Potential Campaign Finance Violations Prompt Complaint Against Arizona Democrat Representive Anna Lynn Abeytia

Freshman Lawmaker Under Scrutiny for Accumulating over $26,000 in Penalties, Failing to File Most Campaign Reports, Blowing off a Mandatory Audit and Directing Funds to Domestic Partner

Arizona State Representative Anna Lynn Abeytia (D-24) is under fire after failing to respond to a formal Notice of Complaint issued by the Citizens Clean Elections Commission. The complaint, served on March 10, 2025, alleged serious potential campaign finance violations. As of the response deadline, Executive Director Tom Collins confirmed to The State 48 News, “We have no record of a response.”

Source: FOIA

A review of campaign finance reports, FOIA records, and routine audits reveals that freshman legislator Abeytia became largely unresponsive after receiving public funds through the Clean Elections system. Records show she failed to file mandatory campaign finance reports, ignored multiple requests for information, and did not participate in a scheduled audit dated February 28th. The independent firm, Fester and Chapman, detailed their repeated attempts to contact Abeytia, all of which went unanswered:

We reached out to Anna Abeytia (the Candidate) via email on November 25, 2024, and again on December 4, 2024; neither of which received a response. On December 12, 2024, we called the number listed on the Candidate’s campaign finance report and left a message, again not receiving any type of response. We called again on January 28, 2025, and spoke to Anna Abeytia, and she said she would send over the requested documentation that evening. That was the last time we heard from her. It should also be noted that as of February 17, 2025, the Candidate has not filed their 2024 Primary Recap Report, 2024 Pre-General Election, or 2024 General Recap Report with the Arizona Secretary of State, and as such, does not show up on the See The Money website (https://seethemoney.az.gov/). Therefore, we are unable to review any of the expenses, contributions, or perform any other procedure as required for our testing of the Candidate’s Clean Elections funding.

Source: FOIA

Mr. Collins was unable to detail the next steps in Abeytia’s specific case. State 48 News reached out to the legislator but did not receive a response.

THE CAMPAIGN OF ABEYTIA OWES OVER $26,000 IN FEES FOR FAILING TO FILE DISCLOSURES.

In Arizona, political committees that fail to file campaign finance reports on time are subject to daily fines: $10 per day for the first 15 days, increasing to $25 per day thereafter, as stipulated in A.R.S. § 16-937. These penalties continue to accrue until the overdue report is submitted. However, enforcement of these fines has been abysmal. The Secretary of State must obtain a court order to compel payment, and typically, an external complaint is necessary for the Attorney General to initiate action. As a result, many candidates continue to file late reports without consequence.

Despite failing to secure the LD24 seat in 2022, Abeytia successfully ran and won in 2024. However, between these campaigns, she ceased filing her required campaign finance disclosure statements, leading to stiff penalties. As a result, Abeytia has approximately $29,460 in fines, and the total continues to grow. Complicating matters, she maintains two separate open campaign finance accounts, making it challenging to determine the exact amount owed.

This situation raises questions about how she qualified for public funding in 2024 under the Citizens Clean Elections program, which requires candidates to comply with campaign finance laws and reporting requirements . The apparent oversight suggests a need for closer scrutiny of the enforcement mechanisms within Arizona’s campaign finance system.

The Secretary of State told State 48 News there have been no referrals for a complaint against Abeytia.

Source: SEE THE MONEY

ABEYTIA HAS PAID HER LIVE-IN “DOMESTIC PARTNER” OVER $33,000 BUT LIKELY MORE DUE TO UNFILED DISCLOSURES.

Public records reveal that Abeytia directed over $33,000 in campaign funds to Gumption Consulting LLC, a company affiliated with Ricardo Serna, who shares a residential address with the lawmaker in Phoenix. Serna has been registered at that address since at least 2019. Abeytia is also listed there, creating what could be a direct personal and financial tie.

Facebook has the two listed as being in a “civil union.”

Source: FACEBOOK

THOUSANDS IN CASH — But Where Did It Go?

Between March and July 2024, Abeytia’s campaign issued at least nine payments to Gumption Consulting. While the first few entries listed basic campaign services, a $20,000 disbursement on July 15 was submitted with no description at all. That payment was followed by multiple additional transfers in the thousands, also lacking explanation or documentation.

In total, over $30,000 changed hands in July alone, all reportedly paid via cash or check—methods notoriously difficult to track and audit. To date, no invoices, receipts, or service records have been publicly disclosed, that State 48 could locate, to justify the expenses.

Arizona’s Clean Elections Program—which supplied public funding to Abeytia—demands strict compliance with transparency and documentation rules. Expenditures are required by law to be campaign-related, not personal, and must be supported with clear records. Under A.R.S. § 16-925, violations can carry stiff penalties.

Source: SEE THE MONEY

PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP, PUBLIC FUNDS

The deeper concern: Abeytia is using public campaign dollars to pay a business seemingly operated by someone she lives with, and has a domestic or romantic relationship with.

The firm receiving payments—Gumption Consulting LLC—has no standalone business address and is presumed to operate out of the same home the two share. That detail was never disclosed in Abeytia’s finance reports. If this is not a clear violation of state ethics rules it offends the spirit of campaign transparency laws.

Source: Arizona Corporation Commission

Abeytia also manages her own company—Abeytia Consulting LLC—from the same residence, further muddying the waters between personal and campaign operations.

Experts say the situation could constitute self-dealing, misuse of public funds, and failure to disclose material conflicts of interest—all prohibited under Arizona election law.

Ricardo Cerna is not only the owner Gumption Consulting, but both the chairman and on some forms the treasurer of Representative Abeytia’s campaign.

Source: SECRETARY OF STATE

This isn’t just a bookkeeping error—this is public money, and it’s supposed to be used to inform and engage voters, not enrich political insiders behind closed doors.

At best, this situation reflects gross mismanagement and a lack of oversight. At worst, it could reflect serious cracks in our campign finance laws.

Arizona voters—and taxpayers—deserve answers.

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ICYMI: The freshman lawmaker drew statewide attention when she publicly shared her “recent abortion” during a floor debate on HB2681.