|
|
|
T.J. Shope |
|
|
 |
 |
|
Serial
homophobe
and
far-right
MAGA
Republican extremist
is a member
of the
Arizona
State
Senate,
representing
District 16.
He assumed
office on
January 9,
2023. His
current term
ends on
January 11,
2027. Shope
ran for
re-election
to the
Arizona
State Senate
to represent
District 16.
He won in
the general
election on
November 5,
2024. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
--
CONTROVERSY
-- |
| |
|
Arizona
State
Senator T.
J. Shope has
been central
to several
high-profile
political
and ethical
controversies,
particularly
in early
2026.
(ref 1)
|
| |
|
2026:
Financial
Disclosure &
"Dark Money"
Allegations |
| |
|
In February
2026, a
public feud
with
Governor
Katie Hobbs
led to
specific
accusations
regarding
Shope's
financial
transparency.
(ref 1)
(ref 2) |
| |
-
Undisclosed
Lobbyist
Perks:
The
Governor’s
office
released
reports
alleging
Shope
received
over
$4,900
in meals
and
entertainment
from
lobbyists
in 2025
that
were not
listed
on his
annual
financial
disclosure.
Shope
argued
these
were
already
public
record
because
lobbyists
reported
them,
and he
accused
the
Governor
of a
"smear
campaign".
|
-
ALEC
Travel
Costs:
A
spokesperson
for the
Governor
alleged
Shope
accepted
up to
$125,000
in
travel
and
lodging
from the
conservative
group
ALEC
since
2020.
Shope
dismissed
the
figure
as a
high-end
"overestimate"
due to
the
broad
reporting
ranges
used in
disclosure
forms.
(ref 1)
(ref 2)
|
|
2024–2026:
"Pay-to-Play"
Scrutiny |
| |
|
Shope has
been the
primary
voice
accusing the
Hobbs
administration
of
corruption,
which has in
turn made
him a target
for
political
retaliation. |
| |
-
Sunshine
Residential
Scheme:
Shope
requested
a
criminal
investigation
into a
group
home
provider
that
received
a 60%
rate
increase
after
donating
significantly
to the
Governor's
campaign
and the
Democratic
party.
|
-
Procurement
Probe:
As
Chairman
of the
Senate
Health &
Human
Services
Committee,
Shope
launched
an
investigation
into
AHCCCS
(Arizona's
Medicaid
agency)
following
a
"flawed"
contract
bidding
process
for
long-term
care.
(ref 1)
(ref 2)
(ref 3)
|
|
2022: Ethics
Complaint
Against a
Colleague |
| |
|
In May 2022,
Shope filed
an ethics
complaint
against
Democratic
Senator Juan
Mendez for
missing
nearly the
entire
legislative
session.
(ref 1)
(ref 2) |
| |
-
The
Controversy:
Mendez
was
avoiding
the
Capitol
to
protect
his
newborn
child
from
COVID-19.
|
-
The
Backlash:
Critics
accused
Shope of
political
grandstanding,
as
Mendez's
absences
had been
officially
excused
by
Senate
leadership.
Shope
argued
that
taxpayers
were
being
"financially
exploited"
because
Mendez
continued
to
collect
per diem
payments
while
absent.
(ref 1)
(ref 2)
(ref 3)
(ref 4)
(ref 5)
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
State
Senator
Sees
Kwanzaa
Display
At The
Capitol,
Gets A
Bit
Racist |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
|
"In a
week
filled
with
celebration
and time
with
loved
ones,
Republican
state
Sen.
T.J.
Shope
couldn’t
get
through
the
holiday
season
without
posting
something
racist.
On
Thursday,
Shope,
who
represents
parts of
Pinal,
Pima and
Maricopa
counties,
posted a
photo of
Gov.
Katie
Hobbs’
Kwanzaa
display
at the
Capitol.
Above
it, he
labeled
the
African
American
holiday
a “fake
anti-American,
anti-Christian
‘holiday.”" |
| |
|
Dec. 27,
2024 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Center
for
Arizona
Policy |
|
2024 Survey
Questions For
Arizona Candidates |
|
|
|
Position Sought:
Arizona
Senate,
Legislative
District
13 |
|
|
|
Question 2: Adding “sexual orientation,” “gender identity,” or “gender expression” to the protected classes of race, religion, age, sex, and ancestry in nondiscrimination law. |
 |
|
Candidates'
Position:
Oppose. |
|
|
|
Question 8: Allowing parents to seek professional counseling for their minor child with same-sex attraction or gender identity issues.* |
|
| Candidates'
Position: Support |
|
|
|
Question 9:
Permitting individuals and
businesses to not provide
services or promote ideas that
violate their moral or religious
beliefs.** |
|
|
|
Candidates' Position:
Support. |
|
|
|
*
This is in reference to the
dangerous and disproven
"Reparative Therapy". |
|
**Discriminatory
"Religious Freedom" laws. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Arizona Republicans
Ban Public From
Attending
Controversial
Immigration Bill
Vote, In Possible
Violation Of State
Law |
|
"“My brown skin does
not make me a
criminal!” Someone
shouted from the
gallery,
interrupting
Republican Sen.
