BISBEE WIRE/SPECIAL 2026 PRIMARY EDITION

BISBEE WIRE/SPECIAL EDITION

editor: fred miller            June 28, 2026           Primary election/June 2026

2026 PRIMARY ELECTION

This is a totally biased, very opinionated, Cheat Sheet; a blatant effort to sway your voting preferences.

DEADLINES

Go here for basic info

June 24-July 17....last day to vote in person (at the county complex at 1415  Melody Lane)

July 10...last day to request an early ballot

July 14...mail back early ballot to ensure it getting there on time

July 21...election day

BALLOTS

If living in Bisbee, Douglas, along the border, you are in Congressional District 7, Legislative District 21. If living in most every other part of Cochise County you are in Congressional District 6, Legislative District 19. (I do not have a ballot for those)   

You can track your ballot here

For every candidate running in every Arizona office go here 

There is one correct way to fill in your ballot, blacken the entire oval within the lines. That's it, you can do that, I'm counting on you. 

In Bisbee...Mayor is citywide, however you can only vote for a ward candidate in the ward you are living. I've listed all ward candidates. In the case of a write in candidate, such as Cooper Raphael in Ward 1, you have to blacken the oval and write in her name-legibly. The vote will not be counted if the oval is not blackened. Her name will not be listed. She needs a minimum of 35 votes. if you are in any other ward you will not see a write-in.

This is how to do it in Ward I....

This is a Democratic Party ballot. In the primary, you will only get a  ballot for the party you are registered. If an independent you will not get a ballot unless you have specifically asked the recorder for one of the party ballots.

It is futile to talk of republican primaries. but I do it anyway down below.

The Mayor office and Ward candidates are on the back of the ballot, please turn over to vote for them. They are non-partisan offices. 

Mayor of Bisbee

◉  BURKERT AMY

    She is best choice. She is the person that listens, wants to create pathways to involve residents, has a good head for numbers, and has specific ideas how to proceed in a way that is beneficial to all while keeping our Bisbee identity. 

Ward 1

◉  Write in COOPER RAPHAEL (make sure to blacken the oval!)

    Another person who is thoughtful and analytical. Just what is needed on the council.

Ward 2

◉ PRIESTLY TERRY

    He is clearly the best choice; thoughtful, no drama, cooperative. His opponent has so many red            flags, it's like a high wind warning alert. 

Ward 3

◉  NO OPPOSITION FOR EITHER SEAT

     vote Trish (2 yr term) and/ or Anna (4 year term) (vote for two, one, or none)  or leave blank if you         are dissatisfied with either or both.

Congress District 7

 ◉   Grijalva, Adelita

Governor

 ◉  Hobbs, Katie 

State Senator District 21

◉  Gabaldòn, Rosanna

State Representative District 21 (vote for 2)

◉  Lopez, Miranda

◉  Stahl Hamilton, Stephanie

    Newbie Lopez could be a progressive voice for our district. For the last several elections the current office holder, Consuelo Hernandez, has recruited someone to run against Stahl-Hamilton on a slate with her. Ms. Hernandez is the sister of Alma Hernandez  (District 20 the woman who led a delegation of legislators on a trip to Israel during the legislative session last year. Both women have voted for a constitutional convention, voted for water rights for large corporations, and generally have voted for some quite conservative bills, in addition to be hard core Zionists. Both women have been late in filing campaign reports and lax in paying late fees. When Consuelo was called out, she forked over $24,000 in late fees early last month. 

Secretary of State 

◉  Fontes, Adrian

Attorney General

◉  Mayes, Kris

State Treaurer

◉   Mansour, Nick

Superintendent of Public Instruction

◉  Ruiz, Teresa Leyba

I went to a meet and greet with her, and was impressed with her grasp of problem in the Ed dept. Former teacher and community college administrator. She has vowed to rein in parents' 'stockpiling or 'hoarding'' of money to use for college.  Also said she would disallow blanket approvals for under $2000, which is done now. She promotes better oversight about what voucher money can be spent on. 

State Mine Inspector

◉   Matlock, Brian

Corporation Commissioner (vote for 2)

◉   Pratte, Clara

◉   Hill, Jonathon

Clerk of Superior Court

leave blank

Justice of the Peace Prec. 1

◉  Poppe, Janus

Constable Prec. 1

leave blank

Judge of the Superior Court Div 1

◉  Larsen, Joel

Judge of the Superior Court Div2

leave blank

Judge of the Superior Court Div 3

leave blank

If you are voting in CD6 and LD 19

Congressional District 6

JoAnna Mendoza (Dem)

Legislative District 19

Senate....Bob Karp is a write in. Blacken the oval/write his name 

CLEAN COPY to COPY

◉ Mayor  BURKERT AMY

◉ Ward 1 Write in COOPER RAPHAEL

◉ Ward 2 PRIESTLY TERRY

◉ Ward 3  vote Trish or Anna or none

Congress District 7  ◉   Grijalva, Adelita

Governor  ◉  Hobbs, Katie 

State Senator District 21  ◉  Gabaldòn, Rosanna

State Representative District 21 (vote for 2) ◉  Lopez, Miranda  ◉  Stahl Hamilton, Stephanie

Secretary of State   ◉   Fontes, Adrian

Attorney General   ◉  Mayes, Kris

State Treaurer   ◉   Mansour, Nick

Superintendent of Public Instruction   ◉  Ruiz, Teresa Leyba

State Mine Inspector  ◉   Matlock, Brian

Corporation Commissioner (vote for 2)   ◉   Pratte, Clara   ◉   Hill, Jonathon

Justice of the Peace Prec. 1   ◉  Poppe, Janus

Clerk of Superior Court   leave blank

Constable Prec. 1  leave blank

Judge of the Superior Court Div 1  ◉  Larsen, Joel

Judge of the Superior Court Div 2 leave blank

Judge of the Superior Court Div 3 leave blank

The Grand Ole Party candidates are nothing but trump stooges now. Gotta feel a bit sorry for genuine  conservatives that have no place to go. Lettum duke it out and we'll see what the November races shape up like. 

For guv, do you want a guy who actively helped participate in the Jan 6. assault on the capitol (Biggs), or a used to be conservative party guy but is doing the trump two-step to the right (Schweikert). In LD 19, the 82 year old water queen Gail Griffin, the bible thumper Lupe Dias, and fireworks champion David Gowen, or the turning point top Cheryl Caswell.  How about an election conspiracist (Kolodin) against an repub insider (Swobodo)  for sec/state, or a house rep in CD5  that has recently been accused of sending dick pix to women, videoing his wife and best friend doin the horizontal mambo (Lamb). Or maybe a guy that has never tried a case, became an attorney a couple years ago but is an lege insider (Peterson) against a guy who has been beaten more times than a rug (Glassman) for Attorney!General. And a supe of Education caught on taxpayer time diddling an employee as well as approving school voucher money for high end knick knacks (Horne) running against retread treasurer (Kimberly Yee) who sat on records detailing how hundreds of milllions were spent on voucher payments.

As you see, slim pickins.