The Arizona Women’s Political Caucus Tucson chapter celebrated the holidays and the victory of most of their endorsed, pro-choice candidates tonight at the home of attorney Sherry Teachnor. In previous years this party was held at Sherry’s former Galeria La Sirena on Broadway/Country Club which closed in January, 2010. Sherry still has some of the Caribbean & Latin art (paintings) at her home studio for sale.

Arizona Women’s Political Caucus (AWPC) President Pat Weidhopf welcomed the thirty women & men in attendance and said that the holiday event was to celebrate the victories of their endorsed candidates, to honor the great campaigns, and to encourage pro-choice women to “advance their convictions.”

Speaking tonight were elected officials:
–Pam Simon, Outreach Coordinator for Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (CD8)
–Olivia Cajero Bedford (LD 27 Senator-elect, current LD 27 House Rep.)
–Linda Lopez (LD 29 Senator)
–Paula Aboud (LD 28 Senator)
–Sally Ann Gonzales (LD 27 House Rep.-elect)
–Patti Noland (Clerk of the Superior Court, and the only endorsed Republican)

Also speaking were the candidates who did not win their elections:
–Pat Fleming (LD 25 House Rep.)
–Nancy Young Wright (LD 26 House Rep.)
–Cheryl Cage (LD 26 Senate candidate)
–Mohur Sidhwa (LD 28 House candidate, lost in the primary)
–Andrea Dalessandro (LD 30 House candidate)

Many of these officials and candidates spoke of the help they received from the AWPC, saying that the Caucus was their “backbone”, “anchor”, “sense of sanity.” Many encouraged their supporters to continue their hard work and to monitor the upcoming State legislature, especially in terms of issues pertaining to education and families.

Also attending tonight were F. Ann Rodriguez, Pima County Recorder and Justice of the Peace (Precinct 4) Carmen Dolny.

10% of tonight’s sale of art goes to the AWPC girls’ leadership project, and another 10% to Haiti relief efforts. If interested in purchasing colorful, authentic Latin and Caribbean art, contact Sherry Teachnor at 520-319-1262.

Not attending tonight were statewide endorsed candidates Felecia Rotellini (for Attorney General) and Penny Kotterman (for State Superintendent of Public Instruction).

For my previous blog on AWPC prior to the General Election (click here).

U.S. Senate: incumbent Senator John McCain (R)

U.S. House CD7: incumbent Congressman Raul Grijalva (D)

U.S. House CD 8: incumbent Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (D)

Governor of Arizona: incumbent Governor Jan Brewer (R)

Secretary of State: incumbent Ken Bennett (R)

Treasurer: Doug Ducey (R)

Attorney General: Tom Horne (R)

Superintendent of Public Instruction: John Huppenthal (R)

Corporation Commission (2 seats): Brenda Burns (R), incumbent Gary Pierce (R)

State Mine Inspector: incumbent Joe Hart (R)

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In Southern Arizona legislative districts:

LD 25 Senate: Gail Griffin (R)
House: Peggy Judd (R) & Rep. David Stevens (R), incumbent

LD 26 Senate: Senator Al Melvin (R), incumbent
House: Terri Proud (R) & Rep. Vic Williams (R), incumbent

LD 27 Senate: Rep.Olivia Cajero Bedford (D)
House: Sally Ann Gonzales (D) & Dr. Macario Saldate (D)

LD 28 Senate: Senator Paula Aboud (D), incumbent
House: Rep. Steve Farley (D), incumbent & Bruce Wheeler (D)

LD 29 Senate: Senator Linda Lopez (D), incumbent
House: Rep. Daniel Patterson (D) & Rep. Dr. Matt Heinz, (D), both incumbents

LD 30 Senate: Senator Frank Antenori (R), incumbent
House: Rep. David Gowan (R) & Rep. Ted Vogt (R), both incumbents

Prop. 106 Health Care Services YES

Prop. 107 Preferential Treatment/Discrimination YES

Prop. 109 Hunting & Fishing NO

Prop. 110 State Trust Lands NO

Prop. 111 Lt. Governor NO

Prop. 112 Initiative Petitions NO? (lost by only 123 votes, recount to occur after November 29, may take about 10 days thereafter for all 15 counties to recount their ballots)

Prop. 113 Secret Ballot for Unions YES

Prop. 203 Medical Marijuana YES (won by 4341 votes, only decided on 11/13/10 with final tallies)

Prop. 301 “Growing Smarter” NO

Prop 302 “First Things First” NO

City of Tucson Prop. 400 (proposed sales tax increase) – NO

City of Tucson Prop. 401 (proposed City Charter changes) – NO

For Pima County election results, click here.

