I’m not a lawyer, but I am a Fighter.

They tried to end my campaign with a cheap trick. I’m fighting back. Let me tell you about how things are going.

I have filed an appeal to the Arizona Supreme Court.

While the other side celebrates, I have spent the last 72 hours doing nothing but eating, sleeping, and breathing statutes and case law. I have 25 pages of statutes, case law, and argumentation not loaded for bear but for elephant. We aren't just trying to win and stay on the ballot—we are trying to win so thoroughly that it ends this lawfare tactic that the GOP has used to give themselves uncontested elections for far too long.

My ballot petitions were challenged.

The Republicans thought they could knock me out without a single vote being cast.

I showed up to court alone. No attorney. Not because I’m arrogant, but because we didn’t have the time to raise the funds for one. We are running a grassroots campaign in a district that is turning from deep red to purple to blue—and the establishment is terrified.

I had their challenge dead to rights. Their challenge was sloppy and untrue. A.R.S. 16-351 says it should be thrown out. I had the truth on my side.

But here is the ugly reality of our justice system:

Truth isn't always enough.

Since I’m not a lawyer, the opponent beat me with procedural tricks and courtroom antics. They didn't win on the truth of their challenge; they won on technicalities. Despite what the statute says, the judge allowed them to admit a whole new challenge after hours the night before with brand new claims and to ignore the parts of the county recorder’s reports they didn’t like.

It wasn’t a hearing, it was an ambush.

I lost by one single signature.

But I am not done.

I am still not a trial lawyer. I am a tenacious and thorough researcher, and I’m driven by justice, but I know my limits. On appeal, procedural gamesmanship is even more brutal. I have the better argument, but I need a professional who knows the courtroom chess moves to get that argument heard.

I need a lawyer. And lawyers aren't free.

If you want to give Southeast Arizona an actual choice—more of the same garbage vs. a candidate who will fight for you—I need your help right now.

Donate $5, $25, or whatever you can spare. Every dollar goes directly to the $5000 needed to bring in a lawyer to keep me on the ballot, and this is an expedited process, so every day wasted is critical. If we don’t raise enough, I’ll have to fight this on my own again, and those are terrible odds. If I can get a lawyer on the case by Monday April 20th, they will have the time they need to make the difference. I’ve filed my notice to appeal and I’ll file my case with the Supreme Court Of Arizona as soon as I get the stamped copy from the court, and the case could be heard within a matter of days.

Never let it be said that we don’t fight for what we believe in.

Even if I lose this appeal and can’t push it further I’m still in your community, at council meetings, talking before the county board of supervisors, fighting for what our people need to live in dignity and keep our rights intact. We can build a movement between now and next election that will crush the GOP and bring all this fight to the legislature for you.

Let's make sure that in Arizona, "We, the People" get the say. Not the lawyers.