TJ Shope as he
spoke in support of
HCR 2060. “You
should get the hell
outta here,” Shope
yelled back,
which led to more
yelling from the
gallery." |
|
Jun. 4, 2024 |
|
|
 |
 |
|
Senate
Democrats
To
File
Ethics
Complaint
After
GOP
Blocks
Arizona
Abortion
Law
Repeal |
|
"Democrats
in
the
Arizona
Senate
plan
to
file
an
ethics
complaint
against
Republican
leaders
who
blocked
their
attempt
to
repeal
the
state’s
near-total
abortion
ban.
When
the
Senate
met
on
Wednesday,
Minority
Leader
Mitzi
Epstein
(D-Tempe)
and
Anna
Hernandez
(D-Phoenix)
attempted
to
introduce
a
bill
to
repeal
the
state’s
abortion
ban
that
dates
back
to
1864.
But
President
Pro
Tempore T.J.
Shope (R-Coolidge),
who
was
presiding
over
the
chamber
at
the
time,
ignored
their
motions
and
instead
adjourned
the
Senate’s
session
until
next
week." |
|
Apr.
13,
2024 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Arizona
GOP
Pounces
On
Viral
Gender
Identity
Feud
Hitting
U Of
A
Nursing
School |
|
“I’m
absolutely
sickened
that
this
institution
of
higher
learning
is
perpetuating
the
lie
that
a
person’s
gender
is
based
off
feelings
and
not
their
God-given
biological
sex
established
upon
conception,”
Sen. Janae
Shamp,
vice-chair
of
the
Senate
Committee
on
Health
&
Human
Services
says
in
the
release.
“This
is
completely
groomer
garbage
that
strives
to
confuse
our
kids
in
an
effort
to
cater
to
the
evil
that
is
being
accepted
by
today’s
society.
As a
nurse,
I am
so
disheartened
that
the
next
generation
of
nurses
are
being
hijacked
of
their
capabilities
to
deliver
ethical
care.”
Tucson
lawmaker,
Sen. Justine
Wadsack,
also
is
quoted."
[ .
. .
]
"“If
this
issue
is
not
immediately
resolved
by
the
university,
Senate
Republicans
will
weigh
all
options
to
make
certain
tax
dollars
are
no
longer
used
in
such
an
egregious
fashion,”
said
Senator T.J.
Shope,
who
chairs
the
Senate
Committee
on
Health
&
Human
Services.
“The
mental
health
of
our
children
and
the
state
of
our
health
care
industry
(are)
being
threatened
by
this
radical
ideology.” |
|
Sep.
8,
2023 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| The COVID Vaccine Deniers And QAnon Believers Coming To Speak At The Arizona Legislature |
| May 23, 2023 |
|
|
"A special committee created by the Arizona legislature to examine the state’s response to COVID-19 will feature a litany of speakers who have spread disinformation about the pandemic, vaccines, spoken at QAnon events and have conspiratorial beliefs about the virus, including believing it will usher in the “mark of the beast.”" |
| [ . . . ] |
|
|
"The “Novel Coronavirus Southwestern Intergovernmental Committee” will hold two days of hearings on May 25 and May 26 at the Arizona Capitol, during which a string of ostensible experts will tell the state and federal Republican lawmakers on the panel their opinions on the pandemic, and Arizona’s response to it. |
|
|
The Republican elected officials on the panel include state Sens. T.J. Shope and Janae Shamp, the chair and vice-chair, respectively, of the state Senate’s Health and Human Services Committee; state Rep. Steve Montenegro, who chairs the state House of Representatives’ Health and Human Services Committee; and U.S. Reps. Andy Biggs, Eli Crane and Paul Gosar." |
|
| [ . . . ] |
|
|
"Extremist researchers on Twitter were quick to note that the various groups sponsoring the committee had begun promoting it by the acronym, NCSWIC, which is commonly used within the QAnon community to stand for “Nothing Can Stop What Is Coming.” It most often refers to an unfounded belief that “Deep State” collaborators will soon be arrested." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
The anti-Drag Storey Time Bill. This bill would apply only to libraries and other government facilities. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
This bill, had it become law, would be the same as laws covering a cabaret but with the words "drag show" instead of "cabaret". This is simply a sneaky attempt to outlaw drag shows. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Arizona Senate Panel Ignores Own Attorney, OKs Bills Attacking Trans Students And Drag Queens |
|
Elias Weiss / Phoenix New Times |
|
Mar. 1, 2023 |
| |
| "Relentless Republicans advanced three anti-LGBTQ bills to the full Arizona Senate on Monday despite warnings that the bills might be unconstitutional. |
| |
