Two Hollywood giants put money behind one Pima County candidate ahead of the July 30 primary.

Democratic County Recorder Gabriella Cázares-Kelly heads a relatively low-profile department, tasked with recording and maintaining public records, registering voters and overseeing early voting.

It is much less known than the Pima County Attorney's Office, for instance, where two candidates vying to be the top prosecutor have raised more than a half-million-dollars combined; more on that below.

But it was Cázares-Kelly who received two very high-profile donations in the first two weeks of July: $1,000 each from Oscar-winning director Steven Spielberg and his wife, Kate Capshaw Spielberg, who played Willie Scott in "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom."

Kate Capshaw and Steven Spielberg 

"I unexpectedly had the opportunity to meet Mr. Spielberg and Ms. Capshaw earlier this year and was able to share a little bit about my work," Cázares-Kelly explained to the Star. "I’m a big fan of both their work respectively, and am beyond honored that they’d contribute to my campaign. Their work has brought joy to me and my family my entire life."

"I plan to send them the infamous scooter stickers as soon as I have a free moment," she added, referring to her campaign stickers showing Cázares-Kelly, the first Native American elected to a Pima County office, on a scooter with the slogan "Indigenous Woman Coming Through."

Gabriella Cázares-Kelly, Pima County recorder

In all, Cázares-Kelly raised $2,342 to add onto the $13,000 she had saved entering July. Her campaign spent $2,044 and closed the reporting period with $13,414 on hand.

Cázares-Kelly will not face a primary challenge, as the only other candidate to file is Dominic Campbell-Gonzalez, a Republican; the two will face off in November. Campbell-Gonzalez has not filed a campaign finance report with the county.

County and state candidates had to file their pre-primary finance report, which shows fundraising and spending from July 1 through July 13, considered a key period because it's right before the July 30 election. Candidates running for federal posts had a July 18 deadline for their July 1 through July 10 reporting period.

The first reporting period of the year for county campaign finances covered Jan. 1 through March 31 and the second quarter reporting period covered campaign finance through the months of April, May and June.

Conover vs. Jette

The hottest contested race locally is the Democratic face-off for Pima County attorney between incumbent Laura Conover and challenger Mike Jette. The two continue to raise big money in a late dash to the finish line of the primary.

Pima County Attorney Laura Conove and Mike Jette, challenger in Democratic primary. 

The next Pima County attorney will be decided on Tuesday as there is no challenger for the post in the Nov. 5 general election.

Conover reported entering July with more than $31,000 saved. She said she raised nearly $40,000 − $10,000 of which she loaned herself − from July 1 through July 13. Her campaign spent over $43,000 in that span and reported to have more than $27,000 saved as of July 14.

Conover's reelection bid has raised $287,000 in total.

Jette, the challenger for the office, started the month with over $45,000 saved and raised an additional $9,926. Of that, $2,500 came from the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers of Arizona Political Action Committee (IBEW Arizona PAC) and $1,500 came from the Southern Arizona Home Builders Association Political Action Committee (SAHBA PAC).

Jette's campaign reported spending $33,863 through July 13 and having over $21,000 saved to close the reporting period.

His campaign has raised nearly $250,000 to date.

Other county offices on the ballot this year include all five Board of Supervisors seats, sheriff, assessor, recorder, and three seats on the Pima Community College governing board, along with several smaller races. Pima County voters will also cast ballots for several federal and state posts in Tuesday's primary.

Congress: July 1 through July 10

Rep. Juan Ciscomani faces challenger Kathleen Winn Tuesday's Republican primary.

District 6 − Republican incumbent Rep. Juan Ciscomani faces Kathleen Winn in the GOP primary. The winner will take on Kristen Engel, a Democrat, in the Nov. 5 general election.

Ciscomani continues to expand his big fundraising lead over Winn. His campaign reports beginning July with over $2.8 million on hand and raising nearly $43,000 through the first 10 days of July. His campaign spent $204,000 and closed the period with over $2.6 million saved.

