GOP censures 2 Phoenix-area mayors who backed Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly

Most city politicians in Arizona don't run as Democrats or Republicans, but some conservative mayors have found themselves under the heel of GOP party politics after endorsing Democratic U.S. Sen. Mark Kelly's bid for a second term. 

Mesa Mayor John Giles and Peoria Mayor Cathy Carlat — who have each led their cities for the better part of a decade — were recently censured by GOP precincts in their legislative districts.

They were among nearly 50 prominent independent and Republican figures across the state who recently endorsed Kelly, rather than throwing-in for his right-wing challengers such as Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich or Donald Trump-endorsed candidate Blake Masters. 

The mass crossing of party lines was "concerning" for GOP officials, according to LD-28 party Chairwoman Lori Bango who added that she expects other registered Republicans on Kelly's supporter list will face similar GOP blowback. 

"We were all pretty surprised seeing that 'Republicans for Kelly' page, there are a long list of them on there," she said. "This is probably going to be kind of a snowball type of thing, once they see a few of us do it (other GOP precincts will follow)."

Peoria's mayor told The Arizona Republic she "dismissed" the official condemnation from Bango's GOP precinct.

"I endorsed a person who is working for the benefit of my city," said Carlat, who is wrapping up her final year as mayor. "I don't know why anyone would have a problem with doing something that's beneficial to the residents of the city of Peoria."

Giles echoed that sentiment, saying he backed Kelly because he believes the sitting senator is the best choice on the ballot. 

“He’s just done a great job representing the City of Mesa. It’s not any more complicated than that," Giles said. "I think he’s the best candidate. I am a lifelong Republican but I don’t prioritize partisan politics over what’s in the best interest of my city and my state.”

Craig McFarland, who also endorsed Kelly, called any potential censure he might face a "non-factor" as he is running unchallenged for a fourth term as mayor of Casa Grande.

The formal condemnations carry no specific sanctions, but are designed to dissuade voters from re-electing the official and send a message that they no longer have the party's backing.  

Regardless of how it impacts the disavowed mayors, the spat is emblematic of a larger issue in the GOP: it's the latest episode in a long series of dust-ups among Arizona Republicans.

Censures take party politics local

The Arizona GOP censured Cindy McCain, Gov. Doug Ducey and former Sen. Jeff Flake last year. McCain called it "a badge of honor," noting her late husband, Sen. John McCain, faced similar censures.

Earlier this month, state party leaders censured Arizona House Speaker Rusty Bowers — who is facing a Trump-endorsed challenger for state Senate  — after he testified in the Jan. 6 hearings that he had rebuffed Trump's request to help him overturn the 2020 election.

"Obviously the politics of the current Republican leadership is the politics of thuggery and bullying," Bowers said. "They're running people off faster than a wolf among sheep."

The latest censures show that infighting has now seeped into local politics.

What made GOP mayors throw-in with Kelly?

Republican mayors who spoke to The Republic shared similar reasons for supporting Kelly such as the senator being more accessible than most federal officials and the multi-billion-dollar infrastructure bills he championed in Washington D.C.

Kelly helped pass the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act, for example, which provided billions in federal cash to local governments for efforts like road and bridge repair, as well as airport upgrades and broadband access improvements.

"I had a good experience working with him over the last few years. He’s been very proactive, very engaging with the City of Mesa," Giles said. "I’ve been impressed with the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act ... and the funding he’s got for the small business in downtown Mesa."

Scottsdale Mayor David Ortega, who will be spared the GOP's wrath as an Independent, also endorsed Kelly and praised his help with drinking water and wastewater infrastructure. 

"That is a huge, critical issue in our city," he said. "He's highly responsive to our needs (no matter how) large or small."

'We would rather you just become a Democrat'

Each of the mayors who endorsed Kelly broke Republican Party rules, according to LD-10 GOP Chairman Gene Klund who said Arizona bylaws state that "no registered Republican should endorse a Democrat for election or re-election."

Bango said she was "surprised" by the widespread support of Kelly from the right, saying that it was an odd move for registered Republicans in Arizona. 

She cited Kelly's support of abortion rights as the reason why those endorsements are "opposite Republican values," especially now that some Arizona GOPers seek to completely ban the procedure following the Supreme Court overturning of Roe v. Wade.

In an email sent to Carlat ahead of her censure, the LD-28 GOP chair alleged that Kelly's co-sponsoring of a federal bill meant to enshrine certain abortion rights nationwide revealed his "extremism" on the controversial issue.

"That's very concerning to us that she would support someone who is completely opposite of our values," Bango said. "People voted for her based on the assumption that she was Republican when she was elected into office."

But most Arizona municipal offices are nonpartisan, meaning politicians don't run as R's or D's. Tucson is the only major city in the state that holds partisan elections. 

Although abortion was the only Kelly-specific issue mentioned by GOP officials, they also took swings at the Democratic Party more broadly. 

The LD-28 censure accused Democrats of everything from "promoting Critical Race Theory" to "preventing integrity in our elections" to "promoting socialism in the community."

The core message of the censures is the same from the governor down to city officials: if you cross party lines, "change your party." 

"We would rather you just become a Democrat and vote for Democrats than to be a Republican supporting someone like Mark Kelly, a Democrat that is completely opposite our values," Bango told The Republic. 

The LD-28 chairwoman said Republican precincts across the state will continue working to push back against the registered members who supported Kelly. 

"Many of us are, of course, coordinating in this effort," Bango said. "We all kind of started talking and saying, this is this is absolutely not acceptable that all of these Republican elected officials are endorsing Mark Kelly."

'I'm very comfortable with my decision'

Giles is not concerned about ruffling the GOP's feathers or the political ramifications that may entail.

He said his endorsement of Kelly marked the first time he openly supported any candidate in a partisan election and doubled-down on that decision, saying the senator is the "best candidate."

"I am an unapologetically Republican. (But) I'm going to vote for and support the best candidate regardless of party affiliation," Giles said. "I'm very comfortable with my decision. I wouldn't hesitate to do it again."

Carlat said that while she hasn't decided whether she wants to run for other public offices once her term expires, she believes the censure wouldn't be a political roadblock.

"Whatever I do in the future, it will not be based on Lori Bango or LD-28," Carlat said.

The Peoria mayor added that it's not in the local GOP precinct's authority to "tell me that they know how to be a Republican better than I do," and that defining who is and is not a solid party member is "obviously outside of the realm of their knowledge."

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Reach Sam at sam.kmack@arizonarepublic.com. Follow him on Twitter @KmackSam.

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