Ultraliberal LD4 House Candidate Seeks to Tame ESA Program

By Staff Reporter |

A politically moderate legislative district may soon be represented by one of the state’s most liberal officials if voters select Karen Gresham in the upcoming November General Election.

Karen Gresham, a Democrat, is running for the Arizona House of Representatives in Legislative District 4, which encompasses northcentral Phoenix. Gresham currently serves as Governing Board President for the Madison Elementary School District and is seeking re-election to this position as well, aiming for another four-year term.

On March 29, Gresham and her Legislative District 4 running mates announced they had submitted enough signatures to qualify for the ballot.

Gresham is known for her strong liberal values and has a history of supporting Democratic causes and candidates. According to OpenSecrets.org, she has donated to the Democratic Party of Arizona, Planned Parenthood of Arizona, Save Our Schools, and several other liberal organizations and candidates, including Hillary Clinton and Katie Hobbs.

The Democrat has received endorsements from various liberal advocacy groups, such as Arizona List, Moms Demand Action, Human Rights Campaign of Arizona PAC, Sierra Club, Save Our Schools Arizona, Emily’s List, and National Organization for Women Arizona PAC.

She has openly supported reproductive rights, particularly following the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision. On June 24, she emphasized the need for legislative action to protect reproductive freedoms in Arizona.

In the two years since the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision, Arizonans reproductive freedom has been in a state of uncertainty. We MUST pass the Arizonans for Abortion Access initiative and flip the legislature to protect reproductive freedoms.

— Karen Gresham (@KarenGreshamAZ) June 24, 2024

Her campaign underscores her commitment to educational reform, citing her experience on the Madison Elementary School District board. On her website, Gresham states, “I know what Arizona schools, teachers, and students need,” and declares her passion for improving education.

However, her educational views include controversial stances. At a recent campaign event, she proposed consolidating funding from charter schools, public schools, and the ESA system under the public school umbrella.

In 2020, Gresham criticized public charter schools receiving small business PPP funds, stating that it was improper.

The Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC) and Sister District Project South Bay are also backing her. These groups are focused on flipping the Arizona State Legislature from Republican to Democrat control and advocate for policies like the Green New Deal and Medicare for All.

Legislative District 4 is highly competitive, with a narrow 3.4% vote margin between Republicans and Democrats in the last nine statewide elections, per the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission. Republicans have won five of those contests, while Democrats secured four.

In the Democratic Primary, Gresham is running alongside former State Representative Kelli Butler. They will face incumbent State Representative Matt Gress and Pamela Carter from the Republican Primary in November.

Legislative District 4 currently has only one legislator, Matt Gress, following a Democrat’s resignation last month. Gresham was one of three Democrats nominated to be considered for the vacant seat by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors. The selected individual will serve until January 2025.

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