Arizona Political Ad Misrepresents JoAnna Mendoza’s Comments
An advertisement released by Arizona Representative Juan Ciscomani inaccurately asserts that Democratic candidate JoAnna Mendoza labeled parents in her district as “toxic.”
The advertisement showcases a Tucson mother’s worries over transgender athletes participating in sports with her daughters. She claims Mendoza is against a ban on transgender students in school sports and alleges, “and she even called parents like me toxic.”
The roots of this claim trace back to a statement Mendoza made in a 2020 state Senate candidate forum, where she criticized legislation aimed at banning transgender girls and women from teams aligned with their gender identity. Such legislation was termed “toxic” by Mendoza, though she did not extend this description to parents or supporters of the proposal.
“I think legislation, like the one that you mentioned, it’s harmful, it’s toxic,” Mendoza stated. “It takes away from who we are as Americans; to want to be inclusive, to want to fight for those that can’t fight for themselves, to want to make things better for everyone.”
This November, voters in Arizona will weigh in on a referendum regarding the participation of transgender students in sports teams according to their gender identity. Mendoza reiterated her position in a recent statement.
“As a mom, I know that parents just want to protect their kids—on the playing fields and across Arizona,” she expressed. “Rules about keeping sports fair and safe for young people should be made by the people who know the most—parents, coaches, and sports associations—not politicians.”
Conversely, Ciscomani has publicly supported federal legislation proposing a nationwide ban on transgender student athletes.
The misleading nature of the ad may indicate Ciscomani’s electoral challenges. He is regarded as a vulnerable Republican facing reelection, with a recent House Majority PAC poll showing Mendoza ahead by two points.
