PPAA’s 2020 Candidate Endorsements: Make a plan to Get Out The Vote today!

We are quickly approaching the 2020 general election and we want to highlight three endorsed candidates for their prioritization of equity in terms of voting access, education, and community funding, among other things. PPAA is proud to endorse Gabriella Cazares-Kelly for Pima County Recorder, Jeanne Casteen for Maricopa County Superintendent of Schools and Whitney Walker for Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, District 3. Every day, new headlines make it painstakingly clear that the majority of our current elected officials is out of touch with the needs of Arizonans today. If you are tired of having elected officials that don’t represent your communities, vote on November 3rd for these candidates who will fight for inclusivity and accountability.

Ready to fill out your ballot? Here are some useful resources to guide you through the process: 

Planned Parenthood Advocacy Official 2020 Voter Guide 

What about Judges? Normally, PPAA does not weigh in on judicial races and 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. 

A life-long Pima County resident and advocate, Gabriella Cázares-Kelly has worked to change access to the voting booth for communities that are largely forgotten: youth, elders, indigenous people, and disabled communities. As an indigenous woman she wants to help pave the way for those who come after. Cázares-Kelly co-founded Indivisible Tohono, which is a grassroots community organization focused on providing opportunities for education and civic engagement for members of the Tohono Oʼodham Nation. She believes democracy starts where you live and that our local offices serve as gatekeepers to community access and democracy resources. Cázares-Kelly's goal is to ensure everyone’s vote is counted, so help us reach our goal in making Arizona more inclusive by electing Gaberiella Cázares-Kelly for Pima County Recorder! Learn more about the issues Cazáres-Kelly is committed to address here.

Jeanne Casteen is a passionate and dedicated educator and a proud product of Arizona’s community colleges and Arizona State University. As a mom to children in the Arizona public school system, Casteen understands the importance of access to great educational opportunities and is a firm believer that a zip code should not hinder any child from access to better education. That is why Castreen is running for the Maricopa County Superintendent seat in 2020. As the 4th most populated county in the country, Maricopa County serves tens of thousands of public school students and has nearly 100 school districts. The role of the Superintendent is to appoint school board members and ensure the security of school board elections within the county. Casteen has been a champion for Planned Parenthood and a key player in the implementation of comprehensive and medically accurate, age-appropriate, sex education. She is currently the school board President of the Creighton School District and works as a teacher in the Phoenix Union High School District. Her vision for the county are: Education Equity, Honoring the Whole Child, and Respecting Our Educational Professionals. 

Whitney Walker is an advocate, policymaker, and visionary who believes everyone should have equal access and opportunity to define their American Dream. Walker was drawn to study government and the influence it has over our lives after witnessing her mother’s activism to improve worker rights as a child. She went on to get her bachelor’s degree in political science and law. As a natural born advocate for social justice and equity, Walker’s professional life mirrors her commitment to service and lifts the voices of those in her community.

Walker has spent her career advocating for sustainable policy solutions on behalf domestic and sexual violence survivors and their families. She has a proven record working with advocates to close systematic gaps to end cycles of violence and poverty.  Walker has served on the Impact of Domestic Violence and the Courts Committee for the State of Arizona working directly with policy makers to create change. She currently serves on the Human Relations Commission for the City of Phoenix where she advises the city council on human relations issues and assists in implementing the city's policy against discrimination. Walker remains a steadfast leader in strengthening our community to build a better Arizona.