Republican LD-6 House Candidate Brenda Barton has come under fire for misusing the endorsement logo of Arizona Nurses Association PAC on her campaign website. Barton was endorsed by them in 2016, when she last ran, but hasn’t earned their endorsement this time around because of her rejection of science related to COVID-19. (Barton termed out and had to sit out the 2018 election.) GOP Candidates Are Losing the Support of Healthcare Workers, Copper State Courier, July 2, 2020.
Because Barton termed out, the seat was opened to newcomer Walt Blackman, a Republican whose leadership on the pandemic has been a disaster. Blackman “has disregarded most COVID-related safety recommendations supported by medical professionals. In addition to decrying business shutdowns and attending President Trump’s rally in Phoenix — considered to have been a potential super spreader event — Blackman has cast doubt on the effectiveness of wearing masks in public.” GOP Candidates Are Losing the Support of Healthcare Workers, Copper State Courier, July 2, 2020.
The Arizona Nurses Association has, in fact, endorsed Democratic candidates Felicia French for LD-6 Senate and Coral Evans for LD-6 House. Although the AZNA endorsed Blackman in the Republican primary election, Robin Schaffer, Executive Director said, “Endorsement decisions were made prior to many of the recent developments regarding COVID-19. Unfortunately, Representative Blackman’s actions were not available at endorsement time for our consideration.” GOP Candidates Are Losing the Support of Healthcare Workers, Copper State Courier, July 2, 2020.
It’s notable that the AZNA didn’t endorse either Republican candidate in the LD-6 Senate primary. Notable, but not surprising since neither Sylvia Allen or Wendy Rogers honors science.
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