Russell Pearce

The Arizona conservatives declared all out war on moderate Republicans they deemed not conservative enough and they won; big.

Conservative activists and blogs got behind both Sydney Hay in AZ-1 and David Schweikert in AZ-5 as their congressional candidates of choice and both ended up winning close primary races.

In the legislature they had even more success.  In the Senate they were able win every seat they targeted.  The were able to fend off a challenge of conservative favorite Jack Harper in LD4.  In LD1 newcomer Steve Pierce was able to knock off incumbent Senator Tom O'Halleran.  Conservatives put an all out effort in LD18 where Russell Pearce was able to easily hold off Kevin Gibbons.  The other senate race they concentrated on was in LD26 where their pick Al Melvin defeated Pete Hershberger.  

This week the Governor makes our list as a loser of the week despite being invited to speak at the Democratic National Convention.  Find out who joins Napolitano on this weeks Winners & Losers.

The Arizona chapter of the League of Conservation Voters released its annual scorecard Thursday, praising legislators in the latest session for being particularly environmentally conscious.

Calling the 48th legislative session "the silver lining session," the LCV said the bills  produced this year "offered hope for conservation efforts in Arizona."

There was a stark difference in overall scores between the state Senate and House. While Democrats fared better than Republicans in both, as is typically the case, GOP senators were not far behind their Democratic colleagues.

According to an Arizona Opinion poll, state Representative Russell Pearce has a huge lead over primary challenger Kevin Gibbons in the LD-18 senate race.  The poll showed Pearce with 51% and Gibbons with 13%.  36% remained undecided. 

Scott Smith is receiving praise for the way he has gone about his job so far.  Find out who joins the rookie Mayor in this week’s Winners & Losers.

Yesterday we posted about a mailer the group Mesa Deserves Better sent to voters about a 28-year old divorce paper between Russell Pearce and his wife. LuAnne Pearce hit back calling the mailing despicable. Below is her full letter.

“Recently opponents of our State’s employer sanctions law made despicable, misleading and false attacks on my husband and our family. Twenty-eight years ago a petition for divorce was filed on my behalf. The allegations in this 28 year old document are not true and the petition was shortly thereafter withdrawn.

The people behind this “Mesa Deserves Better” committee are not honorable. Their only purpose is to destroy my husband’s good reputation, to hurt our family and to repeal the law which prevents them from hiring individuals who are in this country illegally. I urge everyone to reject these mean spirited people and all who are affiliated with them. It is apparent that they will go to any length and use any measure to further their own political agenda.

My husband is a good man, a man of faith who taught our children and grandchildren the meaning of honor and duty to God, Family and Country. I hope all voters in District 18 join me in supporting my husband for State Senate and rejecting these misleading and false attacks.”

-LuAnne Pearce

The independent expenditure group Mesa Deserves Better has taken the gloves completely off against Representative Russell Pearce in his campaign for senate. In a mailer sent to voters, the group points to 1980 divorce papers between Pearce and his wife that alleged Pearce “possessed a violent temper, and from time to time his and shoved his wife.”

Mesa Deserves Better was formed on 7/18/2008 and is chaired by Republican consultant Nathan Sproul.

H/T to Espresso Pundit

There is a newcomer to the Legislative District 18 senate race, and it's not a candidate. Judgment Matters, a new political action committee, is trying to raise funds for a "primary voter education and mobilization effort in Arizona Legislative District 18" - one that opposes the Arizona Senate candidacy of state Rep. Russell Pearce (R-Mesa).

The group is urging donations so that it can mount "independent expenditures" - usually advertising - against Pearce in his primary fight with Kevin Gibbons.

"A surgically-timed contribution from you and others can help excise Russell Pearce and his strain of politics from Arizona's legislature," read the Judgment Matters pitch.