Advocacy groups sue to kick GOP's controversial last-minute referrals off the ballot
To avoid the governor’s veto stamp and enshrine their policies in the Arizona Constitution, Republican lawmakers sent some of their most controversial proposals to voters. Now they’re facing down lawsuits as advocacy groups fight to keep the issues off of the November ballot.
Republicans put 10 measures on this year’s ballot, giving voters a chance to weigh in on a range of topics. One targets trans students, barring them from using bathrooms consistent with their gender identity and prohibiting trans girls from joining the sports teams that reflect who they are. Another aims to erase diversity, equity and inclusion or intersectionality from the state’s hiring practices. Both are the subject of lawsuits from a political action committee that says they are contrary to the Arizonans’ values. In total, five of the 10 ballot measures Republicans hope voters will approve in the fall are facing legal challenges.
Will of the People, a political action committee formed to oppose the GOP-backed ballot measures, filed lawsuits against the proposals that critics say discriminate against trans students and would make it more difficult for public institutions to be inclusive. On the landing page of the group’s website, it refers to the ballot propositions as “deceptive” and denounces the one that restricts the ability of trans girls to play on sports teams consistent with their gender identity as a “blanket discrimination.”
The lawsuit against the so-called “Protect Girls’ Sports Act” is set to go to trial on July 16. Attorney Jim Barton, who is representing the committee, wrote that the ballot referral should be thrown out because it is misleading and violates the Arizona Constitution. The state constitution establishes guidelines for ballot measures. Those guidelines include the single subject requirement, which mandates that a proposition put before voters cover only one subject to avoid confusing voters or forcing them to support something they would otherwise oppose because they approve of part of it.
https://azmirror.com/2026/06/30/advocacy-groups-sue-to-kick-gops-controversial-last-minute-referrals-off-the-ballot/
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