The Arizona Green Party suspects that two candidates who will appear on its primary ballot for the United States Senate election later this year have been planted by the Democratic and Republican parties to influence the outcome of the general election.
According to a recent Washington Post article published on Friday, the party suspects that Arturo Hernandez and Mark Norton, the only names to appear on the party’s primary ballot, are being supported by the Republican and Democratic parties respectively. Green leadership claims that neither candidate has been involved with the party in the past as an officer, volunteer, or dues-paying member. This comes at a particularly significant time for the party, as it recently regained its party-recognition status for the 2024 and 2026 election cycles.
“We have been suspicious of both of these people since the day they filed because we know our Greens,” Arizona Green Party co-chair Cody Hannah is quoted as saying to the Washington Post, “We’re a small group. When somebody random jumps onto the primary ballot and starts collecting signatures, it sets off alarm bells.”
The party initially rose suspicions about both candidates back in late March, cautioning members about signing nomination papers.
Instead, the Arizona Green Party is reportedly urging members to reject both candidates and write in Pima County affiliate Chair Eduardo Quintana. Arizona’s primary elections for the Green, Republican, and Democratic parties will take place on July 30, 2024.
This is why some Greens (and members of other third parties) have talked about dues-paying membership in the past.
At the same time, a bit of a reflection on the party. (Here in Tex-a**, there’s also no Green running for the Senate, but with its convention system, harder for an interloper to crash.)