Former Republican Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer warned that Republicans should shift away from denying the results of recent elections, saying it is “ruining” the GOP.

Republicans in Arizona have faced several high-profile losses in recent years, including a slate of statewide candidates in 2022 and former President Donald Trump’s loss in the 2020 election. Since those bruising losses, the GOP has challenged the results but has been unsuccessful in showing that there were enough voter irregularities or fraud to overturn the results.

Brewer argued in an interview with the Guardian that people will refuse to instill their confidence in Republicans if they continue to claim past elections were stolen.

“The only thing that I know that has to be done is we need people to stand up and talk about it and move on. This is ruining the Republican Party at this point in time. It’s undermining our elections, and if we don’t stop it, the end is that people won’t vote. And who will that hurt if they don’t vote? It will hurt the Republican Party,” Brewer told the news outlet. “We need every vote that we can get at the polls.”

The former governor said that she thinks election denialism from Republicans stems from wanting to win, but she insists it is important to defend the system from “distrust.” Brewer also made a point to say that denying election results was not a GOP-only issue.

“It’s been on both sides. Don’t lay it just on the Republicans, but that happens to be the people that are doing it currently, because we lost the presidency. We had some heated races in Arizona and some of the losers claimed that they were stolen, and they went through all these court cases and they didn’t win and they didn’t have the proof. And evidently, they don’t trust our judicial system either,” the former Arizona governor said.

She also added that the “claims are just outrageous” and believes the level of election denialism is nearing a fever pitch ahead of the contentious primary in the state later this month and the general election in November.

Brewer said that she does not believe the 2020 election was stolen, and she also said that she will vote for Trump in November — noting he is the Republican nominee.

“He did a lot of good when he was president. I just hope that if and when he wins, that it doesn’t all evolve again. Of course, if he wins, then I guess they’ll think the election is okay,” the ex-governor said.

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Several Trump-aligned candidates in competitive races who said the prior presidential election was stolen lost their races in 2022.

In Arizona, 2022 Republican gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake repeatedly said the 2020 election was stolen and then said her loss to now-Gov. Katie Hobbs (D-AZ) was also the result of fraud. Lake is running for Senate in Arizona and will likely be the GOP nominee, but she has also toned down her talk of prior elections being stolen.

You may be overcome with a sense of “fight or flight” triggered when coming face to face with Arizona’s most intimidating looking rattlesnakes. Smooth eyes, a forked tongue and tiny fangs may be your worst nightmare, especially when you’re not expecting it.

Despite this fear you’ll feel, the chances you of actually get hurt if you follow the proper precautions are low. In most cases, these reptiles are more afraid of you.

“You’re going to be walking by them all the time and not know it because that’s what they’re really good at,” Cale Morris, the Venom Manager at the Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary, said. “It’s really easy to stay safe around them.”

To calm your anxieties, here’s everything you need to know about Arizona’s most common venomous snakes.

What are the most common venomous snakes in Arizona?

Arizona is home to 13 species of rattlesnakes, all of which are venomous. There are six species most commonly found in metro Phoenix. These six snakes are:

• Western Diamondback rattlesnake
• Mojave rattlesnake
• Black-tailed rattlesnake
• Speckled rattlesnake
• Tiger rattlesnake
• Sidewinder rattlesnake

Identifying a rattle at the end of their tails and a big triangular-shaped head on a skinny neck will help you figure out if the snake you have encountered is a rattlesnake.

“Any other snakes in Arizona that aren’t venomous, like a gopher snake, they’re not going to have big heads like that. Their heads are going to be about as thick as their neck,” Morris said.

While all six types of rattlesnakes can be found in the Phoenix metro area, each species is adapted to live in certain areas. If you see a rattlesnake in or near the city, it will most likely be the Western Diamondback rattlesnake.

Every year, the Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary removes about 300 snakes from someone’s home or backyard, according to Morris. Of these snake hauls, about 95% of the snakes the sanctuary picks up are Western Diamondbacks. 

“These other ones are kind of rare, so you’d have to be up against a rocky mountain to have them in your yard,” Morris said. “The black-tailed, tiger and speckled rattlesnake, they all like living in rocky habitats, like on a mountain.”

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Arizona’s other venomous snake is very rare

Rattlesnakes aren’t the only dangerous snakes in Arizona. Coral snakes are the only other venomous snakes found in Arizona but are extremely rare. In Arizona, Coral snakes are distinctly tiny, growing as thick as a pencil as an adult.

“There are bigger Coral snake species that live in other states. So the coral snake kind of gets this reputation,” Morris said. “But our Arizona Coral snake is not anything to really worry about.”

There has never been a Coral snake-related death recorded in the state. Consequently, Arizona hospitals don’t carry Coral snake-specific antivenom. In the chance you do encounter one of these reptiles, Morris recommends you follow basic precautions and stay away.

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When is snake season?

Snakes are cold-blooded and use the temperature of their environment to regulate their bodies. Therefore, they become more active when temperatures level out in the high 70s and low 80s range just like humans. During the summer, when daytime temperatures are consistently hitting triple digits, snakes come out at night.

