September's 2026 President's Message

September 2026

Welcome to September! Two thirds of 2026 is now behind us, with only 63 days until the General Election. How time flies! And that’s after holding the Primary Election 2 weeks earlier than previous years. Given that time is fleeting and the most consequential Arizona election is very near, I’m going to talk about several action items that we should be considering, collectively and personally, over the next 2 months.

DEFINING OUR GOALS & OBJECTIVES

What lessons did we learn from the Primary? Well, if you have made a reservation for the September 3rd PVRW luncheon, you will be privy to some interesting, and perhaps stunning, facts and figures from the Primary. Voter turnout across Arizona was extremely low and Michelle Burchill will present the results and her assessment going forward. Voter trends can be positive at times but can also indicate unexpected and disturbing trends that we need to be aware. George Khalaf will share his observations and recommendations of the Primary at our luncheon as well. Based on these findings, we can establish and act on specific goals & objectives, the most important being to take Arizona back and keep it RED!

PREPARING AN ACTION PLAN

There are specific Actions to be taken as we move forward.

First of all, let’s be UNITED. Being united behind every single Republican candidate, up and down the ballot, is essential. Even if your candidate did not come out on top in the Primary, it is imperative that we all provide our support and vote for the respective Republican candidates who successfully ran and won the Primary election. In addition, DO NOT UNDERVOTE! Vote for as many candidates as specified. Otherwise, votes are being left on the table.

Secondly, make a plan to VOTE. Ensure that your early ballot is completed, signed and delivered to a ballot box or an election location on time. Be thorough, be accurate and be timely! There were approximately 900 ballots that did not make it to the Yavapai County Recorders office by 7PM on Election night, and by law, they could not be counted. The US Postal Service may have been at fault, but if the voter did not plan extra time for their ballot to be delivered, it will not be counted. Let’s not let that happen!

Thirdly, be an INVESTIGATOR. If you are unsure of a candidate’s beliefs or platform, research their positions to increase your comfort level. If you do not understand the scope of a Ballot Proposition, do some research to understand the premise and outcome of a yes or no vote for that proposition. The PVRW October meeting will be dedicated to presenting State and Local ballot propositions to assist with your understanding of the ramifications of your vote for or against those propositions. But nothing really takes the place of doing your own research.

Fourthly, be an AMBASSADOR for the Republican cause. Reach out to your friends, neighbors and family to help them understand what’s at stake. Strongly encourage them to vote and communicate how important each vote actually is. Step out into the community to door knock, text, email, make phone calls to reach as many Republicans as well as Independents that can make a difference. Participate as you are able as poll workers, poll observers, distributors of Golden Tickets, staffing voter registration booths, and other activities to encourage increased voter participation and to protect election integrity.

WORKING THE PLAN TO CONCLUSION

Once you are comfortable with your Action Plan, start working it. Make appointments, sign up for specific activities you are interested in, and work your plan to completion. Every person can make a difference! Make this a priority over the next 2 months, and if we all do this collectively, we can take our State back. Arizona can continue to be the RED state it should be. We have had enough of the Democrat takeover and the frustration of the Governor’s vetoes. We need action now! Be a part of this movement and make a difference!

REGISTER FOR THE UPCOMING CONFERENCE!

October 8 through 10 are the dates of the AzFRW Board of Directors Fall Conference, and the good news is it will be held here in Prescott at the Prescott Resort and Conference Center, right in our backyard! I’d like to encourage as many of you as are interested in attending. It is open to ALL members. There currently is an Early Bird Registration fee for $45, which will increase to $60 on September 6th. This conference will be specifically focused on Republican efforts to win the General Election and will include activities designed to Get Out the Vote. It will be a team effort, so come be a part of the Republican Team who wants to win in November!