have contacted many
people involved and their
lawyers. Investigators are in
the “fact-gathering” phase. The
“fake electors” under
investigation include two
lawmakers, Arizona State
Senators
Anthony Kern of Glendale and
Jake Hoffman of Queen Creek.
Tyler Bowyer of the
far-right activist group
Turning Point USA and
then-state GOP Chair Kelli
Ward also signed their name
to the document."
June is
LGBT
Pride
Month so
of
course
Serial
Homophobe
Anthony
Kern had
this to
post on
Twitter.
"A bill that would
punish the State Bar
of Arizona and the
Arizona Supreme
Court if they
discipline attorneys
for bringing
baseless election
fraud complaints in
Arizona courts has
continued to make
its way towards
becoming law. The
bill from Sen. Anthony
Kern,
R-Glendale,
prohibits both the
State Bar and the
Arizona Supreme
Court from
“infringing” or
“impeding” on the
“political speech”
of an attorney or an
attorney’s clients
by disciplining them
or revoking their
licenses for
“bringing a good
faith, non frivolous
claim that is based
in law and fact to
court.” If they are
found to be in
violation of the
proposed law, each
would forfeit 10% of
their revenue. For
the Bar, that would
come from the money
it raises through
attorney membership
dues, while the
Supreme Court would
see its budget cut
as punishment. The
penalties would
equate to about $1
million for the Bar
and nearly $10
million for the
Supreme Court. Kern’s
Senate Bill 1092
comes as attorneys
across the country
and in Arizona have
faced disciplinary
action, including
disbarment, for
bringing challenges
to the election
based on frivolous
claims of election
fraud as well as
lawsuits against
political rivals. In
testimony before the
House Judiciary
Committee Wednesday,
Kern singled out the
discipline of former
New York City Mayor
and Trump attorney
Rudy Giuliani, who
lost his law license
in New York over
bringing false
election fraud
claims. Kern himself
is no stranger to
punishments from the
court for filing a
baseless lawsuit. He
joined with former
state Rep. Mark
Finchem and
Congressman Paul
Gosar in suing
former lawmaker
Charlene Fernandez
for defamation after
she and other
Democratic members
of the state House
of Representatives
sent a letter to the
FBI in 2021 asking
for an investigating
into the trio’s role
in the Jan. 6
insurrection. A
judge called the
lawsuit “groundless”
and ordered the
three Republicans to
pay $75,000 in
attorney fees to
Fernandez."
Mar.
15, 2023
The anti-Drag Storey Time
Bill. This bill would apply only to
libraries and other government facilities.
This bill, had it become law,
would be the same as laws covering a cabaret
but with the words "drag show" instead of
"cabaret". This is simply a sneaky attempt
to outlaw drag shows.
"Arizona Republicans
are batting .000
with their appeals
and other filings,
and where the courts
have found the
lawsuits frivolous,
the plaintiffs
and/or their
attorneys have been
penalized
financially and/or
professionally.
Someone’s gotta put
a stop to this! How
will Republicans
recruit attorneys to
file their
phony-baloney
lawsuits if there’s
a chance they might
have to pay fines
and court costs, or
even lose their
license? How will
Republicans continue
grifting off the Big
Lie if lawyers can’t
or won’t help?
Enter Sen. Anthony
Kern, who’s got
a dog in this fight,
since he, Gosar,
and Finchem were
ordered to reimburse
Charlene Fernandez
$75,000 after filing
a sham defamation
lawsuit. They
lost because there
was nothing
defamatory about
Fernandez’s request
for the DOJ to
investigate the
three officials’
role in Jan. 6. Both
Kern and Finchem
attended the Capitol
riot and have
histories full of
seditious statements
and activities,
while Rep. Gosar has
often been named as
a central player in
planning the
insurrection (Gosar
ignored a Jan. 6
Committee subpoena).
So this week Sen.
Kern introduced a
bill that, if
passed, would cause
the Arizona Bar
Association and the
Arizona Supreme
Court to think twice
about disciplining
attorneys for filing
frivolous lawsuits."
“This
year,
Republican
Senators John
Kavanagh,
quite
possibly the
state's
worst
lawmaker,
and Anthony
Kern,
who was
fired from a
police job
for lying,
sponsored
five pieces
of
legislation
targeting
LGBTQ people
in schools
and public
places.
