She's Running for Congress as a Dem. She's Taking Cash From a GOP Lawyer Who Fought Trump's Loss.

[Celerity]

Marlene Galan Woods is running as a Democrat, but one of her biggest donors is a Republican lawyer who was prominently trying to overturn Donald Trump’s election loss in Arizona.

https://www.thedailybeast.com/marlene-galan-woods-is-running-as-a-dem-shes-taking-cash-from-a-gop-lawyer-who-fought-trumps-loss



At a press conference ahead of the 2022 election in Arizona, Marlene Galan Woods—a prominent former TV journalist in Phoenix and a onetime member of the state’s Republican elite—described that year’s GOP ticket as a bunch of “election-denying lunatics." “Only one party is trying to end democracy,” Woods said. “Only one party is trying to limit who can vote. Only one party embraces antisemitism, racism, and an extreme white nationalist agenda—and it is not the Democrats.”

Last November, Arizona voters awarded a clean sweep to Democrats, including a candidate whose campaign Woods chaired: Adrian Fontes, who defeated hardcore election denier Mark Finchem for the office of secretary of state. Now officially a Democrat, Woods is making her former party’s assault on elections a focal point of her 2024 campaign against Rep. David Schweikert (R), who represents a battleground congressional district in the Phoenix area.

But tucked inside Woods’ first federal campaign finance report is a detail that complicates her pro-democracy bona fides: one of her most generous supporters is the attorney who led the Trump-fueled legal challenges to the 2020 election result in Arizona. Since November 2020, Dennis Wilenchik and his law firm have represented the Arizona Republican Party and its former chair, Kelli Ward, in two lawsuits which aimed to throw out Joe Biden’s victory and challenge the integrity of Maricopa County’s vote-counting procedure.

While judges quickly shut down these cases—and any threat they posed to the transition of power—Wilenchik and his law firm continued to file appeals related to these lawsuits into this year. According to Federal Election Commission records, Bonnie Conrad, who is Wilenchik’s wife, gave $6,600 to Woods’ campaign, which is twice the federally allowed maximum for a primary election. A note on the line item states that the donation was “reattributed to Conrad and Wilenchik,” indicating that the $6,600 was split into two $3,300 contributions—the maximum allowed for a primary election—from the couple.

snip

[NowISeetheLight]

1. Trojan Horse?

Another "Democrat" who would suddenly change parties if elected? You have to wonder.

[EYESORE 9001]

13. A Trojan Horse bearing a sign around its neck

that says ‘TROJAN HORSE’ in big, bold letters.

[wnylib]

30. That's my take on it.

I think that a lot of Republicans who become Dems now do it for one if two reasons, or both.

1) They intend to get into office as a Dem but will either switch to Republican afterward or will vote consistently with Republicans.

2) They remain strongly conservative, but oppose Trump and MAGAs. They can't get elected as Republicans because MAGAs won't vote for them, so they switch to Dem and intend to remake the Democratic Party into a conservative one instead of starting up their own conservative party.

I would not vote for any of them in a primary. I would make their conservatism and lack of genuine support for Democratic policies and issues a big focus of the primaries.

[uponit7771]

34. Yep, looks popular thing to do among anti democracy MAGA

[rainy]

2. It's the Republican way! Win at any low move!

[brush]

3. Thanks for this info. She could be a mold.

[ret5hd]

6. or a mole.

[brush]

8. Oh look at how I spelled it. Freudian slip maybe?

[ret5hd]

10. Bleach or warfarin...whatever it takes.

[brush]

11. I haven't tried them, there is some spray stuff you can get at Home Depot...

had a leak under the sink. Wonder if it'll work on her?

[Ray Bruns]

7. Mold?

https://www.google.com/search?q=the+last+of+us+fungi+gif&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwipisa5rIeBAxVOGmIAHS8YAokQ2-cCegQIABAD&oq=the+last+of+us+fungi+gif&gs_lcp=ChJtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1pbWcQAzIFCAAQogQ6BAgjECc6CQgAEBgQgAQQCjoHCAAQDRCABDoGCAAQHhANOgUIIRCrAlDfF1ibJWCgLmgAcAB4AIAB9AGIAaUGkgEFMC40LjGYAQCgAQHAAQE&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-img&ei=xMPwZKmYMM60iLMPr7CIyAg&bih=669&biw=390&rlz=1CDGOYI_enUS1072US1072&hl=en-US#imgrc=MdT2hgb_TSiNhM

[brush]

9. Why how could I make that mistake?

[Wonder Why]

14. Hunter's laptop made you do that.

[H2O Man]

44. O like it.

Senator Eugene McCarthy compared republicans to mold in 1966.

[Bluethroughu]

4. Forget her...she's a disease the AZ democrats do not need.

Keep that GOP quarantined for now.

[CurtEastPoint]

5. what is it with these anchorpeople thinking they know stuff? Kari? Now this misfit. Look at her

She could kill with that look.