Winn began the month with over $42,000 saved, raising $3,546 and spending nearly $20,000 through July 10. Her campaign reports having more than $26,000 saved to close the period.

Engel, the sole Democrat, was the fundraising leader for the 10-day reporting period. Her campaign reports entering July with over $3.1 million on hand, raising an additional $137,000 and spending $81,000. It says $3.1 million was saved to close the period.

District 7 − Democratic incumbent Rep. Rául Grijalva will face off against Republican Daniel Francis Butierez in the Nov. 5 general election.

Grijalva's congressional committee reports raising $7,665 to add to the over $360,000 it had saved entering July. His campaign spent over $9,000 and closed the reporting period with $358,000 on hand.

Butierez began July with $4,200 saved and raised $250 through July 10. The challenger reports spending $2,911 and closing the reporting period with $1,538 on hand.

County races: July 1 through July 13

Board of Supervisors

District 1: Oro Valley, east Marana and the Catalina Foothills.

Incumbent Supervisor Rex Scott has a challenge in the Democratic primary from Jake Martin.

Scott entered July with $85,404 saved, raising an additional $1,000 and spending $1,800. His campaign reports closing the period with over $84,000 on hand.

Martin, the 21-year-old challenger, reports adding $255 to the $752 he had on hand entering July. His campaign spent $750 through July 13 and closed the reporting period with $256 available.

The winner will face Republican Steve Spain in November. Spain entered July with $11,705 and raised an additional $1,050. His campaign reports spending just $15 in the period.

District 2: Midtown Tucson to Sahuarita.

GOP candidates John Backer and Beatrice "Cory" Stephens will face off in the Republican primary.

Backer reports adding $500 to the nearly $6,000 he had on hand entering July. Backer's campaign spent $2,016 through the reporting period. Stephens reported entering July with over $3,900 saved. She raised just $25 but spent over $1,100 through July 13, and closed the period with $2,866 saved.

The winner will face Democratic incumbent Matt Heinz in the Nov. 5 general election. Heinz reported having over $9,200 on hand entering July. He did not raise any money during the reporting period and spent $335 through July 13.

District 3: West Pima County to the U.S.-Mexico border.

Sylvia Lee was appointed to the post in November after Democrat Sharon Bronson resigned, citing injuries from a fall. Lee is not running for the post. Six candidates are vying for the seat in the county’s largest district. On Tuesday, voters will cast ballots in a four-way Democratic primary.

Democrat Jennifer "Jen" Allen continued to grow the fundraising lead she's held this year. Allen reports entering July with over $67,000 and raising an additional $16,000 − $13,300 of which came from the Arizona Pipe Trades local 469 PAC, and another $500 from the "Latino Victory" PAC. Allen spent $46,102 through July 13 and and closed the period with over $38,500 on hand.

Democrat Miguel Cuevas reports entering July with $129 saved. He infused $900 of his own money and received a $25 contribution from Pima County treasurer candidate Sami Hamed. Cuevas spent $1,000 on radio ads and closed the reporting period with $554 on hand, he told the Star.

Democrat Edgar Soto entered July with $5,500 saved and raised nearly $39,000, which included $500 from the Arizona Multihousing Association PAC, $1,500 from the Southern Arizona Home Builders Association PAC candidate fund, and a series of loans Soto made to his campaign totaling over $32,000, along with smaller individual contributions. Soto's campaign reports spending nearly $44,000 through July 13 and closing the period with $433 on hand.

Democrat April Ignacio entered July with $7,232 saved, raising an additional $3,371 − $325 from herself − and spent $3,146. The candidate reports closing the period with $7,456 available.

In November, Republican Janet "JL" Wittenbraker and Independent Iman-Utopia Layjou Bah will face the winner of the Democratic primary.