The two
lawmakers
have a long
history of
sponsoring
anti-LGBTQ
bills based
on whatever
iteration of
homophobia
may be
trending at
the time:
gay
marriage,
bathrooms,
and
reproductive
health, to
name a few.
This year,
it's
pronouns and
drag shows.
In 2013,
Kavanagh’s
so-called
“bathroom
bill,” which
would have
criminalized
taking a
leak if a
person’s
birth
certificate
didn’t match
the
stick-figure
sign on the
stall door,
was flushed
away
following
national
outrage.
Last year,
another of
Kavanagh’s
failed bills
aimed to
limit
teaching
about
sexuality,
gender, and
gender
identity and
restrict
student
groups
focused on
LGBTQ
issues.
[...]
Here are
the five
anti-LGBTQ
bills filed
so far by
Kavanagh and
Kern.
Pronoun
Problems
SB 1001,
sponsored by
Kavanagh,
would make
it a crime
for teachers
and school
staff to
refer to
students by
their
preferred
pronouns
without
written
consent from
their
parents.
Even with
parental
permission,
school
employees
could still
choose not
to use the
student’s
preferred
pronouns.
[...]
Teacher
Trouble
Another
bill from
Kavanagh, SB
1005,
would
prohibit
courts from
ruling
against
schools and
other
governmental
entities
when suedfor
violating
the parental
bill of
rights. The
bill
contains
exceptions
for
harassment
and
frivolousness.
[...]
Targeting
Drag Shows
Kavanagh
has also
sponsored SB
1026,
which
prohibits
public money
from being
used to pay
for “drag
shows
targeting
minors.”
Kavanagh
said there's
no example
of such a
thing ever
happening in
Arizona.
But, he
explained,
it’s a
preventative
measure
after he
once
witnessed
“two people,
dressed up,
engaging in
drag
behavior,”
when “one of
them bent
over and
humped the
other one
and
simulated
anal sex.”
[...]
‘Erasing
Drag From
Public Life’
Sponsored
by Kern, SB
1028 is
“the most
draconian”
of the five
anti-LGBTQ
bills on the
table,
according to
Woodbury.
[...]
Adult
Entertainment
Also
sponsored by
Kern, SB
1030 would
require
permits for
drag shows
and zone
businesses
that host
them as an
“adult-oriented
business."
The bill
lumps drag
performance
in the same
category as
cabaret,
adult
entertainment,
and even sex
work.
“Drag as
an art form
is not
adult-oriented,”
Woodbury
said. “A
bill like
this, trying
to use
zoning laws
to punish
businesses
that feature
drag
performances,
is just a
ridiculous
misuse of
the law.””
"As Democratic
lawmakers applauded
Hobbs’ education
agenda, Republican
Sens. Justine
Wadsack and Anthony
Kern stood and
turned their backs
to the governor.
Earlier, GOP Reps. Rachel
Jones, Alexander
Kolodin and Jacqueline
Parker walked
out of the speech.
Midway through the
speech, Rep. Jake
Hoffman exited
the House floor.
“It’s unfortunate
that some members
chose an immature
stunt instead, but
we have really tough
issues in front of
us and we need to
work together to
stop them,” Hobbs
said during a news
conference after the
speech."
"Yuma County
Superior Court Judge
Levi Gunderson said
it was obvious that
Charlene Fernandez,
then a Democratic
state representative
from Yuma, had an
absolute
constitutional right
to send a letter to
federal law
enforcement
officials asking
them to investigate
the activities of
state Rep. Mark
Finchem, R-Oro
Valley, former state
Rep. Anthony Kern,
R-Glendale, and
Republican
Congressman Paul
Gosar in
connection with the
events around the
Jan. 6 riot and
breach of the U.S.
Capitol. The judge
said the lawsuit
“was brought for an
improper purpose,
having been filed
against a political
opponent primarily
for the purposes of
harassment.’’ In
fact, Gunderson
said, the initial
legal papers the
trio filed were less
about legal
grievances and more
of a political
screed."
