Greg Stanton

Progressive congressional candidate Kai Newkirk laid into incumbent Rep. Greg Stanton in a televised forum on May 27, accusing the veteran House Democrat of "status quo leadership, conventional politics and legalized corruption."

Stanton has an advantage in the race for Arizona’s 4th Congressional District, a politically mixed stretch of the East Valley that leans blue by only a couple of percentage points.

Newkirk, a 45-year-old meditation teacher and left-wing organizer, has tried to replicate the successes of other insurgent candidates such as New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani by arguing Stanton is part of an out-of-touch Democratic establishment.

Newkirk's platform focuses on the power of economic elites. He is running on Medicare for All, universal childcare, a moratorium on data centers, a national rent stabilization policy, a windfall profits tax on big oil companies and freezing utility rates.

People, regardless of political affiliation, drive on the same streets and pay their bills to many of the same companies, he argued in the TV forum hosted by Arizona's Citizens Clean Elections Commission.

"We need to think about these things in an interconnected way," Newkirk said. "Let's not be divided by the oligarchs but understand we have common interests as working-class people."

Stanton, he said, "unfortunately has both not stood up to these emergencies with the force that is necessary, and in some cases, has enabled it."

Stanton prides himself on moderate politics, defends 'results'

Newkirk's agenda is a stark contrast to the vision his campaign rival has articulated across seven years in Congress.

Stanton, a former Phoenix mayor, has made a point of cultivating moderate politics.

He is a national leader within the House’s New Democrat Coalition, a centrist bloc. He has helped boost moderate candidates across the country in primary elections. And he has passionately defended a strategy of moderation, arguing it's the best approach for winning competitive elections against Republicans.

On economic policy, Stanton has taken a more free-market approach. He has called to reverse the Republican-led cuts to Medicaid, cut "red tape" to allow for more home-building, build more renewable energy and make sure data centers don't drive up the costs of water and energy. He has argued that President Donald Trump's tariffs are the top driver of rising prices.

Stanton has countered that his approach has gotten "results" for Arizona and he plans to continue to focus on broad-based issues, including infrastructure and water.

An aide to Stanton noted the congressman was traveling to attend other events leading up to the debate. On May 26, Stanton conducted a congressional oversight visit at an immigration processing center in Texas. The next day, he traveled to Tucson to support JoAnna Mendoza, a candidate who has been endorsed by the New Democrats in Arizona's highly competitive 6th Congressional District.

"Arizona knows Greg Stanton, and Greg Stanton fights for Arizona," spokesperson Allison Childress wrote in a statement to The Republic the night of the forum. "He's earned voters' trust by standing up to the Trump administration, taking on drug companies, protecting Arizona's water future, and working to make life more affordable for working families."

Newkirk attempts progressive upstart

The district is one of several around the country where progressive challengers are trying to unseat House Democrats, at a time when many liberals are dissatisfied with their party.

Newkirk previously made national headlines for his non-violent resistance tactics. He has been arrested multiple times while protesting in support of left-wing causes. He has heckled Democratic elected officials on recent Arizona campaign stops and was involved in an effort to limit corporate and billionaire contributions to the state's Democratic primaries.

On the campaign trail, he has set his sights on Stanton’s support for Israel and the Laken Riley Act, the Republican-led law passed in 2025 that requires U.S. immigration authorities to detain undocumented immigrants who are charged with theft-related crimes.

The bipartisan vote saw pushback from immigration advocates and liberals. Moderate Democrats said it addressed crime committed by migrants.

The Laken Riley Act "gave Trump a green light for his authoritarian mass deportation campaign and began this erosion of due process," Newkirk said during the May 27 forum. "It might be one reason why he's not here at this debate tonight: Because he doesn't want to answer questions like that."

He has highlighted the large sums of money Stanton has received from pro-Israel advocacy groups. And he noted Stanton accepts money from corporate PACs, something Newkirk has refused.

Newkirk trains sights on 'oligarchs'

"Oligarchs" are a touchstone of Newkirk's campaign. Moderator Steve Goldstein asked who those oligarchs are exactly. Newkirk named Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos, but said he's not just referring to individuals.

"It's a corrupt campaign finance system, and a rigged economy that has enabled this vicious cycle, of them spending that unlimited wealth in our elections to try to pick politicians that are going to help them," he said.

Stanton takes money from "the very same corporate interests that those oligarchs own and that are screwing over the working class," Newkirk said. "You can't serve two masters at the same time," he said.

The primary election is on July 21. Early voting begins June 24.