Key Facts
Party
Democrat
Satus
Challenger
Background
Reginald Bolding grew up in the United States with a single mother and graduated from the University of Cincinnati, obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in both international security and criminal justice. He became a math teacher for special needs students, and was later appointed to the Arizona House of Representatives at 28 years old. He would also serve on the Education Committee, the Ways & Means Committee, and the House Minority Whip. Now, he is on the the Community for Business and Economic Development and the Board of Directors for the Children’s Museum of Phoenix and Leading for Change.
Key Issues
Elections
Reginald strives to provide access to voting for more Arizonian people.
Endorsements
Our Revolution
Communications Workers of America
Equality Arizona
Arizona Building and Construction
Sources
BallotPedia
ReginaldBolding
VoteSmart
Key Facts
Party
Democrat
Status
Incumbent
Background
Hochul was born and raised in Buffalo, New York. Hochul received her bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University and her Juris Doctor from Catholic University. Hochul began her career working for a law firm in Washington D.C. and later as a legal counsel and legislative assistant to U.S. Representative John LaFalce, U.S. Senator Daniel Moynihan, and the New York State Assembly. Hochul began her political career serving on the Hamburg Town Board from 1994 to 2007. Hochul was appointed to Erie County Clerk in 2007 and was reelected in 2010 on the Democratic, Conservative, Independence, and Working Families Party ballot lines. In 2011, Hochul won the special election to fill the seat in New York’s 26th congressional district and later lost her reelection to the position in 2012. Hochul was named Governor Andrew Cuomo’s choice for lieutenant governor during his reelection in 2014, and both were reelected in 2018. Governor Cuomo annouced his resignation on August 10, 2021, after his sexual misconduct scandal, and Hochul is set to succeed him as the first female governor of New York on August 24th.
Key Issues
Public Safety
Hochul was appointed by Governor Cuomo to co-chair the Heroin and Opioid Abuse Task Force and spearheaded the Enough is Enough campaign which aimed to combat sexual assault on college campuses. Hochul also established the Kathleen Mary House, a transitional home for victims of domestic violence, with her mother and aunt.
Civil Rights
Hochul has previously received criticism for opposing a proposal to grant licenses to undocumented immigrants in New York and for stating that she would have undocumented immigrants arrested if they applied for one in Erie County. Hochul has since reversed her position on the issue, as she supported the Green Light Law in 2019 which allowed undocumented immigrants to apply for New York driver’s licenses.
Women's Rights
Hochul was elected as chair of the New York State Women’s Suffrage 100th Anniversary Commemoration Commission and is pro-choice.
Economy
During her 2012 congressional campaign, Hochul stated that she supported raising taxes on those making more than $500,000 pert year and opposed new free trade agreements. Hochul believes that free trade agreements such as NAFTA have suppressed U.S. wages and benefits and caused job loss.
Healthcare
Hochul supports the Affordable Care Act and has previously received criticism from her congressional district for saying that she would not vote to repeal it.
Endorsements
N/A
Sources
NYGovernor
Key Facts
Party
Democrat
Label
Challenger
Background
Kunce served as a marine officer for 13 years completing tours in Iraq and Afghanistan. After which he represented the United States in arms control negotiations in Europe. Then he joined the American Economic Liberties Project which is a non-profit organization that advocates for corporate accountability legislation and aggressive enforcement of antitrust regulations.
Key Issues
Monopolies and anti-trust legislature
Kunce is relentlessly anti-monopolistioc. He has the view that the monopolies “control our lives, squeeze normal people out of commerce, and enrich Wall Street at the expense of Main Street.” As aforementioned he is a part of the American Economic Liberties Project, which takes on “pharmaceutical cartels, defense prime contractors, agri-business monopolies, and big tech.”
PAC (political action committees)
Kunce is in favor of banning all corporate PAC’s, and restricting family members of U.S. Senators and Representatives from working as lobbyists. He believes that corporate PAC’s buys off political candidates and then the leaders will install corprate judges interpret the law on behalf of big corporations instead of workers and small businesses.
Endorsements
Progressive Change Campaign Committee
Sources
lucaskunce.com
Key Facts
Party
Democrat
Status
Challenger
Background
Michael Cooper earned a bachelor’s degree in business and social studies from Lamar University Beaumont. Throughout Cooper’s career experience, he worked as a pastor at his local church, served as president of the South East Texas Toyota Dealers and in executive management with Kinsel Motors. He’s a former Democratic candidate for lieutenant governor and the US Senate.
