| 
						
							|  | 
						
							| 
			T.J. Shope |  |  
							| 
															 |  
							|  |  
							| 
																
																	| Serial 
																	homophobe 
																	and 
																	far-right 
																	MAGA 
																	Republican extremist 
																	member of 
																	the Arizona 
																	State 
																	Senate, 
																	representing 
																	District 16. 
																	He assumed 
																	office on 
																	January 9, 
																	2023. His 
																	current term 
																	ends on 
																	January 13, 
																	2025. Shope 
																	ran for 
																	re-election 
																	to the 
																	Arizona 
																	State Senate 
																	to represent 
																	District 16. 
																	He won in 
																	the general 
																	election on 
																	November 8, 
																	2022. While 
																	serving in 
																	the state 
																	House, Shope 
																	held the 
																	position of 
																	speaker pro 
																	tempore. 
																	Shope began 
																	serving as 
																	state Senate 
																	president 
																	pro tempore 
																	in 2023. 
																	Shope ran 
																	for 
																	re-election 
																	to the 
																	Arizona 
																	State Senate 
																	to represent 
																	District 16. 
																	He won in 
																	the general 
																	election on 
																	November 5, 
																	2024. |  |  
							|  |  
							|  |  
							|  |  
							| 
																
																	
																		|  |  
																		| State 
																		Senator 
																		Sees 
																		Kwanzaa 
																		Display 
																		At The 
																		Capitol, 
																		Gets A 
																		Bit 
																		Racist |  
																		|  |  
																		|  |  
																		|  |  
																		|  |  
																		| "In a 
																		week 
																		filled 
																		with 
																		celebration 
																		and time 
																		with 
																		loved 
																		ones, 
																		Republican 
																		state 
																		Sen. 
																		T.J. 
																		Shope 
																		couldn’t 
																		get 
																		through 
																		the 
																		holiday 
																		season 
																		without 
																		posting 
																		something 
																		racist. 
																		On 
																		Thursday, 
																		Shope, 
																		who 
																		represents 
																		parts of 
																		Pinal, 
																		Pima and 
																		Maricopa 
																		counties, 
																		posted a 
																		photo of 
																		Gov. 
																		Katie 
																		Hobbs’ 
																		Kwanzaa 
																		display 
																		at the 
																		Capitol. 
																		Above 
																		it, he 
																		labeled 
																		the 
																		African 
																		American 
																		holiday 
																		a “fake 
																		anti-American, 
																		anti-Christian 
																		‘holiday.”" |  
																		|  |  
																		| Dec. 27, 
																		2024 |  
																		|  |  |  
							|  |  
							|  |  
							|  |  
							| 
																
																	
																		|  |  
																		| Center 
																		for 
																		Arizona 
																		Policy |  
																		| 2024 Survey 
															Questions For 
															Arizona Candidates |  
																		|  |  
																		| Position Sought: 
																		Arizona 
																		Senate, 
																		Legislative 
																		District 
																		13 |  
																		|  |  
																		| 
																			
																				
																					| Question 2: Adding “sexual orientation,” “gender identity,” or “gender expression” to the protected classes of race, religion, age, sex, and ancestry in nondiscrimination law. |  
																					|  |  
																					| Candidates' 
																			Position: 
																		Oppose. |  
																					|  |  
																					| Question 8: Allowing parents to seek professional counseling for their minor child with same-sex attraction or gender identity issues.* |  
																					|  |  
																					| Candidates' 
																					Position: Support |  
																					|  |  
												| Question 9: 
												Permitting individuals and 
												businesses to not provide 
												services or promote ideas that 
												violate their moral or religious 
												beliefs.** |  
												|  |  
												| Candidates' Position: 
												Support. |  
																					|  |  
																					| *  
												
