5 things you need to know about Kris Mayes and her bold move to get Trump’s attention on green energy
- Kris Mayes, Arizona’s Democratic Attorney General, just fired a legal warning shot at the federal government, filing a lawsuit over a land-swap deal that could fast-track a massive copper mine near the San Pedro River.
- The project, backed by Trump allies, is being framed as a national security priority for rare minerals, but Mayes argues it would permanently poison one of the Southwest’s last free-flowing rivers.
- In a viral statement, Mayes said the mine would be “a lose-lose for our water, our wildlife, and our future,” directly challenging the administration’s pro-mining stance.
- This isn’t her first green fight: Mayes also led a multistate coalition to block uranium mining near the Grand Canyon, earning her a reputation as a fierce environmental cop.
- The legal battle could become a 2025 flashpoint, with Mayes betting that voters care more about clean water than copper, even if it means defying Washington power brokers.