Endorsements
Moreana Boys Academy Endorsements
Protecting ESA before November: the candidates Moreana Boys Academy endorses, why it matters for your son, and the dates to know.
A message from Tom Dowell, Founder and Program Director, Moreana Boys Academy
Why I Am Speaking Up
As an educator, business owner, and father, I feel it is my responsibility to help our families understand the candidates on this November's ballot. As a public school teacher, I felt handcuffed about sharing my views, and I believe that did a disservice to my students and their families. I am no longer muzzled, and I see part of my role as helping protect Moreana, and students across the state, from political attacks. But I cannot do it alone.
Please read this one carefully. It directly affects your son's education. Most of our families use ESA to pay for Moreana, and it has opened doors we could only dream about a few years ago. Our future is bright, and the best is still ahead for our boys.
But I need to be honest with you: this election could seriously damage the ESA program. The wrong outcome could mean income caps, new restrictions, and a major cut in the support our families count on. I encourage you to do your own research, and I am always glad to talk through the candidates with you in confidence.
Why ESA Is Still at Stake
The Aug 18 court rulings removed Prop. 212 from the ballot. But the debate is not over. Those elected this fall will shape who qualifies for ESA.
The Candidates I Support
If your son's education is a driving reason you vote, here are the ESA-friendly candidates Moreana Boys Academy fully endorses:
Kimberly Yee, Superintendent of Public Instruction
Why I support: This office runs ESA day to day. As a state legislator, Yee sponsored the original ESA law in 2011. She opposes income limits and wants a real-time payment system so only approved education purchases go through, which protects the program without shrinking who qualifies.
Why not the opponent: Her opponent, Teresa Leyba Ruiz, opposes the universal ESA expansion. She has called for academic testing and public-school-style reporting for private schools that accept ESA funds, plus an outside audit. She also wants an ESA income cap; she has supported a $150,000 cap, though she declined to name a specific number in her latest debate. Those rules would change how schools like Moreana operate.
Campaign site: kimberlyyee.com
Warren Petersen, Attorney General
Why I support: As Senate President, Petersen helped pass this year's budget and said it kept ESA "fully intact with no income limits." The American Federation for Children lists him as a Friend of School Choice for sponsoring or voting for key school choice bills.
Why not the opponent: Attorney General Kris Mayes opened a 2024 investigation into ESA spending and pushed a rule requiring parents to tie every supplemental purchase to a specific curriculum document. ESA parents sued, and she settled in July 2026. Last December she also threatened to sue over how ESA purchases are approved.
Campaign site: petersenforag.com
Andy Biggs, Governor
Why I support: Biggs's platform pledges to protect ESA so families can choose the education that fits their child, and to opt Arizona into the federal education tax credit. He also backs trade skills and certificate training.
Why not the opponent: Governor Katie Hobbs has proposed ESA limits for four years running. Her 2025 budget phased ESA funding down for families earning $100,000 to $200,000 and ended it above $200,000. Her 2026 budget sets a $250,000 income cap and ends carryover of unused balances. She vetoed SB 1142, the federal tax credit opt-in bill, on Apr 13, 2026, saying she wanted "guardrails Arizona's ESA program lacks." Earlier, on Jan 16, 2026, she vetoed SB 1106, a tax bill that included the opt-in. In my view, holding it back is a political play, and our families pay for it.
Campaign site: biggsforarizona.com
A New Federal Scholarship Arizona Is Missing
Starting in 2027, individual taxpayers can get a dollar-for-dollar federal tax credit of up to $1,700 a year ($1,700 per individual, $3,400 per married couple) for donating to a qualified Scholarship Granting Organization (SGO). SGOs fund K-12 scholarships (tuition, books, tutoring) for households up to 300% of area median income. It costs the state nothing, but only works if Arizona opts in.
This federal scholarship stacks with ESA: a student can receive both. ESA and the scholarship can split the bill; they just cannot both cover the same dollars. For many families, ESA plus an SGO scholarship could likely mean zero out-of-pocket tuition at Moreana. Amounts and eligibility vary.
Governor Hobbs vetoed SB 1142, the opt-in bill, on Apr 13, 2026, and earlier vetoed SB 1106, a tax bill that included the opt-in, on Jan 16, 2026. In my view, this is a political play, and Moreana families are likely to pay for it. Unfriendly legislation could also put stacking at risk, which is why the Governor and legislative races matter so much.
Your State Legislators Matter Just as Much
Ask: "Do you fully support keeping ESA available to families like ours, without income caps or rollbacks?" Save Our Schools Arizona, which opposes universal ESA, is targeting LD13 (Chandler, Sun Lakes, Gilbert).
Find your district: azleg.gov/findmylegislator (enter your address). See your full sample ballot at my.arizona.vote.
Pro-ESA candidates in our area:
LD10 (east Mesa): Senate: David Farnsworth; House: Justin Olson, James Rogers
LD13 (Chandler, Gilbert, Sun Lakes): Senate: Julie Willoughby; House: Janet Weninger
LD14 (Gilbert, Mesa): House: Laurin Hendrix, Tyler Farnsworth
LD15 (Queen Creek, Mesa, San Tan Valley): Senate: Jake Hoffman; House: Neal Carter
LD16 (San Tan Valley, Casa Grande, Maricopa): Senate: T.J. Shope; House: Teresa Martinez
In LD8, LD9 and LD12 (Tempe, west Mesa, Ahwatukee), please ask the candidates directly.
Key Dates
Early voting started Oct 7.
Oct 23: last day to request a mail ballot (Maricopa).
Oct 27: mail your ballot back by this date.
Tue Nov 3: drop off by 7pm.
Questions? Let's Talk
I am always glad to talk through the candidates with you in confidence. Please contact us anytime.
God Bless,
Tom Dowell
Founder and Program Director
Moreana Boys Academy