In Tuesday’s election, Arizonans voted on numerous bond and ballot measures, including a property tax increase, while recalling a Republican Mesa City Councilwoman who had been targeted for defeat by Turning Point Action, the political wing of the powerful Turning Point USA (TPUSA). The vast majority of ballots were counted by 8 p.m. after polls had closed.
Mesa City Councilman Julie Spilsbury was recalled, with challenger Dorean Taylor defeating her 52.78% to 47.22%. The recall effort cited three reasons for removing Spilsbury. First, she voted to convert a Mesa hotel into a transitional housing program. Second, she voted to raise the pay of councilmembers. Third, she voted to increase the cost of water and other utility rates. Other critics cited her endorsement of Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and vote in favor of broadening an antidiscrimination ordinance to include transgenders.
While turnout for most elections countywide hovered around 20% of voters, 32.32% showed up to vote in the Mesa recall, in large part due to TPUSA, which is headquartered in Phoenix, mobilizing voters.
Maricopa County posted the early results of its election last night at 8 p.m. Prop. 409, the controversial ballot measure increasing property taxes on homeowners with a secondary tax costing $900 million to expand the county’s public hospital system, was narrowly passing 50.96% to 49.04%. Former Republican governors Doug Ducey and Jan Brewer provided prominent backing.
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