Airbnb is distancing itself from conservative campaign signs using an anti-transgender message across north Phoenix.
Signs seen in Legislative District 4 show a graphic of a girl on crutches with a bandaged leg next to the words: "Aaron Lieberman voted to put guys in girls’ sports." As required by Arizona law, the signs include a small disclosure at the bottom identifying the top donors to the political action committee that paid for them. It includes Airbnb, among other companies.
But Airbnb made clear in a statement that it did not know about the signs in advance and does not support their message.
“The message on this sign doesn't represent the views of Airbnb,” spokesperson Lauren Bouton said in a statement. “We were not made aware of this campaign
collateral in advance, nor do we have authority over ads produced by any third-party PAC that we contribute to in Arizona.”
The signs were paid for by the Arizona Senate Victory Fund, which is supporting Sen. Carine Werner, but were not endorsed by any candidates. The incumbent Republican is running for a second term in the statehouse. The competitive race is central to Democrats’ hopes of winning a majority in the state Senate.
The message refers to a bill proposed in 2020, when Lieberman served in the House of Representatives. The GOP-backed bill would have banned transgender girls from participating on girls' sports teams. No Democrats voted for the bill.
Airbnb has been recognized for championing LGBTQ+ equality for several years. Most recently, the company earned a 100% ranking from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation's Annual Assessment on LGBTQ+ Workplace Equality. The assessment considers a company’s social responsibility, inclusive culture, nondiscrimination policies and equitable benefits for all workers and their families.
Airbnb has received the recognition for several consecutive years.
“We’re proud to receive this honor from the HRC for the eighth year in a row, which acknowledges the commitment we’ve made to fair and equal treatment for people of all sexual orientations and gender identities,” Alica Del Valle, Airbnb’s head of diversity and belonging, said in a 2023 statement.
The two other companies featured on the sign, Services Group of America, Inc. and RAI Services, a subsidiary of tobacco company Reynolds American Inc., didn't respond to a request for comment regarding the signs. Services Group of America donated $100,000 and RAI Services donated $12,500.
Why is Airbnb spending in Arizona elections?
When responding to questions from The Republic, Bouton noted that its investments have ranged across the political spectrum and go to candidates who “champion a tourism economy that works for all Arizonans."
Airbnb and similar companies have been the subject of proposed short-term rental regulations in Arizona for several years. Those proposals have included limits on the share of short-term rental licenses issued in a certain area and regulations aimed at preventing “party houses.”
But those bills have faced an uphill battle at the Legislature, even as the leaders of several Arizona cities say regulations are needed to support a more equitable housing market. Property rights advocates, including several influential lawmakers, have been staunch opponents of regulations on short-term rentals. In the past, Airbnb has said they are committed to preventing disorderly houses and that they are a small minority of listed properties.
In addition to Airbnb’s $45,000 contribution, the Senate Victory Fund has received several other high-dollar donations this election cycle, including $60,000 from Elevance Health Inc. and $50,000 from the Sports Betting Alliance. The committee's cash balance remained above $300,000 in late September.
Airbnb is no longer among the top three donors to the fund as of October, meaning it would no longer have to be identified as a top donor in campaign materials.
In May, Airbnb also contributed $45,000 to the House Victory Fund, which supports Republicans running for a seat in the House.
Airbnb has also contributed significantly to The Responsible Tourism Coalition, which has supported Democrats like Alma Hernandez and Deborah Nardozzi, according to the Arizona Agenda. But both ran in primarily blue districts against a more progressive candidate in the July primary election.
Hernandez is now running unopposed in the November election. Nardozzi lost to incumbent Sen. Lauren Kuby, who has publicly supported short-term rental reforms.
Are Arizona’s campaign spending laws unique?
Only a handful of states require political action committees to disclose their top donors on campaign literature, including California, Washington and Arizona.
Arizona voters have also approved broader similar disclosures. In 2022, Proposition 211 passed with sweeping support to require that independent expenditures exceeding a certain amount disclose the sources of funding. The ballot measure closed a loophole that had shielded many “dark money” donations.
But a 2025 analysis from The Republic showed that the true sources of political spending are still often hidden from voters. A significant share of campaigns did not list any donors in the first election following the new law’s passage. Many groups spent tens of thousands of dollars without identifying the original donors.
Helen Rummel covers state politics and higher education for The Arizona Republic. Reach her at hrummel@azcentral.com. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @helenrummel.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Airbnb disavows message on signs funded by GOP political group
