Kansas Daily News Wire August 28, 2024

Posted on by State Affairs

Welcome to the Kansas Daily News Wire, your daily roundup of top state and political stories from newsrooms across Kansas. — Hawver’s Capitol Report/State Affairs

STATE

Lawmakers upset over destroyed documents in KanCare bid process: “Concerning,” “disturbing” and “shocking” were adjectives that lawmakers used to highlight their feelings about the destruction of some KanCare evaluation documents. (Richardson, State Affairs)

Kansas traffic fatality adds intrigue to allegations of financial misconduct with COVID-19 grants: A former Kansas Department of Commerce employee apparently found dead inside a wrecked vehicle purportedly wrote a statement to coincide with his death that accused state officials of awarding grants based on political considerations and asserted he was improperly accused of financial impropriety in handling of grants. (Kansas Reflector)

Tyson questions pursuit of grant funding for software to assist Kansans with HIV: Sen. Caryn Tyson on Tuesday questioned the future cost associated with a pursuit of federal grant funding for upgraded claims processing software designed to better assist Kansans living with HIV. (Resnick, State Affairs)

Online lottery sales are coming to Kansas; Here’s what to know: In a major move, the Kansas Lottery Commission adopted new rules to allow for online lottery sales in the state. (KSNT)

LOCAL

Lenexa commission deals big blow to Johnson County homeless shelter plan: A plan to convert a Lenexa hotel into Johnson County’s first permanent, year-round homeless shelter will head to a City Council vote next month — without the support of city staff and planning commissioners. (The Kansas City Star)

Wichita school board approves $450 million plan to rebuild some schools, close others: The Wichita School Board has unanimously approved a plan to significantly reshape the state’s largest school district — a plan filled with school closings, consolidations and new “right-sized” buildings as the district braces for shrinking future enrollment. (The Wichita Eagle)

‘Non-resident homeless’ people will be sent to their ‘place of origin’ under Lawrence policy: The City of Lawrence released new details Tuesday about its policy to serve primarily people who are from Douglas County with homelessness resources, and to send others elsewhere. (The Lawrence Times)

Auburn-Washburn middle and high school students safe after bus crash: Eight Auburn-Washburn school district middle schoolers and high schoolers were delayed in starting classes Monday morning after being involved in a collision. (Topeka Capital-Journal)

Delegation Roundup: Carter teaching Politics-sci at Xavier

Posted on by Jeremy Alford

— SAY HELLO TO PROFESSOR CARTER, CLASS: Congressman Troy Carter became Professor Troy Carter this week. He had his first day of school at Xavier University, where he’s teaching a political science course. “It’s an honor to give back to the university that shaped me and to help inspire the next generation of leaders,” said Carter. On the syllabus this semester is Lee H. Hamilton’s “Congress, Presidents, and American Politics: Fifty Years of Writings and Reflections.”

— MSNBC PRODUCER SPOTLIGHTS HIGGINS: With Congress busy investigating the shooting of former President Donald Trump, “The Rachel Maddow Show” producer Steve Benen wrote an op-ed questioning the membership of the House task force. “Perhaps most notable of all is Republican Rep. Clay Higgins of Louisiana — an election denier who’s also taken a leading role in concocting deeply weird conspiracy theories about the Jan. 6 attack, including bizarre allegations related to the FBI and ‘ghost buses,'” wrote Benen. “As a recent New York Times report summarized, ‘Even by a conspiracy theorist’s standards, the wild claims made by Representative Clay Higgins, Republican of Louisiana, stand out.'” Higgins, meanwhile, isn’t getting distracted from the task at hand. He has already released his preliminary investigative report, “candidly discussing some of his objective findings following his ‘boots on the ground’ trip” to the site of the shooting in Pennsylvania, according to his press team. You can view the report here. 

— GRADING JOHNSON & SCALISE: Advocate scribe Mark Ballard penned a piece over the weekend asking “how Mike Johnson, Steve Scalise are faring so far” while running the House. Ballard wrote, “Some fault the House majority for spending too much time on fractious side issues, such as impeaching Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas over border security. The Senate sidestepped starting an impeachment trial. And the House GOP spent months trying to impeach President Joe Biden, only to issue a report that showed no direct link to business deals that Republicans alleged amounted to wrongdoing. In the meantime, the House postponed considering the Farm Bill, dismissed a bipartisan Senate border security proposal and left town early without passing a budget.”

