THE FOLLOWING IS AN ORIGINAL PRODUCTION OF AZPM NEWS.

THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS ARE JUST DAYS AWAY, AND AZPM NEWS IS TAKING YOU INSIDE THE ISSUES AND THE KEY RACES.

FROM WILLCOX TO NOGALES, AND TUCSON TO AJO, WE ASKED SOUTHERN ARIZONANS WHAT THEY WANT FROM THEIR GOVERNOR.

AND IN A TIGHT CONGRESSIONAL RACE, WHAT ISSUES MATTER MOST TO VOTERS?

THIS IS AZPM NEWS VOTE 2026.

TONIGHT, YOUR VOTE TAKES CENTER STAGE.

HELLO AND WELCOME TO AZPM NEWS VOTE 2026.

LOOKING AHEAD TO THE MIDTERM ELECTIONS IN SOUTHERN ARIZONA, I'M TONY PERKINS.

OVER THE NEXT HALF HOUR, WE'LL TAKE A LOOK AND TALK ABOUT THE MAJOR RACES SHAPING OUR STATE.

ELECTIONS THAT CAN CHANGE WHO MAKES THE DECISIONS THAT AFFECT OUR COMMUNITIES.

AND WE'LL BREAK DOWN THE CANDIDATES, THE ISSUES AND WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TO MAKE AN INFORMED CHOICE IN THE GENERAL ELECTION.

WE'RE JOINED IN THE STUDIO BY POLITICAL REPORTER JOHN WASHINGTON FROM LOOKOUT AND SAMARA KLAR FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA SCHOOL OF PUBLIC POLICY AND GOVERNMENT.

THANKS FOR BEING WITH US.

WELL, JOHN, IT'S A MIDTERM ELECTION.

WE'VE SEEN A LOT AND HEARD A LOT OVER THE PAST COUPLE OF YEARS.

AND FOR THE MIDTERMS, IT'S USUALLY A REFERENDUM ON THE PARTY IN POWER.

IS THAT MORE OR LESS THE CASE THIS YEAR?

I WOULD SAY IT'S PROBABLY A LITTLE BIT MORE THE CASE.

YOU KNOW, IT'S DEFINITELY A REFERENDUM ON THE PARTY IN POWER, BUT MAYBE MORE PARTICULARLY, IT'S A REFERENDUM ON A SINGLE INDIVIDUAL.

AND THAT'S DONALD TRUMP.

YOU KNOW, HE AND HIS ADMINISTRATION HAVE PROVOKED OVER THE PAST ALMOST TWO YEARS BOTH CONSTERNATION AND IRE AMONG DEMOCRATS.

AND RECENTLY THE POLLS HAVE EVEN SLIPPED FOR REPUBLICANS.

YOU KNOW, A TRUMP ENDORSEMENT USED TO BE SOMETHING THAT WAS A BADGE PROUDLY WORN BY REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES.

AT THIS POINT, PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN TO HIDING THAT A LITTLE BIT OR, YOU KNOW, SCRUBBING THEIR CAMPAIGN WEBSITES AND SORT OF KEEPING THAT MORE LOW KEY IN THEIR POCKET.

SAMARA, ISSUES HAVE COME AND GONE OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, BUT AFFORDABILITY HAS EMERGED AS A KEY ISSUE AND RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY AS WELL.

TELL ME A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW THAT THE ELECTORATE FEELS ABOUT THAT ISSUE.

-YEAH, POLLING SHOWS THAT REALLY ACROSS EVERY SUBGROUP OF THE ELECTORATE, COST OF LIVING IS CONSISTENTLY THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE.

AND WHETHER THAT'S THE COST OF HEALTH CARE, THE COST OF GROCERIES, THE COST OF GAS, OF COURSE, BEING HUGE IS REALLY A KIND OF AT THE TOP OF EVERYONE'S LIST RIGHT NOW.

WHEN TRUMP WAS ELECTED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, A LOT OF PEOPLE THOUGHT THAT HIS POLICIES MIGHT HELP THINGS REALLY SORT OF EASE INFLATION, EASE THEIR POCKETBOOKS.

AND THAT JUST HASN'T BEEN THE CASE.

AND I THINK THAT'S KIND OF WHAT'S DRIVING A LOT OF THE DISCONTENT RIGHT NOW.

-JOHN, PRESIDENT TRUMP, AS WE SAID BEFORE, IS A BIG PART OF THIS MIDTERM.

EVEN THOUGH HE'S NOT ON THE BALLOT.

HE SAYS, PRETEND LIKE I AM ON THE BALLOT.

AND THAT PRESENTS SOME BIG CHALLENGES FOR ESPECIALLY SOME CANDIDATES HERE IN SOUTHERN ARIZONA.

-FOR SURE.

THESE CANDIDATES, REPUBLICANS HAVE HAD TO WALK A VERY FINE LINE TO NOT SORT OF ALIENATE THEIR BASE, THE MAGA BASE, THE REPUBLICAN BASE, BUT ALSO TRY TO FOLLOW THE LINE AND CONTINUE WITH CONSERVATIVE POLITICS.

AND SO IT'S BEEN A CHALLENGE FOR THEM.

AND IT'S ALSO BEEN A POINT OF ATTACK FROM THE DEMOCRATS.

THEY HAVE TRIED TO WED TOGETHER THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES AND DONALD TRUMP AND HAVE.

THAT IS A WINNING CAMPAIGN MESSAGE FOR THEM, MAKING SURE THAT THEY CAN, CAN, CAN WED THOSE TWO ISSUES TOGETHER.

-AND ARIZONA'S A PURPLE STATE, A SWING STATE.

AND THAT COULD LEAD TO SOME UNEXPECTED OUTCOMES.

-YEAH.

I MEAN, AT THIS POINT, WE'VE GOT A LOT OF RACES IN ARIZONA THAT I THINK PEOPLE ARE HAVING TROUBLE PREDICTING.

