Arizona State Treasurer Kimberly Yee, a Republican candidate for state school superintendent, has strongly condemned a controversial digital campaign ad targeting her, calling it an example of “overt racism.”
Yee, whose family has lived in Arizona for nearly a century, is widely recognized as an Asian-American trailblazer in the state’s political landscape.
Her campaign has recently come under attack through a 15-second digital advertisement that labels her the “Empress of DEI” and claims she “led a national shadow government of bureaucrats pushing an extreme diversity, equity, and inclusion agenda.”
The ad has drawn criticism for its use of stereotypically Asian sounds, visuals, and typography. According to Yee, the messaging crosses a line.
The ad, placed by a dark-money group, is “overt racism,” Yee said, placing responsibility on her Republican primary opponent, incumbent Superintendent Tom Horne.
Arizona school superintendent candidate Kimberly Yee has condemned this stereotypically Asian digital ad targeting her as “overt racism,” blaming GOP rival Tom Horne’s campaign messaging.
The dark-money group behind the ad has been asked to withdraw it. pic.twitter.com/hG02R4bR2D
— Resonate Voices (@ResonateVoices) July 3, 2026
“I’m focused on the issues that matter, like protecting school choice and improving the abysmal proficiency rates in reading and math that Tom Horne has allowed on his watch. Unlike Tom Horne and his supporters, I campaign on results, not racism.”
Data from the Google Ads Transparency Center shows the digital ad ran from Friday through Monday, generating at least half a million impressions across platforms such as YouTube.
The campaign specifically targeted central Maricopa County during the opening weekend of early voting in Arizona’s July primary.
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In addition to its digital presence, the ad has also aired on local television in central Arizona, with placements running through Thursday, July 2.
Federal Communications Commission records indicate that California-based group Arizonans For Election Integrity spent $17,000 on the digital ad buy, alongside an additional $78,000 on television advertising.
The ad’s messaging aligns closely with Horne’s campaign rhetoric, particularly his opposition to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
“I’m fighting hard against critical race theory and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, DEI,” Horne said during a candidate debate on May 14.
“If you can believe it, my opponent was … a member of a committee that promoted DEI”
Despite this overlap, Horne has publicly distanced himself from the advertisement.
“I am shocked by the appeal to ethnic prejudice and denounce it. It was done by an independent group that, by law, I can have no communication with and have not had any…
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“I hereby publicly and respectfully request they withdraw the ad or at least remove the references intended to appeal to ethnic prejudice.”
The organization responsible for the ad, Arizonans for Election Integrity, is led by California-based political consultant Jon Huey, who has previously faced controversy in Arizona politics.
Huey agreed to a $50,000 legal settlement related to allegations involving offensive conduct during a separate political campaign. Following the settlement, Huey stated that the claims were based on falsehoods intended to damage a candidate’s campaign.
The controversy surrounding the Yee ad adds another layer of tension to an already contentious Republican primary race, as debates over education policy, campaign tactics, and political messaging continue to intensify ahead of the election.
