top of page

GT - NE Valley of Phoenix

Golden Ticket

GT - NE Valley of Phoenix

Scottsdale, Fountain Hills, Cave Creek, Carefree, Anthem, Paradise Valley, Deer Valley

Candidate Vote Rationale

This detail page gives the rationale for each
selection on the Golden Ticket.

2026 Primary Election

Send to
a Friend

GT - NE Valley of Phoenix

Federal Offices - Rationale

US House - AZ CD1
NE Valley (Scottsdale)
(Vote for 1)
Placeholder
Top Pick

Joseph Chaplik

Republican

Incumbent (LD3)

Conservative

Joseph Chaplik is a three-term Arizona state representative from Legislative District 3 within CD1. He first won in 2020 by defeating a three-term incumbent in the 2020 Republican primary.


He holds…

Placeholder
Top Pick

John Trobough

Republican

Conservative

John Trobough is a Scottsdale-based technology executive and first-time candidate. He is the former president and CEO of Narus, a Boeing subsidiary specializing in cybersecurity analytics, and spent over two decades in…

Placeholder
Top Pick

Jay Feely

Republican

Establishment

Former NFL kicker and broadcaster. Feely entered politics emphasizing mass deportations, banning transgender athletes in women's sports, and extending Trump tax cuts. However, multiple past criticisms of Trump's policies sugges…

US House - AZ CD4
East Valley (Scottsdale, Tempe)
(Vote for 1)
Placeholder
Top Pick

Dr. Zuhidi Jasser

Republican

Conservative

Dr. M. Zuhdi Jasser is a Phoenix physician (internal medicine and nuclear cardiology), U.S. Navy veteran (11 years, Lieutenant Commander), and nationally recognized expert on countering radical Islamism. He served…

US House - AZ CD8
Northwest Valley (I-17, Anthem)
(Vote for 1)
Charmaine Roth
CS PIck_Top Pick

Abe Hamadeh

Republican

Incumbent

Conservative

Abraham Hamadeh is the freshman Republican congressman for CD8. A first-generation American from a Syrian immigrant family raised in Phoenix, he holds degrees from ASU and the University of Arizona College…

State Offices - Rationale

Governor of Arizona
(Vote for 1)
Placeholder
Top Pick

Andy Biggs

Republican

Conservative

Andy Biggs has deep conservative roots in Arizona, serving as AZ Senate President where he united Republicans and advanced a conservative legislative agenda. He chaired the House Freedom Caucus and has…

Placeholder
Top Pick

David Schweikert

Republican

Conservative

David Schweikert is a self-described free-market conservative who has served in Congress since 2011, previously serving in the AZ Legislature and as Maricopa County Treasurer. He is known as a…

AZ Secretary of State
(Vote for 1)
Placeholder
Top Pick

Alex Kolodin

Republican

Conservative

Alex Kolodin is an election lawyer and AZ state representative (LD3) who has tangible legislative accomplishments on election integrity. He has sponsored and passed key conservative legislation like HCR2055 labeling…

Placeholder
Top Pick

Gina Swoboda

Republican

Establishment

Gina Swoboda has voter roll experience through her work with the Voter Reference Foundation and as staff for Katie Hobbs when she was AZ Secretary of State, but has implemente…

AZ Attorney General
(Vote for 1)
Placeholder
Top Pick

Warren Petersen

Republican

Conservative

Warren Petersen is the President of the Arizona Senate with a strong conservative legislative record dating to 2012. He is seen as the "acting AG" as he has actively intervene…

Placeholder
Top Pick

Rodney Glassman

Republican

Opportunist

Rodney Glassman is a JAG attorney in the US Air Force. He began his political career as a progressive Democrat. He served as a Tucson City Councilman (D), ran unsuccessfull…

AZ State Treasurer
(Vote for 1)
Placeholder
Top Pick

Elijah Norton

Republican

Conservative

Elijah Norton is a self-made businessman who built Veritas Global Protection from a two-person startup in 2011 into a company generating over $400 million in annual revenue with hundreds of employees…

Placeholder
Top Pick

Katherine Haley

Republican

Conservative

Katherine Haley is an Arizona native with 20+ years of policy and philanthropy experience. She served 13 years on Capitol Hill, including seven years as chief policy advisor to House Speaker…

AZ Sup't of Pub Instruction
(Vote for 1)
Placeholder
Top Pick

Tom Horne

Republican

Incumbent

Conservative

Tom Horne has deep, proven conservative roots and extensive experience, having previously served as both AZ Attorney General and AZ Superintendent of Public Instruction.