“We see an influx in early April, because of the temperatures, and then we see them again in August,” Morris said.

“I’ve personally seen rattlesnakes out every month of the year,” Morris said. “Sometimes in December, you’ll get a warm day, it’ll be like 75, and the snakes will actually come out of their burrows a little bit.”

Bobcat fights rattlesnake at Saguaro National Park in Arizona

A bobcat was caught on camera trying to grab a quick rattlesnake snack at Saguaro National Park in southern Arizona on June 3, 2024.

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Provided by Saguaro National Park

What should you do if you see a venomous snake?

Believing that a rattlesnake will attack unprovoked is a common misconception.

“There’s no species that is aggressive,” Morris said. “Sometimes people will say Mojaves are more aggressive, they’ll attack you, they’re mean. That’s just an absolute myth.”

Facing a rattlesnake in nature, like on a hiking trail or while camping, may be intimidating but the best way to stay safe is to leave it alone.

“Some people think that you need to like scare them, like yell at them and stomp on the ground or throw rocks to get them to move, but you don’t need to do that,” Morris said. “If you just give them distance, they will move away on their own. It might take a little bit of time, but that’s the best way.”

Although rattlesnakes are not aggressive, you likely want to keep your house and backyard snake-free. If you encounter one in your space, call a professional like the Phoenix Herpetological Sanctuary which has a rattlesnake hotline and will send someone to relocate the reptile.

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What should you do if you get bit by a venomous snake?

According to the National Park Service, venomous snakes inject a toxin into an enemy through their fangs. Therefore, these snakes are really only dangerous if they bite you.

Because immediate medical attention is the only way to effectively treat a snake bite, getting bit by a venomous snake is considered a 911 emergency. When you arrive at the hospital, you will be given an antivenom that is applicable to all rattlesnakes, so you don’t need to be sure which species bit you.

“The stuff that they used to teach, like putting a tourniquet on it, and sucking the venom, none of that works, we’ve found out,” Morris said. “It’s antivenom that works.”

Because swelling occurs after a bite, Morris also recommends victims remove all jewelry that may become restrictive or uncomfortable.

If a snake bites your pet, the same medical attention is required. Not all emergency veterinary clinics carry antivenom, so it is important you call ahead to check if it’s available before arriving, according to the American Kennel Club.

The Arizona Lottery offers multiple draw games for those aiming to win big.

Arizona offers Powerball, Mega Millions, The Pick, Triple Twist, Fantasy 5 and Pick 3 as well as Scratchers, Quick Draw and Fast Play.

Lottery players have seen enormous jackpots recently, with previous winners of both the Powerball and Mega Millions breaking into the top 10 largest jackpots in U.S. lottery history. Money raised from Arizona lottery games goes toward funding higher education, health and human services, environmental conservation and economic and business development in the state.

Pick 3

8-6-0

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Fantasy 5

02-06-16-18-24

Check Fantasy 5 payouts and previous drawings here.

Triple Twist

09-14-19-20-25-39

Check Triple Twist payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news and results

Are you a winner? Here’s how to claim your lottery prize

All Arizona Lottery retailers will redeem prizes up to $100 and may redeem winnings up to $599. For prizes over $599, winners can submit winning tickets through the mail or in person at Arizona Lottery offices. By mail, send a winner claim form, winning lottery ticket and a copy of a government-issued ID to P.O. Box 2913, Phoenix, AZ 85062.

To submit in person, sign the back of your ticket, fill out a winner claim form and deliver the form, along with the ticket and government-issued ID to any of these locations:

Phoenix Arizona Lottery Office: 4740 E. University Drive, Phoenix, AZ 85034, 480-921-4400. Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, closed holidays. This office can cash prizes of any amount.

Tucson Arizona Lottery Office: 2955 E. Grant Road, Tucson, AZ 85716, 520-628-5107. Hours: 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, closed holidays. This office can cash prizes of any amount.

Phoenix Sky Harbor Lottery Office: Terminal 4 Baggage Claim, 3400 E. Sky Harbor Blvd., Phoenix, AZ 85034, 480-921-4424. Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Sunday, closed holidays. This office can cash prizes up to $49,999.

Kingman Arizona Lottery Office: Inside Walmart, 3396 Stockton Hill Road, Kingman, AZ 86409, 928-753-8808. Hours: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, closed holidays. This office can cash prizes up to $49,999.

Check previous winning numbers and payouts at https://www.arizonalottery.com/.

Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.

Where can you buy Arizona lottery tickets?

Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.

You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Texas, Washington, D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.

Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. Must be 18+, 21+ in AZ and 19+ in NE. Not affiliated with any State Lottery. Gambling Problem? Call 1-877-8-HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY); 1-800-327-5050 (MA); 1-877-MYLIMIT (OR); 1-800-981-0023 (PR); 1-800-GAMBLER (all others). Visit jackpocket.com/tos for full terms.

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