Newly-Elected Arizona Americans Elect Party Yuma County Co-Chairs Rain Halligan and Elijah Sanchez Pledge to Make Arizona Less of a Shithole

YUMA, Ariz., Apr. 30 -

Rain Halligan and Elijah Sanchez, both of Yuma, were today elected co-chairs of the Yuma County chapter of the Arizona Americans Elect Party, and pledged themselves to "make Arizona less of a shithole."

Ms. Halligan, 28, a Yuma visual artist and LGBT activist, and Mr. Sanchez, bassist in a Yuma band, were elected at a meeting of party members led by state party leader Trey Young, and including party treasurer Dr. Irina Tereshkova, artistic director Richard Grayson, and first vice-chairwoman Buffy Lehman Auchincloss.

"Arizona as we know it is, like, totally fucked up," said Ms. Halligan.

Mr. Sanchez agreed, noting that the recent signing of a bill to forbid the destruction of weapons received in municipal gun buybacks is just the latest example of how "Arizona is seen as a laughingstock filled with right-wing assholes."

"Most Republican male legislators like guns because they're concerned about their small penis size," said Ms. Halligan.  "Jan Brewer must have a similar problem or something."

"The Arizona Americans Elect Party will change all that in the 2014 elections," said party leader Trey Young.  "We're looking for cool people to join us and for cool people to run as candidates.  Hopefully, we'll get some more of Yuma's 'natural aristocrats' like Rain and Elijah to become a part of Arizona's fastest-growing political party."

Jaden Parascandola and Myrtle Willoughby Named Co-Chairs of Maricopa County Americans Elect Party

PARADISE VALLEY, Ariz., Apr. 29 -

Jaden Parascandola and Myrtle Willoughby have been named as co-chairs of the Maricopa County Americans Elect Party by Trey Young, Supreme Leader of the Arizona Americans Elect Party, the state's fastest-growing 2014-ballot-qualified political party.

"The party is now big enough so that we can have county affiliates," Mr. Young, 26, a Scottsdale entrepreneur, said at a press conference today in Paradise Valley at the party's new headquarters, which coincidentally is also the home of Mr. Parascandola, stepbrother to Mr. Young, and his girlfriend Ms. Willoughby.

Mr. Parascandola is a lacrosse player, blogger and art collector who holds a B.A. from Swarthmore College.  Ms. Willoughby is an attorney who serves as staff counsel to the Très Jeune corporation, the holding company for Mr. Young's media, restaurant, and related business interests.

"We are excited to have Jaden and Myrtle heading our Maricopa County local party," said Mr. Young.  "They'll do a great job and are already planning a gala party for our party, putting it well on its way to becoming the cool political party for the Valley of the Sun's elite voters." 

Both Mr. Parascandola and Ms. Willoughby are active members of the Arizona Campaign to End Gun Violence. They hope to use their positions to support the Arizona Americans Elect Party's goal of achieving legislation to regulate dangerous firearms so as to prevent future mass shootings such as those at Sandy Hook, Tucson, Aurora, and elsewhere.

Buffy Lehman Auchincloss Elected First Vice-Chairwoman of the Arizona Americans Elect Party

PARADISE VALLEY, Ariz., Apr. 28 -

Buffy Lehman Auchincloss, 93, the philanthropist and longtime social activist, today was elected First Vice-Chairwoman of the Arizona Americans Elect Party, the state's fastest-growing political party which will be on the ballot in 2014.

Ms. Auchincloss, a former fashion designer and airplane pilot who created scholarships for graduate students interested in studying feminist and environmental issues, lives in Paradise Valley, and also maintains homes in Palm Springs, Manhattan and Bermuda.  She has agreed to help raise substantial funds for the Arizona Americans Elect Party, according to Trey Young, the party's leader and her great-grandnephew, who announced her election.

"Aunt Buffy taught me so much about progressive politics, fashion and haute cuisine when I was growing up," Mr. Young said in a statement.  "I'm going to keep learning from her.  It is fabulous to have her at my side as we lead the Arizona Americans Elect Party into the next election."

Dr. Irina Tereshkova Selected as New State Treasurer of the Arizona Americans Elect Party

PARADISE VALLEY, Ariz., Apr. 27, 2013 - 

Dr. Irina Tereshkova was today named Treasurer of the Arizona Americans Elect Party, one of Arizona's ballot-qualified political parties, and since its electoral debut last year, the fastest-growing party in the state. 

Dr. Tereshkova, 27, of Phoenix, was selected by the party's new Supreme Leader, Trey Young, who took office last night after winning a a leadership fight. She is also the Chief Financial Officer of Très Jeune, the holding company for various restaurant, media and financial enterprises of Mr. Young, who is also her fiancé. She graduated magna cum laude from Sarah Lawrence College and received her Ph.D. in art history from Stanford University. 

Mr. Young, 26, of Scottsdale, said he intends to make changes in the structure of the Arizona Americans Elect Party and part of that was bringing in someone versed in finance to be the group's first Treasurer.   Dr. Tereshkova also serves on the Board of Directors of The Buzzgawk Fund, the hedge fund where Mr. Young is managing partner.