I CERTAINLY WANT TO WOULDN'T WANT TO MAKE ANY PREDICTIONS.

WE'RE A STATE WHERE WE'RE ALMOST EVENLY DIVIDED ACROSS REPUBLICANS, DEMOCRATS AND INDEPENDENTS.

I MEAN, IF YOU LOOK AT THE STATE ELECTORATE, IT'S ABOUT 35% REPUBLICANS TALKING ABOUT REGISTRATION NUMBERS, ABOUT 29% DEMOCRATS, AND ABOUT 32% INDEPENDENTS.

SO WE HAVE A REALLY CLOSELY DIVIDED ELECTORATE.

IT MAKES IT VERY, VERY DIFFICULT TO PREDICT THESE THESE RACES AND FIGURE OUT WHO'S GOING TO WIN.

-I'LL, YOU KNOW, STAND WITH YOU AND NOT MAKE ANY PREDICTIONS.

BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT, YOU KNOW, THESE SWING DISTRICTS THAT WE HAVE, MARICOPA COUNTY IS ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT SWING COUNTIES IN THE COUNTRY.

AND IT COULD PLAY A PIVOTAL ROLE IN DECIDING NOT ONLY HOW ARIZONA IS RUN, BUT ALSO AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL.

WHO CONTROLS THE HOUSE.

-ALL RIGHT.

NOW, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE ELECTORATE DATA.

NOW LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE WHO WILL BE ACTUALLY CASTING BALLOTS IN THIS ELECTION.

WE WANTED TO HEAR FROM A CROSS-SECTION OF SOUTHERN ARIZONA RESIDENTS REPRESENTING DIFFERENT AREAS AND IDEAS.

AZPM'S TONY PANIAGUA VISITED FOUR DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES IN THREE SEPARATE COUNTIES AND ASKED THEM ABOUT THEIR MESSAGE TO THE GOVERNOR, REGARDLESS OF WHICH PERSON OR PARTY WINS THE ELECTION.

AJO IS AN UNINCORPORATED COMMUNITY OF ABOUT 3000 RESIDENTS, MORE THAN 100 MILES WEST OF TUCSON.

THE INTERNATIONAL SONORAN DESERT ALLIANCE IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT PROVIDES ESSENTIAL SERVICES TO MANY PEOPLE HERE.

ISDA SAYS THERE'S A LOT OF NEED, AND THAT'S A MESSAGE TO THE GOVERNOR REGARDLESS OF THE PERSON OR PARTY IN THE POSITION.

FOR AJO SPECIFICALLY, I WOULD DEFINITELY SAY STEPPING IN IN WAYS WHERE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS STEPPED BACK.

WE HAVE LOW POPULATION DENSITY, YOU HAVE A LOW WEALTH COMMUNITY, AND SO WE DEFINITELY NEED SOME SUPPORT IN THOSE AREAS FOR SURE, WHERE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS STEPPED BACK.

-IN TUBAC AND NOGALES, SANTA CRUZ COUNTY BINATIONAL TRADE IS A TOP PRIVATE INDUSTRY.

IMPORTERS LIKE MIGUEL SUAREZ SAY THE BIGGEST ECONOMIC ROADBLOCKS ARE HIGH FUEL PRICES FROM THE WAR IN IRAN AND TARIFFS IMPOSED BY PRESIDENT TRUMP.

HE HOPES WHOEVER IS GOVERNOR WILL VOICE THESE CONCERNS, AS WELL AS THE IMPORTANT RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR NEIGHBOR TO THE SOUTH.

-BOTH COUNTRIES ARE VERY IMPORTANT TO ONE ANOTHER.

-IN TUCSON, ARIZONA'S SECOND LARGEST CITY, MANY PEOPLE DO WELL ECONOMICALLY BUT ACCORDING TO THE U.S.

CENSUS BUREAU, NEARLY 20% OF TUCSON'S RESIDENTS LIVE IN POVERTY, ALMOST TWICE THE RATE OF THE NATIONAL AVERAGE.

TED MAXWELL IS THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE SOUTHERN ARIZONA LEADERSHIP COUNCIL, A NONPARTISAN GROUP THAT WAS FOUNDED IN 1997.

-OUR TOP PRIORITY WITH THE GOVERNOR WOULD BE, WE NEED THE GOVERNOR'S SUPPORT FOR A STRONG AND GROWING ECONOMY.

-IN WILLCOX COCHISE COUNTY.

AGRICULTURE IS THE MAIN ECONOMIC DRIVER IN THIS REGION.

ANTHONY PETERS AND HIS WIFE HAVE A HOMESTEAD HERE, BUT THEY SAY THE STATE'S WILLCOX ACTIVE MANAGEMENT AREA IS HURTING THEIR PROSPECTS.

THE AMA IS MEANT TO ADDRESS INTENSE GROUNDWATER DEPLETION AND RELATED TOPICS.

AS A SMALL PRODUCER THAT HAD NOT BEEN IRRIGATING BEFORE THE AMA WAS PUT INTO PLACE, I AM NOT ALLOWED TO IRRIGATE ANY OF MY LAND, BUT THEN YOU HAVE THESE HUGE, MASSIVE PRODUCERS THAT USE THOUSANDS OF GALLONS AND JUST ARE PUMPING SO MUCH WATER OUT OF THE GROUND, BUT THEY'RE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE DOING THAT.

THE PEOPLE WE INTERVIEWED ALSO SAY IT IS IMPERATIVE THAT RESIDENTS GET INVOLVED.

IF YOU CAN GET TO KNOW YOUR NEIGHBORS, BECOME ACTIVE IN YOUR COMMUNITY, ENGAGE, VOLUNTEER AND VOTE TO HAVE YOUR VOICE HEARD.

TONY PANIAGUA, AZPM NEWS.