— NOLA TRIGGERS KENNEDY’S GAG REFLEX: “Sen. John Kennedy criticized New Orleans for not using federal funds allocated for city projects, calling it inexcusable and demanding accountability from city leaders. ‘It’s inexcusable, the people responsible should hide their heads in bags,’ Kennedy said. Kennedy blasted the city in an interview with WDSU, saying the money sent here from the federal government should have been spent by now. He says there is no excuse for not getting the money into the hands of those who need it. ‘It’s disgusting, it triggers my gag reflex’ Kennedy said. The money Kennedy referenced was allocated from the American Rescue Plan Act. He said the money goes back years. As WDSU Investigates has uncovered, tens of millions of dollars set aside for projects like cleaning catch basins, fixing roadways, and creating an ankle monitor program for teen offenders is collecting dust, almost two years after it was allocated.”

— CASSIDY ON RAIL & DEFENSE: U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy spent part of yesterday with the Bossier and Greater Shreveport Chambers of Commerce to discuss the resources coming to northwest Louisiana from the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and other appropriations. Last December, $500,000 was granted to the state to help build a passenger rail line that connects Shreveport, Ruston and Monroe to Dallas. Meanwhile, more than $4.3 million has been spent to improve both Shreveport airports since last month, he told chamber members. Cassidy also secured millions to add a medical facility for the 307th Bomb Wing on the Barksdale Air Force Base, and to plan and design a child development center and a new dormitory, via the National Defense Authorization Act. 

— LETLOW ON INFLATION: In an effort to communicate the challenges involved with rising prices, Congresswoman Julia Letlow recently took to X to offer an economic snapshot. Since the Biden Administration took office, she tweeted, the price of eggs have increased 46.8 percent, peanut butter 42.8 percent and crackers 40.3 percent. “These are common items in my kitchen and my constituents’ kitchens,” she wrote. “We’re all feeling the squeeze, and will continue to feel it until the administration tackles its reckless spending.”

Washington Mardi Gras just around the corner

Posted on by Jeremy Alford

The Grand Poobah of Louisiana political events, slated to culminate with the usual Saturday night theatrics on Jan. 25, is quickly approaching.

At a Krewe event earlier this month, the official poster by New Orleans artist Terrence Osborne was unveiled, giving revelers one of their first opportunities to begin building anticipation.

While the theme will be “Duty, Honor, Louisiana,” the vibe will most certainly be Isle of Orleans, with Congressman Troy Carter serving as chair and putting his own stamp on the now-weeklong spectacle.

The next Washington Mardi Gras will also be unique because it’s a milestone year — the 75th anniversary.

You can expect retrospectives and recognition of the moment, such as the limited edition Mystick Krewe of Louisianians silk tie designed by renowned Baton Rouge tailor Manuel Martinez. Only 250 are being produced, and you can order one here. 

Tickets are also being scooped up for the Lieutenant’s Encore Party, following the ball. The after-party theme is “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” and tickets will sell out.  

As for rooms at the Washington Hilton, the event host, and the Waldorf Astoria, where many of Louisiana’s top political players stay, a quick search of the Hilton app this morning for the dates of Jan. 20-26 showed zero availability. So plan accordingly.  

Guest column: State staffers are ‘boots on the ground’ for members of Congress

Posted on by Leah Long

I began my political career in Louisiana with U.S. Sen. John Kennedy as a state congressional staffer. Being born and raised in Arkansas, with a stop in Oklahoma working with the optometrists’ trade association, I quickly realized I had a lot of catching up to do.

Most people think of Capitol Hill when they hear “congressional staffer,” but being state-based meant “boots on the ground.” It is one of the most important roles when it comes to working for a member of Congress. 

I was Senator Kennedy’s eyes and ears in the district, in a position focused on relationship-building. Day to day, I was fortunate to hear from constituents about the issues affecting them and relay their messages to the Senator. From that work, I gained the invaluable experience of learning to discern and anticipate policy developments in the state, whether they were commercial, environmental or political, and to research and relay that information as well.

While there were plenty of long hours and tough days, the experience was a lot of fun, too. Every day was different. 

You might talk to constituents about their Medicare benefits in the morning, take a tugboat tour down the Mississippi that afternoon, and then mingle with powerful politicians and donors at a fundraiser that evening. I was in the thick of things day in and day out, which created a natural transition from congressional staffer to state director for the National Federation of Independent Business.