The Arizona
Republic via
The Rose Law
Group
Reporter
Jul. 15,
2022
"Elected
officials
and
candidates
for office
in 2022
continue to
challenge
and question
the results
of the 2020
presidential
election in
Arizona.
The results
have been
examined and
re-examined,
challenged
in court and
in a
monthslong
ballot
review. No
evidence has
been found
of
widespread
fraud or
error in the
results.
Yet
candidates
deny the
outcome.
Others don't
quite go as
far. But
they raise
questions
about
potential
irregularities
they say
could have
influenced
the vote and
should be
examined.
The Arizona
Republic is
listing
candidates
by category
by the race
that they
are entered
in. This
list is not
complete and
will be
updated
throughout
the 2022
election
season.
Election
deniers
These
candidates
in Arizona
races deny
that Joe
Biden won
the 2020
presidential
election,
either in
Arizona or
nationwide."
"Former Arizona lawmaker and current state senate candidate Anthony Kern wants you to think Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg gave millions to Katie Hobbs during the 2020 election.
Except, Zuckerberg did not.
"Maricopa County Supervisors and Katie Hobbs took $3 million each from Zuckerberg during the 2020 election," Kern tweeted on Monday. "Why?"
The misleading tweet had racked up nearly 6,000 likes and hundreds of outraged comments by the afternoon.
But Kern — a staunch believer in November 2020 presidential election conspiracies who used campaign funds to travel to the January 6 riots — did not offer any more information.
Kern did not return a phone call or email from Phoenix New Times seeking comment.
But it's clear that Kern's insinuations of misconduct about the November 2020 election are unfounded.
"Unequivocally, no," said Murphy Hebert, communications director at the Arizona Secretary of State. "We did not receive $3 million dollars from Mark Zuckerberg.""
"It’s no secret
that Anthony
Kern,
who is running for
state Senate in
Arizona, went to
Washington for the
infamous “Stop the
Steal” rally on Jan.
6, 2021. He even
posted an image of
his flight on
Facebook. But
according to new
campaign finance
data, it appears
that he also used
campaign money to
fund the trip. Last
week, Kern — a
former GOP state
representative who
lost reelection in
2020 — submitted
campaign finance
data to the Arizona
Board of Elections
that raises
additional questions
about his conduct
leading up to the
U.S. Capitol riot."
"Kari Lake, a former TV anchor who's running for governor, began her speech with the theme of some of the other speakers, praising America under Trump and listing its problems under Biden. As did others, she called Trump “president” and slammed the 2020 election as “rotten to the core.""
[ . . . ]
"Like-minded Trump supporters in the Legislature included speakers at Saturday's rally such as Rogers, Sen. Kelly Townsend, R-Mesa, Rep. Mark Finchem, R-Oro Valley, Sen. Sonny Borrelli, R-Lake Havasu City, and former representative Anthony Kern, who's running for the state Senate."
Jan. 16, 2022
Anthony Kern
4.
Conscience Rights for
Professionals: Prohibiting the government
from denying required licensure or
certification to individuals because of
their religious or political beliefs.
(That good old
fashioned "Religious Freedom")
SUPPORT
5.
Conscience Rights for
Faith-Based Organizations: Exempting
faith-based organizations (e.g.
adoption/foster care providers, private
schools) from regulations that cause them to
violate their sincerely held religious
beliefs.
(Discrimination against members of the
LGBTQIA+ community)
SUPPORT
7.
Privacy in Financial
Giving: Protecting confidential donor
information so individuals are able to
privately support charities and causes of
their choice without fear of being doxed.
(Dark money doesn't
like being exposed to the light of day)
SUPPORT
8.
Women’s Sports:
Preventing males who identify as female from
competing in women’s sports.
SUPPORT
9.
Gender Identity
Counseling: Allowing parents to obtain
professional counseling for children
struggling with gender identity issues to
help them reach their desired outcome.
SUPPORT
10 (a)
Protected Class for
Sexual Orientation: Adding “sexual
orientation” as a protected class alongside
race, religion, sex, age, and disability in
nondiscrimination law.
OPPOSE
10 (b)
Protected
Class
for
Gender
Identity:
Adding
“gender
identity”
as a
protected
class
alongside
race,
religion,
sex,
age, and
disability
in
nondiscrimination
law.
OPPOSE
15.