Wittenbraker reports adding $200 to the nearly $800 she had on hand to begin July. The GOP candidate reported spending nothing in the reporting period. Bah entered July with zero dollars on hand and put $500 of his own money into his campaign. The Independent candidate reported no expenditures in the period.

District 4: Eastern Pima County, portions of Tucson and Vail.

Republican incumbent Steve Christy will face Democrat Vanessa Bechtol in the November general election.

Christy reported entering July with $34,000 saved, raising and spending $0.

Bechtol reported going into July with over $45,000 saved, raising an additional $6,095 and spending nearly $6,500 through July 13.

District 5: Downtown, west and southwest sides.

Democratic incumbent and Board Chair Adelita Grijalva will face Independent Val Romero, a Tucson Unified School District Governing Board member, in the general election.

Grijalva reported having $15,425 saved entering July. She raised $600 − including $500 from the "Latino Victory Fund" PAC − and spent $476 through July 13.

Romero entered July with $1,475 on -hand and raised an additional $1,662. He reports spending $1,473 through July 13 and closing the period with $1,663 saved.

Sheriff

Incumbent Chris Nanos faces a challenge in the Democratic primary from Sanford “Sandy” Rosenthal.

Nanos reported having $7,000 saved entering July and raising $1,500 through July 13, including $400 from Nanos to spend on social media advertising. The sheriff closed the reporting period with $8,043 on hand.

Rosenthal reported starting the month with nearly $400 saved, raising another $400 and spending $20.

Republican candidates for sheriff Bill Phillips, Heather Lappin and Terry Frederick are running in the GOP primary.

Lappin entered July with over $3,600 on hand an raised $1,717 through the period. She reported spending $1,151 and closing the period with $4,240 saved.

Phillips raised $5,324 to add to the nearly $900 he had saved to begin the month. He reports spending $3,800 and closing the period with $2,414 on hand.

Frederick started the month $2,567 in debt and reported no raising or spending of funds through the period.

Assessor

Democratic incumbent Suzanne Droubie is not being challenged. She reports having $1,274 saved to begin July, raising an additional $20 and spending less than $1.

Treasurer

Brian Johnson and Sami Yrigolla Hamed will face off in the Democratic primary.

Johnson entered July with $860 on hand and raised an additional $85. He did not spend any money through July 13, Johnson reported.

Hamed entered July with $4,000 saved. He raised $2,125 − including $500 from the Southwest Gas Arizona PAC − and spent $4,464 through July 13, he reported.

In November, the winner will face Republican Chris Ackerley, who was appointed to the post in mid-April. Ackerley reported raising $930 to add to the $6,054 he had saved entering July. He spent $164 through July 13 and closed the period with $6,280 on hand.

Arizona races: July 1 through July 13

Legislative District 16: Northwest Tucson, Tucson Estates, Avra Valley, Arizona City

House: Republican incumbent and House Majority Whip Teresa Martinez will face off against Rob Hudelson, Gabriela “Gabby” Mercer and Chris Lopez in a primary. Two winners will move on to November. Incumbent Keith Seaman is the only Democrat filed to run for the office.

Martinez: $68,636 saved; raised $1,312; spent $11,666; closed period with $58,282 on-hand.

Seaman: $46,091 saved; raised $24,556; spent $1,795; closed period with $68,852 on-hand.

Mercer: $1,960 saved; $1,090 raised; spent $73; closed period with $2,976 on-hand.

As of July 26, Hudelson has not filed a pre-primary campaign finance report.

Senate: Republican incumbent and President Pro Tempore Thomas “T.J.” Shope will face off against Democrat Stacey Seaman in the Nov. 5 general election.

Shope: $107,419 saved; raised $3,822; spent $919; closed period with $110,321 on hand.

Seaman: $28,278 saved; raised $11,747; spent $446; closed period with $39,579 on hand.

Legislative District 17: East Tucson, Marana, Oro Valley

House: Republican incumbents Rachel Jones and Cory McGarr and Anna Orth are running in the Republican primary; two winners will move on to November. Kevin Volk is the sole Democrat running for the seat.