												This is in reference to the 
												dangerous and disproven 
												"Reparative Therapy". |  
																					| **Discriminatory 
												"Religious Freedom" laws. |  
																					|  |  |  |  
							|  |  
							|  |  
							|  |  
							| Arizona Republicans 
															Ban Public From 
															Attending 
															Controversial 
															Immigration Bill 
															Vote, In Possible 
															Violation Of State 
															Law |  
							| "“My brown skin does 
															not make me a 
															criminal!” Someone 
															shouted from the 
															gallery, 
															interrupting 
															Republican Sen. 
															TJ Shope as he 
															spoke in support of 
															HCR 2060. “You 
															should get the hell 
															outta here,” Shope 
															yelled back, 
															which led to more 
															yelling from the 
															gallery." |  
							| Jun. 4, 2024 |  
							|  |  
							|  |  
							| 
																
																	|  |  
																	| 
																		
																			| Senate 
																			Democrats 
																			To 
																			File 
																			Ethics 
																			Complaint 
																			After 
																			GOP 
																			Blocks 
																			Arizona 
																			Abortion 
																			Law 
																			Repeal |  
																			| "Democrats 
																			in 
																			the 
																			Arizona 
																			Senate 
																			plan 
																			to 
																			file 
																			an 
																			ethics 
																			complaint 
																			against 
																			Republican 
																			leaders 
																			who 
																			blocked 
																			their 
																			attempt 
																			to 
																			repeal 
																			the 
																			state’s 
																			near-total 
																			abortion 
																			ban. 
																			When 
																			the 
																			Senate 
																			met 
																			on 
																			Wednesday, 
																			Minority 
																			Leader 
																			Mitzi 
																			Epstein 
																			(D-Tempe) 
																			and 
																			Anna 
																			Hernandez 
																			(D-Phoenix) 
																			attempted 
																			to 
																			introduce 
																			a 
																			bill 
																			to 
																			repeal 
																			the 
																			state’s 
																			abortion 
																			ban 
																			that 
																			dates 
																			back 
																			to 
																			1864. 
																			But 
																			President 
																			Pro 
																			Tempore T.J. 
																			Shope (R-Coolidge), 
																			who 
																			was 
																			presiding 
																			over 
																			the 
																			chamber 
																			at 
																			the 
																			time, 
																			ignored 
																			their 
																			motions 
																			and 
																			instead 
																			adjourned 
																			the 
																			Senate’s 
																			session 
																			until 
																			next 
																			week." |  
																			| Apr. 
																			13, 
																			2024 |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			| Arizona 
																			GOP 
																			Pounces 
																			On 
																			Viral 
																			Gender 
																			Identity 
																			Feud 
																			Hitting 
																			U Of 
																			A 
																			Nursing 
																			School |  
																			| “I’m 
																			absolutely 
																			sickened 
																			that 
																			this 
																			institution 
																			of 
																			higher 
																			learning 
																			is 
																			perpetuating 
																			the 
																			lie 
																			that 
																			a 
																			person’s 
																			gender 
																			is 
																			based 
																			off 
																			feelings 
																			and 
																			not 
																			their 
																			God-given 
																			biological 
																			sex 
																			established 
																			upon 
																			conception,” 
																			Sen. Janae 
																			Shamp, 
																			vice-chair 
																			of 
																			the 
																			Senate 
																			Committee 
																			on 
																			Health 
																			& 
																			Human 
																			Services 
																			says 
																			in 
																			the 
																			release. 
																			“This 
																			is 
																			completely 
																			groomer 
																			garbage 
																			that 
																			strives 
																			to 
																			confuse 
																			our 
																			kids 
																			in 
																			an 
																			effort 
																			to 
																			cater 
																			to 
																			the 
																			evil 
																			that 
																			is 
																			being 
																			accepted 
																			by 
																			today’s 
																			society. 
																			As a 
																			nurse, 
																			I am 
																			so 
																			disheartened 
																			that 
																			the 
																			next 
																			generation 
																			of 
																			nurses 
																			are 
																			being 
																			hijacked 
																			of 
																			their 
																			capabilities 
																			to 
																			deliver 
																			ethical 
																			care.” 
																			Tucson 
																			lawmaker, 
																			Sen. Justine 
																			Wadsack, 
																			also 
																			is 
																			quoted." 
																			[ . 
																			. . 
																			] 
																			"“If 
																			this 
																			issue 
																			is 
																			not 
																			immediately 
																			resolved 
																			by 
																			the 
																			university, 
																			Senate 
																			Republicans 
																			will 
																			weigh 
																			all 
																			options 
																			to 
																			make 
																			certain 
																			tax 
																			dollars 
																			are 
																			no 
																			longer 
																			used 
																			in 
																			such 
																			an 
																			egregious 
																			fashion,” 
																			said 
																			Senator T.J. 
																			Shope, 
																			who 
																			chairs 
																			the 
																			Senate 
																			Committee 
																			on 
																			Health 
																			& 
																			Human 
																			Services. 
																			“The 
																			mental 
																			health 
																			of 
																			our 
																			children 
																			and 
																			the 
																			state 
																			of 
																			our 
																			health 
																			care 
																			industry 
																			(are) 
																			being 
																			threatened 
																			by 
																			this 
																			radical 
																			ideology.” |  
																			| Sep. 
																			8, 
																			2023 |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			| 
																				
