The Arizona Republic sent a brief questionnaire before the primary election to all the candidates in Arizona’s 3rd Congressional District, which stretches across parts of Phoenix — including the communities of south Phoenix, Laveen and Maryvale — and Glendale.
They were asked about their positions on a variety of issues.
Former Phoenix Vice Mayor Yassamin Ansari beat out two others in the Democratic primary.
Republican Jeff Zink beat out one other candidate for the GOP nomination.
Green Party candidate Alan Aversa ran unopposed.
They will face off in the Nov. 5 election.
Democratic candidate: Yassamin Ansari
- Occupation: Phoenix City Councilwoman, District 7
- Relevant experience: Phoenix City Councilwoman and Vice Mayor, climate policy adviser to the United Nations Secretary-General, and organizer
- Age: 32
- Party: Democrat
Name two big problems facing the district you’re running to represent and how you would address them if elected.
Housing affordability. In Arizona, working one job should afford you a safe place to call home and essentials such as food and transportation – but that’s not the reality right now. In Congress, I will expand upon my work delivering better housing policy and fight to make sure Phoenix gets its fair share of funding for housing choice vouchers. I will also support legislation that provides more pathways to home ownership. Delivering the Economy of the Future. While traditional modeling shows a strong economy, it’s an economy that isn’t working for everyone. We must ensure that the next generation has access to quality jobs and that wages keep up with rising living costs. As a Congresswoman, I’ll invest in public education and reduce student debt, raise the federal minimum wage, and bring the public transit infrastructure that will get communities to the new, high-wage jobs created by the Biden Administration.
Which recent political figure do you most admire, and why?
As the youngest woman and first Iranian-American to serve on the Phoenix City Council, I’m now running to be the youngest woman in Congress and I owe much of that to the road that President Barack Obama paved for my generation.
When I was 16, I was lucky to have now-State Senator Christine Marsh as my AP English teacher. It was her commitment to discussions focused on civic engagement in the classroom that led me to join the Arizona Democratic Party and the Obama campaign as a junior in high school.
I’m very fortunate to have had that opportunity and am proud to continue to employ high school, college, and graduate students in my office and on my campaign. We’re organizing across Arizona’s 3rd Congressional District to get young people excited to vote. I’m looking forward to continuing that legacy in shaping our future together at every level of government.
What specific actions, if any, should Congress take to make life more affordable for ordinary Arizonans?
There are several things that Congress can do for Arizonans to make life more affordable. Lowering the costs of living for working families in areas like healthcare, education, and housing are where I plan to take direct action. We don’t have to wait until we hit a financial crisis or face another public health disaster to fund programming that lifts people out of poverty.
As Phoenix Vice Mayor, I helped direct federal funding toward free mental health care, access to fresh food, affordable internet, rental assistance, and the Phoenix Promise Program, which provided tuition for hundreds of first-generation students pursuing a community college education.
In February, I unveiled a policy plan to make housing more attainable through the Housing Crisis Response Act (HCRA), which invests in affordable housing and homeownership in order to level the playing field for many residents who are competing with out-of-state corporate investors.
What specific actions, if any, should Congress take to reform federal immigration policy?
As the daughter of immigrants, I firmly believe that the economy, culture and spirit of our country benefit from immigration. There is bipartisan support for comprehensive immigration reform — and it is far past time that lawmakers move beyond political games and strive toward practical solutions that align with both the economic and humanitarian priorities of the United States.
In Arizona, immigrants make up about one-sixth of Arizona’s labor force and have exponential spending power.
In Congress, I will pursue legislation that helps address asylum processing, visa backlogs and a path to legal status for millions of undocumented immigrants, including essential farmworkers, temporary protected status recipients and Dreamers. Further, as we continue to invest in emerging technology domestically – including biotech and semiconductor manufacturing – we need immigration reform that allows the best and brightest from around the world to start their technology companies here in the United States.
What do you believe is the biggest threat to national security, and how should we handle it?
I earned degrees in international relations and security studies from Stanford and Cambridge universities, and prior to elected office, I served as a United Nations climate advisor, solidifying my view that climate change is the biggest threat to international security — a view shared by the Pentagon.