Key Issues
Education
Cooper advocates for giving teachers pay raises and reforming the education system. He desires to reform the Criminal Justice System and establish a Bail Reform program that gives disadvantaged youth a chance. He will direct money from military funding into giving educators $20,200 per year pay raises from the federal government level.
Gun Policy
Cooper wishes to mandate background laws for gun ownership, including analyzing scores in high school to see if there are severe behavioral issues that would give us an idea about individuals, and remove loopholes in gun trading.
Endorsements
Sources
12news-Beaumont
ABC
Key Facts
Party
Democrat
Status
Challenager
Background
Christopher Marte was born in the Lower East Side of New York City. While his family owned a local bodega, Marte attended local schools in his area. After his father’s business collapsed due to rent prices, Marte started seeing the issues in the area and decided to start taking action for change. As an adult, Marte would work in various career paths including managing for IBM’s retirement fund, a person on the Young Professionals Board of Defy Ventures (a position on which he helps formerly incarcerated people create new businesses), and as a worker at the New York State Director at Arena. Marte would later co-found two community gardens in NYCHA. Through his work there, he realized how many political officials rallied for money and influence than those who need the most help. With this, he decided to run for City Council in 2017. In a close election, Marte lost his first election.
Key Issues
Housing/Homelessness
As a City Council member, Marte will work to pass rezoning plans that don’t leave people/businesses displaced, increase affordable housing through negotiating for better deals and supporting affordable developments, fund NYCHA, defend more tenants that are being harassed and end homelessness through building more supportive housing/fighting for better wages. More can be read about his plan in the linked sources below.
Small Businesses
As a City Council member, Marte will work to pass the Small Business Job Survival Act (which will help small businesses have a better say in the lease negotiations process), give Union workers better protections (by allowing council workers to unionize and allowing construction workers to unionize), and overhaul small business services.
Environmental Reform/Climate Change
As a City Council member, Marte will work to create plans to that will help New Yorkers in the next climate crisis, advocate for more community gardens/open spaces, open more compost programs and invest in a fully electric bus fleet for the MTA and school buses.
Other
To enhance the lives of the disabled of New York, Marte will work to introduce legislation that will make tenants of the disabled equipped with the things necessary to make residents comfortable, work to make transportation more accessible through funding to MTA and centers for the disabled, give financial assistance to parents of the disabled through direct outreach, work to increase the access to disability identification cards, and much more. More can be read on the link sources.
Education
As Borough President, Marte will work to build more schools, include more diversity in schools, give more funding to social workers (instead of police officers), lower the ratio between teachers and students, fully fund the Summer Youth Employment Program and include more curriculum that is more beneficial and culturally relevant to all students.
Criminal Justice
As Borough President, Marte will work to close Rikers Island by 2026, take some money away from the NYPD to use in other avenues of life (schooling, health services, etc), encourage gun and weapon payback and host monthly meetings with the precincts to discuss crimes in the areas.
Endorsements
Downtown Independent Democrats, Grand Street Democrats, Village Independent Democrats, NYC Asian American Democratic Club, Freelancers Union, Art Against Displacement, MET Council Action, StreetsPAC, Voters for Animal Rights, ChinaTown Working Group, NYC KidsPAC, TenantsPAC, PSCCUNY, StoneWall Democrats for NY, Run for Something, New Downtown Dems, The Soho Journal, Smart 28
Sources
VoteMarte
Key Facts
Party
Democrat
Status
Challenger
Background
Both of Lopez’s parents are Mexican immigrants. He studied liberal studies and political science at the University of Arizona. Lopez is a licensed pilot.
Key Issues
Filibuster
Lopez believes that the filibuster must end.
Education/jobs
Lopez wants to bring high speed internet to everyone in Arizona to increase jobs and education. He also wants to implement an “Arizona plan” to create more apprenticeship and certification programs that would bring new manufacturing and technology jobs to the state. Health care: Lopez wants to ensure that all Arizonans have access to affordable health care.
Endorsements
Lopez has not received any major endorsements yet.
Sources
https://marcolopez.com
https://www.azmirror.com/blog/marco-lopez-business-consultant-and-ex-napolitano-aide-running-for-arizona-governor/
Key Facts
Party
Democrat
Status
Challenger
Background
Brace is an Accounting Manager, Property Manager, Project Manager from Phoenix, Arizona. Specifically, he is a realtor, wood-worker, as well as the lead accountant and residential property manager in Bennett Property Management. He has studied at Mesa Community College for Associate of Arts, and in the American Military University for his BA in philosophy and MBA.
