Phil Gordon

The Arizona Heritage Dinner, a fundraising event for the Arizona Democratic Party, brought in over $600,000, according to party spokeswoman Emily DeRose.

The dinner, which was held in Phoenix Sunday, featured U.S. Rep. Rahm Emanuel (D.-Ill.), the chairman of the House Democratic Caucus and the former head of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. Emanuel is credited as the architect of the Democrats' gains in 2006, enabling the party to recapture control of the House.

Also in attendance were Gov. Janet Napolitano, U.S. Reps. Harry Mitchell (D-Tempe) and Gabrielle Giffords (D-Tucson), Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard and Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon.

Ariz. Attorney General Terry GoddardArizona small business owners overwhelmingly favor a Democrat to replace Gov. Janet Napolitano, according to the Silver State Bank/Arizona Small Business Association/O'Neil Associates Arizona Economic Indicators Monitor.

The poll, conducted among the ASBA's 3,000 members, found that 43 percent of respondents supported Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard in the hypothetical race. Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon came in second with 21 percent.

Rounding out the list were U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary Peters (10 percent), Tempe Mayor Hugh Hallman (8 percent), Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne (8 percent), state Treasurer Dean Martin (7 percent) and Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas (5 percent).

PHOENIX - Today Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon and Phoenix Police Chief Jack Harris announced that Phoenix PD will inquire about the immigration status off all suspects apprehended for criminal offenses or who are targets of criminal inquiries.

The policy change comes at the conclusion of a blue-ribbon study begun last year to look at how Phoenix police should handle immigration enforcement. The new policies include greater cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). However, city officials were quick to stress that police would not be involved in immigration "sweeps" such as have been conducted by the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office, and that neither those cited for violations nor witnesses to crimes would have their legal status scrutinized.

Independent congressional candidate Annie Loyd: Politicker PhotoAnnie Loyd, independent candidate for Congress in CD3, appeared today at a meeting of the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors to decry Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's sweeps aimed at rounding up illegal immigrants. After making the case that county monies shouldn't go toward enforcing immigration policy, Loyd appeared at the head of a group of community activists and civil libertarians to demand accountability for what they claimed were tactics that "divided the community" and could possibly "lead to violence."

Sens. Barack Obama and John McCain: Photo by Getty ImagesThe new Cronkite/Eight poll released last night indicates that Sen. Barack Obama (D-Ill.) is creeping up on Sen. John McCain in a head-to-head presidential matchup in Arizona, and now is within single digits of the favorite son. 15 percent of respondents remained undecided. Sen. Hillary Clinton (D-N.Y.) also improved against McCain, but still trails him in Arizona by a substantial margin.

On the local front, incumbents have cause for celebration, especially in Maricopa County. While the poll shows Gov. Janet Napolitano remains extremely well-liked midway through her lame duck term, it also indicates strong support for Phoenix Mayor Phil Gordon, Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, County Attorney Andrew Thomas among those in the county who had an opinion of them.

However, in the article accompanying the poll said, its conductor, Dr. Bruce Merill, said, "Sen. McCain will win in his home state this November regardless of who the Democrats nominate."

It's official: Tim Nelson will face off against Gerald Richard for the Democratic nomination to take on Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas.

While both had been almost certain to enter the race as of early this month, both candidates have confirmed to PolitickerAZ that their signatures are in and they're on the hunt for the nomination.  read more »

PHOENIX - Several officials gathered at Sky Harbor International Airport today to address the need to accomodate a rapid growth in air traffic in the region - which may include an influx of federal funds.  read more »

Phil Gordon, the Democratic Mayor of Phoenix today endorsed Democrat Bob Lord in his bid against Congressman John Shadegg for the 3rd Congressional District.

Full release

Count Phoenix Democratic Mayor Phil Gordon out of those potentially interested in running for Congressman John Shadegg’s District 3 seat and count Republican House Speaker Jim Weiers in, the Phoenix Business Journal’s Mike Sunnucks reports.