Oppose HB2805: Keep Local Elections Nonpartisan

I urge you to oppose HB2805, which Representative John Gillette amended in the House Finance, Military Affairs and Elections Committee on February 11, 2026. The bill passed committee with a 5-2 vote and now moves toward a floor vote, where further amendments are planned. This legislation would make local races partisan, a change that fundamentally misunderstands the nature of municipal and school board governance. City councils address infrastructure maintenance, waste collection, zoning decisions, and budget allocation. These responsibilities require practical problem-solving, not ideological positioning. School boards focus on curriculum standards, facility management, teacher hiring, and student safety. These duties demand expertise and community engagement, not party loyalty. Injecting partisan labels into these races transforms collaborative governance into adversarial politics. The amendment added in committee reveals the true intent behind HB2805. What may have appeared as a reasonable reform now stands exposed as an effort to extend partisan conflict into every corner of civic life. National extremist organizations have already attempted to weaponize school board meetings and local government proceedings. Making these races officially partisan provides institutional support for that divisiveness. Arizona communities benefit when local candidates run on their qualifications, experience, and specific plans rather than party affiliation. Voters can evaluate individuals based on their understanding of local issues rather than defaulting to partisan shortcuts. This approach encourages broader participation and reduces the influence of outside political organizations that have no stake in local outcomes. The current toxic political environment demands we protect spaces where citizens can work together across ideological lines. Local government represents one of the few remaining venues where neighbors collaborate on shared concerns. HB2805 eliminates that possibility by forcing every local race into the same polarized framework that has paralyzed state and national politics. I ask you to vote against HB2805 when it reaches the House floor and to oppose any further amendments that advance partisan control of local elections.