Republican-Led Maricopa BOS Hands Senate Seat to Far-Left Democrat, Kiana Sears
With three Democrats in the running, did the BOS pick the most extreme?
The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors unanimously appointed Kiana Sears to represent Legislative District 9 (LD 9) in the Arizona State Senate, succeeding Senator Eva Burch, who resigned earlier this month.
Laura Metcalfe and Ryan Winkle were the other two Democrats under consideration. The Board of Supervisors posted questionnaire responses from all three candidates, which can be found here.
It’s no surprise that Democrats nominated Sears—she’s a capable, seasoned advocate and politician. What may raise eyebrows, however, is that her appointment was ultimately made by a majority-Republican body.
State 48 News often uses GROK images, but we can’t take credit (or blame) for this one. This is Kiana Sears’ own photo, straight from her website
Senator Burch, a Democrat from Mesa, announced her resignation effective March 14, 2025, citing challenges in balancing her legislative duties with her career as a healthcare provider. She expressed concerns over the $24,000 annual salary for state legislators, stating, “I have been struggling to make ends meet and to find balance with my legislative work and my job as a healthcare provider.”
Under Arizona law, the Board of Supervisors was tasked with appointing a successor from the same political party. Supervisor Mark Stewart made the motion to appoint Sears, which was seconded by Supervisor Steve Gallardo and subsequently approved by the Board.
WHO IS THE NEW PROGRESSIVE ACTIVIST NOW SITTING IN THE ARIZONA SENATE?
SEARS IS BACKED BY RADICAL ORGANIZATIONS
In 2018, Kiana Sears ran for the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) with the backing of the extreme-left Working Families Party (WFP). Senior Journalist Christy Kelly, previously wrote about WFP’s ties to the Communist Party—an organization that continues to funnel money into Democrat campaigns. You can read that article here.
In her bid for the ACC, Sears was also supported by Chispa AZ, a project of the League of Conservation Voters Education Fund, a left-wing 501(c)(3) tied to Tom Steyer and backed by George Soros. They’ve spent millions pushing green mandates in Arizona and targeting Republicans.
Sears has been a vocal supporter of Planned Parenthood, as highlighted in her campaign video titled “Sears Stands with Planned Parenthood.” It’s a bit puzzling why a candidate for the Arizona Corporation Commission, an entity primarily focused on regulating utilities and energy, would prioritize giving such a prominent shout-out to an organization unrelated to the commission’s core responsibilities.
Arizona List, a committee for pro-abortion Democratic women, endorsed Sears for Mesa Public Schools (MPS) Governing Board member.
SEARS VOTED FOR LGBTQ FLAGS IN THE CLASSROOM
MPS deliberated on a policy amendment that aimed to prohibit the display of flags and merchandise bearing political, social, or ideological messages within classrooms. This proposal specifically targeted items such as Pride flags and Black Lives Matter symbols. Proponents of the amendment, contended that the American flag should suffice in educational settings. They emphasized the need for schools to remain neutral and avoid involvement in partisan or divisive political issues.
Sears opposed the measure, asserting that it would infringe upon students’ freedom of speech. She expressed concern that restricting the display of such symbols could limit students’ ability to express their identities and beliefs.
SEARS ADVOCATED FOR MORE “UNCOMFORTABLE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT RACISM”
As former president of the East Valley NAACP and MPS, Sears has consistently pushed for race-based conversations in schools and the broader community. In response to the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to strike down affirmative action in college admissions, she doubled down on the need to spotlight racism—past and present—rather than focusing on unifying solutions say critics. Sears continues to advocate for policies rooted in identity politics and equity frameworks, which many argue outcomes based on race over equal opportunity.
SEARS HAS FACED A PATTERN OF COMPLAINTS AND ALLEGATIONS OVER THE YEARS, RAISING ONGOING CONCERNS ABOUT HER LEADERSHIP, CONDUCT AND ASSOCIATIONS.
In 2018, the Arizona Attorney General’s Office investigated Sears for not disclosing several inactive businesses during her Corporation Commission campaign. Sears explained that these companies were dormant. While the businesses should have been disclosed, there were no charges.
In 2022, Sears hired Blue Wave Victory, a political consulting firm led by former State Rep. Reginald Bolding and Jevin Hodge, paying them over $18,000 for campaign services. At the time, Bolding was running against Adrian Fontes for Secretary of State. Fontes accused Bolding and Hodge of using their political positions for personal gain, alleging they “sold their positions as a means of access to others in exchange for monetary gain.”
LEGISLATIVE BLACK CAUCUS CELEBRATES HISTORIC WIN?
Caucus Chair Rep. Quanta Crews (D) was quick to congratulate Sears for what she called a “historic” —but without specifying what exactly made it historic. State 48 News looked into it: Arizona has had Black legislators before. So what made this moment different? We’re still trying to figure that out.
But Rep. Crews didn’t stop there. “Her appointment is more than a personal victory, it is a win for Black Arizonans,” she said, adding, “we remain committed to advancing justice, equity and opportunity for all.”
