By Jon Johnson
SAFFORD — Democratic candidates seeking federal, state, and local offices converged on Graham and Greenlee counties on Thursday, June 18, to connect with rural voters ahead of the upcoming election cycle.
The morning kicked off with a meet-and-greet hosted by the Graham County Democrats at the Graham County Chamber of Commerce. Attendees gathered in a room filled to about half capacity, enjoying sandwiches and fresh fruit while listening to individual speeches from a packed slate of candidates. Later that evening, the contingent scheduled a second stop to meet with voters at the Clifton Union Hall in Greenlee County from 5 to 6:30 p.m.
Unsurprisingly, water access and rural groundwater protection emerged as central themes of the day.
Rural Stability and “Servant Leadership” Take Center Stage
The headline speaker of the event was JoAnna Mendoza, who is running to represent Arizona’s 6th Congressional District in the U.S. House of Representatives. A small-town native and military veteran, Mendoza spoke passionately about her roots and the unique hardships rural communities face.
“I am just a small town girl from a small rural farming community. I grew up in Eloy, so I understand the challenges in our rural communities,” Mendoza told the crowd. “And for me, growing up with poverty, you know my family they were farm workers. I mean, even my grandmother worked in the fields well into her senior years… today, nothing has really changed. We see that families are struggling to make ends meet.”
Mendoza highlighted the compounding pressures of inflation, rising healthcare costs, and reductions in federal assistance programs. She noted that during a tour of local food banks earlier in the day, managers reported longer lines following recent SNAP benefit cuts.
“In the richest country in the world, we have children, seniors who are struggling,” Mendoza said, emphasizing that her campaign is driven by a desire to bring accountability back to the district. “I am not sitting up here telling you that I am going to fix them all because any politician that says that to you, they’re lying… But here is one thing I can promise you: is that I will show up. I will be accessible.”
Mendoza, who served 20 years across two branches of the military and deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan, also heavily criticized the human and domestic costs of recent foreign conflicts. She linked military overextension to subsequent domestic cuts affecting veterans, sharing a story of a local doctor at the Tucson VA who noted reductions in residential programming.
“This isn’t about power, and this isn’t about money. For me, this is a continuation of my service to country,” Mendoza stated. “We have to be willing to end the hatred and divisiveness in our country, talking to your neighbors who might be conservative, who may not see eye to eye with you on everything, but some of them love this country so much.”
Standing Up for Groundwater Rights
Tom Chabin spoke on behalf of Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes. Chabin, a veteran of Northern Arizona public service, dedicated his remarks to the pressing issue of rural water security, emphasizing Mayes’ work using state nuisance laws to push back against foreign corporate farming entities that drain local aquifers.
“Groundwater… that water is a community asset that is owned by the state of Arizona,” Chabin explained to the audience. “They don’t own it; their water rights are only discovered when the water gets to the surface.”
Other notable candidates who took the floor to present their platforms and pitch their visions for rural Arizona included:
- Clara Pratte for Arizona Corporation Commission
- Brian Matlock for AZ Mine Inspector
- Jackie O’Donnell Anderson for Arizona House of Representatives (LD #19)
- Aiden Swallow for Arizona House of Representatives (LD #19)
- Nick Monsour for State Treasurer
Important Election Information & How to Vote
With candidate swings through the Gila Valley picking up speed, voters are reminded of key upcoming election milestones in Arizona:
- Primary Election Day: July 21, 2026
- General Election Day: November 3, 2026
Voter Registration and Early Voting Deadlines
- Primary Election Registration: The deadline to register to vote in the primary is Monday, June 22, 2026. Early voting begins on Wednesday, June 24, 2026.
- General Election Registration: The deadline to register to vote in the general election is Monday, October 5, 2026. Early voting begins Wednesday, October 7, 2026.
How to Cast Your Ballot
Arizonans can check their voter registration status, register online, or view early in-person voting locations through the Secretary of State’s portal at my.arizona.vote. Registered voters enrolled in the Active Early Voting List (AEVL) will automatically receive their ballots by mail starting late June for the primary. Mail-in ballots must be received by election officials or dropped off at an official polling location by 7:00 p.m. on Election Day.
