One Arizona state senator’s voting record was not forgotten at a Turning Point Action “Rally to Protect Our Elections” in Phoenix, Ariz., on Saturday, where the crowd booed the woman offstage before she could even begin her remarks.
State senator and chair of the Senate Government Committee, Michelle Ugenti-Rita (R-Scottsdale) was on the receiving end of those “boos.” It appears the irony of Ugenti-Rita’s attendance at the election integrity event was not lost on the crowd, who made their sentiments about the state senator clear.
Ugenti-Rita voted with Democrats and fellow Republican Sen. Paul Boyer against the recent election integrity bill proposed by fellow GOP state senator, Kelly Townsend.
After several failed attempts to give her speech, Ugenti-Rita finally gave up, telling the “booing” crowd that she would win her primary before bolting from the stage.
Whoaa. GOP Secretary of State candidate @MichelleUgenti is booed off stage at TPUSA rally for Trump. She opposed GOP lawmaker’s wish list for election changes. #AZSOS pic.twitter.com/qlOQkXB5ap
— Brahm Resnik (@brahmresnik) July 24, 2021
Boyer’s vote earned him a personal call-out from former President Trump, who also spoke at the event, earlier this week.
“Boyer has been nothing but trouble, and nobody knows why. All we demand is Voter Integrity! He is being primaried by a strong and highly respected challenger, former Arizona State Representative Anthony Kern,” Trump said in a statement.
In June of this year, Ugenti-Rita refused to support SB1241, an election integrity proposal that included specific solutions from state senator Kelly Townsend to prevent voter fraud.
Some of the solutions contained in the proposal included setting up a procedure for county or state prosecutors to get involved when someone’s signature on an early ballot does not match what’s on file, it would require anyone who registers to vote in Arizona to cancel their registration in the state from which they moved, and it mandated paper receipts at the polls to prove a voter’s ballot has been accepted, the Arizona Capitol Times reported.
Ugenti-Rita argued that she could not support the changes because the issue never got a public airing on the Government Committee which she chairs. She went on to claim that it made “little sense” to enact massive changes in election law before the Senate-ordered audit is completed and recommendations are made.
However, Ugenti-Rita’s qualms didn’t represent the whole truth. Townsend requested a hearing on the integrity issues in the Government Committee but was shot down by Ugenti-Rita who said there was not enough time.
“I think that’s a pretty substandard approach,” Townsend said. Later, when Townsend tacked the new provisions on her original bill concerning paper receipts, Ugenti-Rita objected.
Her “no” vote killed the measure and now, according to Townsend, the much needed solutions won’t be approved “because of pride, because of nonfeasance, because the chairwoman didn’t like that I went around her. For those reasons, this chairwoman is denying the people of Arizona confidence and election security. That’s unacceptable,” Townsend hammered.
Ugenti-Rita took to Twitter late Saturday to try to defend her pride:
I’ve been on the frontlines of the battle for election integrity for the last 10 years. I wrote the law banning ballot harvesting, cleaned-up our mail-in voter rolls, strengthened ID requirements just to name a few of my accomplishments, (1of5)
— Michelle Ugenti-RITA (@MichelleUgenti) July 25, 2021
something every candidate on that stage praised. I’ll put my record of fighting for election integrity up against anyone. What I won’t do is vote for “show” legislation that does nothing to strengthen election integrity and introduced for self serving reasons. (2of5)
— Michelle Ugenti-RITA (@MichelleUgenti) July 25, 2021
There’s too much at stake. Our election system is under constant assault by the left, and I won’t support bills that fail to strengthen our election system.
The same holds true for the audit. I supported the audit, but I do not support the Trump audit any longer. (3of5)
— Michelle Ugenti-RITA (@MichelleUgenti) July 25, 2021
I wanted to review our election processes and see what, if anything, could be improved. Sadly, it’s now become clear that the audit has been botched. The total lack of competence by @FannKfann over the last 5 months has deprived the voters of Arizona a comprehensive…(4of5)
— Michelle Ugenti-RITA (@MichelleUgenti) July 25, 2021
accounting of the 2020 election. That’s inexcusable, but it shows what can happen when Republicans do not take election integrity deadly serious. (5of5)
— Michelle Ugenti-RITA (@MichelleUgenti) July 25, 2021
This is far from Ugenti-Rita’s first unflattering moment in the spotlight. The state senator became the face of the #MeToo movement in Arizona after her claims led to the ousting of a former lawmaker, but Ugenti-Rita herself was taken to court for allegedly sexually harassing a female lobbyist to such extreme levels that it impacted the woman’s mental health and career, according to the Capitol Times.
While Ugenti-Rita seems to think she has her primary in the bag, Twitter users couldn’t be so sure:
Guess she won’t be getting that soundbite and video she expected for future campaign ads after all.
— CopperStateDemocrat (@rob_voreck) July 24, 2021
This is what happens when you vote against election integrity, Michelle Ugenti-Rita.
The people have the power. We’ve always had the power.
This Awakening is quite beautiful. pic.twitter.com/RPpu8fRZuM— Teresa AnnMarie (@TeresaFreeThink) July 25, 2021
It is clear that @MichelleUgenti’s political career is over. Just like her first marriage!
— Catharine O’Neill (@cathponeill) July 25, 2021
“Voice of the Voter” … 😂😂😂
Sounds to me like those voices are telling you to get lost. pic.twitter.com/2AtCGVcoXy
— KC McCarty (@KCMcCarty2) July 25, 2021
You have ZERO chance. Why would you come to @TurningPointACT, and give a stump speech without addressing or defending your actions on SB124?
— AZDeplorable2A – They stole the Presidency! (@AZDeplorable2A) July 25, 2021
DONATE TO BIZPAC REVIEW
Please help us! If you are fed up with letting radical big tech execs, phony fact-checkers, tyrannical liberals and a lying mainstream media have unprecedented power over your news please consider making a donation to BPR to help us fight them. Now is the time. Truth has never been more critical!
- Christian nurse was ‘treated like a criminal,’ harassed by hospital for years over cross necklace, wins suit - January 10, 2022
- ‘No, Sandy, I don’t want to sleep with you!’ Tucker, Candace have fun with AOC’s ’10-margarita’ Miami rant - January 4, 2022
- ‘It’s now official’: Gov. Newsom goes online to boast that California is a universal vote by mail state - January 2, 2022
Comment
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, profanity, vulgarity, doxing, or discourteous behavior. If a comment is spam, instead of replying to it please click the ∨ icon below and to the right of that comment. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain fruitful conversation.
BPR INSIDER COMMENTS
Scroll down for non-member comments or join our insider conversations by becoming a member. We'd love to have you!