"I'm sure Irina will do a magnificent job in terms of fundraising for Arizona Americans Elect," said Mr. Young. "Previously, the party was getting off the ground and we didn't pay much attention to money. But Dr. Tershkova can start the ball rolling in getting more high-powered donors to contribute to the party's coffers for the coming 2014 state and congressional elections." 

Richard Grayson, the party's Artistic Director, also praised Dr. Tereshkova from his hospital room at Banner Desert Medical Center in Mesa, where he is being treated for a concussion. "Irina is filled with new ideas about how to raise money for the party," Grayson said. "I'm looking forward to seeing what she has mind to make the Arizona Americans Elect Party more effective."

In another change for Arizona Americans Elect, the party headquarters was moved during the night from Mesa to Paradise Valley and is temporarily being housed at the home of Jaden Parascandola, Mr. Young's stepbrother. 

Trey Young, 26, of Scottsdale, Named New Supreme Leader of Arizona Americans Elect Party After Defeating Incumbent in Leadership Fight

CHANDLER, Ariz., Apr. 26, 2013 – 

Trey Young of Scottsdale was installed as the new Supreme Leader of the Arizona Americans Elect Party tonight.  His installation followed a mixed martial arts bout with the party’s former Supreme Leader, Richard Grayson, that took place as an exhibition match of a card put on by local promotion World Fighting Federation MMA at Wild Horse Pass Casino in Chandler.

The Arizona Americans Elect Party is Arizona’s fifth ballot-qualified political party, currently with 266 registered voters.  Its first candidates appeared on the 2012 ballot: Grayson, of Apache Junction, as the candidate in the Fourth Congressional District, and Stephen Dolgos of New River was the candidate in the Eighth Congressional District. 

The Americans Elect Party candidates for Congress from Arizona garnered the fourth highest number of votes in 2012, finishing ahead of the long-established Arizona Green Party. 

By party tradition and its by-rules, the new Supreme Leader has to be selected from among party members who declare their candidacy and who then defeat the old Supreme Leader in the combat of his choice.

Young, 26, of Scottsdale, won the party leadership decisively when he stopped the 61-year-old Grayson one minute into the second round after five minutes of a slugfest to open the fight. 

Grayson, 5’6” and 152 pounds, came forward 20 seconds in with a step-in right elbow. But Young, 6’1” and 165 pounds, had no qualms firing back and landed a good left hook. Young chased Grayson down and landed punches and a head kick. Then he gestured for the party’s founding leader to come forward – and he did, landing a good shot of his own, then a solid left jab.

Young kept coming forward with a relentless pace, and the two traded big bombs in tight before Young clinched Grayson up and looked to land elbows. Moments later, Grayson had Young backing up with a left hand, then several shots to the body that put the challenger on the canvas.

Grayson got on top and went to work with the ground and pound with Young going into survival mode from his guard. Young expertly locked in a triangle choke that was deep and appeared to have Grayson in trouble. But Grayson escaped and with the fight back on the feet for the last 20 seconds of the round, Young had Grayson backing up eating punches.

The two traded punches early in the second, and Young quickly got in and landed some giant knees that cut opened up a cut below Grayson’s eye. Young kept the pressure on and landed big punches on the ground, and with Grayson's knee on the canvas, he landed big elbows to the body as Grayson covered up. From there, the referee had seen enough and ended the match.

"I think Richard did a good job as the Arizona American Elect party’s founder, but I think I proved it’s time for a younger, more dynamic leader to take over," Young said. "He hurt me really bad with that body shot. I was really close to being incapacitated and unable to defend myself, but I know that in political fights, you need to come back with everything you’ve got. I look forward to being the Supreme Leader of Arizona’s fastest-growing political party."

Grayson congratulated the new Americans Elect Party Supreme Leader on his win and pledged his loyalty.  “Trey has proven he has what it takes to run an impressive and aggressive campaign for the Arizona Americans Elect party,” Grayson said.  “He’ll be a strong leader.  He was obviously stronger than I was tonight.” 

Young asked Grayson to stay on as the party’s Artistic Director, and Grayson agreed, saying he would help the new Supreme Leader recruit candidates for Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, Treasurer, Education Commissioner, Corporation Commissioner, and for all the seats in the Arizona State Legislature and U.S. House Congressional delegation that are up in 2014.  But according to party by-laws, the outgoing Supreme Leader must go into exile from the state and at the end of the month, Grayson will leave Arizona and return to his native Brooklyn. 

Anyone interested in running for office should contact the party’s new Supreme Leader.  According to the party’s by-laws, Trey Young can be challenged for the party leadership only after the 2014 election.  Grayson has ruled out a rematch.

"It's a new day for the Arizona Americans Elect Party, and we party members look forward to a more collective form of leadership going into the 2014 election," said Irina Tereshkova, a registered Americans Elect party voter and a spectator at the Wild Horse Pass Casino who embraced the victor following the bout as the crowd cheered wildly.