In my current role, I represent nearly 7,500 small business owners across Louisiana and Mississippi. I get to hear from our members about the challenges facing them—challenges like inflation, workforce development, taxes, and access to affordable health insurance. My experience working for a member of Congress really prepared me to be able to assist our federal lobbying team on critical issues, such as making the 20 percent Small Business Deduction permanent. NFIB’s number one priority is to be sure all members of Congress understand just how disastrous a 20 percent tax increase would be to so many small business owners fighting to keep their doors open.

We all hear elected officials say how “small business is the backbone of the economy.” Well, I get to share those small business real-life stories of what it takes to be the backbone of the economy with elected leaders in Baton Rouge, Jackson, and D.C. to help them understand the harsh realities they face day in and day out. 

When you go into your local restaurant, your favorite store, or see who sponsored your child’s sporting event, think of that small business owner. They contribute to our communities and our economy, and they help make Louisiana strong.

Leah Long is the National Federation for Independent Business director for Louisiana and Mississippi.

Howey Daily Wire Aug. 28, 2024

Posted on by Howey Politics Indiana

Happy Wednesday!

Good morning, subscribers. State Affairs’ Tom Davies writes that former state Rep. Sean Eberhart began serving a one-year sentence at a minimum-security facility in Kentucky. And Brian Howey reports former U.S. Secretary of State Condolezza Rice will keynote the unveiling of the Richard Lugar monument in Indianapolis next week. More news below. — Howey Politics Indiana/State Affairs

Former Rep. Eberhart starts prison sentence for casino conspiracy: Former state Rep. Sean Eberhart has reported to a federal prison in Kentucky to begin serving his sentence for illegally influencing casino legislation. (Davies, State Affairs)

Lugar monument unveiling set for Sept. 3: The mayor who created the modern capital city, the senator who saved Chrysler and kept weapons of mass destruction at bay — Richard G. Lugar — will be honored at 10 a.m. at Bicentennial Unity Plaza at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. (Howey, State Affairs)

STATE

Holcomb: $24 million to support school safety initiatives — Gov. Eric Holcomb said the focus of the Indiana Secured School Safety Board program “has been on listening to the needs of school districts while partnering with them to invest in the safety of Hoosier schools,” according to a news release. (Howey Politics Indiana/State Affairs)

New program aims to develop housing for Hoosiers with substance use disorder: Indiana plans to use $10 million from the national opioid settlement to create rental housing developments with supportive services for people with substance use disorder. (Ruhman, WFYI-FM)

Thursday: Indiana Grain Indemnity Corp. meeting — The Indiana Grain Indemnity Corp. will hold a public board of directors meeting at 10 a.m. at the History Reference Room in the Indiana State Library, 315 W. Ohio Street, Indianapolis. To join the meeting online, click here. (WBIW-AM)

Southwest Indiana unveils $72M mixed-use development as first READI 2.0 project: The Evansville Regional Economic Partnership and Southwest Indiana Regional Development Authority detailed plans for The Dominion, a $71.5 million project in Warrick County. (Brown, Inside Indiana Business)

Businesses learn how to work with DoD at Rally conference: Indiana is in the early stages of developing a corridor which could result in a cluster of defense-focused company investments and new jobs. (IBJ)

Indiana State Teachers Association names new leader: The Indiana State Teachers Association has selected Nate Williams to serve as its next executive director. The ISTA said Williams’ previous union-related experience includes serving as a UniServ director in Ohio and California, as well as director of collective bargaining and research for the Maine Education Association. (Brown, Inside Indiana Business)

Planners optimistic, lawmaker cautious about possible New Haven casino: A representative from Full House Resorts met with New Haven development officials regarding the proposal to relocate the company’s Rising Sun casino, a move that would require approval from the State Legislature. GOP state Sen. Tyler Johnson, who represents New Haven, said he is “typically very cautious and concerned about the impact of gambling.” (Rowley, WANE-TV)

Judge blocks rule allowing H-2A Workers to unionize in Indiana, 16 other states: A federal judge in Georgia has blocked the U.S. Department of Labor from enforcing a rule in Indiana and 16 other states that would prevent agricultural employers from retaliating against migrant workers with H-2A visas who join labor unions. (Miller, Hoosier Ag Today)

LOCAL

Trump outraises Harris in Johnson County so far: From Jan. 1 to July 31, Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump raised about $188,809 from Johnson County voters, while Democratic presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harris raised nearly $41,535 since President Joe Biden dropped out of the race on July 21. (Crenshaw, Daily Journal)