THE CONTEST FOR ARIZONA GOVERNOR DEMOCRATIC INCUMBENT KATIE HOBBS AND REPUBLICAN CHALLENGER ANDY BIGGS.

JOHN, THERE ARE DIFFERENCES AND WE SEE THE IMPACT OF THE PEOPLE IN SOUTHERN ARIZONA, THE DIFFERENCES ON TARIFFS AND THE WAR AGAINST IRAN.

BIG POLICY DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE TWO CANDIDATES HERE.

-YEAH VERY MUCH.

YOU KNOW THAT IS AN ISSUE THAT, YOU KNOW, GOING BACK TO AFFORDABILITY THAT SAMARA WAS SAYING AT THE BEGINNING OF THE SHOW IS YOU LOOK UPSTREAM AND YOU TRY TO UNDERSTAND THE CAUSES OF THAT AFFORDABILITY CRISIS.

AND ACTUALLY, KATIE HOBBS MENTIONED THE IRAN WAR AND DECLARED A STATE OF EMERGENCY IN ALL ARIZONA COUNTIES JUST RECENTLY, TRYING TO ALLOW FOR TRUCKS, HEAVIER TRUCKS TO TRAVEL ON THE HIGHWAYS TO ATTEMPT TO LOWER THE COSTS OF ESPECIALLY RED DYE DIESEL.

AND SO THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SHE HAS BEEN VERY FOCUSED ON AND HAS BEEN ALSO A POINT OF CRITICISM COMING FROM THE BIGGS CAMPAIGN.

AND SAMARA, BIGGS WAS ENDORSED BY TRUMP.

AND IS HE TRYING TO DISCONNECT HIMSELF FROM THE PRESIDENT, WHO HAS SUCH HIGH UNPOPULARITY RATINGS?

-WELL, I THINK HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO HEAR.

I MEAN, AS WE MENTIONED, ARIZONA IS SO DIVIDED BETWEEN REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS.

AND THEN WE HAVE THIS BIG THIRD OF THE ELECTORATE WHO ARE WHO ARE REGISTERED AS OTHER OR INDEPENDENT.

AND HISTORICALLY, THOSE THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT CRUCIAL BLOC OF THE ELECTORATE HAS REALLY HELPED A LOT OF THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES WIN, ESPECIALLY WHEN THEY CAN RUN MORE MODERATE OR CENTRIST CAMPAIGNS.

FOR ANDY BIGGS TO BE SO CONNECTED TO THE TO DONALD TRUMP, YOU KNOW, HE'S GOT TO BE LOOKING AT PEOPLE LIKE KARI LAKE, BLAKE MASTERS, MARTHA MCSALLY, AND REALIZING THAT THIS IS POSSIBLY NOT THE ROAD TO VICTORY IN ARIZONA.

I THINK WE HAVE SEEN HIM BACK DOWN A LITTLE BIT FROM THAT PREVIOUSLY VERY TIGHT CONNECTION.

AND I'M SURE THAT'S WHAT HIS CAMPAIGN IS PUSHING HIM TO DO RIGHT NOW.

LET'S LOOK AT GOVERNOR HOBBS' RECORD.

AND JOHN THE GOVERNOR SET A RECORD FOR THE NUMBER OF VETOES COMING OUT OF THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE.

AND THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN READING ABOUT AND HEARING ABOUT FOR TWO YEARS.

HOW IS THAT GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE?

-WELL, YEAH, SHE VETOED OVER 540 BILLS IN THE PAST FOUR YEARS.

AND I THINK TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THAT MIGHT LOOK LIKE GOING FORWARD IF SHE HOLDS ON TO HER SEAT IS WHAT THE LEGISLATURE LOOKS LIKE.

SO IF IT'S A DIVIDED LEGISLATURE, SHE MIGHT HAVE THE CHANCE TO NOT ONLY USE HER PEN TO TO VETO BILLS, BUT ACTUALLY SIGN THEM.

BUT IF THE REPUBLICANS CAN HOLD ON IN THE LEGISLATURE, WE'RE PROBABLY GOING TO SEE MORE OF THE SAME WHERE SHE'S JUST GOING TO BE BLOCKING THE BILLS THAT ARE LANDING ON HER DESK.

-LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT, YOU KNOW, VOTERS CERTAINLY MUST REALIZE WHAT THE STATUS QUO IS, IS LACKING HAS BEEN FOR THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS, A DEMOCRAT IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE VERSUS A MOSTLY REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE.

IS THERE ENOUGH OUT THERE FOR VOTERS TO MAKE UP THEIR MINDS AND TRY TO MAKE A CHANGE IN THAT KIND OF FORMULA FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS?

-YOU KNOW, OVER TIME, WE HAVE SEEN THE REPUBLICAN STATE LEGISLATURE BECOME LESS AND LESS REPUBLICAN, THE REPUBLICAN, YOU KNOW, THEY HAVE FEWER SEATS THAN THEY ONCE HAD, WHICH INDICATES THAT VOTERS ARE PUSHING FOR A CHANGE OF SOME SORT.

WHETHER VOTERS WANT DEMOCRATS TO FULLY TAKE OVER THE STATE LEGISLATURE IS NOT CLEAR TO ME.

I THINK THAT VOTERS IN ARIZONA SEE THEMSELVES AS QUITE MODERATE, QUITE CENTRIST.

AND I THINK THERE IS AN ELEMENT OF SORT OF THE ARIZONA ELECTORATE THAT SORT OF LIKES THIS BIPARTISAN BLEND OF CENTRIST POLICIES.

WE OFTEN SEE THAT IN THE BALLOT MEASURES THAT MAKE IT THROUGH EVERY YEAR.

SO I GUESS WE'LL HAVE TO SEE AGAIN THIS YEAR WHETHER REPUBLICANS CONTINUE TO LOSE A LITTLE BIT OF POWER IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE AND WHAT THAT HOLDS FOR THE FUTURE.