Trey Young of Scottsdale Announces Bid to Become Supreme Leader of Arizona Americans Elect Party

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., Apr. 24 —

Trey Young, 26, of Scottsdale, a member of the Arizona Americans Elect Party since February 2013, has announced a bid to become the new Supreme Leader of the party.   Mr. Young, a hedge fund manager, fashion model, and restaurant owner, said he hopes to bring "fresh leadership" to Arizona's fastest-growing political party, which is ballot-qualified in state and federal elections for 2014.

"It's time to turn the Arizona Americans Elect Party in a new direction, with more dynamic leadership," Mr. Young said in a statement.  "It's disgraceful that we had only two candidates running in the 2012 election when we could have made the differences in numerous races for the U.S. Senate, Congress, and the state legislature."

The leadership of the party became vacant when Richard Grayson, 61,now the party's Artistic Director, announced that he was stepping down as Supreme Leader.  However, by party by-rules, the new Supreme Leader has to be selected from among party members -- currently numbering 266 -- who defeat the old Supreme Leader in the combat of his choice.

A mixed-martial arts bout between Grayson and Young will held on a date to be announced as an exhibition match of a card put on by local promotion World Fighting Federation MMA at Wild Horse Pass Casino in Chandler.  

Both Arizona Americans Elect Party members said they looked forward to their contest.  

"If the Democrats and Republicans in Arizona held their leadership battles in this fresh and exciting way, they might actually be relevant to voters," said Young.

Grayson agreed.  "The Arizona Americans Elect Party takes our politics seriously, but also with style and flair.  Just like the despicable old Joe Arpaio, I'm not going to give up running things without a fight."

Secretary of State Ken Bennett Announces that the Arizona Americans Elect Party is STILL the Fastest-Growing Political Party in Arizona, with Over 12% Growth Since the November 2012 Election

PHOENIX, Apr. 22 - For the fifth time in the past year, the office of Arizona Secretary of State Ken Bennett has announced the latest Arizona voter count showing that the Arizona Americans Elect Party has remained the fastest-growing political party in the state, increasing its membership by more than 3% in just the three months since January 2013. 

While the new figures show the number of registered Republicans and Democrats declined and the Greens and Libertarians had grown by less than 1% and 2% respectively, the Arizona Americans Elect Party's membership has grown over 79% since March 2012, when it had 148 members.

"From 177 registered Americans Elect Party members in last September's primary, we have increased our number to 266 voters," said Richard Grayson, Artistic Director of the Arizona Americans Elect Party and Americans Elect Party 2012 candidate for Congress in the Fourth Congressional District. Stephen Dolgos of New River was the 2012 Americans Elect Party candidate in the Eighth Congressional District.  

The Americans Elect Party candidates for Congress from Arizona garnered the fourth highest number of votes in 2012, finishing ahead of the long-established Arizona Green Party.

"We are planning to run a candidate for Governor and all state and federal offices in 2014, when we are assured of being on the ballot again," said Grayson, who is also the party's Acting Supreme Leader. "You too can join the cool new party in town where everyone is welcome." 

The motto of the party is "Let's make Arizona less of a shithole."

Richard Grayson to Step Down as Supreme Leader of Arizona Americans Elect Party, Will Assume Title of "Artistic Director"

Mesa, Ariz., Apr. 1 -- 

At the secret headquarters of the ballot-qualified Arizona Americans Elect Party today in Mesa, Richard Grayson announced his retirement as Supreme Leader of the Party.  Grayson, 61, of Apache Junction, and the party's candidate in 2012 for the U.S. House of Representatives from Arizona's Fourth Congressional District, will assume the new title of Artistic Director of the Americans Elect Party.

"Since our party's inception a year ago, the Arizona Americans Elect Party has been the fastest-growing of the state's five ballot-qualified parties, and we nudged the longstanding Green Party out of fourth place in 2012 in the votes received for candidates for Congress," Grayson said in a statement.  "I am proud that those accomplishments took place while I was the party's Supreme Leader, but it is time to step down."

The Arizona Americans Elect Party announced that Grayson would assume the new title of Artistic Director while remaining as Acting Supreme Leader until a new Supreme Leader is selected.

"By party tradition," Grayson said, "the new Supreme Leader has to defeat the old Supreme Leader in combat of his or her choice.  I am looking forward to a mixed martial arts contest with anyone who wishes to wrest total control of the party away from me."

Grayson said that as Acting Supreme Leader and Artistic Director, he would spend the next few months working out and recruiting candidates to run on the Arizona Americans Elect Party banner for Governor, Secretary of State, Attorney General, Treasurer, Education Commissioner, Corporation Commissioner, and for all the seats in the Arizona State Legislature and U.S. House Congressional delegation that are up in 2014.

"The Arizona Americans Elect Party will be stronger than ever in the next state election," Grayson told voters, "and I expect to be stronger, too."  

He urged anyone any Arizona party members who want to be a 2014 Americans Elect candidate to prepare to run for office and any of them who want to be the party's new permanent Supreme Leader to prepare to be rendered unconscious in a fair but brutal fight.