Clerk of the Superior Court: Patti Noland (R), incumbent

TUSD Governing Board (2 seats): Adelita Grijalva, incumbent & Michael Hicks

The Arizona voters have spoken.
Ballots Cast: 1,750,877 of 3,146,418 registered voters.

U.S. Senate: incumbent Senator John McCain (R)

U.S. House CD7: Congressman Raul Grijalva (D)

U.S. House CD 8: Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (D)

Governor of Arizona: incumbent Governor Jan Brewer (R)

Secretary of State: incumbent Ken Bennett (R)

Treasurer: Doug Ducey (R)

Attorney General: Tom Horne (R)

Superintendent of Public Instruction: John Huppenthal (R)

Corporation Commission (2 seats): Brenda Burns (R), incumbent Gary Pierce (R)

State Mine Inspector: incumbent Joe Hart (R)

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In Southern Arizona legislative districts:

LD 25 Senate: Gail Griffin (R)
House: Peggy Judd (R) & Rep. David Stevens (R), incumbent

LD 26 Senate: Senator Al Melvin (R), incumbent
House: Terri Proud (R) and Rep. Vic Williams (R)

LD 27 Senate: Rep.Olivia Cajero Bedford (D)
House: Sally Ann Gonzales (D), Dr. Macario Saldate (D)

LD 28 Senate: Senator Paula Aboud (D), incumbent
House: Rep. Steve Farley (D), incumbent & Bruce Wheeler (D)

LD 29 Senate: Senator Linda Lopez (D), incumbent
House: Rep. Daniel Patterson (D), Rep. Dr. Matt Heinz, (D), (both incumbents)

LD 30 Senate: Senator Frank Antenori (R), incumbent
House: Rep. David Gowan (R), Rep. Ted Vogt (R), (both incumbents)

For Pima County election results, click here.

Clerk of the Superior Court: Patti Noland (R), incumbent

TUSD Governing Board (2 seats): Adelita Grijalva, incumbent & Michael Hicks

City of Tucson Propositions 400 (proposed sales tax increase) and 401 (proposed City Charter changes) –both NO

I will be publishing updates on the LD 26 House race and some of the state-wide propositions which are too close to call at press time. Check the Secretary of State’s website for Propositions 106 to 302.

Congratulations to all the winners!

11/3 Update: Hugh Holub “View from Baja Arizona” reports that Pima County has about 35,000 ballots (early & provisional) to still count, so the outcomes of the close races may still change. Read his article:
http://tucsoncitizen.com/view-from-baja-arizona/2010/11/03/pima-county-cant-run-an-election/

UPDATE: Tucson Weekly is reporting that there are 38,000 uncounted ballots, so this process may take till Saturday:

http://www.tucsonweekly.com/TheRange/archives/2010/11/03/election-2008-whats-left-to-count-an-estimated-50k-ballots

Looks like Propositions 110, 112 and 203 are too close to call.

UPDATE, 4:30 p.m. 11/3/10: 100% of the precincts are now counted, 43.77 % voter turnout, waiting for the hundreds of early/provisional ballots statewide to be counted. I will be checking & reporting only if the lead changes in any of the close races:

CD 7, CD 8, LD 26 House, Propositions 110, 112 and 203.
Grijalva ahead by 3915 votes, Giffords by 2348 now, small changes since this morning (3885 and 2447 respectively).
And I understand that neither Jesse Kelly nor Ruth McClung will concede till all votes are counted. Congressman Grijalva has declared victory per other news sources (AZ Daily Star & KUAT).

UPDATE: 11/4 5:22 p.m. results from SOS website: Grijalva’s lead has now increased to 5,982 votes and Giffords by 3,055.

