Labor Unions Pour Millions into Support for David Cook Against Wendy Rogers in Senate Showdown

By Matthew Holloway |

Research by AZ Free News reveals a complex financial trail linking Arizona labor unions to a Democrat-funding SuperPAC, and subsequently to a ‘Conservative’ PAC. The money ultimately funds a political consultant working for State Rep. David Cook against his 2024 opponent, Arizona Sen. Wendy Rogers.

It began in February with a $400,000 donation from Arizona Pipe Trades 469 to Residents for Accountability, a SuperPAC contributing over $1.36 billion to ‘ActBlue’ in 2024. ‘ActBlue’ donated precisely $261,617.02 to Revitalize Arizona, a Democratic Political Action Committee (PAC). This amount then moved to McShane, LLC, political consultants for Rep. David Cook, intended to oppose Wendy Rogers in the upcoming election.

The funds metaphorically transitioned from blue to red.

This story parallels a similar scheme uncovered by AZ Free News in 2022. Back then, Revitalize Arizona and Rep. David Cook were also involved after Cook opposed his party on a key union-related bill—a critical vote that resulted in a win for unions and a loss for local governments and small contractors.

Previously, Revitalize Arizona, chaired by Israel Torres of Torres Consulting and Law Group, funneled significant sums to various groups and firms, including $48,000 in 2020 and over $681,200 in the past decade to Torres Multicultural Communications. Most funds for Residents for Accountability, another PAC led by Torres, came from unions such as Arizona Pipe Trades 469 PAC and others invested in political polling companies aligned with high-profile Democrats and organizations like AFL-CIO and UFCW Arizona.

In 2024, the financial transfer shifted path. From Revitalize Arizona, the same amount of $261,617.02 moved to Arizona Voters, managed by the American Campaign Finance Foundation. Arizona Voters then transferred it to Arizona First, a Conservative SuperPAC. Ultimately, the funds reached McShane, LLC on June 25, 2024, completing the transfer in five steps.

Matthew Holloway is a reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.