[erronis]

17. The diamond-studded cross shows her bonafides.

[CurtEastPoint]

20. I gotcher Jeebus rat cheer! ("I have your Jesus right here...." translated from country)

[bluestarone]

33. Very first thing i saw as well

NO WAY, i say!! We don't need another religious FANATIC!

[LiberalFighter]

26. I don't trust anyone that displays their cross prominently like that.

And looking at her makes me sick.

[CurtEastPoint]

27. Then you'll love ATL car dealer owner Linda Beaver. Annoying voice and face and.... look for it

[LiberalFighter]

28. Very creepy.

I've learned never to trust any business that advertises they are christian. If they need to do that it is an indication they are not honest and will screw you.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

12. Her husband was the late Grant Woods

Former Rep AG, who was a prominent never-Trumper who campaigned for Hilary and switched parties during P01135809's reign.

She was part of Hobb's transition committee and worked on Fontes' campaign.

[stopdiggin]

15. I'm going to disagree with the general take here

If this candidate is really calling out the GOP and the AZ clown car circus as publicly and vocally as is indicated - in fact making that circus central to her campaign - that's satisfies me as far as bona fides. She also 'chaired' the successful election campaign of Democrat Fuentes for state wide office - which would seem to indicate some acceptance and credentials within the party. And thirdly - calling this $3000 dollar donation (which appears to have come from a spouse) a 'major campaign contributor' - if that is the extent of the connection here - seems pretty 'weak sauce' stuff to me. This type of thing is absolutely commonplace - and really means little or nothing at all.

If Woods has a good chance of defeating the verifiable goon she is running against in the general - I think that's a gamble that I (and I would hope others) am well prepared to take. (and frankly it doesn't sound like that much of a gamble)

“Only one party is trying to end democracy,” Woods said. “Only one party is trying to limit who can vote. Only one party embraces antisemitism, racism, and an extreme white nationalist agenda—and it is not the Democrats.”

[AZSkiffyGeek]

16. She sounds very much like her husband

Grant was a Republican for most of his career, but he was very much a moderate, even liberal on social issues. I never voted for him, but I wouldn't hesitate if he was a Democrat - he was one of a dying breed - and P01135809 pushed him over the edge to our side. His death was a loss for Arizona.

[mountain grammy]

41. Yes, he was a good man

Also the Maricopa County Clerk and Recorder.. testified in the Eastman disbarrment hearing. Very rational and sane, and is suing Kari Lake for defamation. Maybe what? Six good republicans left in America?

[wnylib]

31. Nope. I would never vote for a Republican masquerading as a Democrat.

Especially not one who defended the orange menace and then supposedly had a change of heart. Let her run as an Independent or start her own conservative party instead of trying to hijack Dems.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

32. Where did she support P01135809?

She's been a Democrat since P01135809 was elected (her husband was former AG Grant Woods, he was a prominent never-Trumper in AZ, endorsed both Clinton and Biden, and switched in 2018). She worked on SoS Adrian Fontes' campaign and was part of Gov. Hobbs' transition team.
She's no AOC, but she seems to be to the left of Sinema.

[stopdiggin]

35. I believe what you're trying to say

is that you would never vote for someone that has ever voted anything less than straight D. (Regardless of positions they currently hold ...)

On this we will have to agree to disagree.
(and I'm almost 100% that she is a registered Democrat)

[wnylib]

37. Don't put words in my mouth. You fabricated what

what you claim that I was saying.

Stick to what the post actually says.

[stopdiggin]

38. I might have paraphrased

but here is exactly what you said,

Nope. I would never vote for a Republican masquerading as a Democrat. - - - Especially not one who defended the orange menace and then supposedly had a change of heart. Let her run as an Independent or start her own conservative party instead of trying to hijack Dems.

So - this person is a Democrat - but not Democrat enough. Pardon me, but that sounds an awful lot like a pretty rigid, "Never! And, no roads back!" position to me. But, apologies if I misunderstood your meaning.

[wnylib]

39. You did not paraphrase. You fabricated.

I stand by what I said. A Republican who defended the extremism of Donald Trump and then registered as a Dem for an election is a Republican pretending to be a Dem just for the sake of an election. I would not vote for a fake Dem.

[stopdiggin]

40. to paraphrase is to use

alternative language to capture the same meaning or idea. I think my words captured your stance - "NOT a Democrat!" - pretty faithfully.

And, no matter how you parse the wording - I still find that stance particularly rigid and limiting. I'd be happy to vote for this candidate - and particularly considering who is on the other side of the slate. (certified MAGA mugwump)

[wnylib]

43. Don't lecture me on the meaning of "paraphrase. "

My studies in language and linguistics are pretty sound.

If you look earlier in the thread, you will see that I posted about not choosing her as a candidate in the primaries.

You talk about the alternative being a "certified MAGA mugwump." The choice is between him and another MAGA who is running as a Dem. I will not vote for a MAGA. Would you?

I am a liberal Dem, not a Progressive and not a Democratic Socialist or Independent. But, if Sanders had won the Dem primary in 2020, I would have voted for him. Same if he had won against Hillary in 2016. His views are at least in line with the Democratic Party in general, certainly much closer to them than Trump or any other MAGA or Republican.