He won back the superintendent role in 2022. Horne has launched 15…

Placeholder
Top Pick

Kimberly Yee

Republican

Establishment

Kimberly Yee is Arizona’s State Treasurer (term-limited) and a longtime legislator who helped create the charter schools program in the AZ Senate. She served as a senior research analyst for the Senate Education Committee and…

AZ Corp Commission
(Vote for 2)
Placeholder
Top Pick

Kevin Thompson

Republican

Incumbent

Conservative

Kevin Thompson, elected to the Arizona Corporation Commission in 2022 and serving as chair in 2025, has focused on consumer protection by voting to lower rates for TEP and UNSE,…

Placeholder
Top Pick

Nick Myers

Republican

Incumbent

Conservative

Nick Myers, elected in 2022 as the first Pinal County commissioner, opened proceedings for rate reforms and testified on peak demands amid heatwaves. He voted to repeal efficiency mandates, cut…

Placeholder
Top Pick

Ralph Heap

Republican

Conservative

Ralph Heap, an orthopedic surgeon and Arizona House member since 2023, co-sponsored bills in the majority plan focused on American Dream preservation, safety, and prosperity.


In his 2026 ACC bid,…

AZ Legislature - Rationale

Legislative District 2

N Phoenix, I-17 Corridor

AZ Senate, LD2
(Vote for 1)
Placeholder
Top Pick

Tim Ferarra

Conseravtive

Republican

Tim Ferrara is a Republican challenger to Bolick. An Arizona resident since 2006, he is the Executive Pastor at LifePoint Church, a published Christian author, and hosts the top-ranked podcast. He…

Placeholder
Top Pick

Shawnna Bolick

Moderate

Incumbent

Republican

Shawnna Bolick has served in the AZ legislature since 2018 (House) and Senate since 2023. She has expressed conservative positions on election integrity, gun rights, and border security. However, she has…

AZ House, LD2
(Vote for 2)
Placeholder
Top Pick

Justin Wilmeth

Republican

Incumbent

Conseravtive

Justin Wilmeth has served in the AZ House since 2020 and has a solid legislative record with 29 bills signed into law across four sessions.


His legislation includes banning state contractors…

Placeholder
Top Pick

Paul Carver

Republican

Conseravtive

Paul Carver is a United States Marine Corps veteran, father of eight, and lifelong Arizonan whose conservatism was forged through service, not politics.


As a Deer Valley Unified School District…

Note: Danielle Skranek withdrew late in the race. Do not vote for her.  Instead, vote for Paul Carver as a WRITE IN candidate.

Legislative District 3

N Scottsdale, Fountain Hills

AZ Senate, LD3
(Vote for 1)
Placeholder
Top Pick

Conservative

Incumbent

Republican

John Kavanagh

John Kavanagh is one of Arizona's most accomplished conservative legislators, serving since 2007 with nearly two decades of experience. A retired 20-year police veteran (Port Authority NY/NJ) and criminal justice PhD,…

Placeholder
Top Pick

Hard Right

Republican

Robert Wallace

Robert Wallace is a political newcomer challenging Kavanagh from the right.


He earned his GED and has worked as a Chase-The-Vote Manager for Turning Point Action and as a real estate…

AZ House, LD3
(Vote for 2)
Placeholder
Top Pick

George Khalaf

Republican

Conservative

George Khalaf is a well-known political consultant, education freedom advocate, and data expert in Arizona conservative circles.


He has deep ties to the Center for Arizona Policy, where he supported fights…

Placeholder
Top Pick

Cody Riem

Republican

Appointed

Conservative

Cody Reim was appointed to the AZ House in March 2026 to replace Rep. Joseph Chaplik.


He is a small business owner and Rio Verde Foothills resident who gained prominence advocating…

Placeholder
Top Pick

Thomas Walsh

Republican

Conservative

Thomas Walsh II is passionate about preventive medicine having served as a dentist in the US Air Force (Captain) and later in private practice for the last 40 years. H…

Placeholder
Top Pick

Jay Schlum

Republican

Conservative

Jay Schlum is a former Mayor of Fountain Hills (2008-2012) and served four years as Town Councilman before that.


During the Great Recession, he led major budget cuts of roughly 50%…

Legislative District 4

S Scottsdale, Paradise Valley

AZ Senate, LD4
(Vote for 1)
Placeholder
Top Pick

Conservative

Incumbent

Republican

Carine Werner

Carine Werner is a first-term senator who defeated Democrat Christine Marsh in 2024.


She is a small business owner and Scottsdale Unified School Board member. She chairs the Senate Health &…

AZ House, LD4
(Vote for 2)
Placeholder
Top Pick

Matt Gress

Republican

Incumbent

Moderate

Matt Gress has served in the AZ House since 2023 and was reelected by a larger margin in 2024. He is a former public-school teacher, school board member, and budget chief…

Placeholder
Top Pick

Sandra Christensen

Republican

Conservative

Sandra Christensen, elected to the Paradise Valley USD school board in 2022, serves as the sole conservative voice, prioritizing fiscal responsibility, transparency, and student safety without compromise.


In her LD4…

Placeholder
Top Pick

Pamela Carter

Republican

Incumbent

Conservative

Pamela Carter was elected to the AZ House in 2024. She is a fourth-generation Arizonan, former business owner of a large Scottsdale sports medicine facility.


