Politics
WATCH: Liberal Candidate Cries On Live TV After Losing Election To TPUSA Candidate
Mesa Councilwoman Julie Spillsbury, a “Republican” who endorsed former Vice President Kamala Harris and a host of other left-wing candidates, was reduced to tears after losing a recall election against a conservative candidate backed by Turning Point USA on Tuesday.
Spillsbury was first elected in 2020 and was re-elected in August 2024 with 65 percent of the vote. She represented the city’s Second District in Central-East Mesa.
A petition filed in January 2025 gathered roughly 4,000 valid signatures, exceeding the recall threshold, which forced a special all-mail election. Organizers, backed by Turning Point USA (TPUSA) and its political arm Turning Point Action, cited specific grievances with Spillsbury’s candidacy, including her endorsement of former Vice President Kamala Harris in 2024, as well votes for tax increases and turning a local hotel into a homeless encampment.
Early and final unofficial counts showed the recall passing decisively. The first batch released November 4 gave the “Yes” side 8,219 votes, while later reports described the margin as non-competitive, with Spilsbury trailing throughout counting. No source published a certified final tally by November 5, but the lead was large enough for concession.
In a tearful on-air interview, Spillsbury expressed her disappointment with the result and trashed the Arizona-based TPUSA as an “outside group.”
“Obviously you can see the tears, so… I’m a little upset. I’m very upset that lies won. My opponent the, Turning Point had a-lot of lies out there,” she told local outlet NBC 12. “Look, I, people are always saying they wish they would have better candidates that would run for office, I don’t think that’s true. Because when good people run for office just because I wanna serve my community, and then this is what happens to me, why would anyone wanna run?” she added while tearing up.
In a follow-up statement on November 5, Spillsbury officially conceded defeat. “I didn’t lose to Dorean Taylor. I lost to Turning Point. And I think a lot of people in Mesa are going to be mad that an outside group came in and told us how to deal with our city,” she said.
This is hilarious…
Facts don’t lie.
Adios Julie Spilsbury!
Congratulations again to @taylorformesa #RECALL pic.twitter.com/ceP6E3eGF4
— Anthony Kern (@anthonykernAZ) November 5, 2025
Going forward, Spilsbury told 12 News that she is now “politically homeless” as a Republican who does not support President Donald Trump.
Taylor, a political newcomer, said she was grateful for Turning Point’s involvement and stressed that she intends to focus on community matters. Taylor will be seated as soon as the canvass is officially completed at some point over the next several days.
“I think party affiliation is important when you’re running for anything, because everyone will have a bias no matter which party they’re in,” she said. “I think it’s important to tell that to your voters so that if they don’t talk to you, they kind of have an idea of which way you’re going to vote.”