Medical Rights of
Conscience: Allowing health care workers
and providers the freedom to practice
medicine in accordance with their personal
beliefs and conscience.
"The four
Republicans who ...
circulated baseless
conspiracy theories
about a 2020 Donald
Trump presidential
victory in Arizona
and pushed for the
Senate's partisan
audit of Maricopa
County's election
results are
continuing on the
same path more than
a year later. [...]
U.S. Reps. Andy
Biggs and Paul
Gosar, state
Rep. Mark
Finchem, R-Oro
Valley, and former
Representative Anthony
Kern,
R-Glendale, were at
the U.S. Capitol on
Jan. 6, encouraging
the overturn of
election results."
"Though the crowd at
Arizona's Capitol on
Saturday was small,
a number of
politicians spoke,
including
congressional
candidate Jeff
Zink, state
Rep. Walter
Blackman and
former state Rep. Anthony
Kern."
Former
state
Rep.
Anthony
Kern,
R-Glendale,
at
the
U.S.
Capitol
on
Jan.
6.
Screenshot
via
YouTube
and
AZ
MIRROR
"Kern
has
continually
insisted
that he did
not breach
the Capitol
and no
footage or
other
evidence
suggested
otherwise.
Photos show
Kern on the
front steps.
However,
footage
reviewed by
the Mirror
shows that
Kern was
present at
other parts
of the
Capitol
breached by
protesters.
In a video
posted to
YouTube by a
Virginia
House of
Delegates
candidate
who attended
the protest
turned riot,
Kern can be
seen walking
along the
West Front
area of the
Capitol as
well."
"Arizona
courts have ruled
that records on a
public official's
private device can
be considered a
public record if
those records relate
to public business
and the phone was
used for a public
purpose."
Jan.
26, 2021
Trump Insurrection - January 6, 2021 - U.S. Capitol Building, Washington D.C.
Seditionist and past Arizona Representative Anthony Kern
"Minutes
after the 8
p.m.
deadline
took effect
on Tuesday,
Rep. Anthony
Kern posted
a picture on
Twitter
asking, "do
you know
where
Phoenix
Mayor (Kate
Gallego)
is."Sens. Sonny
Borrelli, David
Gowan,
and Rep. Mark
Finchem stood
with Kern as
the four
smiled and
pointed at a
clock inside
a
restaurant.
Kern later
deleted the
tweet
because he
said another
member of
the
legislature
asked him
to, but he
would not
say who."
Creative Professionals
Violating Conscience: Requiring creative
professionals (photographer, baker, wedding
vendor) to participate in events or create
messages that violate their moral or
religious beliefs.
(That good old fashioned "Religious
Freedom")
SUPPORT
5.
Conscience Rights for
Faith-based Organizations: Exempting
faith-based organizations from regulations
that cause them to violate their sincerely
held religious beliefs.
(Discrimination against members of the
LGBTQIA+ community)
SUPPORT
8.
Women’s Sports: Preventing
biological males who identify as female from
competing in women’s sports.
SUPPORT
9.
Parental Rights
in Gender Identity Counseling: Allowing
parents to get professional counseling for
children struggling with gender identity
issues to help them reach their desired
outcome.
SUPPORT
10 (a)
Protected Class
for Sexual Orientation: Adding
“sexual orientation” as a protected class
alongside race, religion, sex, age, and
disability in nondiscrimination law.
OPPOSE
10 (b)
Protected Class
for Gender Identity: Adding “gender
identity” as a protected class…
OPPOSE
14.
Medical
Rights
of
Conscience: Allowing
health
care
workers
and
providers
the
freedom
to
practice
medicine
in
accordance
with
their
personal
beliefs
and
conscience.
"Republican State
Representative
Anthony Kern
warned a group of
right-wing activists
on Wednesday that
“LGBTQ rights” could
“take over” under
Democratic rule,
according to audio
of his remarks
posted online by a
liberal group. Kern
also suggested
without evidence
that Democrats
support teaching
kindergartners
sex-ed lessons with
material akin to
videos found on
Pornhub.com."
"An Ahwatukee Girl
Scout Brownie Troop
of third graders may
one day learn the
lesson in Arizona
hardball politics
that their
environmental
project triggered."
