Horne ‘viscerally opposed’ to racially charged ad targeting GOP rival Yee

Kimberley Yee, Arizona's State Treasurer and candidate for state schools superintendent, is calling a recently released attack ad against her "revolting" and "racist." Yee is running against incumbent Tom Horne, who also is strongly condemning the ad.

Kimberly Yee reacts to racially charged ad attacking her in run for AZ schools superintendent

By: Serena O'Sullivan, KTAR News

PHOENIX — Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne strongly condemns a racially charged ad slamming his GOP opponent in the primary election, calling it “wrong” and saying he wants it changed.

“I am shocked by the ad. I think it’s wrong to appeal to ethnic prejudice. Very wrong,” Horne told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Mike Broomhead Show on Tuesday.

The 15-second ad slams Kimberly Yee, who is Chinese American, as “the empress of DEI,” with stereotypically Asian background music, background images and typography.

Yee has slammed the ad as racist, publicly accusing Horne and his supporters of “revolting racist attacks.”

Tom Horne and his supporters’ revolting racist attacks have no place in Arizona.

No matter how low they go, I will stay focused on the job before us — improving educational opportunities for Arizona children.

Unlike Tom Horne & his supporters, I campaign on results, not racism. pic.twitter.com/khikGA9XpD
— Kimberly Yee (@KimberlyYeeAZ) June 30, 2026

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