But a MAGA who changes her party name without changing her views and policies is still a MAGA.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

46. Which MAGA is running as a Dem?

You’ve conveniently ignored all the posts explaining her actual politics, not the ones you’ve attributed to her in order to attack a Democrat.

[stopdiggin]

42. and technically my header was

"I believe what you're trying to say" which clearly takes what follows out of the realm of 'fabrication.' At no point did I quote you as saying this, or that, per se. My thoughts on what your position might flesh out to be - not the same thing as putting words in your mouth.

Incidentally, I still don't like what you are saying ...
But I'm not trying to co-opt what your are saying, or trammel on your right to your own words.

[wnylib]

45. You were speculating on my meaning,

and in the process, inserting your view ( "I believe" ) of my meaning in place of mine. Would have been better to at least pose it as a question for clarification instead of as an attempt at mind reading.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

48. When are you going to identify this MAGA masquerading as a Democrat?

Because it isn’t Woods.

[leftstreet]

18. A TV newsreader. Such qualifications. n/t

[erronis]

19. I'd love someone like this newly minted Democrat to be very clear in her platforms and mindset.

It would be great to get a item-by-item list of the things that she agrees/disagrees with vis-a-vis the Repuglicons and the Democrats (and other parties.)

Generalities and platitudes shouldn't be accepted as answers.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

47. She's been a Democrat for almost 10 years

And her policies are on her website. Gun control, pro choice, voting rights.

[erronis]

49. Thanks! I should do a little research before I spout.....

[Celerity]

50. She only became a Dem sometime after Trump took office

https://apnews.com/article/arizona-congressional-race-marlene-galen-woods-bd9f9fe8594f196312c7bc18971ec827

[AZSkiffyGeek]

51. I was going off her claim that she switched when P01135809 was the nominee

So okay, she's been a Democrat for almost 7 years. Is there a time frame after which one becomes an acceptable Democrat?
At least you actually read her biography unlike those convinced she's working to get the P01135809 reelected.

[Celerity]

52. AZ Dems have better choices IMHO of actual Dems who do not run the risk of becoming another

No Labels-run Problem Solvers maverick/blocker like Sinema was in the House and is in the Senate.

Marlene Galan Woods deffo carries that risk. She was not a Rethug for most of her adult life for nothing.

[AZSkiffyGeek]

54. Thats a different argument than what most are putting forth

I see a lot of people spouting off in this thread who have absolutely no idea what they are talking about. I find it hard to believe that Woods' political career has made much of a ripple outside of Arizona, but there are a whole bunch of people who are sure she's MAGA, I mean, SHE'S WEARING A CROSS!!!! SHE'S A TV ANCHOR, SHE MUST BE JUST LIKE QARI LAKE!!!

As to the other candidates, one is a perennial loser who has tried for several different offices (and in different districts), but one did come within one point of beating Schweikert. It's not my district, so I don't have a say, but I know Grant Woods' reputation and work, and I know what she's done in recent election cycles. I would have no trouble voting for her in the general, although I would do more research in the primary.

[Celerity]

55. I was not one of the posters you are referring to. I said nothing about crosses, her telly past, etc

I just hope that the voters in AZ-1 elect a potentially less problematic US House Democrat.

[Sky Jewels]

21. Another Sinema?

Maybe it's the desert air ...

[hatrack]

23. . . . full of lung fungus.

.

[Sky Jewels]

24. And apparently brain fungus, too.

[Midnight Writer]

22. Perhaps Willenchik's wife, who made the donation, does not share her husband's political views.

It happens.

Since she went over the legal limit, her husband may have "reattributed" the donation to avoid legal jeopardy for her.

I wouldn't jump to judgement on this one. More evidence is needed.

[treestar]

25. +1

Technically he may not support TFG either, or could have changed. one who takes a case from him probably supports him, but it is not absolute.

[stopdiggin]

36. glad to see some reasonable judgement coming into

play - as this thread matures. This is a pretty tenuous 'connection' to be hanging a lot of weight on. Unless there's a good deal more going on ...

[themaguffin]

29. I'm really getting tired of these aholes Rs getting in as Dem candidates or worse, winning.

[lees1975]

53. Then again, the contributor is a lawyer, and that says a lot about his integrity.

He makes a fortune by bringing these phony, fraudulent, baseless cases. The election deniers have to pay for his services. Why not take their money and give it to a Democrat.

These lawsuits, which all focus on Maricopa County, where population growth has shifted it from majority Republican to majority Democrat, have done so much for establishing exactly how safe, and secure, elections are in Arizona, and that the ballot counts are unlikely to contain even the smallest and slightest of errors. Maricopa County's system seems extra-secure, given how many times they've had to audit, and how many times the audits come back clean.

Thanks to Kari Lake and the losers in Arizona, it has been established with evidence that there is no voter fraud and that the results of elections are exact representations of the will of the people.