																					
																						|  |  
																						| The COVID Vaccine Deniers And QAnon Believers Coming To Speak At The Arizona Legislature |  
																						| May 23, 2023 |  
																						|  |  
																						| "A special committee created by the Arizona legislature to examine the state’s response to COVID-19 will feature a litany of speakers who have spread disinformation about the pandemic, vaccines, spoken at QAnon events and have conspiratorial beliefs about the virus, including believing it will usher in the “mark of the beast.”" |  
																						| [ . . . ] |  
																						|  |  
																						| "The “Novel Coronavirus Southwestern Intergovernmental Committee” will hold two days of hearings on May 25 and May 26 at the Arizona Capitol, during which a string of ostensible experts will tell the state and federal Republican lawmakers on the panel their opinions on the pandemic, and Arizona’s response to it. |  
																						|  |  
																						| The Republican elected officials on the panel include state Sens. T.J. Shope and Janae Shamp, the chair and vice-chair, respectively, of the state Senate’s Health and Human Services Committee; state Rep. Steve Montenegro, who chairs the state House of Representatives’ Health and Human Services Committee; and U.S. Reps. Andy Biggs, Eli Crane and Paul Gosar." |  
																						|  |  
																						| [ . . . ] |  
																						|  |  
																						| "Extremist researchers on Twitter were quick to note that the various groups sponsoring the committee had begun promoting it by the acronym, NCSWIC, which is commonly used within the QAnon community to stand for “Nothing Can Stop What Is Coming.” It most often refers to an unfounded belief that “Deep State” collaborators will soon be arrested." |  
																						|  |  |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			| 
																				
																					
																						| 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 Senate Panel Ignores Own Attorney, OKs Bills Attacking Trans Students And Drag Queens |  
																						| Elias Weiss / Phoenix New Times |  
																						| Mar. 1, 2023 |  
																						|  |  
																						| "Relentless Republicans advanced three anti-LGBTQ bills to the full Arizona Senate on Monday despite warnings that the bills might be unconstitutional. |  
																						|  |  
																						| Senate Rules Attorney Chris Kleminich warned the Senate Rules Committee that SB 1001, which targets transgender children in schools, and SB 1026 and SB 1698, two weapons in the GOP’s war on drag queens, weren’t likely to be upheld in a court of law." |  
																						|  |  
																						| "SB 1001, sponsored by Republican Senator John Kavanagh, prohibits teachers and school officials from referring to students by pronouns that don't match their assigned gender at birth unless they have written parental permission. That bill moved forward in the Senate Education Committee in January." |  
																						| [...] |  
																						|  |  
																						| "Despite Kleminich’s admonition, Republicans advanced the bill to the full Senate with a 4-3 vote. Republican Senators Warren Petersen, Sonny Borrelli, Sine Kerr, and T.J. Shope voted to advance the bill. Democratic Senators Lela Alston, Catherine Miranda, and Raquel Terán voted against it." |  
																						| 
 |  |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			| 
																				
																					
																						|  |  
																						| Center for Arizona Policy |  
																						| 2022 Survey Questions For Arizona Candidates |  
																						|  |  
																						| Position Sought: State Senate District 16 |  
																						|  |  
																						| 
																							