| Senate Rules Attorney Chris Kleminich warned the Senate Rules Committee that SB 1001, which targets transgender children in schools, and SB 1026 and SB 1698, two weapons in the GOP’s war on drag queens, weren’t likely to be upheld in a court of law." |
| |
| "SB 1001, sponsored by Republican Senator John Kavanagh, prohibits teachers and school officials from referring to students by pronouns that don't match their assigned gender at birth unless they have written parental permission. That bill moved forward in the Senate Education Committee in January." |
|
[...] |
| |
| "Despite Kleminich’s admonition, Republicans advanced the bill to the full Senate with a 4-3 vote. Republican Senators Warren Petersen, Sonny Borrelli, Sine Kerr, and T.J. Shope voted to advance the bill. Democratic Senators Lela Alston, Catherine Miranda, and Raquel Terán voted against it." |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Center for Arizona Policy |
| 2022 Survey Questions For Arizona Candidates |
|
| Position Sought: State Senate District 16 |
|
| Question 2: Adding “sexual orientation,” “gender identity,” or “gender expression” to the protected classes of race, religion, age, sex, and ancestry in nondiscrimination law. |
 |
| Candidates' Position: Oppose. |
|
| Question 4: Allowing biological males that identify as transgender to play on female sports’ teams. |
|
| Candidates' Position: Oppose |
|
| Question 8: Allowing parents to seek professional counseling for their minor child with same-sex attraction or gender identity issues.* |
|
| Candidates' Position: Support |
|
| Question 9: Protecting individuals and businesses from being required to provide services or use their artistic expression in a manner that violates their moral or religious beliefs.** |
|
| Candidates' Position: Support. |
|
| * This is in reference to the dangerous and disproven "Reparative Therapy". |
| **Discriminatory "Religious Freedom" laws. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Civic
Engagement
Beyond
Voting
-
Voting Records
-
T.J.
Shope |
|
2022 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Center for Arizona Policy |
| 2020 Survey Questions For Arizona Candidates |
|
| Position Sought: State Senate LD-8 |
|
| Question 2: Adding “sexual orientation,” “gender identity,” or “gender expression” to the protected classes of race, religion, age, sex, and ancestry in nondiscrimination law. |
|
| Candidates' Position: Oppose. |
|
| Question 4: Allowing biological males that identify as transgender to play on female sports’ teams. |
|
| Candidates' Position: Oppose |
|
| Question 9: Protecting a parent's right to seek professional counseling for their minor child with same-sex attraction or gender identity issues to help them reach their desired outcome.* |
|
| Candidates' Position: Support |
|
| Question 11: Protecting individuals and businesses from being required to provide services or use their artistic expression in a manner that violates their moral or religious beliefs.** |
|
| Candidates' Position: Support. |
|
| * This is in reference to the dangerous and disproven "Reparative Therapy". |
| **Discriminatory "Religious Freedom" laws. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Center for Arizona Policy |
| 2018 Candidate Questionnaire |
|
| Position Sought: State Representative LD-8 |
|
| Question 4: Adding “sexual orientation,” “gender identity,” or “gender expression” to the protected classes of race, religion, age, sex, and ancestry in nondiscrimination law. |
|
| Candidates' Position: Oppose. |
|
| Question 9: Protecting a parent’s right to seek professional counseling for their minor child with same– sex attraction or gender identity issues to help them reach their desired outcome.* |
|
| Candidates' Position: Support. |
|
| * This is in reference to the dangerous and disproven "Reparative Therapy". |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Women
Mail
Pads,
Tampons
To
Legislator
Killing
Bill
To
Give
Inmates
Free
Feminine
Products |
|
Feb.
12,
2018 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Shame
On
These
Legislators
Who
Failed
Kids |
|
May
4,
2016 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
ALEC
Wines
&
Dines
R-AZ
Legislators
On
Hidden
Camera |
|
Mar.
26,
2014 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
List
Of
Arizona
Republicans
Who
Voted
For
Anti-Gay
Discrimination
Bill |
|
Feb.
28,
2014 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Atheist?
Not
If
You
Want
To
Finish
High
School
In
Arizona |
|
Jan.
26,
2013 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
