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Kelly Townsend |
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Co-Founder
of the Greater Phoenix
Tea Party and
far right Republican extremist member of the Arizona
Senate representing District 16 since 2021 and
previously a member of the Arizona House of
Representatives from 2013 to 2021. From 2017 to
2018, Townsend was the Majority Whip of the
House of Representatives. In 2018, she stirred
some controversy during a highly publicized
teachers' protest for more education funding by
responding to a constituent that the money in
the budget that was set for other items to
include a suicide hotline, training for police
officers, money for Alzheimer's research, etc.
would no longer be available. She also offered
to help any teacher, parent, or student harmed
by the illegal strike to find legal
representation in a class action lawsuit and
suggested that it was up to the lawyers to
determine who the defendants would be.
Representative Townsend was an ardent opponent
of the political and ideological nature of the
movement, yet maintained that she did support
the teachers throughout the movement, despite
the heckling online and at the Capitol. In 2019,
she said that mandatory vaccination for children
was "Communist". Following the 2020 United
States presidential election, Townsend supported
the "Stop the Steal" movement which falsely
claimed that
Donald Trump won the election
nationally and in Arizona. Months later, she
supported legislation that would require voters
in Arizona who vote by mail to include
identification paperwork along with their
ballots. In 2021 Townsend sponsored Senate Bill
1503, which would, if passed, prohibit returning
early ballots by mail and instead require them
to be hand delivered. |
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Kelly Townsend Took
Taxpayer Money, Cash
From Pfizer To Fund
Campaigns |
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"Republican State
Senator Kelly
Townsend
ran her
campaigns with
taxpayer funds and
took money from a
laundry list of
lobbyists and even
big pharma
corporation Pfizer
as she climbed the
ladder of Arizona
politics" |
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Jul. 18, 2022 |
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Center
for
Arizona
Policy |
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2022 Survey
Questions For
Arizona Candidates |
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Position Sought:
State
Senate
District
7 |
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Question 2: Adding “sexual orientation,” “gender identity,” or “gender expression” to the protected classes of race, religion, age, sex, and ancestry in nondiscrimination law. |
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Candidates'
Position:
Oppose. |
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Question 4: Allowing biological males that identify as transgender to play on female sports’ teams. |
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| Candidates'
Position: Oppose |
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Question 8: Allowing parents to seek professional counseling for their minor child with same-sex attraction or gender identity issues.* |
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| Candidates'
Position: Support |
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Question 9:
Protecting individuals and
businesses from being required
to provide services or use their
artistic expression in a manner
that violates their moral or
religious beliefs.** |
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Candidates' Position:
Support. |
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*
This is in reference to the
dangerous and disproven
"Reparative Therapy". |
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**Discriminatory
"Religious Freedom" laws. |
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The FBI Subpoenaed Karen Fann And Kelly
Townsend For Information On The January 6
Insurrection |
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"Fann, a Prescott
Republican, hired and helped lead the
“audit” of Maricopa County’s 2020
Presidential election results. She was also
in communication with a number of
Trump
allies such as OANN correspondent Christina
Bobb — who also worked for the Trump
campaign and sent emails to Fann on behalf
of Trump attorney Rudy Guiliani in December
2020 that included witness declarations,
statements and expert testimony. Bobb’s
non-profit would also supply volunteers for
the “audit” itself as well as funding.
Quintero also confirmed that Townsend, a
staunch supporter of the “audit” efforts and
bogus election fraud claims, was issued a
similar subpoena. Quintero said she is not
aware of any other senator who was issued a
subpoena." |
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Jun. 30, 2022 |
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Kelly
Townsend Encourages
Vigilantes To
Camp Outside Ballot Drop-Off Boxes. Is That
Legal? |
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"The Arizona Secretary
of State's Office has rules in place for
what citizens can and cannot do at voting
locations. "Any attempt to intimidate,
coerce, or threaten a person to vote or not
vote is strictly prohibited and may be
criminally punishable," the office's website
states. Arizona law further states it is
illegal "to practice intimidation upon or
against any person, in order to induce or
compel such person to vote or refrain from
voting for a particular person or measure at
any election."