We’re already seeing an increase in climate refugees abroad and domestically. Severe droughts and fire are wiping out homes in Southeast Asia, the Mediterranean, and across the Western United States. As these areas become more difficult to live in, many will look for a better life elsewhere, exacerbating already challenged immigration systems, economies, and housing supplies.
As pressure builds, we’re likely to see more conflict and unsafe conditions in previously peaceful areas. It’s of the utmost importance that the United States play a lead role in helping developing nations become more climate resilient through funding soft power programs like the International Affairs Budget.
What would you change about the US’ response to climate change, if anything?
The climate crisis is the defining issue of our time, which is why I have dedicated my career toward advancing solutions to address it. I served as an advisor on the climate teams of two UN Secretaries-General, and as a Councilwoman, I helped pass the city’s first-ever Climate Action Plan.
If we want to reduce the worst impacts of climate change and save lives, we need to reach 100% net zero by 2050 and establish programs that mitigate extreme heat. We need to go beyond the landmark legislation passed in DC recently.
That means going all-in for a 100% clean energy grid, weatherizing homes and buildings to make them more efficient, and building a high-speed train and transit system both across the country and locally in our cities. We need to make it easier to get around without a car or a plane and we need federal investment to do that.
Do you feel confident that the 2024 election will be held securely and fairly? If not, what are your concerns?
Arizona has one of the most secure and modern election systems in the nation, and I’m wholeheartedly confident fair elections will be conducted in 2024 – as they always have been. It’s why more than 75% of residents vote by mail here and why we’ve been recognized for our efforts in improving accessibility to the ballot box in our tribal nations, for example.
I’m deeply grateful for the election workers, administrators, and volunteers that protect our right to vote and the integrity of our political process.
Please take this opportunity to mention any other important issue you’dlike to discuss.
Firstly, I believe that every single person deserves autonomy over their own body and their own medical decisions. That’s why, when Roe was overturned, I led the charge to pass an ordinance in Phoenix to make enforcement of Arizona’s archaic abortion ban the lowest priority for law enforcement – because no doctor, nurse or patient should go to jail for providing or receiving healthcare. In Congress, I’ll fight tirelessly for legislation that guarantees the protection of reproductive rights nationwide for future generations.
Secondly, the safety of our children and families will continue to be a top priority. I grew up as part of the Columbine generation, with mass shooting drills at school and in college. I’ll never stop advocating for common-sense gun safety reform. We can and must reinstate the assault weapons ban, which Congress allowed to expire in 2004, to keep dangerous weapons out of the wrong hands.
Republican candidate: Jeff Zink
- Occupation: Congressional candidate
- Age: 61
- Party: Republican
Name two big problems facing the district you’re running to represent and how you would address them if elected.
To address high gas prices, I’ll focus on boosting domestic energy production. This includes opening up the Keystone pipeline and expanding drilling in America and become an export nation again. Additionally, I’ll attract manufacturing companies to Congressional District 3 by offering tax incentives by putting these companies on native American land, streamlining regulations, and supporting workforce development initiatives to create more good-paying jobs for our community.
Which recent political figure do you most admire, and why?
I admire both Donald J. Trump and Ronald Reagan for their commitment to challenging the Washington establishment and revitalizing the economy. They each demonstrated strong leadership in addressing issues like military strength and inflation, ultimately benefiting the American people.
What specific actions, if any, should Congress take to make life more affordable for ordinary Arizonans?
To make life more affordable for Arizonans, Congress should consider implementing tariffs on goods from other countries to protect domestic industries and jobs. Additionally, prioritizing the revival of manufacturing within the U.S. while ensuring military components are exclusively produced domestically can stimulate job growth and reduce dependency on foreign imports, ultimately benefiting ordinary Arizonans.
What specific actions, if any, should Congress take to reform federal immigration policy?