Terre Haute wants residents to switch to public water with no connection fees: The Terre Town Connect Project connects homes from private wells to the Indiana American Water public utility system with no up-front connection costs. The city secured $2 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds to cover the fees. (Hren, WFIU-FM)

Evansville mayor proposes $514M budget: Evansville Mayor Stephanie Terry’s $514 million budget proposal includes a 3% raise for non-union employees and 7% for police officers. (Jagielo, WNIN-FM)

Indianapolis official lobbying Purdue to occupy portion of Monument Circle: The city of Indianapolis has been pitching leaders of Purdue University to locate at least a portion of the school’s downtown extension on Monument Circle. (Shuey, IBJ)

Porter County commissioners ask municipalities for opinion on proposed public safety tax: The Porter County Board of Commissioners will send out a letter to all county municipalities requesting they take a stance on whether or not the county should implement a public safety tax. (Jones, Post-Tribune)

Healthier Moms and Babies launches infant mortality campaign in Allen County: Healthier Moms and Babies launched the Every Birth Network for Infant and Maternal Support to improve infant and maternal health outcomes in Allen County. (Decker, WOWO-FM)

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Jackson named to board of directors for The Truth Initiative Foundation: State Rep. Carolyn Jackson, D-Hammond, received an appointment to the board of directors for the Truth Initiative Foundation, a nonprofit public awareness and advocacy organization that seeks to discourage youth nicotine use, according to a news release. (Howey Politics Indiana/State Affairs)

CONGRESS

Congressional schedule: The Senate and House are out.

CAMPAIGNS

Braun says improving state’s education system to be career-focused is a ‘doable’ goal: Addressing the second-annual Rally innovation conference in Indianapolis, GOP gubernatorial candidate U.S. Sen. Mike Braun spoke about two priorities: ensuring state government is a partner to private sector innovation and tweaking the education system so it can generate the workforce to staff it. (IBJ)

PRESIDENTIAL 2024

Trump indicted a second time in election subversion case: Special Counsel Jack Smith filed another indictment against former President Trump over his alleged efforts to challenge the results of the 2020 presidential election, revising the charges in an effort to navigate a recent Supreme Court ruling that gave former presidents immunity for official acts. (Fox)

Tomorrow: CNN airs first joint interview with Harris, Walz — Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz will sit with CNN’s chief political correspondent and anchor Dana Bash for an interview that will air at 9 p.m. ET.

Justice Jackson: Supreme Court ‘has to be prepared to respond’ to election — Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson in a new interview said she is “prepared as anyone can be” for the possibility that this year’s presidential election could end up before the high court. (The Hill)

NATION

Lawsuits fly over election rules and who gets to vote: Democrats challenge certification rules in Georgia, while Republicans target registration procedures in Arizona and North Carolina. (The Wall Street Journal)

US consumer confidence rises in August: The Conference Board, a business research group, said its consumer confidence index rose to 103.3 in August from 101.9 in July. (AP)

White House schedule: President Joe Biden will receive the Daily Brief in the morning. Vice President Kamala Harris will travel to Savannah, Ga., to begin a series of campaign events throughout the state.

Process to determine BEAD eligible locations across North Carolina opens Sept. 3

Posted on by Matthew Sasser

North Carolina’s Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment (BEAD) program will launch a challenge process to determine locations that are eligible for BEAD funding on Sept. 3. 

Local governments, tribal governments, nonprofit organizations and broadband service providers can issue challenges based on the most recent data reported by the Federal Communications Commission in December 2023. 

North Carolina has 236,000 unserved and 150,000 underserved locations in need of broadband access. The state is set to receive $1.5 billion from the federal government for broadband deployment. 

“It’s really important to us that we have the most accurate data possible,” Emily Gangi, policy director for the Division of Broadband and Digital Equity for the North Carolina Department of Information Technology, said during a quarterly BEAD update on Tuesday. “This is a way for eligible challengers and stakeholders to submit challenges to the mapping data that is available and help us make sure that we have the best maps possible.”

A rebuttal phase will open Oct. 15 through Nov. 14 for the submitted challenges. The Department of Information Technology will conduct a final determination phase from November to December, during which the department will sustain or reject all received challenges and rebuttals and submit the data to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration. 

The pre-qualification process portal for internet service providers that wish to bid on BEAD-funded projects will also open in September, according to Gangi. 

