This batch of ballots were the 17,000 that couldn't be scanned on Election Day at polling sites (likely VERY heavily favoring GOPers) and early ballots dropped off at polling places.
The gains the Dems made here is *VERY* important for understanding how the next several days are likely to go as they process the remaining 275,000 or so ballots in Maricopa County
BLUF: Dems are well-positioned to win these statewide races
You can take the #AZSEN and #AZSOS races off the table -- AP has called the Senate race for Kelly, NBC has called the SOS race for Fontes. Both lead by 5%+ and would need to win nearly 2 in every 3 remaining ballots to come back. That won't happen.
In the #AZGov, #AZAG and #AZSPI races, the Republicans still have the ability to come from behind. But today's drop favoring Dems means they have a steeper hill to climb.
It's nearly time for the weekly #COVID19 update from Gov. Ducey et al.
I'll do my best to cover the event in this thread, but here's the link if you want to watch along youtube.com/watch?v=z69sbd…
I'm not entirely certain what will be announced today, but there are rumors that the ratcheting back on the March-May shutdown rules will continue, this time with restaurant dining rooms being shut down again.
In advance of the presser, @KelliButlerAZ and @CharleneforAZ have asked Ducey to implement a series of steps to more robustly curb spread of #COVID19
Gov. Ducey will be holding a press conference with ADHS chief Cara Christ in about 5 minutes. Watch along here, I'll be doing my best to live-tweet it
Getting started
Ducey: "COVID 19 is widespread in Arizona... It's growing, and it's growing fast, across all age groups and demographics. Anyone can get this virus and anyone can spread this virus."
I've got a few things to get off my chest about what the Arizona Mirror is, what it isn't and why the bad-faith critics don't make me lose any sleep. Interested? Then stick around for what is sure to be a far-too-long thread! (Or just read this: azmirror.com/blog/a-few-fri…)
Look, I'm used to getting disingenuous complaints – almost exclusively from conservative politicians, activists, political consultants and corporate lobbyists – that we exist to ensure Democrats are elected and are part of a “dark money” propaganda plot.
And, of course, so many of those complaints come from people who *actually do* work in the "dark money" campaign world. Just as a carnival is great for people-watching, politics is great for observing hypocrisy and cognitive dissonance.