																								
																									| Question 2: Adding “sexual orientation,” “gender identity,” or “gender expression” to the protected classes of race, religion, age, sex, and ancestry in nondiscrimination law. |  
																									|  |  
																									| Candidates' Position: Oppose. |  
																									|  |  
																									| Question 4: Allowing biological males that identify as transgender to play on female sports’ teams. |  
																									|  |  
																									| Candidates' Position: Oppose |  
																									|  |  
																									| Question 8: Allowing parents to seek professional counseling for their minor child with same-sex attraction or gender identity issues.* |  
																									|  |  
																									| Candidates' Position: Support |  
																									|  |  
																									| 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.** |  
																									|  |  
																									| Candidates' Position: Support. |  
																									|  |  
																									| *  This is in reference to the dangerous and disproven "Reparative Therapy". |  
																									| **Discriminatory "Religious Freedom" laws. |  
																									|  |  |  |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			| Civic 
																			Engagement 
																			Beyond 
																			Voting 
																			- 
																			Voting Records 
																			- 
																			T.J. 
																			Shope |  
																			| 2022 |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			| 
																				
																					
																						|  |  
																						| Center for Arizona Policy |  
																						| 2020 Survey Questions For Arizona Candidates |  
																						|  |  
																						| Position Sought: State Senate LD-8 |  
																						|  |  
																						| 
																							
																								
																									| Question 2: Adding “sexual orientation,” “gender identity,” or “gender expression” to the protected classes of race, religion, age, sex, and ancestry in nondiscrimination law. |  
																									|  |  
																									| Candidates' Position: Oppose. |  
																									|  |  
																									| Question 4: Allowing biological males that identify as transgender to play on female sports’ teams. |  
																									|  |  
																									| Candidates' Position: Oppose |  
																									|  |  
																									| Question 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.* |  
																									|  |  
																									| Candidates' Position: Support |  
																									|  |  
																									| Question 11: 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.** |  
																									|  |  
																									| Candidates' Position: Support. |  
																									|  |  
																									| *  This is in reference to the dangerous and disproven "Reparative Therapy". |  
																									| **Discriminatory "Religious Freedom" laws. |  
																									|  |  |  |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			| 
																				
																					
																						|  |  
																						| Center for Arizona Policy |  
																						| 2018 Candidate Questionnaire |  
																						|  |  
																						| Position Sought: State Representative LD-8 |  
																						|  |  
																						| 
																							
																								
																									| Question 4: Adding “sexual orientation,” “gender identity,” or “gender expression” to the protected classes of race, religion, age, sex, and ancestry in nondiscrimination law. |  
																									|  |  
																									| Candidates' Position: Oppose. |  
																									|  |  
																									| Question 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.* |  
																									|  |  
																									| Candidates' Position: Support. |  
																									|  |  
																									| *  This is in reference to the dangerous and disproven "Reparative Therapy". |  
																									|  |  |  |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			| Women 
																			Mail 
																			Pads, 
																			Tampons 
																			To 
																			Legislator 
																			Killing 
																			Bill 
																			To 
																			Give 
																			Inmates 
																			Free 
																			Feminine 
																			Products |  
																			| Feb. 
																			12, 
																			2018 |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			| Shame 
																			On 
																			These 
																			Legislators 
																			Who 
																			Failed 
																			Kids |  
																			| May 
																			4, 
																			2016 |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			| ALEC 
																			Wines 
																			& 
																			Dines 
																			R-AZ 
																			Legislators 
																			On 
																			Hidden 
																			Camera |  
																			| Mar. 
																			26, 
																			2014 |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			| List 
																			Of 
																			Arizona 
																			Republicans 
																			Who 
																			Voted 
																			For 
																			Anti-Gay 
																			Discrimination 
																			Bill |  
																			| Feb. 
																			28, 
																			2014 |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			| Atheist? 
																			Not 
																			If 
																			You 
																			Want 
																			To 
																			Finish 
																			High 
																			School 
																			In 
																			Arizona |  
																			| Jan. 
																			26, 
																			2013 |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			|  |  
																			| 
																				
																					
																						|  |  
																						| Center for Arizona Policy |  
																						| 2012 Candidate Questionnaire |  
																						|  |  
																						| Position Sought: State Representative LD-8 |  
																						|  |  
																						| 
																							
																								
																									| Question 9: Amending the United States Constitution to define marriage as the union of one man and one woman. |  
																									|  |  
																									| 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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																									| 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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