“If they do anything to
affect the people who are voting so that
they are less likely to vote, or affect the
way they vote. If they do that in any
threatening manner, that would be illegal,"" |
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Jun. 1, 2022 |
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This
Arizona Lawmaker
Displayed The Nazi Flag On Twitter, But
Hates Anti-Semites |
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Mar. 3, 2022 |
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Shame
On Every
Republican Who Voted To Sabotage Arizona's
Schools |
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"It’s not surprising
that our leaders finally broke down and
agreed to allow the public schools to spend
money that’s already sitting in their bank
accounts – money the Legislature
appropriated last June. What is stunning is
that 20 Republicans – 14 in the House and
six in the Senate – actually voted to stiff
the schools and to heck with the impact on
the one million Arizona children who attend
them." |
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Feb. 22, 2022 |
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Trump-Anointed
Arizona Candidate
Has Questionable
Ties To The Bundys,
The Oath Keepers And
The Controversial
'Constitutional
Sheriffs' |
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"Kelly Townsend was
serving her first
term as a member of
the Arizona state
House in April 2014
when she traveled to Bunkerville, Nev. to
support the Bundy
family in their
fight with the
federal Bureau of
Land Management. |
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The standoff
galvanized the far
right as hundreds of
armed supporters
streamed to Nevada
to support the
Bundys, along with
organizations like
the Oath Keepers and
the Constitutional
Sheriffs & Peace
Officers
Association, or
CSPOA. The armed
supporters
ultimately forced
the Bureau of Land
Management to
abandon its plan to
round up Cliven
Bundy’s cattle in
response to his
refusal to pay fees
for the privilege of
grazing his herd on
federal land.
Townsend and a
handful of other
Arizona state
lawmakers was at the
Bundy ranch two days
later to celebrate
the federal
government’s
retreat. |
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Townsend was one of
seven state
legislators summoned
to Bunkerville in
2014 by CSPOA. The
group also included
Kelli Ward, who
currently serves as
chair of the Arizona
Republican Party,
and who like
Townsend has pushed
various bogus
"audits" of the 2020
election. At the
time, CSPOA
trumpeted support
from then-state
Senate Majority
Leader
Andy Biggs,
who would become a
key congressional
ally in Trump's
scheme to overturn
the 2020 election,
although by all
accounts Biggs did
not go to Bunkerville. |
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Earlier this month,
as a member of the
state Senate running
for Congress in
Arizona’s new 6th
District, Townsend
warmed up a crowd
waiting to hear
Donald Trump in
Florence. Townsend
laid out four
issues: educational
“indoctrination”
(she touted vouchers
so parents “can get
your kids out of
these cesspools”),
border security,
“medical tyranny”
and “election
fraud.” |
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Jan. 27, 2022 |
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Trump-Supporting
Arizona Politicians
Push Election Lies
At Florence Rally |
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Jan. 16, 2022 |
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"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.”" |
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[
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"We are so blessed
to have Donald Trump
with us here today.
We know the election
was stolen,” state
Sen. Wendy Rogers,
R-Flagstaff, said
when she took the
stage, echoing the
sentiments of other
speakers and crowd
members, who cheered
her in response." |
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"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." |
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A
GOP
Senator Likened COVID Vaccines To The Holocaust,
Tweeted A Swastika And Told A Jewish Group Who
Complained To 'Learn Your History' |
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"Sen. Kelly Townsend was
sharply criticized by the international Jewish
organization, the Anti-Defamation League." |
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Sep. 15, 2021 |
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GOP Lawmakers Ask
Gov. Ducey To
Withhold Funding
From School
Districts Mandating
Masks |
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"Several prominent Arizona
Republicans issued a joint letter Wednesday
afternoon asking Gov.