To make life more affordable for Arizonans, Congress should consider implementing tariffs on goods from other countries to protect domestic industries and jobs. Additionally, prioritizing the revival of manufacturing within the U.S. while ensuring military components are exclusively produced domestically can stimulate job growth and reduce dependency on foreign imports, ultimately benefiting ordinary Arizonans.
What do you believe is the biggest threat to national security, and how should we handle it?
The biggest threats to national security are China’s infiltration of military-age men into our country. They are stealing technology and creating vulnerabilities in our infrastructure. We must enact policies to prevent foreign ownership of American assets. We must tighten border security by enforcing legal immigration processes. This includes stricter regulations on our border policies to implement measures to ensure individuals enter the country legally, safeguarding national interests and sovereignty.
What would you change about the US’ response to climate change, if anything?
I advocate for withdrawing from the Paris Accord, emphasizing divine control over Earth’s phenomena. Volcanic emissions surpass car exhaust annually. The Accord, seemingly aimed at taxing citizens, opposes my stance against tax hike.
Do you feel confident that the 2024 election will be held securely and fairly? If not, what are your concerns?
I have major concerns about the 2024 election’s fairness. To enhance security, I propose a four-day voting period, Saturday through Tuesday, with no computerized tabulation. We must ensure registered voters are U.S. citizens, verified by IDs with pictures and signatures at polling stations. Mail-in ballots should be by request and signature and a copy of the DL should be placed inside the envelope, and paper ballots must be hand-counted at precincts. Results should be promptly available the next day.
Please take this opportunity to mention any other important issue you’dlike to discuss.
I’m increasingly worried about U.S. funds sent abroad. It’s not our responsibility to solve global issues. Congress lacks authority to allocate taxpayer money internationally without American approval.
Green Party candidate: Alan Aversa
- Occupation: Teacher and computer programmer
- Relevant experience: Candidate for U.S. House in Iowa, 2012. Write-in candidate for Arizona House, 2012. Phoenix Union High School District (Ward 2) school board candidate, 2022.
- Age: 38
- Party: I am a registered independent voter running as a third-party candidate in this election.
Name two big problems facing the district you’re running to represent and how you would address them if elected.
Abortion (12,000 unborn babies killed per year in Arizona) and homelessness/unemployment
Maggie’s Place (shelter for homeless pregnant women) and pregnancy resource centers, not abortion facilities, should receive government aid. There are 4 abortion facilities in or bordering Congressional District 3 (CD3), but only 3 pregnancy resource centers.
Which recent political figure do you most admire, and why?
In Arizona, Tom Horne, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction and previous Arizona Attorney General. He has turned around the Department of Education, purging it of its previous promotion of transgender, CRT, and other scientifically dubious theories and ideologies.
What specific actions, if any, should Congress take to make life more affordable for ordinary Arizonans?
U.S. Congress can ensure that the federal government respects states’ rights and autonomy by not meddling in individual states’ affairs. The federal government is only meant to deal with interstate affairs.
What specific actions, if any, should Congress take to reform federal immigration policy?
The federal government should allow states to protect themselves against the invasion of foreigners.
What do you believe is the biggest threat to national security, and how should we handle it?
The U.S.’s policing of the world, toxic relationship with the State of Israel, and funding of the wars in Ukraine and elsewhere. We have domestic issues that need to be addressed first.
What would you change about the US’ response to climate change, if anything?
“Climate change” is a leftist, globalist ideology. We need to be “America first.”
When it comes to energy, nuclear is by far the best, most efficient, environmentally friendly renewable source of energy currently available. Arizona could achieve complete electricity independence with micro nuclear reactors using uranium mined in Arizona.
Do you feel confident that the 2024 election will be held securely and fairly? If not, what are your concerns?
No. The voting system is still centralized, which means a single person can tamper the final results on one computer!
The technology exists (blockchain voting) for truly secure elections, where voters can pseudonymously verify their vote is counted and ensure in real-time that the decentralized, encrypted voting data have not been tampered.
Please take this opportunity to mention any other important issue you’d like to discuss.
Parents are their children’s first educators. They have a right to choose how to educate their children.
Lastly, once we return to God’s laws, God will bless us. Ditat Deus!
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