“We feel confident, based on the $1.5 billion that North Carolina is going to receive from BEAD funding, that we’ll be able to achieve both of those two primary goals],” Gangi said of providing access to the unserved and underserved areas. 

A third aim of the funding will allocate money to community anchor institutions where people access the internet, such as schools, libraries and health care centers. The Department of Information Technology has compiled a list of 10,000 organizations that meet that criteria.

The state submitted a BEAD five-year strategic plan to the National Telecommunications and Information Administration last year, and it was approved in August 2023. “By 2025, North Carolina plans to become a national leader, ranking in the top five states for high-speed internet adoption,” the plan states.

Maggie Woods, deputy director of the Office of Digital Equity and Literacy, said the Department of Information Technology has developed a “robust” database compiling all the state’s resources, programs and projects focused on digital inclusion, such as public computer labs or sites that offer digital literacy training. 

“We hope that it’s a way to be able to connect with programs and resources within your own community,” Woods said. “We’ve heard over and over again that people don’t know what’s happening within their own counties and they want to connect with folks.”

The interactive database is expected to be released in October.

For questions or comments, or to pass along story ideas, please write to Matthew Sasser at [email protected] or contact the NC Insider at [email protected] or @StateAffairsNC 

NC farmers adjust to bird flu threat

Posted on by Clifton Dowell

The threat of a deadly new pandemic jumping from animals to humans is scary, but agriculture officials on Tuesday agreed that until a vaccine is developed to protect cows from bird flu, the best defense is simply to keep the number of infections as low as possible.

“I wish I had paid a lot more attention in genetics when I was in college,” Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler said. “But in my mind it’s a numbers game. The more virus that’s out there, the more likely it is to be mutating and spread to other species.”

The virus under discussion by a panel of experts convened by the North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services was highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI), also referred to by its strain name of H5N1. It was detected in North Carolina in April after infected cows from Texas were added to a dairy herd here. The herd was quarantined and declared virus-free a month later. 

Testing by the National Veterinary Services Laboratory has detected 192 infected herds in 13 states, said Dr. Eric Deeble, deputy under secretary for marketing and regulatory programs at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Before detecting a new infected herd in Michigan yesterday, he said, the lab had gone two months without a detection. “I know at some point there will be another state,” he said. 

Dr. Eric Deeble, USDA Deputy Under Secretary for Marketing and Regulatory Programs, takes part in a panel discussion on bird flu on Aug. 27, 2024. (Credit: Clifton Dowell)

U.S. Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Robert Califf said H5N1 for 20 years has been the No. 1 virus of concern for global pandemics. Historically around the world, when the virus has reached humans the death rate has exceeded 50%, he said. “When we got the message from USDA that there had been this infection of cows in Texas and then that spread, it just set off alarms all across the federal government because it’s been a big concern all along.”

Viruses are tricky, Califf said, because of their constant mutations. Farmworkers in the U.S. who have gotten the virus aren’t becoming seriously ill because the current version attaches to tissue around the eye, causing conjunctivitis. “If it mutates to attach to the lining of the lung like COVID did, we’re going to have a big problem,” he said. 

Potential illnesses among humans may be the most worrisome threat, but it isn’t the only threat that H5N1 poses. The panel discussed the importance of protecting the nation’s food supply as well as safeguarding the economics of farming in the state. 

“What we know is that high path AI is not going away and we are particularly vulnerable because of the size of our poultry industry,” Troxler said. In addition to the potential loss of valuable livestock, farming revenue is also endangered when the public changes its buying habits based on news reports of disease. 

Califf said one of the first FDA studies was to make sure milk and cheese were virus-free. “Pasteurization works,” he said.

Deeble said the USDA has programs to offset the costs that dairy farmers incur for testing their herds, buying personal protective equipment and veterinary care. For dairies where infection is found, the government will pay farmers 90% of lost revenue, he said.

Dr. Ben Shelton, a dairy farmer and veterinarian, discusses the challenges of bird flu on Aug. 27, 2024. (Credit: Clifton Dowell)

The aim of such programs is to make farmers feel secure about testing cows by reducing the financial risk. Another panelist, dairy farmer and veterinarian Dr. Ben Shelton, said that dairymen are generally dubious of government interventions but that he has only positive things to say about his dealings with agriculture officials in the state.

A number of candidate vaccines are being looked at by the private sector, Deeble said. Until then, identifying sick herds and isolating them is the best practice, he noted. 