Doug Ducey to withhold funding
and begin legal action against school districts that
are not following state [mask] laws." |
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Aug. 11, 2021 |
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Is Sen. Kelly
Townsend An
Insurrectionist? |
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"Townsend was
a
major supporter of
the “Stop the Steal”
movement, which
falsely claimed
then-President
Donald Trump won the
election both in
Arizona and
nationally." |
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Mar. 10, 2021 |
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State Senator Kelly Townsend Wants to Invalidate Mailed-In Ballots |
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Jan. 28, 2021 |
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Senator Kelly Townsend - Oathkeeper |
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Oathkeepers: "heavily armed extremists with a conspiratorial and anti-government mindset" |
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Screenshot from Kelly Townsends Twitter
account Jan. 17, 2021. Account now deleted. |
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Archive
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State Sen. Kelly Townsend Plans To Spew Unmasked Exhaust At The Capitol |
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Dec. 28, 2020 |
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Arizona Republicans
Back Texas AG’s
Attempt To Overturn
Election |
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"Arizona state
Reps.
Nancy Barto,
Frank Carroll,
John
Fillmore,
Mark
Finchem,
Travis
Grantham,
Anthony
Kern,
Steve Pierce,
Bret Roberts and
Kelly Townsend,
and Sens.
Sylvia
Allen,
Sonny
Borrelli,
David Gowan
and
David Livingston
signed onto the
amicus brief." |
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Dec.
10, 2020 |
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Arizona Rep. Kelly Townsend's Anti-Mask Claim Lacks Proof |
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Jun. 8, 2020 |
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State Rep. Kelly Townsend Avows Her Right To Put You (And Herself) At Risk For COVID-19 |
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May 21, 2020 |
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Arizona Rep. Kelly Townsend Is Outraged By Gov. Doug Ducey's Plan To Save Lives |
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Apr. 30, 2020 |
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Dear GOP: Where Are The Ethics In Voter Suppression? |
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"The Republican
chairwoman of the state House Elections
Committee is very upset with a few
Democratic members of the committee because
they didn’t politely stand by while yet
another voter suppression bill was being
ramrodded through the committee." |
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Feb. 20, 2020 |
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Arizona Rep. Kelly Townsend Contacted Man's Employer After He Criticized Her On Facebook |
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May 29, 2019 |
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Rep. Kelly Townsend Amps Up Her Anti-Vaxxer Crazy, Comparing Vaccines To
Holocaust Tattoos |
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Mar. 10, 2019 |
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Arizona Lawmaker Kelly Townsend Compares Vaccines To Communism |
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"Is it "Communist" to
require children to get vaccinated? Arizona
State Representative Kelly Townsend thinks
so." |
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Feb.28, 2019 |
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Bills To Restrict Teachers Reawakens Red For Ed Movement |
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Jan. 4, 2019 |
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Republican Lawmaker Takes Aim At Public Schools |
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Oct. 26, 2018 |
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Battle Lines Drawn In Arizona Gay Discrimination Case |
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Dec. 24, 2018 |
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Center
for
Arizona
Policy |
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2018
Candidate
Questionnaire |
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Position Sought:
State
Representative
LD-16 |
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4: Adding “sexual orientation,” “gender identity,” or “gender expression” to the protected classes of race, religion, age, sex, and ancestry in nondiscrimination law. |
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| Candidates'
Position: Oppose. |
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9: Protecting a parent’s right to seek professional counseling for their minor child with same– sex attraction or gender identity issues to help them reach their desired outcome.* |
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| Candidates'
Position: Support. |
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*
This is in reference to the
dangerous and disproven
"Reparative Therapy". |
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Arizona Lawmaker Kelly Townsend Wants To Know What A Furry Is |
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May 4, 2018 |
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Mesa Couple Call Lawmaker's Response To Red For Ed Email 'Rude' And 'Appalling' |
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Apr. 24, 2018 |
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Photo: Facebook
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Arizona Legislator Threatens To Sue Over Teachers' Strike. But Sue Who? |
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Apr. 24, 2018 |
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Rep Kelly Townsend Presents Alternative Facts |
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Feb. 3, 2017 |