-LET ME ASK YOU BOTH ABOUT THIS QUESTION.

GOVERNOR HOBBS CHOSE NOT TO TAKE PART IN ANY DEBATES WITH ANDY BIGGS IN THE GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION.

JOHN, IS THAT SIGNIFICANT?

-I THINK IT IS SIGNIFICANT.

YOU KNOW, THAT IS THE STRATEGY THAT HER CAMPAIGN DECIDED ON.

BUT I THINK IT'S ALSO A BIT OF A SHAME FOR DEMOCRACY.

YOU KNOW, WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME THAT WE GOT OUR GOVERNOR, TOP ELECTED OFFICIAL IN THE STATE TO FACE TOUGH QUESTIONS IN AN UNSCRIPTED WAY?

I MEAN, THERE'S BEEN SOME FRIENDLY MEDIA INTERVIEWS, BUT BESIDES THAT, WE HAVEN'T SEEN HER REALLY PUSHED UP AGAINST AND FORCED TO ANSWER HARD QUESTIONS.

SO I THINK IT'S A BIT OF A SHAME, HONESTLY.

IT'S SORT OF PAR FOR THE COURSE REGARDING GOVERNOR HOBBS.

SHE DOESN'T LIKE DEBATES.

NO.

THAT'S RIGHT.

I MEAN, SHE DID NOT DEBATE IN HER RACE AGAINST KARI LAKE.

AND I THINK THERE WAS A LOT OF SPECULATION BACK THEN.

IT WAS, YOU KNOW, HER FIRST TIME RUNNING FOR GOVERNOR.

I THINK PEOPLE WERE SPECULATING WHETHER OR NOT THIS WAS GOING TO HURT.

HER CAMPAIGN ULTIMATELY DID NOT, THOUGH I WILL SAY HER VICTORY AGAINST KARI LAKE WASN'T OVERWHELMING.

IT WAS A PRETTY NARROW MARGIN OF VICTORY THERE.

BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S WORKED FOR HER BEFORE.

I GUESS SHE THINKS IT'S GOING TO WORK FOR HER AGAIN.

IN SOME WAYS, IT MAY ALSO SPEAK TO WHAT SHE EXPECTS FROM THE BIGGS CAMPAIGN, WHETHER SHE FEELS AS THOUGH THERE'S GOING TO BE PRODUCTIVE CONVERSATIONS THERE.

BUT I AGREE ENTIRELY WITH JOHN.

I THINK IT IS A PROBLEM FOR FOR VOTERS AND FOR DEMOCRACY WHEN WE DON'T HAVE A LITTLE MORE TRANSPARENCY THROUGH DEBATES AND THROUGH, YOU KNOW, OPPORTUNITIES TO ENGAGE WITH THE PRESS.

ALL RIGHT.

MOVING ON.

EYES ACROSS THE NATION ARE WATCHING THE CLOSE RACE BETWEEN INCUMBENT REPRESENTATIVE JUAN CISCOMANI AND HIS CHALLENGER, JOANNA MENDOZA, IN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT SIX.

SOME OF THE LATEST NUMBERS SHOW RAZOR THIN MARGINS IN A RACE THAT COULD FACTOR INTO THE BALANCE OF POWER IN CONGRESS NEXT YEAR.

L.M.

BOYD FROM AZPM NEWS WENT TO COCHISE COUNTY TO FIND OUT WHAT VOTERS ARE LOOKING FOR IN THAT CONTEST.

ARIZONA'S SIXTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT STRETCHES ACROSS SOUTHEASTERN PARTS OF THE STATE WITH A LARGE POPULATION CENTER IN SIERRA VISTA, A COMMUNITY CLOSELY TIED TO FORT HUACHUCA AND HOME TO MANY VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES.

AND THAT MEANS THE VETERAN VOTE COULD PLAY A DECIDING ROLE AS BALLOTS ARE CAST.

-I JOINED THE ARMY WHEN I WAS 17.

IN 1966.

-WHAT BROUGHT ME HERE TO SIERRA VISTA WAS FORT HUACHUCA.

I WAS AN ARMY, AND I RETIRED BACK IN 96.

MY HUSBAND AND I MOVED DOWN HERE 35 YEARS AGO FROM MASSACHUSETTS, FORT DEVENS.

-THE AMERICAN LEGION POST 52 IN SIERRA VISTA DOES NOT ENDORSE ONE CANDIDATE OVER THE OTHER.

BUT WE DID ASK FOLKS INDIVIDUALLY WHERE THEY ARE LEANING POLITICALLY FOR THIS MIDTERM ELECTION.

THE INFLATION, THE GAS PRICES, THE LACK OF TRANSPARENCY AND TRUTH FROM THE MEDIA.

EVERY TIME I DRIVE MY CAR, I KNOW I'M GOING TO BE PAYING A LOT MORE FOR GASOLINE THAN I REALLY SHOULD BE.

I'M GOING TO BE PAYING A LOT MORE FOR GROCERIES THAN I REALLY SHOULD BE.

I'M GOING TO HATE TO SEE THE CANADIANS PULL THEIR WHISKEY FROM OUR MARKET.

I AM A REPUBLICAN.

I DO SUPPORT JUAN CISCOMANI.

I DO SUPPORT HIS SUPPORT FOR ISRAEL.

SOMETIMES I JUST FEEL THE VETERANS HAVE BEEN FORGOTTEN.

I DON'T WANT THEM TO WAIT MONTHS TO GET AN APPOINTMENT AT THE VA HOSPITAL.

YOU KNOW, I JUST THINK THAT THERE SHOULD BE MORE GIVING TO THEM.

I'M AN INDEPENDENT, SO I'M NEITHER DEMOCRATIC OR REPUBLICAN POLITICALLY.

I'M AN INDEPENDENT BECAUSE I DON'T AGREE WITH EVERYBODY ON THE SAME SIDE.