Biosecurity — working to make sure viruses and other pathogens aren’t spread from farm to farm — is already part of agriculture, Shelton said. With cows being moved from herd to herd, however, some spread is inevitable. “I think it’s going to become a standard part of the industry that we just have to deal with,” he said.

For questions or comments, or to pass along story ideas, please write to Clifton Dowell at [email protected] or @StateAffairsNC on X.

Race for next session’s state Senate president starting now

Posted on by Yellow Sheet Report Staff

Railbirds told our reporter that Gowan is vowing to stage a rematch against Petersen for the Senate president seat – if the Republican party holds the majority. However, two ranking GOP senators told our reporter on Tuesday that they plan to vote for Petersen, despite backing Gowan in 2022. Petersen secured leadership of the chamber in 2022, defeating Gowan and Mesnard. Though some GOP senators were unsure of his ability to fulfill the role, two sources told our reporter on Tuesday that they have since changed their minds and would back Petersen this time around.  Kavanagh said Tuesday that he would vote for Petersen to lead the chamber, despite supporting Gowan for the role in 2022. He told our reporter that he thought Petersen “did well as president” and would back him for another term. Shope, who served as President Pro Tempore during the 2023 and 2024 legislative sessions, said Tuesday that he also plans to vote for Petersen – despite voting for Gowan in 2022. “Petersen still has the ability to reach out to the Freedom Caucus… to Hoffman… and keep the unity going,” Shope said. He “does not see the scenario for Gowan” to claim leadership after most GOP senators were impressed by Petersen’s leadership, he continued. Shope added that a few Democrat senators have recently reached out to him to discuss the possibility of a 15-15 senate tie, but did not say who. On the other hand, former lawmaker Vince Leach, who ousted Wadsack in the GOP LD17 senate primary, told our reporter on Tuesday that he would vote for Gowan to lead the chamber. He said he worked closely with Gowan to craft a budget and pass other legislation and can see him as President of the chamber, but noted that Petersen filled the position well. In a post on X on Tuesday, Wadsack said Leach’s support of Gowan could have garnered him support in the primary. “THAT is why the lobby, special interests and leftists targeted my seat to bring back #LobbyLovingLeach,” she wrote. “He’s also a vote for Gowan 4 Senate President.” Gowan did not respond to our reporter’s inquiry by our deadline. 

Way? No way, critics say of the Republican House candidate

Posted on by Yellow Sheet Report Staff

LD15 Republican House candidate Michael Way is seeking to dismiss the complaint against him, alleging he isn’t eligible to hold public office. Way’s attorney Andrew Gould filed a motion to dismiss the complaint on Monday and argued the plaintiff, Deborah Kirkland, a GOP precinct committeewoman in LD15, didn’t comply with the statutory filing deadline of April 15 applicable to her challenge. That date marked 10 days after the final day candidates could file nomination papers and petitions. The complaint was filed on Aug. 19, 126 days after the deadline. Gould’s motion also states the complaint was erroneously filed under a statute that is specific to “members of the legislature.” Way has not yet been elected to office. The complaint also requests a court order if Way is elected to office and Gould wrote in his motion that the claim is not ripe. “This action is manifestly improper. Way should not be forced to expend legal resources defending a lawsuit that should never have been brought,” Gould wrote. Kirkland’s complaint alleges Way hasn’t resided in LD15 for three uninterrupted years that would make him eligible to run for office and provided documents from the North Carolina State Board of Elections showing that he voted in North Carolina as of November 2022. Peter Anello, endorsed by J. Parker, ran with Hoffman and Carter for the seat but lost to Way in the primary election. Martinez said in a statement that Way meets the requirements to appear on the ballot. “I will not stand for baseless accusations against Republicans at any time,” Martinez said in a statement. “Furthermore, as a Republican Party, we need to be unified and supportive to continue the strong leadership Republicans provide for the State of Arizona.” Way has called the claims against him a “false narrative” pushed by “far left” Arizona influencers and the “Fake News Media.” He states he’s lived in Arizona for 15 years. A railbird previously told our reporter some Republicans are concerned Democrats could challenge the seat if he wins in November. “Democrats have ZERO chance of beating me at the ballot box in November. They are instead resorting to writing fan fiction in an effort to gaslight Democrat donors to believe this seat is somehow in play,” Way wrote in a post on Facebook responding to an article published by The Arizona Republic about his candidacy. 

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