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Kelly Townsend

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Kelly Townsend
Member of the Arizona Senate
from the 16th[1] district
Incumbent
Assumed office
January 11, 2021
Preceded byDave Farnsworth
Member of the Arizona House of Representatives
from the 16th[2] district
In office
January 14, 2013 – January 11, 2021
Preceded byredistricted
Succeeded byJacqueline Parker
Personal details
Born (1968-09-27) September 27, 1968 (age 56)
United States
Political partyRepublican
ResidenceMesa, Arizona
Alma materSouthern Oregon University (BS)
Arizona State University (BS, MAS)
Websitewww.kellytownsend.com

Kelly Townsend (born September 27, 1968)[3] is an American Republican politician. She has been a member of the Arizona Senate representing District 16 since 2021 and previously was a member of the Arizona House of Representatives from 2013 to 2021, acting as Majority Whip from 2017 to 2018.

Early Years

Townsend grew up in Oregon and served in the United States Navy as an aircraft mechanic.[4] She earned her Bachelor of Science degree in human communications and her Master of Applied Science degree in Infant-Family Practice from Arizona State University.[3] She also received a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology and small business from Southern Oregon University.[3]

Political career and electoral history

Greater Phoenix Tea Party

In 2010 Townsend was a member of the Greater Phoenix Tea Party.[5] She first ran for the Arizona House of Representatives in a six-way Republican primary in District 22, placing fourth with 5,446 votes;[6] The next year she campaigned for legislation requiring proof of citizenship as a pre-requisite for ballot access.[7][8] The legislation was passed by the Arizona State Legislature but vetoed by Governor Jan Brewer.[9] In 2012 she was one of four candidates in District 16 for the Republican House of Representatives primary, placing first with 9,298 votes.[10] She won the second seat in the five-way general election with 40,720 votes against Democratic nominee Matthew Cerra, Arizona Green Party candidate Bill Maher, and Democratic write-in candidate Cara Prior.[11]

Arizona House of Representatives

In 2014, Townsend and fellow Arizona lawmakers were at the scene of the Bundy standoff, with Townsend characterizing the Federal government's response as reminiscent of Tiananmen Square.[12][13] She subsequently won both the Republican Party primary and the general election, both with 39 percent of the vote.[14][15]

In 2016 she described the Arizona House of Representative as "a soft target" for terrorists, stating "[a]s a woman, I'm comforted by the fact our members can carry a weapon here."[16] She won the general election that year with 33 percent of the vote.[17]

In 2018 Townsend criticized topless womens rights activists,[18] abortion and the "culture of death",[19] the Arizona child welfare system,[20][21][22] the furry community[23] and opposed increased funding for education.[24] That year she won the general election with 35.72 percent of the vote.[25]

In 2019 she compared mandatory vaccination to Communism and The Holocaust,[26][27] supported high school students who alleged they had been prevented from wearing "Make America Great Again" clothing[28] and was accused of retaliation by a Facebook user who posted content critical of her.[29] She likewise visited the Mexico-United States border in 2020 with Arizona Patriot group leaders that were subsequently banned from the House by Rusty Bowers for engaging in unwanted surveillance and harassment of Townsend's colleagues.[30] [31] Afterward, Townsend published a separate video to her social media alleging hundreds of noncitizen voters were coming into her district and others to vote illegally.[32] That year she defeated three write-in candidates in District 16 for the State Senate seat.[citation needed]

2020 presidential election

Further information: Attempts to overturn the 2020 United States presidential election

During voting in November 2020, Townsend supported allegations by Marko Trickovic through a press release and public speeches that sharpie markers resulted in votes not being properly counted.[citation needed] Days later, AG Mark Brnovich investigated the use of Sharpies and debunked this allegation. [33] [34] [35] In January 2021, Townsend introduced a bill to restrict the use of Sharpies in elections.[36]

Following the 2020 United States presidential election, Townsend advocated for and spoke at "Stop the Steal" movement rallies which falsely claimed that Donald Trump won the election nationally and in Arizona.[37]

Townsend participated in a hearing in November 2020 at which Jenna Ellis and Rudy Giuliani made unsubstantiated accusations of electoral fraud.[38] Townsend has repeatedly stated publicly that she has been calling for a forensic audit of elections since 2017.[39] [40][non-primary source needed] In December 2020, Peter Navarro published a report alleging 36,473 noncitizens voted illegally in Arizona. [41]

