Highlights
- Sen. Kiana Sears, a Mesa Democrat, complained a lobbyist-funded Gus's Fried Chicken order was overcooked and demanded a full remake.
- The original order totaled more than $1,500 and fed over 100 people at the Capitol on a Monday, paid for by lobbying firm Cornerstone.
- Email records obtained via a public-records request confirmed Sears requested a Saturday pickup on June 27, when the Legislature is expected to be out of session.
- Sears declined to comment and sources say the second delivery will not happen.
A Mesa Democrat's complaint about dry fried chicken has produced the most colorful lobbying-disclosure story of Arizona's 2026 session. Sen. Kiana Sears demanded that lobbying firm Cornerstone arrange a full remake of a $1,500 catered order from Gus's Fried Chicken after she said the chicken served at a Capitol lunch was overcooked, according to email records reviewed by reporter TJ L'Heureux of the Arizona Agenda.
Cornerstone paid for the original meal, which fed more than 100 people on a Monday. The order included 240 pieces of chicken, 85 mac and cheese sides, 85 coleslaws, and 14 gallons of sweet tea and lemonade combined. That same evening, the firm told the restaurant the event had been a success.
Sears then requested the entire order be remade for pickup on Saturday, June 27, at 5:30 p.m. The timing drew immediate scrutiny: the Senate is closed on Saturdays, and the Arizona Legislature is expected to be out of session by that date following a budget deal between Gov. Katie Hobbs and Republican leaders.
The story surfaced publicly after Kim Quintero, a spokesperson for Arizona Senate Republicans, posted about it on X, characterizing the episode as an attempt to turn one lobbyist-funded lunch into two. L'Heureux then filed a records request with the Arizona Senate, and the resulting emails confirmed the details and identified Sears as the lawmaker involved.
Sears was appointed to her seat after Sen. Eva Birch left office in March 2025 and is on the ballot this year. She did not offer comment when contacted. Sources now say the second chicken delivery will not take place.
Sources
Every factual claim in this article traces to one of the sources below. See how we work for the editorial process.
- Fox 10 Phoenix retrieved 10/06/2026 23:48
- arizonaagenda.com retrieved 10/06/2026 23:48
Authored by The Scottsdale Signal. Drafted by AI from primary-source material under our beat-specific editorial guides; reviewed by humans before publish under our five-gate process. Sources retrieved at 10/06/2026 23:48. Every claim traces to a source.