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Dead Celebrities Are 'Druggies' And 'Tweakers,' Says Arizona Rep In Facebook Post |
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Jan. 3, 2017 |
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Center
for
Arizona
Policy |
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2016 Survey
Questions For
Arizona Candidates |
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Position Sought:
State
Senate LD-16 |
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Question
4:
Adding "sexual orientation,"
"gender identity," or "gender
expression" to the protected
classes of race, religion, age,
sex, and ancestry in
nondiscrimination law. |
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Candidates'
Position:
Oppose. |
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Question
6:
Prohibiting government from
discriminating against an
individual, organization, or
small business based on their
beliefs about marriage.* |
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Candidates'
Position:
Support. |
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Question
10:
Implementing policies to allow
students and faculty to use the
restroom, locker room, and
shower room that aligns with
their gender identity. |
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Candidates'
Position:
Oppose. |
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*
Discriminatory "Religious Freedom" laws. |
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2016 Legislative Preview: The More Things
Change, The More That They Don’t… |
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Jan. 7, 2016 |
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Center
for
Arizona
Policy |
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2014
Candidate
Questionnaire |
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Position Sought:
State
Representative
LD-16 |
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9: Arizona’s voter-approved constitutional definition of marriage should be defended to the fullest extent legally possible. |
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| Candidates'
Position: Support |
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11: Adding “sexual orientation,” “gender identity,” or “gender expression” to the protected classes of race, religion, age, sex, and ancestry in antidiscrimination law. |
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| Candidates'
Position: Oppose |
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15: Protecting individuals and businesses from being required to provide services or use their artistic expression in a manner that violates their moral or religious beliefs.* |
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| Candidates'
Position: Support |
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*
Discriminatory "Religious Freedom" laws. |
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Arizona Legislators See Cliven Bundy As A Hero? |
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Apr. 19, 2014 |
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List Of Arizona Republicans Who Voted For Anti-Gay Discrimination Bill |
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Feb. 28, 2014 |
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Constantin Querard's Taxpayer-Paid
Bootlickers David Gowan, Steve Montenegro,
Carl Seel, Steve Smith, And Kelly Townsend
Do Their Master's Bidding |
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Feb. 26, 2013 |
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Center
for
Arizona
Policy |
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2012
Candidate
Questionnaire |
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Position Sought:
State
Representative
LD-16 |
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9: Amending the United States Constitution to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman. |
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| Candidates'
Position: Support |
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| Question
11: Adding
“sexual
orientation,”
“gender
identity,”
or
“gender
expression”
to the
protected
classes
of race,
religion,
age,
sex, and
ancestry
in
nondiscrimination
law. |
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| Candidates'
Position: Oppose |
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15: Protecting professionals from being required to provide services that violate their moral or religious beliefs.* |
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| Candidates'
Position: Support |
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*
Discriminatory "Religious Freedom" laws. |
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Trump Plans Meeting On Arizona Birth Bill |
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Apr. 7, 2011 |
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Center
for
Arizona
Policy |
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2010
Candidate
Questionnaire |
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Position Sought:
State
Representative
LD-22 |
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| Question
9: Amending the United States Constitution to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman. |
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| Candidates'
Position: Support |
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| Question
12: Adding
“sexual
orientation,”
“gender
identity,”
or
“gender
expression”
to the
protected
classes
of race,
religion,
age,
sex, and
ancestry
in
nondiscrimination
law. |
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| Candidates'
Position: Oppose |
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| Question
15: Protecting professionals from being required to provide services that violate their moral or religious beliefs.* |
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| Candidates'
Position: Support |
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*
Discriminatory "Religious Freedom" laws. |
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