PPAA’s 2020 Candidate Endorsements: Less than 2 weeks until Election Day!

We are less than two weeks away from the 2020 general election! This year’s primary elections results proved that there is an unstoppable blue wave running through Arizona. However, we are still at the front lines in the battle against Donald Trump, Martha McSally, and the conservative agenda as our champions of reproductive rights within the Democratic Party are being targeted by challengers from the right. Therefore, it’s time to rally behind legislators who support our cause and other progressive values. Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona is proud to support endorsed candidates’ Ajlan Kurdoglu, Jennifer Pawlik and Julie Gunngile vying for Senate, House and Attorney positions and who will fight for progressive causes. 

Abortion is on the 2020 ballot. Here are some voter guides to help you make sure you’re voting for candidates who will help protect abortion access:

Planned Parenthood Advocacy Official 2020 Voter Guide 

Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona (PPAA) Entire Endorsement List

What about Judges? Normally, PPAA does not weigh in on judicial races but 2020 is a year of critical circumstances and high-stakes situations. In the fight to protect the citizen-led ballot initiative process and help fund public education, we are supporting the effort to oust Judge Christopher Coury, whom you may remember as the judge that temporarily kicked the Invest in ED, Prop 208 off the ballot. His inflammatory rhetoric and courtroom behavior merit a NO vote on Judge Coury. 

Ajlan Kurdoglu for Senate - LD 17

Ajlan Kurdoglu is a first generation American who is passionate and proud of not only our country, but of the state of Arizona. As a small business owner himself, Kurdoglu understands the importance of small business and the challenges small business owners and employees face. He believes small businesses are the backbone of our economy and that they give our neighborhoods character by making our cities more diverse. Kurdoglu is also an advocate for investing in public education. He has a partner as a teacher which has provided him insight to the struggles our schools face. If elected as a state senator, he plans to support teachers by getting them the pay they deserve and help students by creating smaller classroom sizes. Kurdoglu's goal is to ensure every student has access to a quality public education right here in Arizona. Other issues Kurdoglu plans to address as if elected include protecting access to affordable health care, especially providing services and resources for those struggling with mental health issues, protecting the environment and Arizona’s public lands, and implementing universal background checks to prevent unnecessary gun violence. 

Jennifer Pawlik is passionate about education, healthcare, gun violence prevention, protecting the environment and the creation of jobs. She is a current member of Arizona’s House of Representatives, representing District 17. She assumed office in 2019 as the first woman and first Democrat to be elected in the LD 17 House and is running for re-election this upcoming general election. Pawlik currently serves on the House Judiciary, Education and Joint Legislative Audit committees. For the past 20 years, Pawlik has worked as a teacher and is extremely passionate about bettering the education system here in Arizona. She is a champion for fully funding our schools and paying our teachers more. Pawlik is also an advocate for addressing mental health in our communities and understands the importance of providing mental health support and training in schools. In addition to improving the education system, as a Representative she will work hard to ensure that Arizonans’ have access to quality, affordable health care, that our children grow up in safe environments by instilling stronger background checks for gun purchases, legislation is passed that will protect our water, air and land and that Arizonans are given opportunities for jobs with competitive wages. Learn more about Jennifer Pawlik’s desire to ensure all voices are heard and that the state of Arizona can thrive for generations to come here.

Julie Gunnigle is the Democratic nominee for Maricopa County Attorney. As a former prosecutor and nonprofit executive, she understands the complexity of our criminal justice system. She is running to transform the Maricopa County Attorney’s Office into an institution that is tough, smart, and fair. County attorney positions from around the state are now at an elevated level of importance since the passing of Supreme Court Justice Ginsburg. We find ourselves once again in the fight of our lives to preserve Roe v. Wade at the federal level, but for Arizona, our fight is even more consequential. This is because Arizona has archaic laws on the books that would criminalize a person for seeking, assisting, or even advertising abortion care. If Roe is overturned, or gutted, that would likely mean that these laws from the early 1900s would become good law again. We need county attorneys that are committed to not criminalizing individuals that seek their right for abortion care. Gunnigle is that candidate for Maricopa County, making the choice clear. We at PPAA wholeheartedly endorse Gunnigle for Maricopa County Attorney.