Key Issues
Endorsements
Brace has yet to receive an endorsement publicly.
Sources
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lancebrace
https://www.facebook.com/Brace4AZ/
https://apps.arizona.vote/info/soi/2022-primary-election/32/0
Key Facts
Party
Democrat
Status
Challenger
Background
Helen Hunter is from Ohio and moved to Arizona in 2006. Hunter obtained a B.A. in education and has a PhD in theology, humanities, and pastoral leadership. She led a 5-year project that helped families transition from renting to owning homes. Hunter serves in roles related to organization, social justice advocacy, church, and business. Since coming to Arizona, she has expanded the ministry to help the homeless, and done community outreach work specializing in healthcare, housing, and social justice. She has supported communities in different ways, including assisting the implementation of non-smoking policies in collaboration with Arizonans Concerned About Smoking (ACAS) and the United States Public Health Service (USPHS). Another way she has worked with the community is by being leader of the East Valley NAACP for over 6 years. Helen Hunter is married and is a mother, grandmother, and great grandmother.
Key Issues
Healthcare
Hunter supports affordable healthcare and access to quality education for everyone.
Environment
She wants to have environmental accountability, including controlling climate change and fighting for climate justice.
Prisons
Hunter supports a reformed criminal justice system.
Equality
She promotes and envisions a strengthened democracy, economy, and movement towards social equality.
Endorsements
Hunter has not yet received public endorsements.
Sources
https://yourvalley.net/apache-junction-independent/stories/meet-your-candidate-helen-hunter-seeks-district-16-house-seat,188275
https://www.hunterforld16.com/who-is-helen-hunter/
Key Facts
Party
Democrat
Status
Challenger
Background
Secretary Hobbs has a Bachelor of Social Work from Northern Arizona University and a Master of Social Work from Arizona State University. She has been a professional social worker since 1992. Prior to being elected to the legislature, she worked in the areas of domestic violence, behavioral health, and homelessness.
Her professional experience includes working as Director of Government Relations for the Sojourner Center, a member of the adjunct faculty of Paradise Valley Community College’s social and behavioral sciences, and a social worker. She is a former volunteer for the Arizona Democratic Party and Chair of District 15 Democrats. She started her political career in 2011 serving on Government, Health and Human Services, and Transportation committees. She continued serving on various committees until 2018. Hobbs also served as state Senate minority leader from 2015 to 2019. In 2019, she assumed office for the Secretary of State.
Key Issues
Voting Restriction Laws
Intends to increase accessibility as well as protection to the right to vote and voting process.
Education
Increasing funding of schools and changing structures such as implementing smaller classroom sizes, quality teachers, and up-to-date schools.
Jobs
Sponsored legislation to give preference to in-state companies and petition against the massive corporate tax cuts and special interest giveaways.
Endorsements
Hobbs is endorsed by Arizona Building and Construction Trades Council, Arizona Education Association, Arizona List, Arizona State AFL-CIO, Emerge America, Giffords, Human Rights Campaign, Let America Vote, Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona, Sierra Club, Grand Canyon Chapter, Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters, Stonewall Democrats of Arizona, and United Auto Workers.
Sources
https://azsos.gov/about-office/secretaries-since-statehood/katie-hobbs
https://ballotpedia.org/Katie_Hobbs_recall,_Arizona_Secretary_of_State_(2021)
https://www.katiehobbs.org/
Key Facts
Party
Democrat
Status
Challenger
Background
Reed earned his bachelor’s degree in political science and law degree from Howard University after growing up in Georgia. Afterwards, he worked as a lawyer at international law firms such as Holland & Knight LLP. Soon after, he earned seats in the state Senate and House of Representatives while managing Shirley Franklin’s successful mayoral campaign. In 2010, Reed ran for Atlanta’s mayor and won, maintaining his hold on the seat until 2018, when he reached his term limit. He has recently been the target of an investigation into corruption from supposedly misusing campaign funds for personal use.
Key Issues
Public Safety
Reed has proposed a steady expansion of the police force to push the limit for Atlanta’s current capacity of 2,033 officers. In his past terms as mayor, he recruited nine hundred law enforcement officers. During Reed’s former term as Atlanta’s mayor, there was a 37% reduction in crime, and he has vowed to continue the trend.
Economy
Reed has historically utilized a partnership with Georgian Republicans and focused on trying to balance Atlanta’s budget while serving as mayor. Some of his past policies include past infrastructure projects such as a Savannah port and reducing city spending while promoting city services.
Endorsements
Sources
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