In her first term, she sponsored…

Legislative District 8

S Scottsdale, N Mesa

AZ LD8 -  AZ Senate – Bill Loughridge, (write in); AZ House, Donald Hawker

AZ Senate, LD8
(Vote for 1)
AZ House, LD8
(Vote for 2)

Local Offices - Rationale

Scottsdale City Council

(Vote for 3)
Placeholder
Top Pick

Barry Graham

Republican

Incumbent

Conservative

A CPA by profession, Barry Graham has served on the Scottsdale City Council since January 2023. Prior to his council service, he spent a decade volunteering on city commissions including the…

Placeholder
Top Pick

Michelle Ugenti-Rita

Republican

Conservative

Former Arizona State Representative (2011-2019) and State Senator representing LD23 (2019-2023). Michelle Ugenti-Rita compiled a strong conservative legislative record: she joined the Goldwater Institute lawsuit against Medicaid expansion, sponsored election integrity legislation…

Placeholder
Top Pick

Bob Littlefield

Republican

Fmr Council

Conservative

Bob Littlefield, served three terms on Scottsdale City Council, leading budget reforms, water issues, and aviation policies.


He voted for preserve expansions, senior centers, and opposed high-rises to protect neighborhoods.…

Placeholder
Top Pick

Eric Sloan

Republican

Moderate

Eric Sloan has a public affairs firm in Scottsdale.


He ran unsuccessfully for the Arizona Corporation Commission in 2018. He led the AZ Department of Gaming in the Ducey Administration.…

Placeholder
Top Pick

Crystal Carroll

Republican

Factional

Crystal Carroll positions herself as an Old Town Scottsdale small business owner claiming her business experience as the basis for her to be elected to the Council. However, voting records…

Scottsdale's Liberal Candidates

Incumbent Solange Whitehead is running to be rehired.  Remember - From 2020 to 2024, she (and the liberal council super majority) saddled us with tens of thousands of high-density apartments - including voting for the Axon apartment deal that gave away 12,000 homes worth of water without replacement requirements.  Water availability and decaying infrastructure was of secondary concern. 

 

She has a moderate, resident-friendly message, but her voting record has been decidedly liberal.  The remaining candidates are solidly liberal and of similar ideology as Whitehead.  They would send Scottsdale back in the wrong direction. ​ While Whitehead's service to Scottsdale is appreciated she has not earned a rehire bid. 

Scottsdale Incumbents_2026

Fountain Hills Mayor

(Vote for 1)
Placeholder
Top Pick

Incumbent

Gerry Friedel

Republican

Conservative

Gerry Friedel, sworn in as Mayor in December 2024 after four years on council, launched "Friedel Fridays" podcasts for transparency, emphasized road repairs and sheriff contract reviews, and represented on…

Placeholder
Top Pick

Brenda Kalivianakas

Republican

Liberal

Brenda Kalivianakis is a current Fountain Hills Town Councilmember challenging incumbent Mayor Gerry Friedel. While she was originally elected in 2022 as part of a conservative slate, she broke with…

Fountain Hills City Council

(Vote for 3)
Placeholder
Top Pick

Ben Larrabee

Republican

Conservative

Ben Larrabee, a Christian conservative and Fountain Hills resident, serves as data manager for Turning Point Action, honing skills in data analysis and organizational management relevant to council budgeting and…

Placeholder
Top Pick

Dan Kovacevic

Republican

Conservative

Dan Kovacevic currently serves as a commissioner on the Fountain Hills Planning and Zoning Commission, providing relevant municipal governance experience. A former real estate professional, he is running as part…

Placeholder
Top Pick

Matthew Corrigan

Republican

Conservative

Matthew Corrigan currently serves as a commissioner on the Fountain Hills Planning and Zoning Commission and is running on the conservative slate. He brings 30 years of experience with two Fortune…

Ballot Initiatives

Prop

133

Placeholder

This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test me…

Placeholder

Prop

134

Placeholder

This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test me…

Placeholder

Prop

135

Placeholder

This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test me…

Placeholder

Prop

136

Placeholder

This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test me…

Placeholder

Prop

137

Placeholder

This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test me…

Placeholder

Prop

138

Placeholder

This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test me…

Placeholder

Prop

139

Placeholder

This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test me…

Placeholder

Prop

140

Placeholder

This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test me…

Placeholder

Prop

311

Placeholder

This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test me…

Placeholder

Prop

312

Placeholder

This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test me…

Placeholder

Prop

313

Placeholder

This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test me…

Placeholder

Prop

314

Placeholder

This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test me…

Placeholder

Prop

315

Placeholder

This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test me…

Placeholder

Prop

479

Placeholder

This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test me…

Placeholder

Prop

486

Placeholder

This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test me…

Placeholder

Prop

487

Placeholder

This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test me…

Placeholder

Prop

488

Placeholder

This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test me…

Placeholder

Prop

489

Placeholder

This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test me…

Placeholder

Prop

490

Placeholder

This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test me…

Placeholder

Prop

491

Placeholder

This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test message. This is a test me…

Placeholder
bottom of page