SO I, I BELIEVE IN WHAT I BELIEVE IN AND VOTE MY BELIEFS.

-BOTH MENDOZA AND CISCOMANI ARE CONNECTED TO VETERANS ISSUES, BUT IN DISTINCT WAYS.

I SERVED 20 YEARS, INCLUDING COMBAT DEPLOYMENTS TO IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN.

I'M THE ONLY MEMBER IN CONGRESS WHO SERVED BOTH ON THE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE, TO IMPACT THE FUNDING FOR OUR VETERANS AND ALSO ON THE VETERAN AFFAIRS COMMITTEE TO IMPACT THE POLICY FOR OUR VETERANS.

I DON'T CARE IF THEY SERVED IN THE MILITARY OR NOT, AS LONG AS THEY'RE FAITHFUL TO THE COUNTRY.

REPUBLICANS ARE ENTERING THE 2026 MIDTERMS WITH A 218 TO 214 MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE.

CISCOMANI NARROWLY BEAT HIS DEMOCRATIC OPPONENT, KIRSTEN ENGEL, IN 2024 BY ABOUT 2.5 PERCENTAGE POINTS.

BUT THE LATEST POLLS SHOW MENDOZA WITH A SLIGHT EDGE.

L.M.

BOYD, AZPM NEWS.

REPUBLICAN INCUMBENT JUAN CISCOMANI AND DEMOCRATIC CHALLENGER JOANNA MENDOZA.

SAMARA.

WE HEARD SOME WORDS FROM VETERANS IN THAT STORY FROM L.M.

BOYD.

HOW DO THOSE TWO CANDIDATES ADDRESS VETERANS ISSUES IN A DIFFERENT WAY?

WELL, BOTH OF THEM ARE SORT OF RELYING ON THEIR EXPERIENCE WITH VETERANS, BUT IN VERY DIFFERENT WAYS.

I MEAN, JOANNA MENDOZA IS REALLY BEEN EMPHASIZING HER PERSONAL BIOGRAPHY THROUGHOUT HER CAMPAIGN.

SHE'S, YOU KNOW, HER EXPERIENCE IN THE MILITARY.

I THINK THAT'S SORT OF ONE OF THE MAIN WAYS SHE'S TRYING TO CONNECT TO VOTERS.

AND, JOHN, CAN MENDOZA DRAW ENOUGH RURAL VOTERS?

BECAUSE JUAN CISCOMANI HAS A LOT OF NAME RECOGNITION OUT IN THOSE PARTS OF SOUTHERN ARIZONA, HE DOES.

AND, YOU KNOW, SHE LEANS INTO HER BIOGRAPHY ON THIS ISSUE AS WELL.

YOU KNOW, SHE WAS RAISED IN ELOY, AND IT SAYS THAT SHE WORKED ON FARMS, PICKING COTTON AS A CHILD.

BUT I THINK THAT REAL WEDGE ISSUE IN THIS RACE IS, AGAIN, AFFORDABILITY AND THE IRAN WAR.

AND THIS IS SOMETHING THAT, ESPECIALLY FROM A MILITARY VETERAN SERVING TWO DECADES IN IN THE ARMED FORCES, JOANNA MENDOZA HAS BEEN COMING OUT SWINGING AGAINST JUAN CISCOMANI AND HIS SUPPORT FOR THE WAR IN IRAN.

WE'VE HEARD A LOT FROM THE MENDOZA CAMPAIGN ABOUT HIS RECORD IN VOTING WITH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

HAS CISCOMANI BEEN ABLE TO ERASE AT LEAST SOME OF THAT, TO GIVE HIMSELF A LITTLE BIT OF AN ADVANTAGE OVER MENDOZA IN THAT REGARD.

YOU KNOW, THE POLLING IN THIS RACE IS SO CLOSE.

I MEAN, THIS IS ANYBODY'S RACE AT THIS POINT, WHICH I THINK SPEAKS A LITTLE BIT TO THE WEAKNESSES CISCOMANI HAS WITH HIS CONNECTIONS TO TRUMP.

THIS IS A RACE THAT ANY OTHER YEAR SHOULD BE ABLE TO WIN FAIRLY HANDILY.

THE DISTRICT HAS MORE REPUBLICAN VOTERS THAN DEMOCRATS BY A FAIRLY WIDE MARGIN.

HE IS AN INCUMBENT, WHICH MEANS A LOT.

AND THE FACT THAT MENDOZA REALLY SEEMS TO BE PUTTING UP A LEGITIMATE FIGHT HERE TO TAKE OVER, I THINK, INDICATES THAT THERE IS NOT AS MUCH DISTANCE BETWEEN CISCOMANI AND TRUMP AS HE WOULD HAVE LIKED.

YEAH, THEY'RE BOTH TRYING TO PLAY THE BIPARTISAN CARD.

YOU KNOW, JUAN CISCOMANI CLAIMS THAT HE'S THE MOST BIPARTISAN REPRESENTATIVE, WHICH IS A LITTLE BIT HARD TO SQUARE IF YOU JUST LOOK AT HIS RECORD.

BUT THAT IS HIS CLAIM.

AND THEN JOANNA MENDOZA HAS ALSO BEEN LEADING INTO THE MIDDLE.

AND, YOU KNOW, SAYING THAT SHE SUPPORTS BORDER WALL CONSTRUCTION, SAYING THAT SHE'S VERY MUCH AGAINST DEFUNDING THE POLICE AND SORT OF VEERING TOWARDS THE CENTER.

NOW, LET'S GET INTO A DISCUSSION ABOUT SOME OF THE OTHER CONTESTS IN ARIZONA.

SOME ARE THE CONTEST FOR SECRETARY OF STATE ADRIAN FONTES AND ALEXANDER KOLODIN.

IT'S SORT OF A MATCHUP BETWEEN ELECTION INTEGRITY AND ELECTION DENIALISM AND CALLED IN BACK IN 2020.

