Clean Elections Commission Under Fire: Investigation Launched Over Controversial Debate Rule Changes

By Daniel Stefanski |

Republican lawmakers in Arizona are raising concerns regarding a recent ruling from the Clean Elections Commission. State Senator Jake Hoffman has formally questioned the legality of a new rule that prevents certain qualified candidates from participating in statewide and federal election debates.

In a letter directed at the Arizona Clean Elections Commission, Hoffman noted that the new rule was not submitted for review to the Governor’s Regulatory Review Council (GRRC). This oversight, he argues, violates Proposition 306, a measure approved by voters in November 2018.

The controversy revolves around the Commission’s decision to exclude Eduardo Quintana, the Green Party candidate for U.S. Senate, from the upcoming debate alongside Republican Kari Lake and Democrat Ruben Gallego. The Commission’s rule enforces a requirement that candidates must receive at least one percent of the total ballots in their party’s primary to qualify for debate participation. Quintana fell short of this metric, garnering only 282 votes in the primary.

“The Clean Elections Commission appears to be deliberately obstructing candidates from participating in debates, undermining the transparency intended by the voters through the Administrative Procedures Act,” Hoffman stated. He further emphasized that the perceived negligence from the Commission offends the non-partisan goals outlined in the Clean Elections Act, insisting voters deserve a comprehensive explanation.

Hoffman acknowledged KJZZ’s reporting, which brought the issue to his attention. His letter reiterated that under Prop 306, new rules enacted by the Commission should adhere to the statutory requirements of the Administrative Procedures Act. This adherence would have allowed the Arizona Green Party to contest the rule that effectively bars their candidate based on registration metrics.

Quintana expressed his appreciation for Hoffman’s intervention via social media, commending the senator for defending democratic inclusion in debates. “A big THANK YOU to Republican Senator Jake Hoffman for standing up for democracy by challenging the Clean Elections Commission for excluding me from the televised debate,” he posted.

Additionally, Quintana has urged Arizona’s Attorney General to investigate the Commission’s actions, claiming discrimination against the Green Party. “We believe this is illegal. We await the Attorney General’s response,” he stated.

Kari Lake also weighed in last month, encouraging the Commission to reconsider Quintana’s exclusion from the debate stage. She mentioned that the Commission would consult Gallego to gauge his willingness to include Quintana in the discussions.

However, as of last week, there has been no positive response from Gallego regarding the appeals for Quintana’s inclusion.

“It’s noteworthy that Kari Lake, although not my preferred candidate, has advocated for our democratic right to participate in the debates,” Quintana remarked, highlighting the unusual alliance between them on this issue.

Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.