Sen. Burch’s Controversial Voting Record: Open Borders and a Soft Stance on Crime

By Staff Reporter |

State Senator Eva Burch, a Democrat from Arizona’s Legislative District 9, is campaigning for reelection in the upcoming November General Election. Burch aims to extend her term in a district that is known for its competitive political landscape.

Endorsed by several progressive organizations, her campaign highlights support from Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona, Save Our Schools Arizona, and the Human Rights Campaign in Arizona, among others. These endorsements underscore her alignment with liberal values as she seeks to represent her constituents.

Burch’s voting record demonstrates a consistent stance on immigration and border security. Notably, she voted against HCM 2007 in 2023, which urged Congress to pass the State Immigration Enforcement Act, allowing states to impose criminal penalties for certain immigration violations. Additionally, she opposed SB 1231, a measure aimed at making illegal entry into Arizona from outside a lawful port of entry a criminal offense.

Further illustrating her position, Burch rejected a recent bill, HCR 2060, that sought to place a border security measure on the November ballot. This proposal aimed to enhance local law enforcement’s ability to address issues stemming from the ongoing border crisis, despite surveys indicating broad support among Democrats for such efforts.

Burch has also voted against measures intended to benefit Arizona businesses and reduce taxation. In 2023, she opposed SCR 1018, a resolution limiting local governments from imposing vehicle mileage taxes, as well as SB 1156, which would have increased individual tax deductions for adoption expenses. Her resistance continued into the 2024 legislative session, where she rejected SB 1056, aimed at constraining local tax increases.

In the realm of criminal justice, Burch’s record reflects a soft approach. She voted against several bills designed to tighten penalties for crimes and support victims. In 2024, her opposition to SB 1414, which sought harsher sentencing for repeat retail theft offenders, drew criticism. She also declined to support HB 2591, which addressed contracts involving forced or child labor.

Arizona’s Legislative District 9 remains a battleground, exhibiting a narrow 2.6% margin between Democrats and Republicans across the last nine statewide elections. In these contests, Democrats hold a slight advantage, winning five of the nine races.

Having run unopposed in the primary election, Burch will face Republican candidate Robert Scantlebury in November. In their previous matchup during the 2022 General Election, Burch secured her position by winning more than 3,000 votes over Scantlebury.