Mary Jo Pitzl and Rebekah L. Sanders

The Republic| azcentral.com

With gay marriage now law in Arizona%2C attention could sharpen on other social issues

Political observers expect little effect on Nov. 4 election

Democrats were quick to celebrate ruling%3B Republicans largely quiet

Gay marriage became legal in Arizona at the height of the campaign season. That made it irresistible for Democrats to seize on for political gain, while Republicans are largely sidestepping the subject.

But as divisive and emotional an issue as gay marriage is, it's unclear whether it will have much impact in this year's election, with just over two weeks remaining before election day.

"This changes nobody's minds," said pollster Michael O'Neil. "The victors are happy. The social right is upset."

And although aggrieved parties tend to take to the ballot box more readily than happy voters, O'Neil said, the right is "pretty active already."

There were sharp contrasts in how the candidates in the general election reacted to Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne's decision not to continue a legal fight against gay marriage in the wake of definitive rulings by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.

Democrats were quick to voice their delight with the decision on social media and through news releases. They pounced on the development as an opportunity for fundraising for the home stretch of their campaigns.

The Democratic nominee for attorney general, Felecia Rotellini, showed up at Horne's press conference Friday and staged an impromptu news conference at the back of the room to applaud the move.

Republicans were less overt. Mark Brnovich, the GOP nominee for attorney general, was the only statewide Republican to issue a media statement, saying the courts had spoken and it was time to accept the law and move on.

Other GOP candidates responded only when asked directly by reporters. The candidates said they now accepted gay marriage as settled law.

Doug Ducey, the Republican nominee for governor, told The Arizona Republic that Horne made the right decision in dropping the fight.

"I accept the determination of the courts and will honor their decision," he said. That's consistent with his campaign statements that while he opposes gay marriage, he would follow the law.

It contrasts with the position of Cathi Herrod, one of his policy advisers and director of the Center for Arizona Policy, the loudest critic of the gay-marriage ruling. Herrod said she was "heartbroken for a country and a state that has had the redefinition of marriage forced upon them by an out-of-control federal judiciary."

Ducey's Democratic rival Fred DuVal was quick to applaud the decision, issuing news releases and tweets registering his approval of the ruling and Horne's decision to comply.

Republicans are on the wrong side of history, said Democratic political consultant Robbie Sherwood.

The ruling "puts a lot of Republican statewide candidates, chiefly Doug Ducey, in an awkward position," Sherwood said. "You have an issue supported by a majority of Arizonans ... but the majority of (Ducey's Republican) base does not."

But to others, the arrival of gay marriage backed by the courts diminishes a wedge issue Democrats have used to drive home differences between their party and the GOP.

"There's no future in flogging gay marriage," said Jason Rose, a political consultant and public-relations professional. "The law of the land has spoken. They (opponents of gay marriage) are on the wrong side of the law and the wrong side of history."

But with the marriage battle effectively over, the culture wars could pivot to other fronts, such as abortion, Rose said.

While the legal fight over gay marriage in Arizona may be done, the political fallout from the shift in social policy is far from over.

D.J. Quinlan, executive director of the state Democratic Party, said he sees the arrival of gay marriage heightening interest in other, related issues.

"We know that the job's not done," Quinlan said. For example, it's still legal in Arizona to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation, an issue that flared up earlier this year with Senate Bill 1062 and has resonated in this fall's campaigns.

Republican political consultant Constantin Querard said he doesn't think gay marriage will rock the election. The issue hasn't been a big part of the campaign conversation, he said.

"Some (candidates) will celebrate it, and some will be resigned to it," he said. "The actual political effect won't be felt until 2016, when candidates who don't want to talk about it can dodge it easily by saying, 'That's been settled. Next question.' "

But as news of Horne's decision spread, Democratic candidates tried to inject it into the campaign conversation.

Two Democrats who spearheaded opposition to Arizona's 2006 gay-marriage ban touted their efforts to supporters, along with invitations for donations or supporter e-mail addresses.

Ruben Gallego, a candidate for Congress in the safe blue 7th Congressional District, and U.S. Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, the first openly bisexual member of Congress, were top leaders in the "Arizona Together" campaign nearly a decade ago that successfully kept the gay-marriage ban from passing.

Sinema led the unsuccessful campaign in 2008 to defeat a proposed constitutional amendment to restrict marriage to one man and one woman. The court decisions this month overturned that voter-approved ban.

"Many of us have been fighting for marriage equality in Arizona for years," Gallego wrote in an e-mail Friday to supporters. "If there is a lesson from today's win, it's that progressives need to get more involved in the political process."

He added a "contribute" button at the end of his message linked to his fundraising page.

Sinema also celebrated victory in an e-mail to donors, saying she was "thrilled" with the decision. Then she turned it into a campaign plug.

She warned that "Tea Party extremists — including my opponent — want to reverse the Court's decision" and asked supporters to "help us fight back" by sending their names and e-mails to her campaign website.

Sinema's opponent in the 9th Congressional District, Wendy Rogers, was one of the few Republicans to strongly criticize Friday's outcome.

"Attorney General Horne made the wrong decision by not appealing Judge Sedwick's ruling, which ordered county clerks to cease enforcement of part of Arizona's Constitution," Rogers said. "As Arizona's attorney general, his job is to enforce and defend Arizona's laws."

She called it a "slippery slope," wondering, "What will federal judges invalidate in the future?"

A more typical response was that of Republican congressional candidate Andy Tobin, who is running in the competitive 1st District.

He expressed disappointment but accepted the decision. "I agree with the determination to honor the decision of the court. As a legal matter, I support the rule of law and the finality of this determination and recognize this issue is now settled," Tobin said.

But Maricopa County Republican Committee Chairman A.J. LaFaro, a self-described conservative Catholic, reiterated that traditional marriage remains part of the party platform.

"Individuals that believe and engage in same-sex marriage will ultimately be judged by God, not the U.S. courts," he said. "That said ... the Republican Party, and its platform, is very clear about being against same-sex marriage."

Republic reporter Yvonne Wingett Sanchez contributed to this article.

ON THE BEAT

Rebekah L. Sanders covers Arizona's U.S. House delegation, congressional campaigns and national politics. In the general election she's covering key House races.

How to reach her

rebekah.sanders@arizonarepublic.com

Phone: 602-444-8096

Twitter: @RebekahLSanders

Mary JoPitzl covers state government, with an emphasis on state agencies, and legislative policies. During the general election she's covering statewide races, money in politics and key legislative races.

How to reach her

maryjo.pitzl@arizonarepublic.com

Phone: 602-444-8963

Twitter: @maryjpitzl