Jeffrey Fortney is a special education teacher who has served on the Cave Creek Unified School District Governing Board since January 2021, winning re-election in 2024 as the race's top vote-getter. He ran unopposed in the 2026 Democratic primary. He supports keeping Empowerment Scholarship Accounts for special education students but would repeal universal eligibility, saying more than 1,000 students in his district use vouchers, most of whom never attended its schools.
Prominent Endorsements
Sierra Club
Candidate resources
Self-reported endorsements
- Equality Arizona
- Sierra Club
Candidate Questionnaire
Top Issues
Affordability - Prioritizing everyday needs: housing, healthcare, childcare, food and medicine; Fully and sustainably funding public schools to raise teacher pay and per pupil spending; Protecting all Arizonans' civil and human rights and their personal freedoms
Professional Experience
- Special Education Coordinator & teacher - 22 years
- Systems Programmer and other mainframe computer positions - 21 years.
Education
- Bachelor’s Degree - ASU 2004 - Special Education
- Master’s Degree - ASU 2015 - Literacy & Curriculum
Political Offices
- Cave Creek Unified School Board (twice - 2020 & 2024)
Political Organizations
- Legislative District 3 Precinct Committee person
- Democrat State Committee person
- Cave Creek Unified School Board