Scottsdale City Council Candidate Raul Zubia Rejects DSA Endorsement As Realtor Backing Draws Scrutiny

Scottsdale City Council candidate Raoul Zubia has publicly rejected an endorsement from a local chapter of the Democratic Socialists of America while continuing to tout support from Scottsdale REALTORS and defending a $5,000 campaign contribution from the president of Axon Enterprise.

The endorsements and campaign contributions have become an issue in Scottsdale’s Nov. 3 runoff, where Zubia, incumbent Councilman Barry Graham and former state lawmaker Michelle Ugenti-Rita are competing for two remaining City Council seats. Councilwoman Solange Whitehead won another seat outright during the July primary, while former Councilman Bob Littlefield subsequently withdrew from the general election.

Zubia addressed the Democratic Socialists of America endorsement on his campaign website, saying a DSA chapter endorsed him during the primary without his knowledge.

“A DSA chapter apparently endorsed me without my knowledge or consent during the primary, and I reject that endorsement,” Zubia wrote.

Phoenix Metro Democratic Socialists of America included Zubia in its 2026 primary voter guide and recommended him in the Scottsdale council race. Zubia’s opponents and an opposition campaign funded by NicoPAC have since highlighted the endorsement.

Scottsdale Council candidate Raoul Zubia doesn’t like us exposing the company he keeps

He claims “cross party” support while his actual ties run in one clear direction pic.twitter.com/ZAU4NMFYgv

— 🔸SV🔸 (@ScottsdaleVoter) August 19, 2026

Zubia said candidates cannot control which outside organizations choose to support them.

“Candidates are often endorsed by organizations without their knowledge or consent,” he wrote. “I’m running in a nonpartisan race to represent every Scottsdale resident, not any political party or special interest.”

Zubia has maintained several other organizational endorsements. His campaign endorsement page lists the Arizona Fraternal Order of Police, Scottsdale Firefighters Association, Scottsdale REALTORS, Scottsdale Women Rising and the Penjamo Yaqui Pueblo Board of Directors among his organizational supporters.

Scottsdale REALTORS formally endorsed Zubia in May alongside Whitehead and former primary candidate Ethan Knowlden.

“We proudly endorse candidates who stand for responsible leadership by protecting property values while preserving the unique character and long-term sustainability of our communities,” Scottsdale REALTORS President Polly Blackwell said when the endorsements were announced.

Separate campaign finance records have drawn attention to financial support from the broader real estate industry.

A campaign finance filing available through the City of Scottsdale’s campaign finance database lists an $8,000 contribution to Zubia from REALTORS of Arizona PAC. The state political action committee is affiliated with Arizona REALTORS, rather than the Scottsdale association that separately endorsed his candidacy.

The contribution has attracted attention because Zubia has made greater municipal authority over short-term rentals one of his campaign positions. His campaign platform calls for Scottsdale to “enforce short-term rental ordinances with real consequences and push for more local control.”

However, Arizona REALTORS has opposed several proposals that would expand local governments’ power over short-term rentals. In its 2026 legislative report, the association said every bill it opposed during this year’s legislative session was defeated, including measures involving short-term rental caps, bans and tax reclassification.

The association opposed proposals including legislation that would have allowed some municipalities to limit the number of vacation-rental permits and establish minimum-distance requirements between short-term rentals.

Arizona REALTORS ultimately supported an amended version of House Bill 2429 after provisions allowing local governments to cap short-term rentals were removed. The organization said the amended legislation maintained property rights while giving municipalities additional authority to address repeat offenders.

Arizona State Rep. Selina Bliss (R-LD1), who has repeatedly sought additional municipal authority over short-term rentals, told KNAU last year that the Arizona Realtors Association was the “biggest obstruction” to broader regulation.

“The Realtors Association: they’re the biggest obstruction to all of this,” Bliss said. “They are the number one reason we are not seeing progress.”

The Arizona Association of Realtors and Northern Arizona Association of Realtors declined comment to KNAU at the time.

Zubia’s campaign finances have also come under scrutiny over a contribution from Axon President Josh Isner.

During a June 29 candidate forum, Zubia said he had not been contacted by Axon or reached out to the Scottsdale-based public safety technology company.

“Nobody has contacted me from Axon, I’ve never reached out to Axon, and I think you’ll see in my financials that there’s nothing that says Axon on it,” Zubia said.

Zubia wrote that two days later, on July 1, Isner made a disclosed $5,000 contribution to his campaign. He acknowledged the contribution and defended accepting it in an Aug. 20 guest editorial.

“The contribution happened after the statement Barry is quoting,” Zubia wrote. “Those two facts do not contradict each other.”

Zubia said his earlier statement concerned his lack of communication with Axon and argued that a contribution from an individual employed by the company did not establish a relationship between the campaign and Axon.

“A campaign contribution does not automatically purchase an agreement or a relationship,” Zubia wrote.

Axon has been at the center of a long-running dispute in Scottsdale over the company’s proposed new headquarters and associated residential development.

Outside spending in the council race has also drawn scrutiny because of Better Together, a political action committee run by individuals with previous or current ties to Axon.

ABC15 reported that Better Together was established with former Axon spokesman David Leibowitz serving as treasurer and an individual who had worked as an Axon lobbyist involved in the organization.

Subsequent campaign filings showed the PAC received $335,000 from National Horizon, a Virginia-based super PAC, during a reporting period ending June 30.

Better Together reported $264,000 in expenditures during the May 3 through June 30 reporting period opposing Graham, Ugenti-Rita and Littlefield and supporting Whitehead and former candidate Eric Sloan.

Reporting by The Arizona Republic found that Leibowitz and registered Axon lobbyist Chris Baker were also involved with Arizonans for a Better Future, another political committee that previously received more than $1 million from Axon executives, including Isner and Axon CEO Rick Smith.

The disclosed filings did not directly trace Better Together’s $335,000 to Axon. Leibowitz denied that Axon was funding the council campaign.

“No Axon money is being spent on this election,” Leibowitz told the Republic.

Zubia has likewise denied working on Axon’s behalf.

“Opponents and their allies love to claim that I’m pushing Axon’s agenda. That’s a complete fabrication,” Zubia said on his campaign website.

He added that independent expenditures are outside candidates’ control and said he would oppose businesses when warranted while supporting efforts to attract employers to Scottsdale.

Zubia finished the July primary with 21,897 votes, behind Whitehead, Ugenti-Rita, Graham and Littlefield. Whitehead received enough votes to win outright, while the remaining council seats moved to the November runoff.

Littlefield withdrew Aug. 4, leaving Graham, Ugenti-Rita and Zubia competing for the final two seats.

Zubia’s campaign is also encouraging voters to cast a single vote for him rather than using both available council votes, a strategy intended to maximize his share of the vote in the three-candidate contest.

The general election is Nov. 3, with the two candidates receiving the most votes elected to terms beginning in January.