Jones: $24,161 saved; raised $1,055; spent $368; closed period with $24,848 on hand.

McGarr: $50,751 saved; raised $495; spent $9,690; closed period with $41,556 on hand.

Orth: $30,311 saved; raised $1,160; spent $13,653; closed period with $17,817 on hand.

Volk: $206,965 saved; raised $25,351; spent $2,431; closed period with $229,887 on hand.

Senate: Republican incumbent Justine Wadsack will face a rematch with Vince Leach in the Republican primary. Democrat John McLean has also filed to run for the seat.

Wadsack: $24,786 saved; raised $9,430; spent $397; closed period with $33,819 on hand.

Leach: $76,520 saved; raised $2,650; spent $39,788; closed period with $39,381 on hand.

McLean: $125,107 saved; raised $24,292; spent $2,284; closed period with $147,115 on hand.

Legislative District 18: Catalina Foothills

House: Democratic incumbents Nancy Gutierrez and Chris Mathis will face off in in November against Leonard “Len” Rosenblum, the sole Republican running.

Gutierrez: $23,914 saved; raised $4,211; spent $0; closed period with $28,125 on hand.

Mathis: $24,718 saved; raised $1,370; spent $2,477; closed period with $23,611 on hand.

Rosenblum: $135 saved; raised $21,173; spent $715; closed period with $20,592 on hand.

Senate: Democratic incumbent Priya Sundareshan is running unopposed after Democrat Matt Welch withdrew his candidacy in April.

Sundareshan: $26,090 saved; raised $2,463; spent $249; closed period with $28,304 on hand.

Legislative District 19: Green Valley, Sierra Vista, Benson, Tombstone

House: Republican incumbents Lupe Diaz and Gail Griffin will face Gregg Frostrom, Jr., a Democrat, in the general election.

Diaz: $23,805 saved; raised $500; spent $0; closed period with $24,305 on hand.

Griffin: $57,869 saved; raised $0; spent $296; closed period with $57,572 on hand.

Frostrom: $611 saved; raised $0; spent $0; closed period with $611 on hand.

Senate: Republican incumbent David Gowan will face Democratic challenger Bob Karp in the general election.

Gowan: $225,525 saved; raised $5,700; spent $3,686; closed period with $227,538 on-hand.

Karp: $10,802 saved; raised $10; spent $6,639; closed period with $4,172 on-hand.

Legislative District 20: Midtown, west Tucson

House: Democratic incumbents Alma Hernandez and Betty Villegas are unopposed.

Villegas: $9,461 saved; raised $725; spent $4,662; closed period with $5,523 on-hand.

As of July 26, Hernandez has not filed a pre-primary campaign finance report.

Senate: Democrat incumbent Sally Ann Gonzales is running unopposed. She reports having $3,013 saved to begin July and raising-and-spending $0.

Legislative District 21: Southeast Tucson, Sahuarita

House: Democratic incumbents Consuelo Hernandez and Stephanie Stahl Hamilton will face Briana “Breezy” Ortega in the Democratic primary. Republican challenger Christopher Kibbey is also running.

Hernandez: $48,013 saved; raised $25,388; spent $33,696; closed period with $39,705 on-hand.

Stahl Hamilton: $36,224 saved; raised $2,600; spent $23,442; closed period with $15,382 on-hand.

Kibbey: $250 saved; raised-and-spent $0.

As of July 26, Ortega has not filed a pre-primary campaign finance report.

Senate: Democrat incumbent Rosanna Gabaldón is unopposed. She reports raising $3,263 to add onto the $14,125 she had to begin the month. Gabaldón spent $105 and closed the period with $17,282 on hand, her campaign reports.

Get your morning recap of today's local news and read the full stories here: tucne.ws/morning


Become a #ThisIsTucson member! Your contribution helps our team bring you stories that keep you connected to the community. Become a member today.