“If you want good tamales [in Arizona], you gotta eat ‘em on the black market,” declared Fox News contributor Katie Pavlich on the Gutfeld Show in April 2023. #FreeTheTamales was trending on Twitter at the time due to a viral campaign launched by Americans for Prosperity and The LIBRE Initiative that turned heads and captivated the state. But the journey to get to that point and eventually circumvent the governor’s initial veto did not come without its challenges.
Arizona has long been known for its rich Hispanic culture that’s deeply woven into the fabric of the state’s identity, illustrated by the fact that nearly one-third of the state’s population is Hispanic. For these reasons, it may come as a surprise that until March 2024, it was illegal in Arizona to sell homemade tamales on the street as they qualify as perishable goods according to a food safety regulation.
“One of the common stories you would hear about single moms, they would go out into the community with the best of intentions because they just wanted to put food on the table,” explains Jonathan Soto Robles, Deputy Director of Grassroots for LIBRE Arizona. “Their investments would go to waste because the state would show up and throw away all the money that they had in producing these foods.”
The Arizona law prohibited food vendors of all kinds from selling homemade goods that could spoil to the public. For many, small food businesses are not just a source of income, but a way to share their rich cultural heritage. “It’s not only a meal, it’s a way of life,” says Soto Robles.
In a noble effort to loosen restrictions, The Cottage Food Bill — otherwise known as the ‘Tamale Bill’ — made its way through the legislature and would have exempted certain food products and kitchens from routine inspections, making Arizona a viable environment for many food vendors. But in April 2023, after sailing through both the House and Senate, the Bill landed on Governor Katie Hobbs’ desk. In a shocking twist, despite the bipartisan backing, Governor Hobbs vetoed the bill, igniting a firestorm of controversy. This unexpected veto quashed efforts to unlock economic opportunities and boost the local economy with a single stroke.
“I was shocked that she vetoed the Bill. We’re the legislature and you can’t just veto things that have almost unanimous support,” stated Warren Petersen, the Arizona State Senate President.
This was now a scenario of David versus Goliath with the Governor abusing her power and punishing the little guy, in this case food vendors. This captured the attention of Americans for Prosperity and The LIBRE Initiative whose joint efforts were relentless in harnessing the power of grassroots to reignite momentum behind the Bill and the ‘Free the Tamale’ movement was born. AFP channeled their relationships in the capitol, saturated the airwaves and secured the leading stories in local publications, provided testimony and direct lobbying, while The LIBRE Initiative did what they do best, engaged and activated an impassioned Hispanic community hungry to have their voices heard.
“We don’t seek to be dependent on government. We seek for the government to protect our freedoms so we can achieve our goals and our American dream,” emphasized Soto Robles.
At the heart of this fight were advocates like Carmen, a business owner who immigrated from Mexico in the early 1990s. Witnessing the power of food to bring people together and recognizing the community’s love for tamales, Carmen’s business flourished. However, her personal success wasn’t enough for her; she wanted to help others in her community who were struggling and that meant she needed to get involved. Carmen partnered with AFP and The LIBRE Initiative on community outreach efforts and prepared hundreds of tamales for an organized rally, serving them to legislators as a delicious reminder of what was at stake.
This show of solidarity paid off. The Arizona House and Senate defied the governor’s initial veto, applying political pressure, and ultimately forcing her hand to sign the ‘Tamale Bill.’
Governor Hobbs may have won the initial battle, but AFP and LIBRE, backed by determined food vendors and Hispanic community members, won the war. The success of the “Free the Tamale” campaign highlights the importance of empowering individuals to advocate for their communities and achieve policy victories that expand freedom and economic opportunity.
“It’s not just about tamales,” Jonathan says. “It’s about economic opportunity, finding yourself, and using your skills and passions to create something valuable for others.”
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