ONE OF THE MAJOR VOICES SAYING THAT THE PRESIDENT ACTUALLY WON ARIZONA AND STARTING THE INVESTIGATION INTO WHAT OUR ELECTIONS ARE, LOOK LIKE OR SHOULD LOOK LIKE.

IS THAT STILL AN ISSUE FOR VOTERS IN 2026?

WELL, I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF INDICATION THAT VOTERS ARE READY TO MOVE PAST THIS ISSUE AND PROBABLY HAVE BEEN FOR SOME TIME.

I MEAN, AGAIN, LET'S THINK ABOUT THE PARTISAN MAKEUP OF ARIZONA.

IT'S MORE REPUBLICAN THAN THAN DEMOCRAT.

REPUBLICANS HAVE A CLEAR NUMERICAL ADVANTAGE IN THE STATE OF ARIZONA.

YET WHO HAS BEEN WINNING OVER THE LAST SEVERAL CYCLES?

WE HAVE A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR, WE HAVE DEMOCRATIC SENATORS.

WE HAVE A DEMOCRATIC SECRETARY OF STATE.

WE HAVE A DEMOCRATIC ATTORNEY GENERAL.

WHY ARE SO MANY DEMOCRATS WINNING IN A STATE THAT HAS A NUMERICAL ADVANTAGE FOR REPUBLICANS?

I THINK THE ELECTION DENIALISM MAY BE PLAYING A BIG ROLE.

THE REPUBLICANS WHO ARE REALLY PUSHING THE ELECTION DENIALISM THEORIES HAVE NOT BEEN WINNING THEIR RACES.

AND, YOU KNOW, TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY CONTINUE TO DO SO, DOES NOT SEEM TO BE HELPING THEM IN THEIR CAMPAIGNS.

THEY HAVEN'T BEEN WINNING THEIR RACES.

THEY HAVEN'T BEEN WINNING THE THE LAWSUITS EITHER.

RIGHT.

SO, YOU KNOW, KOLODIN WAS TIED TO THE KRAKEN, THE CYBER NINJAS, ALL OF THESE THINGS THAT HE TRIED TO DIFFERENT WAYS THAT HE TRIED TO DENY THE RESULTS OF THE 2020 ELECTION.

AND REMEMBER THAT ADRIAN FONTES WAS THE THE OVERSEEING THE ELECTIONS IN MARICOPA COUNTY AT THIS TIME.

SO IT'S REALLY ALMOST A PERSONAL CAMPAIGN, NOT JUST ABOUT THE POLITICS, AND IT'S ABOUT TRUSTING THE ELECTORAL PROCESS.

YEAH, YEAH.

YOU KNOW, ADRIAN FONTES UP UNTIL RECENTLY WAS ALSO DUBIOUS THAT WE WOULD EVEN HAVE MIDTERM ELECTIONS.

HE WAS REALLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S MANEUVERINGS AROUND POTENTIALLY LIMITING ACCESS TO THE POLLS OR HAVING ICE AT POLLS, ETC.

AND HE HAS COME AFTER KOLODIN PRETTY HARD ABOUT HIS STANCE ON, YOU KNOW, SIX YEARS AGO.

AND IT'S IT'S REMARKABLE THAT WE ARE STILL LITIGATING THIS BOTH IN THE COURTS.

YOU KNOW, THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION FILED A LAWSUIT THIS YEAR AROUND MARICOPA COUNTY AND OBVIOUSLY AT THE POLLS.

NOW, THE ATTORNEY GENERALS CONTEST INCUMBENT DEMOCRAT KRIS MAYES AGAINST REPUBLICAN WARREN PETERSEN AS IMMIGRATION WAS A BIG ISSUE IN THIS CONTEST EARLY ON.

BUT IT'S NOT THAT CASE NOW.

YEAH.

THAT'S RIGHT.

I MEAN, IMMIGRATION WAS A BIG CONCERN IN ARIZONA IN 2024, NOT ONLY AMONG REPUBLICANS BUT ALSO AMONG DEMOCRATS.

THERE WAS A LOT OF CONCERN ABOUT THE BORDER CRISIS, UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRATION, WEAPONS AND DRUGS COMING ACROSS THE BORDER.

AND TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY HAS ACTUALLY SOLVED SOME OF THESE PROBLEMS THAT PEOPLE WERE CONCERNED ABOUT IN 2024.

UNFORTUNATELY, FOR MANY PEOPLE, THEY THINK IT'S GONE FAR, MUCH TOO FAR.

THE ENFORCEMENT HAS BEEN EXCESSIVE.

AND WHAT I THINK COULD HAVE BEEN A WINNING ISSUE FOR REPUBLICANS HAS BECOME YET ANOTHER LIABILITY FOR A LOT OF REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES.

JOHN, MAYES VERSUS PETERSEN.

HOW ABOUT IT?

YEAH.

SO, YOU KNOW, RECALL THAT THIS RACE WAS ONE OF THE TIGHTEST IN ARIZONA HISTORY.

JUST A FEW YEARS AGO.

MAYES ONE LAST TIME TO TO ASSUME ATTORNEY GENERAL BY 280 VOTES.

SO IT'S GOING TO BE A CLOSE ONE PROBABLY.

YET SHE IS, YOU KNOW, HAS THE INCUMBENT ADVANTAGE AT THIS POINT.

AND SHE HAS, YOU KNOW, REALLY FOUGHT HARD TO TRY TO PAINT HERSELF AS AS PROTECTING THE POCKETBOOKS OF ARIZONA RESIDENTS.

SHE'S ALSO, YOU KNOW, COME OUT AGAINST THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION VERY AGGRESSIVELY.

SHE'S FILED IT MIGHT BE NOW 50 LAWSUITS AGAINST THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

SHE HAS SOME WINS AND SOME LOSSES.

