Around the Districts Podcast

Constitutional Shield for All Arizona Voters, the Free, Fair, and Secure Elections Act

In the second part of our conversation, Maritza Saenz returns to expose the deep conflict over ballot access in Arizona. The state legislature maintains a steady assault on early ballots and mail-in access. We dissect the Free, Fair, and Secure Elections Act (I-08-2026), a citizen measure that establishes voter rights in the Arizona Constitution. This measure places established ballot access out of reach for partisan politicians. Check us out on Substack: https://aroundthedistricts.substack.com/p/maritza-saenz-protect-vote-part-2 [https://aroundthedistricts.substack.com/p/maritza-saenz-protect-vote-part-2] == Learn more about Protect the Vote Arizona == Website: https://protectthevoteaz.com/ [https://protectthevoteaz.com/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578510954989 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578510954989] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/protectthevoteaz/ [https://www.instagram.com/protectthevoteaz/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@protect_the_vote_az [https://www.tiktok.com/@protect_the_vote_az] The opinions shared on this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not represent any organizations or affiliations.

The Cost of Survival in Legislative District Eight

The 2026 election cycle is here. Wealth alone does not buy movements. In this episode, we continue our conversation with Claudia Kline. She seeks a seat in the Arizona House of Representatives for Legislative District 8. We look at the harsh landscape for rural Arizona. We show how state policy fails our neighbors. We dissect how corporations use right-to-work laws to exploit workers and suppress wages. We discuss the medical deserts of rural towns and the drought of secure jobs. Learn how working-class families are organizing to reclaim their power and defend their homes through raw, collective labor. Check us out on Substack: https://aroundthedistricts.substack.com/p/claudia-kline-ld8-part-2 [https://aroundthedistricts.substack.com/p/claudia-kline-ld8-part-2] == Learn more about Claudia Kline == Website: https://www.claudiaforaz.com/ [https://www.claudiaforaz.com/] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/claudia4az/ [https://www.instagram.com/claudia4az/] The opinions shared on this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not represent any organizations or affiliations.

Solving Real Chandler Problems Regardless of Party

Municipal campaigns are hard work. In 2024, Cicely Rocha-Miller missed the Chandler runoff election by only 242 votes. This razor-thin margin proves a fundamental truth: your vote matters. While national campaigns dominate our screens with partisan battles, municipal decisions determine our daily lives. In Part 1 of our conversation with Chandler City Council candidate Cicely Rocha-Miller, we discuss the reality of local public service. We explore the rapid growth of East Valley neighborhoods, the administrative red tape that can choke small businesses, and the crisis of public educators who must work weekend side jobs to survive. Local representation is our shield. When we ignore our backyards, corporate interests and partisan polarization fill the void. Check us out on Substack: https://aroundthedistricts.substack.com/p/cicely-rocha-miller-part1 [https://aroundthedistricts.substack.com/p/cicely-rocha-miller-part1] == Learn more about Cicely Rocha-Miller == Website: https://www.cicelyforchandler.com [https://www.cicelyforchandler.com] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cicelyforchandler [https://www.tiktok.com/@cicelyforchandler] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cicelyforchandler [https://www.instagram.com/cicelyforchandler] Facebook: http://facebook.com/cicelyforchandler [http://facebook.com/cicelyforchandler] The opinions shared on this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not represent any organizations or affiliations.

Building a Grassroots Shield in the East Valley

National campaigns waste millions on late-stage television ads. They ignore the physical labor of the precinct. In part one of our series with Legislative District 12 Chair Melissa Galarza, we examine how local organization wins elections. Melissa built a powerful team of precinct committeepersons in the East Valley. Volunteers distributed over one hundred thousand physical voter guides. They knocked on doors. They did the hard work. They won every single seat on the ballot. We discuss the need for a succession plan for young voters. We expose why voter registration is not enough. Communities must organize to survive systemic neglect. Listen to learn how LD12 built the strongest grassroots shield in Arizona. Check us out on Substack: https://aroundthedistricts.substack.com/p/grassroots-melissa-galarza-part-1 [https://aroundthedistricts.substack.com/p/grassroots-melissa-galarza-part-1] == Get Involved with Your LD: == * Voter Status: Confirm your registration status at https://BeBallotReady.vote [https://BeBallotReady.vote] and find out what Legislative District you’re in. * Newsletter: Visit their website. Sign up for the local newsletter to track upcoming meetings. * Volunteer: Join a local canvass or help draft the next voter guide. * Learn More about LD12: https://azld12dems.org/ [https://azld12dems.org/] The opinions shared on this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not represent any organizations or affiliations.

The Constitutional Guardrail: Maritza Saenz on the Fight for Arizona’s Ballot

The state legislature counts on your exhaustion. They believe that if they make the act of the vote difficult, you will stay home. In this episode, we sit down with Maritza Saenz of Protect the Vote. Arizona has a thirty-year history of secure mail-in ballots. Now, that history is under siege. This is not just an attack on a few—it is a systemic attempt to control every single voter, regardless of party, background, or geography. If they can suppress the vote of one, they can control the outcome for all. We discuss why a constitutional amendment is the last barrier against systemic suppression. Learn how to join the front lines to protect the ballot. Check us out on Substack: https://aroundthedistricts.substack.com/p/maritza-saenz-protect-vote-part-1 [https://aroundthedistricts.substack.com/p/maritza-saenz-protect-vote-part-1] == Learn more about Protect the Vote Arizona == Website: https://protectthevoteaz.com/ [https://protectthevoteaz.com/] Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578510954989 [https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61578510954989] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/protectthevoteaz/ [https://www.instagram.com/protectthevoteaz/] TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@protect_the_vote_az [https://www.tiktok.com/@protect_the_vote_az] The opinions shared on this podcast are those of the hosts and guests and do not represent any organizations or affiliations.