Schwiebert’s Senate Run Targets School Choice and ESA Program

By Staff Reporter |

Another middle-of-the-road legislative district in Arizona may shift to a liberal representation after November’s General Election, as Democrats and left-leaning independents voice their preferences. Judy Schwiebert, a current State Representative, is vying for the Arizona State Senate seat in Legislative District 2. She announced her candidacy in June 2023, emphasizing the necessity of addressing critical issues such as teacher shortages, affordable housing, and water crises.

Today, I am announcing my candidacy for the AZ State Senate in Legislative District 2. Now is the time to make real progress for Arizona families, so everyone gets their chance to thrive. Join our team and chip in now —> pic.twitter.com/TKI1imW0I7

— Representative Judy Schwiebert, LD2 (@JudyForAZ) June 16, 2023

Schwiebert has submitted over 1,600 signatures to the Arizona Secretary of State’s Office, far surpassing the required minimum to qualify for the ballot.

Thanks to so many amazing and dedicated volunteers, our campaign turned in over 1600 signatures this morning to qualify for the ballot! That’s three times more than the minimum required! I’m deeply honored to have the support of our community. pic.twitter.com/29djq2Tbou

— Representative Judy Schwiebert, LD2 (@JudyForAZ) March 27, 2024

Several organizations have endorsed Schwiebert, including National Organization for Women Arizona PAC, the Arizona Education Association, and the Human Rights Campaign PAC.

If Schwiebert defeats the Republican primary favorite, Shawnna Bolick, the district will see a significant shift in educational policies. Schwiebert has strongly opposed the Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA) program, which she argues diverts necessary funds from public schools to private institutions and creates substantial state budget deficits.

In June 2022, Schwiebert voted against the expansion of the ESA program, indicating her stance on educational funding redistribution.

Her endorsements suggest she would continue to challenge school choice initiatives if elected to the state senate. The Arizona Education Association and Save Our Schools Arizona have voiced similar concerns about the impact of diverting public school funds to private school programs.

4 years later, the only change has been universal vouchers. The majority refuses to even consider sensible legislation to raise educator pay and improve retention.

— Representative Judy Schwiebert, LD2 (@JudyForAZ) April 15, 2024

During the 2023 Arizona Legislative Session, Schwiebert voted against a bill that proposed to mandate salary increases for teachers, citing concerns over the financial implications for public schools.

Arizona Legislative District 2, covering a large portion of northcentral Phoenix, remains competitive with a narrow 3.8% vote spread over the past nine statewide elections. Despite Democratic efforts, Republicans have won six of these races, making the district a challenging battleground.

Schwiebert will face the victor of the Republican primary, either the incumbent Shawnna Bolick or challenger Josh Barnett, in the general election. Bolick has criticized Schwiebert for aligning with policies she claims harm small businesses and undermine educational choice.

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