BUT, YOU KNOW, HER RECORD NOW STANDS AND VOTERS CAN CAN ADDRESS IT AND SEE WHAT THEY WANT TO WHICH WAY THEY WANT TO VOTE.

ALL RIGHT.

LET'S GET BACK REALLY QUICKLY TO THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

AND FOR THE FIRST TIME, ARIZONA VOTERS WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE FOR A LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

AND ANDY BIGGS PICKED A FELLOW REPUBLICAN FOR HIS RUNNING MATE.

BUT KATIE HOBBS BROUGHT ON AN INDEPENDENT.

SAMARA, YOU CALL THAT A FUSION TICKET TO SORT OF EXPLAIN THAT?

YEAH.

SO THE TERM FUSION TICKET REALLY HAS TO DO WITH TWO, TWO PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT PARTIES RUNNING TOGETHER ON THE SAME TICKET.

SO THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR WE HAVE TWO PEOPLE ON THIS TICKET.

WE'VE GOT HOBBS, AND SHE HAS CHOSEN JOHN GILES, WHO IS A LONGTIME REPUBLICAN MAYOR OF MESA, ONE OF THE MOST CONSERVATIVE TOWNS IN WHEN IT COMES TO VOTES IN ARIZONA.

HE'S RECENTLY BECOME AN INDEPENDENT.

THEY'RE TOGETHER ON THE SAME TICKET.

THEIR CAMPAIGNS OFTEN SAY BE INDEPENDENT.

THEY PROMOTE THEMSELVES AS INDEPENDENT, AND IT LOOKS AS THOUGH IT IS WORKING QUITE WELL THERE.

HOBBS IS.

POLLING HAS INCREASED SINCE SHE MADE THIS ANNOUNCEMENT, AND HAVING THIS SORT OF CENTRIST UNITY DOES SEEM TO BE APPEALING TO A LOT OF VOTERS IN ARIZONA.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S GO OVER TO THE STATE BALLOT MEASURES FROM JOHN.

PROPOSITION 318 DEALS WITH SEX AND GENDER AND SORT OF PULLS ARIZONANS BACK INTO THE WHOLE CULTURE WARS.

EXPLAIN WHAT 318 IS ABOUT.

THAT'S RIGHT.

SO THIS IS REALLY SEEN AS BY A LOT OF PEOPLE AS AN ATTACK ON THE CIVIL RIGHTS OF TRANS YOUTH, ESPECIALLY.

THIS IS A REDUNDANT MEASURE.

IF IT WERE TO PASS, IT WILL LIMIT THE WAY THAT TRANS YOUTH ARE ABLE TO PLAY SPORTS AND WHAT BATHROOMS THEY'RE GOING TO USE.

PART OF THAT IS ALREADY LAW IN ARIZONA.

AND YET, YES, IT'S A CULTURE WAR ISSUE.

IT HASN'T GOT A LOT OF AIR TIME AND ADVERTISEMENT AND WHATNOT.

BUT I THINK THAT A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE SORT OF DEFENDING WHAT COULD BE TERMED AS LIKE A MICRO MINORITY OF PEOPLE WHO COULD BE SUBJECTED TO THIS, REALLY SEE AS A WAY TO FURTHER MARGINALIZE ALREADY SORT OF, YOU KNOW, A GROUP OF PEOPLE THAT WITH A TARGET ON THEIR BACKS RIGHT NOW.

PROPOSITION 144, VOTER ID AND MAIL IN VOTING, A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE SORT OF SAYING MAIL IN VOTING IS THE WAY TO GO, ESPECIALLY IN RURAL PARTS OF THE STATE.

YEAH.

I MEAN, ARIZONA IS A VERY HEAVILY MAIL IN VOTING STATE.

WE HAVE 85% OF VOTERS WHO VOTE BY MAIL.

AND THAT WAS HISTORICALLY PUSHED A LOT BY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, WHO WANTED MORE ACCESS TO TO THE VOTE AMONG RURAL COMMUNITIES.

SO I THINK ARIZONANS ARE GOING TO BE PRETTY HARD PRESSED TO GET RID OF THEIR BELOVED MAIL IN VOTING SYSTEM.

AND THE VOTER ID LAW REALLY CALLS INTO QUESTION SORT OF TECHNICALITY.

HOW WOULD THAT WORK?

AT THE END OF THE DAY, HOW DO YOU VOTE BY MAIL WITH ID?

AND THESE ARE UNANSWERED QUESTIONS THAT I THINK ARE GOING TO LEAD TO A LOT OF SKEPTICISM AT THE BALLOT.

RIGHT.

SAMARA IS SAYING, YOU KNOW, THE REPUBLICANS WERE THE ONES WHO FORMERLY CHAMPIONED THIS ISSUE TO ALLOW FURTHER ACCESS TO TO CAST YOUR BALLOT BY MAIL.

JAN BREWER CALLED THIS A RED, WHITE AND BLUE ISSUE BACK IN THE DAY.

AND RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, KOLODIN IS THE ONE WHO HAS SPONSORED THIS THIS BALLOT REFERRAL.

AND I THINK IT COULD BE CONFUSING TO VOTERS IF THEY VOTE YES ON THIS.

THIS WILL REALLY LIMIT POTENTIALLY LIMIT HOW THEY'RE ABLE TO VOTE IN THE FUTURE.

HOW THIS ACTUALLY WORKS IS REALLY UNCLEAR RIGHT NOW.

IT'S GOING TO BE UP TO THE LEGISLATURE TO PUT IN A SYSTEM IN WHICH PEOPLE ARE SOMEHOW ABLE TO SHOW THEIR VOTER ID BEFORE CASTING A BALLOT THROUGH MAIL.

IT'S CONFUSING FOR PEOPLE.

ALL RIGHT, LET'S GET AN ANSWER FROM EACH OF YOU.