In the weeks leading up to January 6, 2021, Townsend worked with a handful of legislators and Trump attorneys Rudy Giuliani and Sidney Powell, to prevent the certification of the electors until a full forensic audit could be conducted. She argued the legislature has sole plenary power to decide the electors if the legality of tabulated votes was in question.[42] Townsend signed a letter asking members of Congress to accept 11 “alternate” presidential electors, who would for Trump, or to nullify the state's electoral votes pending an audit.[43]

Since the 2020 election, Townsend has made several public demands for law enforcement investigations of election workers.[44] In March 2022, she issued a subpoena to Maricopa County based on the work of debunked conspiracy theorist Shiva Ayyadurai because she was "tired of waiting" on the Arizona AG.[45] In front of a large crowd at a Trump rally, she openly incited the crowd by demanding indictments of election workers.[46] [47]

In early December 2020, media reports allege Townsend appeared to publicly threaten Governor Doug Ducey.[48][unreliable source?] In July 2021, Townsend threatened the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors in a video interview with Jordan Conradson from the Gateway Pundit, that it was their "come to Jesus moment," and that if they did not come forward to work with Townsend and her associates on election integrity issues, they could be indicted or recalled. [49] Senator Michelle Urgent-Rita said she was targeted after Townsend encouraged her supporters and Conradson to follow and harass her.[50] Conradson also followed and harassed Secretary of State Katie Hobbs when she refused to respond to false allegations Townsend made about her handling of the 2020 election and audit.[51]

At a True the Vote event in May 2022 in which leader Gregg Phillips presented findings, Townsend called on “vigilantes” to monitor voters utilizing drop boxes for early voting in the 2022 elections, in order to prove allegations of electoral fraud.[52]

After the 2020 election, amidst mass resignations of election workers, Townsend pushed legislation to establish criminal penalties for election workers and volunteers who fail to follow procedures and would require mail ballots rejected for signature problems to be passed to prosecutors.[53] She also supported legislation that would require voters in Arizona who vote by mail to include identification paperwork along with their ballots.[54] Concerned that periodic reviews were not sufficient to prevent convicted felons from voting illegally, Townsend proposed Senate Bill 1477 requiring monthly reviews and prompt cancellation of felons’ voter registration. [55] In another claim disputed by election officials, Townsend alleged provisional ballots are a source of voter fraud, and proposed a controversial bill that would restrict same-day voter registrations.[56]

Townsend received an FBI subpoena in June 2022 for her text and email communications with Trump lawyers and associates related to Trump's efforts to overturn the election. Republican Arizona Senate leader Karen Fann also received a subpoena, which the Director of Communications for Arizona Senate Republicans characterized as "part of the Biden Administration's political theatrics as they look into 'January 6'."[57]

Arizona Senate

In May 2021, Townsend issued a public statement that COVID-19 vaccine messages on state highways are like "Communist China"[58]

According to news reports in September 2021, Townsend "likened COVID vaccines to the Holocaust, tweeted a swastika and told a Jewish group who complained to ‘learn your history’".[59][60]

In 2021, Townsend led a group of parents with associate Steve Daniels to self-proclaim that they could replace the school board and hold their own meeting. Townsend said, “The parents were the ones that started their own school board meeting,” [61] In response to a growing spread of such meeting disruptions, the National School Board Association drafted a response, “As these acts of malice, violence, and threats against public school officials have increased, the classification of these heinous actions could be the equivalent to a form of domestic terrorism and hate crimes.” [62] Townsend and her constituents argued the letter and FBI engagement was an attack on parents' rights.[63] Ultimately this led to ASBA withdrawing from its national affiliate due to public pressure.[64]

In January 2022, Townsend took the effort further by sponsoring a bill that would prevent school districts from using tax dollars to pay their School Board Association membership dues. Townsend has long asserted that the School Board Association promotes a partisan agenda. ASBA says Townsend along with her GOP colleagues are targeting the group because they oppose its positions.[65] Townsend also supported legislation that would ban the teaching of critical race theory in schools arguing that children should not be made to feel guilty because of the color of their skin.[66]

