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PHOENIX (AZFamily) — State Treasurer Kimberly Yee is calling a political attack ad targeting her campaign “overt racism” as questions mount over who is responsible for the spot airing across Arizona.
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Yee is running against incumbent State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne in the Republican primary.
The ad, which features a gong, bamboo lettering, and calls Yee the “Empress of DEI,” has drawn criticism from Yee and political observers.
Yee points to Horne; Horne denies involvement
We spoke with Kimberly Yee to get her reaction after she saw the ad.
“Revolting, racist, not in line with Arizonans,” Yee said.
The ad states who paid for it and does not mention her opponent, Horne. Yee said she does believe Horne was involved.
“Tom Horne is behind these ads, and it’s very clear because he has a long-standing history of coordinating with independent expenditure campaigns just like this. They’re dark money campaigns. They hide behind a different name,” Yee said.
We spoke with Horne before speaking with Yee. He denied any connection to the ad.
“But when I saw it, I was profoundly shocked,” Horne said. “And it’s an independent campaign out of state. It’s illegal for me to have any communication with them.”
He called the ad ethnic prejudice.
The ad refers to Yee as the “empress of DEI.” Yee called that claim false.
“That is a lie. And in fact, my longstanding record has been fighting against radical DEI policies,” Yee said.
Horne’s campaign website also links Yee to DEI policies, echoing the message in the ad.
Political consultant weighs in
Stan Barnes, president of Copper State Consulting Group, said the ad reflects a broader breakdown of norms in political campaigning.
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“There are no boundaries. There are no rules. All’s fair in love and war and in campaigns,” Barnes said.
Barnes said he believes whoever created the ad was counting on the controversy to drive free exposure online.
“It’s wrong enough and out of bounds enough that people will pass it along and say, ‘Can you believe this?’ And a lot of people will see it that way that would never see it in traditional, more expensive media,” Barnes said.
Barnes also questioned the effect such ads have on candidates considering public service.
“Who wants to put up with this? Who wants to subject themselves in the public square to this kind of ridiculous mockery by anonymous people?” Barnes said.
PAC traced to California
The ad was sponsored by Arizonans for Election Integrity. Campaign finance filings list the group as based in El Dorado Hills, California, though earlier filings show a Scottsdale address.
We reached out to Arizonans for Election Integrity but did not hear back.
The individual believed to be behind the group had not responded to requests for comment; therefore, it remains unclear who directed him to place the ad or which candidate he is campaigning for.
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