IN SUMMARY AND IN GENERAL ISSUES IN THIS ELECTION CYCLE, IN EVERY ELECTION CYCLE SEEMS TO LEAN INTO THE ECONOMY.

IN THIS CASE, WHAT'S HAPPENED TO AFFORDABILITY?

WHAT'S HAPPENED TO THE PURCHASING POWER OF MANY HOUSEHOLDS, AND WHO CAUSED IT TO BECOME THIS WAY?

RESPONSIBILITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY.

JOHN, LET'S START WITH YOU.

WELL, YOU KNOW, WE SAW THE LATEST NUMBERS JUST IN SEPTEMBER THAT INFLATION AGAIN ROSE, AND THIS WAS SOMETHING THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION WAS REALLY, REALLY HOPING TO AVOID.

YOU KNOW, HE WENT AS FAR AS PROMISING TO MAIL CHECKS OUT TO PEOPLE IF THE REPUBLICANS WON THE MIDTERMS.

SO IT'S OBVIOUSLY A VERY CRITICAL ISSUE.

WHAT ARE THE ROOT CAUSES OF IT?

YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THEM.

THE IRAN WAR IS DEFINITELY HOLDING UP A LOT OF THE THE OIL RESERVES THAT ARE REALLY SPIKING GAS PRICES, THAT HAVE CASCADING EFFECTS ON MUCH OF THE REST OF THE ECONOMY.

YOU ALSO LOOK AT IMMIGRATION.

YOU KNOW, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SUPPOSEDLY WAS GOING TO HELP WITH THE ECONOMY.

IF YOU, YOU KNOW, LOCK UP MORE PEOPLE WHO ARE HERE SUPPOSEDLY TAKING JOBS, THEN THEY'RE GOING TO BE SOME ECONOMIC BOOM FOR THE REST OF THE AMERICANS.

BUT WE HAVEN'T SEEN THAT.

YEAH.

I MEAN, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO THINK RETROSPECTIVELY, WHOSE FAULT IS IT THAT WE'RE HERE TODAY?

AND I THINK BOTH PARTIES ARE TRYING TO, YOU KNOW, POINT FINGERS AT THE OTHER AND THEN PROSPECTIVELY WHO CAN ACTUALLY FIX THIS THING.

AND THIS IS AT THE HEART OF THE CAMPAIGN.

I MEAN, THE VOTERS ARE GOING TO DECIDE.

BUT THIS IS REALLY THE CRUCIAL ISSUE IN 2026, FOR SURE.

WHEN WE GET TO THE FACT THAT ARIZONA'S A PURPLE STATE AND THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF INDEPENDENTS MAKING UP THEIR MIND ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, HOW BIG DOES THIS AFFORDABILITY ISSUE ACCOUNT FOR THEIR VOTES AND HOW THEY MAY SWING ONE WAY OR THE OTHER WITH THE GOVERNOR'S RACE OR WITH CD6?

WELL, YOU KNOW, WE TALKED ABOUT FUSION TICKETS.

THERE'S ALSO SPLIT TICKET VOTING, AND THAT'S A TRADITION THAT ARIZONA HAS A LONG HISTORY OF, YOU KNOW, VOTING FOR A THE GOVERNOR OF ONE PARTY AND A CONGRESSIONAL REPRESENTATIVE OF ANOTHER.

AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT I WOULDN'T BE SURPRISED AT ALL TO SEE IN THIS COMING ELECTION.

SAMARA, THE INDEPENDENT VOTE.

YOU CAN'T HARDLY PREDICT IT, BUT IT'S DIFFICULT, YOU KNOW, WHAT CAN YOU THINK ABOUT?

WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE WAY THE INDEPENDENT VOTERS OR THE UNDECIDED VOTERS WILL CHOOSE?

WELL, THERE'S NO DOUBT THAT THE HEAVY PRESENCE OF INDEPENDENTS IN ARIZONA HAS BEEN RECENTLY A BENEFIT TO DEMOCRATS.

AND WE KNOW THAT FROM PAST ELECTIONS, WE'LL SEE.

THIS YEAR DOES MAKE IT HARDER TO PREDICT, AS USUAL.

BUT IT'S GOING TO COME DOWN TO, YOU KNOW, WHICH CANDIDATES ARE CONVINCING ARIZONANS THAT THEY'RE GOING TO ACTUALLY MAKE LIFE A LITTLE MORE AFFORDABLE, BECAUSE THAT HAS BEEN A PERPETUAL PROBLEM FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS, A MESSAGE, A MESSAGE ELECTION OR SOMETHING THAT'S GOING TO HAVE PRACTICAL RESULTS.

WELL, I THINK IT CERTAINLY WILL HAVE PRACTICAL RESULTS.

I MEAN, WE ARE GOING TO SEE THE CONSEQUENCES OF OF HOW ARIZONA VOTES.

I MEAN, THIS IS THE THE REALITY OF LIVING IN A PURPLE STATE, THAT THINGS COULD SWING PRETTY DRAMATICALLY ONE WAY OR THE OTHER, AND WE COULD BE ALL AFFECTED BY HOW WE CAST OUR BALLOT IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

I THINK EVERYBODY SHOULD VOTE BECAUSE EVERY VOTE IS GOING TO COUNT IN THIS RACE.

THERE'S NO DOUBT ABOUT IT.

ALL RIGHT, WELL, THEN I'LL DO IT FOR AZPM NEWS VOTE 2026.

BE SURE TO JOIN US BACK HERE ON ELECTION DAY AND ON WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4TH FOR AN ELECTION WRAP UP SHOW.

THANKS TO OUR GUEST, SAMARA KLAR FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA AND JOHN WASHINGTON OF LOOKOUT.

AND FOR ALL THE STAFF AND CREW HERE AT AZPM I'M TONY PERKINS.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

THIS HAS BEEN AN ORIGINAL THIS HAS BEEN AN ORIGINAL PRODUCTION OF AZPM NEWS.