| NEWS | Cash from p 8 U.S. Representative Paul Gosar, in which she called for her political enemies and “criminals” to be hanged. But this was hardly an anomaly. During her yearlong tenure as a state senator, Rogers has egged on Fuentes’ extremist supporters, evoked racist conspiracy theories, and become an election fraud evangelist, pushing other states to “audit” their elections. But her reach seemed to mushroom in early August, according to a review of her campaign finance records. That month, the average number of individual dona- tions was nine times higher than the previous month. On August 4, Rogers appeared on The Stew Peters Show, where she thanked him for “being brave to get this truth out,” as he falsely claimed that there was no evidence for the existence of the COVID-19 virus. A podcaster, Peters has been kicked off various mainstream plat- forms, including Spotify, for spreading misinformation. A former bounty hunter, Peters rose to prominence in right-wing media last year, gathering a major following on the far right. In a profile, the Daily Beast called Peters a “sort of slightly less unhinged version of Alex Jones,” the conspiracy theorist. Peters’ show has become a new “hub for conspiracy theories.” In just three days after her appearance on the Peters show, Rogers had an influx of more than 3,000 donations — more than she had previously received in a single month. In those three days, she raised $110,834. It was more money than the $98,943 she had raised in the entire month of July. The momentum continued. Her following on the messaging app Telegram has grown to nearly 150,000 people. An endorsement by former President Donald Trump, which arrived at the end of November, also brought in more cash to Rogers’ campaign. The next day, November 30, she received nearly 1,000 donations, totaling $42,389. Rogers’ supporters reported a wide range of professions. Jongebloed is a busi- ness owner and wellness coach. Many said they were retired. Others were doctors, insurance agents, and teachers. Three self-reported correctional offi- cers at the Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office gave money to Rogers, as did a Phoenix police lieutenant and four other Phoenix police and fire employees. Eleven donors said they were Customs and Border Protection officers or Border Patrol agents, based in states including Arizona, California, Texas, and Alaska. One donor, a financial adviser in Missouri, responded to New Times’ ques- tions about her support for Rogers by sending a single John F. Kennedy quote: Gage Skidmore/Creative Commons Rogers is “trying to use her platforms and status as an elected official to bring legitimacy to the white nationalist movement,” according to Eric Hananoki of watchdog group Media Matters. “Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden … to assure the survival and the success of liberty.” In an email to New Times, Eric Hananoki, an investigative reporter at the watchdog group Media Matters who has been tracking Rogers’ rise, emphasized the dangers of Rogers’ national profile. “She’s trying to use her platforms and status as an elected official to bring legiti- macy to the white nationalist movement,” he said. Vincent James Foxx, like Fuentes, has a long history of associating with hate groups, including the group responsible for beatings during the “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, in 2017. Rogers is a big fan: “Vincent James run for office,” she wrote on her Telegram. Rogers, who generally refuses to speak with local media, did not reply to New Times’ interview requests for this article, and did not reply to a detailed list of ques- tions provided to her office. But she has embraced the attention, good and bad, she has garnered during her time in office. Last week, she posted a photo of a recent Arizona Republic profile of her on Telegram. The headline read: “Rogers’ Hard-Right World.” “I love you ALL,” she wrote. And they love her. How much so will become apparent next month when she reports her contributions from the first quarter of this election year. 11 phoenixnewtimes.com | CONTENTS | FEEDBACK | OPINION | NEWS | FEATURE | NIGHT+DAY | CULTURE | FILM | CAFE | MUSIC | PHOENIX NEW TIMES MARCH 31ST– APRIL 6TH, 2022
