Arizona Freedom Caucus slate looks to make a splash in GOP primary
The big picture: The far-right Arizona Freedom Caucus, a coalition of GOP lawmakers led by state Sen. Jake Hoffman (R-Queen Creek), has drafted several candidates for next year's statewide races.
The caucus finalized its lineup Tuesday when state Reps. Ralph Heap (R-Mesa) and David Marshall (R-Snowflake) launched Corporation Commission campaigns.
Hoffman, who is also a Republican National Committee member for Arizona, told reporters part of his job "is to help find good, strong candidates that match the Republican Party platform, and then to recruit them … [for] every office from the school board to the dog catcher to statewide races."
State of play: The Freedom Caucus slate includes:
Alexander Kolodin, a GOP state representative from Scottsdale, is running for secretary of state, and so far is the lone Republican looking to unseat Democratic incumbent Adrian Fontes.
Kimberly Yee, the current state treasurer, is challenging incumbent Tom Horne in the GOP primary for superintendent of public instruction.
On Tuesday, the caucus backed Heap and Marshall in their bids to unseat GOP incumbents Nick Myers and Kevin Thompson in the Corporation Commission race.
1 big race: The Arizona Freedom Caucus also enthusiastically supports U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs, who's running for governor.
Meanwhile, the caucus isn't recruiting candidates for attorney general or treasurer.
Hoffman said last month he's a "big fan" of Senate President Warren Petersen, who's running for attorney general.
Elijah Norton is the sole GOP candidate for treasurer. Hoffman said he'll help Norton to ensure he's "pointed in the right direction."
The intrigue: "The grassroots are on fire" for Freedom Caucus candidates, who should expect "a ton of grassroots support," Hoffman told reporters Tuesday.
What we're watching: Biggs is also backed by conservative youth organization Turning Point USA, a Freedom Caucus ally whose political action committee recently announced it would spend $500,000 on his campaign advertising.
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