Also in 2022, Townsend proposed legislation that would allow parents to have teachers arrested or sue for violating a parent's right to direct the education of their child. The bill passed the Senate but was held in the House by House Speaker Rusty Bowers.[67]

Failed U.S. House of Representatives bid

Townsend was a candidate in the 2022 Republican primary for Arizona's 6th congressional district before dropping out in March 2022 after failing to receive the endorsement of Donald Trump.[68]

Personal

References

  1. ^ "Senate Member". www.azleg.gov. Archived from the original on 2021-01-17. Retrieved 2021-04-27.
  2. ^ "Kelly Townsend". Phoenix, Arizona: Arizona State Senate. Archived from the original on 2018-11-27. Retrieved December 20, 2013.
  3. ^ a b c "Kelly Townsend's Biography". Project Vote Smart. Retrieved December 20, 2013.
  4. ^ "State Legislator of the Week: Defending and Protecting our Constitution". ALEC. Retrieved July 8, 2022.
  5. ^ "Tea parties hold out on Hayworth". Politico. Retrieved 2010-03-01.
  6. ^ "State of Arizona Official Canvass 2010 Primary Election August 24, 2010" (PDF). Phoenix, Arizona: Secretary of State of Arizona. p. 13. Retrieved December 20, 2013.
  7. ^ Jeltsen, Melissa (March 23, 2011). "Arizona Revives 'Birther' Bill". Talking Points Memo.
  8. ^ 4/15/2011 - Phoenix Tea Party - Kelly Townsend speaking about birther bill and Donald Trump on YouTube
  9. ^ Ruelas, Richard (Oct 16, 2016). "How Arizona became ground zero for 'birthers'". The Arizona Republic.
  10. ^ "State of Arizona Official Canvass 2012 Primary Election August 28, 2012" (PDF). Phoenix, Arizona: Secretary of State of Arizona. p. 10. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 12, 2013. Retrieved December 20, 2013.
  11. ^ "State of Arizona Official Canvass 2012 General Election November 6, 2012" (PDF). Phoenix, Arizona: Secretary of State of Arizona. p. 11. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 12, 2013. Retrieved December 20, 2013.
  12. ^ "Lawmaker can't stop talking about life-changing weekend at Nevada ranch | Arizona Capitol Times". 16 April 2014.
  13. ^ "Republican Legislators Caravan to the Bundy Ranch".
  14. ^ "Maricopa County Final Report" (PDF).
  15. ^ "General Election Final Report" (PDF).
  16. ^ Benson, Steve (April 7, 2016). "Today's toon: Reporters are the security risk?". azcentral.
  17. ^ "General Election Results" (PDF).
  18. ^ "Lawmaker: Women acting in 'moral defiance' have 'no defense' if raped". 23 January 2018.
  19. ^ "Roberts: Arizona lawmaker blames culture, not guns, for mass shootings". 22 February 2018.
  20. ^ "Townsend Calls for DCS Overhaul as Court Agrees to Hear Public Records Case". 3 September 2020.
  21. ^ "Media, lawmaker booted from court hearing; questions surround DCS case of Chandler family with feverish child".
  22. ^ "Rep. Kelly Townsend questions DCS, judicial system after privacy ruling | Integrity Garage Doors of Phoenix - Tim Canfield owner".
  23. ^ "Arizona GOP lawmaker asks Twitter what furry is, gets a Fursona from #RedforEd supporter".
  24. ^ "Arizona lawmaker suggests lawsuit over teacher walkout, lashes out at constituent". azcentral. Retrieved 2018-08-31.
  25. ^ "Election Results: Midterms 2018".
  26. ^ Arizona Lawmaker Kelly Townsend Compares Vaccines to Communism, by Elizabeth Whitman, in the Phoenix New Times; published February 28, 2019; retrieved March 1, 2019
  27. ^ "State Rep. Kelly Townsend compares mandatory vaccinations to forced number tattoos".
  28. ^ "Protesters rally for First Amendment rights outside Perry High School in Gilbert".
  29. ^ "Arizona Rep. Kelly Townsend contacted man's employer after he criticized her on Facebook".
  30. ^ "**UPDATED** Members of right-wing extremist group barred from AZ House of Representatives". 27 February 2019.
  31. ^ "Hispanic churches file federal lawsuit against anti-immigrant Arizona 'patriot' groups". 4 June 2019.