UPDATE: 11/5 email from SOS office states that : “As of Friday afternoon, there are an estimated 135,000 early ballots and 83,000 provisional ballots statewide that are yet to be processed and counted.” Deadline is November 12. Grijalva’s lead has increased to 6,327 and Giffords’ to 3,848 (5 p.m.).

7:33 p.m. Giffords has declared victory and Kelly has conceded, but I did not waver from the original declaration of her win on Wednesday morning, Nov. 3. Only races still undetermined are in LD 26 House and those 3 propositions (all still losing): 110, 112, and 203.

UPDATE 11/6: Ruth McClung sent out an email that she will not concede till all votes are counted, with Grijalva’s lead at 6061 this morning (8 a.m.). So stay tuned till next week sometime. (Giffords lead today is 3641, but that race seems decided as her lead was 2447 on 11/3). Voter turnout figures are now at 49.38%. Prop. 112 have switched to yes vote.

11/9 UPDATE: no changes in LD 26 House, Prop. 110 & 203 (still losing), but Prop. 112 now winning. Voter turnout reported at 52.26%.

11/9 further update: Per Sec. of State’s office:”As of Tuesday afternoon, there are just over 30,000 early ballots and slightly fewer than 59,000 provisional ballots statewide that are yet to be processed and counted.” Imagine that, a week after the General election and this many votes still to be counted, by Friday’s deadline.

11/10 Pima County counting complete per AZ Daily Star blog, and Rep. Nancy Young Wright has lost by 745 votes in LD 26. Voter turnout in Pima County was 65%.
http://azstarnet.com/news/blogs/pueblo-politics/article_5dac3222-ed0f-11df-97d3-001cc4c002e0.html. Maricopa County ballots still being processed.

11/12 Prop. 203 (medical marijuana) took the lead today by 4421 votes! Prop. 112 in a dead heat of 43 votes (ahead) which may trigger a recount, depending on what happens with the remaining 10,000 ballots to be counted by Maricopa County tomorrow. Stay tuned. Recount is automatic if the vote difference is 200 votes or less for these statewide propositions.

Here’s a list of the women candidates seeking office in Southern Arizona and statewide. Most of these candidates have been endorsed by the Arizona Women’s Political Caucus (AWPC), EXCEPT for Republicans Governor Brewer, candidates Ruth McClung, Brenda Burns, Gail Griffin, Peggy Judd, and Terri Proud, and Democratic candidate Margaret DiFrank.

The AWPC only endorses women candidates who are pro-choice.

Congressional District 7: Ruth McClung (R), candidate
Congressional District 8: Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (D), incumbent

Governor Jan Brewer (R), incumbent (appointed)
Attorney General – Felecia Rotellini (D), candidate
Superintendent of Public Instruction – Penny Kotterman (D), candidate
Corporation Commission (2 seats) – Brenda Burns (R), candidate

Southern AZ legislators:

LD 25 Senate – Gail Griffin (R) candidate, former legislator
LD 25 House (2 seats) – Rep. Pat Fleming (D),incumbent and Peggy Judd (R) candidate

LD 26 Senate – Cheryl Cage (D), candidate
LD 26 House (2 seats) – Terri Proud (R) candidate, and Rep. Nancy Young Wright (D), incumbent

LD 27 Senate – Rep. Olivia Cajero Bedford (D), candidate, current legislator
LD 27 House – Sally Ann Gonzales (D), former legislator

LD 28 Senate – Senator Paula Aboud (D), incumbent

LD 29 Senate – Senator Linda Lopez (D), incumbent (unopposed)

LD 30 House – Andrea Dalessandro (D), candidate

Clerk of Superior Court – Margaret DiFrank (D) candidate, Clerk Patti Noland (R), incumbent

After the General Election 5 of the 6 Southern Arizona State Senators could be women, mostly Democrats — incumbents Senators Paula Aboud and Linda Lopez, plus veteran legislator Olivia Cajero Bedford, former legislator Gail Griffin, and newcomer Cheryl Cage.

Here’s their mission statement of AWPC:

“The Arizona Women’s Political Caucus is the state affiliate of the National Women’s Political Caucus. We are the only multi-partisan grassroots organization dedicated to increasing the number of pro-choice women in elected and appointed office. We work to help women attain leadership positions at all levels of government.”

Early voting starts on October 7 for the November 2nd General Election.