California activist Tom Steyer's organization in Arizona has veered away from promoting a clean-energy ballot measure to hit three Republican state lawmakers in competitive districts, as well as Republican Attorney General Mark Brnovich, with negative ads.

Steyer's group has spent more than $3 million to attack Brnovich. It also has spent about $55,000 each on opposition advertising against state Senate Republican hopefuls J.D. Mesnard, Kate Brophy McGee and Sylvia Allen, finance reports filed with the Citizens Clean Elections Commission show.

All three state Senate races are thought to be in play for Democrats. While Brnovich has an advantage in red Arizona, the race is one of a handful of attorney-general contests nationwide that political analysts say Republicans shouldn't take for granted.

The group spending the money is Clean Energy for a Healthy Arizona, which Steyer's group NextGen America has funded to help pass Proposition 127.

If voters approve the proposition Nov. 6, the state Constitution would be amended to require companies such as Arizona Public Service Co. to get half of their power from renewable sources like solar and wind by 2030.

READ MORE: Voters will decide state renewable-energy rules

Steyer's group has spent millions on the proposition, but is broadening its focus to candidates. Along with attacking the lawmakers and Brnovich, the group is helping Democrats Sandra Kennedy and Kiana Maria Sears in their campaigns for the Arizona Corporation Commission.

It also spent $83,000 to oppose Gov. Doug Ducey's re-election.

The money used against the lawmakers went to online, radio and flier advertisements, according to the group.

Bill to blunt clean-energy measure motivated spending

A spokesman for Clean Energy for Healthy Arizona said they decided to target lawmakers when the state Legislature approved a bill that lets utilities face only minimal penalties if they don't meet the clean-energy requirements set out in the proposition.

Before the proposition even qualified for the ballot, the Legislature passed, and Ducey signed, House Bill 2005. It says that utilities that don't comply with the requirements can be fined as little as $100.

APS officials said they helped lawmakers draft the bill as a means of heading off the proposition.

"With the quick passage of the corporate polluter amnesty bill HB 2005, we saw what happens when legislative leadership folds to APS," said DJ Quinlan, spokesman for Clean Energy for a Healthy Arizona. "The seats targeted by Clean Energy for a Healthy Arizona are competitive and could decide the control of the Senate."

READ MORE: CA billionaire talks about clean energy in AZ

APS and parent company Pinnacle West Capital Corp. have fought the ballot initiative, and support the targeted Republican lawmakers and Brnovich.

Pinnacle West Capital Corp. PAC, which APS workers can contribute to through payroll deductions, has given to dozens of legislative candidates as well as mayoral and city council races. In this cycle to date, it has given $2,000 to benefit Brophy McGee, $2,000 to Allen and $6,500 to Mesnard.

Attorney general criticized for ballot-measure wording

The ballot-measure proponents also were irked that Brnovich's office, when reviewing the language of the proposition, added phrases that they say are extraneous and intended to drum up opposition.

Clean Energy for a Healthy Arizona spent $3.6 million advertising against Brnovich, finance reports show.

READ MORE: Renewable-energy measure losing in poll

The Arizona Attorney General's Office added language that said utilities would need to meet the clean-energy requirements "irrespective of cost" if the measure passes. It also mentioned that power from nuclear plants would not count toward the renewable requirements.

Attorney Jim Barton, who represents Clean Energy for a Healthy Arizona, wrote to the Attorney General's Office concerning the changes.

"It strongly suggests that there will be a cost to customers," Barton complained. "Adding this language falsely creates an impression that the law does something it does not."

APS' parent company uses the phrase "irrespective of costs" liberally in advertisements against the measure.

Supporters of the measure argue that because the costs of solar and wind power have come down so much, the ballot measure likely will save customers money. They also point to bids for renewable projects received by a utility in Colorado and the Central Arizona Project that are cheaper than fossil-fuel plants.

But APS officials say the measure will force them to close coal and nuclear plants and double annual electric bills for customers.

Mesnard suspicious of Steyer

On the legislative spending side, Mesnard said he was not surprised the group came after him.

"Prop. 127 I hear is not doing well in the polls, so (Steyer) has decided to redirect some of his money," said Mesnard, who was termed out after eight years in the House representing District 17 and now is running for the Senate.

Democrat Steve Weichert, a hospital administrator, is challenging him in the district that covers parts of Chandler and Gilbert.

READ MORE: Arizona Senate: 7 key swing districts to watch

Mesnard said the money is significant enough to make a difference, but that voters in the district probably won't fall in line behind Steyer.

"My district is more Republican than Democrat, so they have to make inroads among Republicans and independents to take me out," Mesnard said. "(Steyer) doesn't seem to be the best person to do that. I do hope there is a bit of a backlash if people find out this guy from California is advertising against me."

Mesnard also questioned whether Steyer has investments in solar companies that would benefit him should the proposition pass, a now-common refrain among Arizona conservatives opposing the clean-energy measure.

"I understand he has business or business ties to solar and different things that would be forced upon the state," Mesnard said.

READ MORE: 2018 could be year Democrats flip Arizona Senate

Aleigha Cavalier, a spokeswoman for Steyer, said there is no way the philanthropist would benefit from the proposition.

"Tom cannot profit off of 127," Cavalier said. "I'm not sure how else to say it. I know a California billionaire becoming suddenly interested in Arizona energy policy seems suspicious, and it gives APS a really nice narrative. But they're liars. And shameless about it."

She continued, "Some of us really, truly, just want to stop this world from falling apart, and are trying to do whatever we can to stop it."

Brophy McGee maintains opposition

Brophy McGee, who is facing Democrat Christine Porter Marsh in her east-central Phoenix district, said she has opposed the ballot proposition from the start.

"It's a terrible path forward," she said. "I think what they are trying to do is parlay that into me being opposed to solar. I'm not opposed in the least bit. But the Constitution is not where we enact energy policy."

READ MORE: Corp Comm debate: APS in for rough ride after election

She said energy decisions are better left to the Corporation Commission and the Legislature.

Allen faces a challenge from Holbrook Mayor Wade Carlisle in District 6, spanning Payson, Flagstaff, Sedona, Williams, Snowflake and other mountain communities.

She could not be reached to discuss the spending against her.

READ MORE: APS donates to help Dem who opposes Prop. 127