  32. ^ "Senator Kelly Townsend predicted fraud in advance of the 2020 election". YouTube.
  33. ^ "DocumentCloud".
  34. ^ "Gosar, Townsend lead protests on Arizona vote-counting".
  35. ^ "Arizona's attorney general satisfied that Sharpies didn't disenfranchise voters".
  36. ^ "Arizona bill aims to disallow use of Sharpies on ballots".
  37. ^ Waltz, Adam (January 7, 2021). "Seven Arizonan Republican legislators face calls to ban them from the House and Senate". ABC 15 Arizona. Retrieved February 20, 2021.
  38. ^ "Losing Arizona: Is Sen. Kelly Townsend an Insurrectionist? - the Copper Courier".
  39. ^ https://www.facebook.com/kelly.townsend1776/posts/pfbid031JSskjjZ7A7pji4BxmE22EGp7QhoJtSV538i6UGX7eQzjoJ2s4PQ3BwboTUW3LWhl
  40. ^ "The Truth Behind Arizona's Paper Ballots; Jovan Pulitzer's BOMBSHELL Paper Analysis Report 6/27/22".
  41. ^ "White House Advisor Peter Navarro Releases Dubious Voter Fraud Report". Forbes.
  42. ^ "Townsend believes election is 'tainted'".
  43. ^ "Losing Arizona: Is Sen. Kelly Townsend an Insurrectionist? - the Copper Courier".
  44. ^ "The Arizona Republic".
  45. ^ "Supers chair blasts Townsend on election info request".
  46. ^ "Townsend says election workers should be liable for mistakes".
  47. ^ "The Arizona Republic".
  48. ^ "Did Arizona Rep. Kelly Townsend Just Threaten to Kill GOP Gov. Doug Ducey over the Election?". The Daily Beast. 9 December 2020.
  49. ^ "AZ State Senator Kelly Townsend at Senate Hearing: "it's a COME TO JESUS MOMENT - I Wouldn't Want to Cooperate Either"". 15 July 2021.
  50. ^ "After being booed at Trump rally, Ugenti-Rita criticizes the Senate's election 'audit'". 26 July 2021.
  51. ^ "Ducey orders DPS protection for Secretary of State Katie Hobbs and her family following death threats".
  52. ^ "Arizona GOP lawmaker calls on 'vigilantes' to film & follow voters to combat unproven 'ballot mules'".
  53. ^ "Arizona GOP pushes criminal charges for election violations". Associated Press. 26 May 2021.
  54. ^ Cooper, Jonathan J. "Arizona Senate votes to require ID with mailed ballot". The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
  55. ^ "Republican lawmakers move to clean up voter rolls". 11 February 2022.
  56. ^ "GOP bills to restrict some voter registrations clear Senate committee". 8 March 2022.
  57. ^ MacDonald-Evoy, Jerod (June 30, 2022). "The FBI subpoenaed Karen Fann and Kelly Townsend for information on the January 6 insurrection". Arizona Mirror.
  58. ^ "Arizona state Sen. Kelly Townsend says COVID-19 vaccine messages on state highways are like 'Communist China'".
  59. ^ "Kelly Townsend likened COVID vaccines to the Holocaust, tweeted a swastika and told a Jewish group who complained to 'learn your history'". 14 September 2021.
  60. ^ "What is white nationalism?". 14 April 2022.
  61. ^ "Protesting masks and racism education, the 'patriots' take on Arizona's school boards". 27 May 2021.
  62. ^ Laura Meckler (2022-05-22) [2022-05-21]. "National school board group says it wrongly took sides in political debate". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. ISSN 0190-8286. OCLC 1330888409.[please check these dates]
  63. ^ "Taxpayers' dollars should not be used against parents". 19 January 2022.
  64. ^ "Arizona School Boards Association Withdraws from National School Boards Association". 18 February 2022.
  65. ^ "Lawmakers target AZ school board group". 19 January 2022.
  66. ^ "Constitutional ban on 'critical race theory' in AZ schools, universities is one vote away from the November ballot". 30 March 2022.
  67. ^ "Proposal adds 'teeth' to parents' bill of rights, paving the way for lawsuits against teachers". 14 February 2022.
  68. ^ "State Sen. Kelly Townsend, not endorsed by Trump, quits House race in Arizona". Associated Press. 5 March 2022. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
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