>> Ted: NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON, IT'S A DEBATE.

WE'LL HEAR FROM TWO OF CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR ARIZONA'S FIFTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

IT'S NEXT HERE ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO THE SPECIAL ELECTION 2022 EDITION.

TONIGHT WE FEATURE A DEBATE BETWEEN ARIZONA'S FINAL CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT COVERING EAST VALLEY AREAS OF MARICOPA AND PINAL COUNTIES.

TONIGHT'S DEBATE IS NOT FORMAL BUT AN OPEN EXCHANGE OF IDEAS BETWEEN CANDIDATES FOR ONE OF THE STATE'S MOST FEDERAL OFFICES.

DIALOGUE IS ENCOURAGED PROVIDING ALL SIDES GET A FAIR SHAKE AND WE'LL DO OUR BEST TO ENSURE THAT HAPPENS.

CANDIDATES WILL GIVE OPENING STATEMENTS AND LATER CLOSING IN THE OPPOSITE ORDER AND JOINING US FOR TONIGHT IS DEMOCRAT A TRIBAL ATTORNEY AND CLINT SMITH, A SMALL BUSINESSMAN, WHO OWNS A LAW FIRM.

WE SHOULD NOTE, NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS WERE MADE TO CONTACT ANDY B IRKIGGS AND WE DID NOT RECEIVE A RESPONSE AND WE BEGIN WITH CLINT SMITH.

>> THANK YOU.

SO GLAD TO BE HERE.

THIS DISTRICT IS COMPOSED OF RATIONAL PEOPLE WHO WANT PROBLEMS SOLVED AND WE'RE NOT GETTING THAT WITH OUR CURRENT CONGRESSMAN.

WE HAVE SOMEBODY ON THE FRINGE OF THE POLITICAL SYSTEM.

THAT'S NOT WHO WE ARE IN CD5 AND BEYOND THAT, SOMEBODY WHO CURRENTLY REPRESENTS US AND DOESN'T GET MUCH DONE.

HAS PASSED ONE PIECE OF LEGISLATION IN CIRCUMSTANCE YEARS OF CONGRESS AND WHO HAS ALSO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATED IN THE ATTEMPTED COUP THAT IS RELATED TO JANUARY 6th IN THE ATTEMPTED TAKEOVER OF THE 2020 ELECTION.

THOSE THINGS ARE DISQUALIFYING AND IT IS TIME FOR A CHANGE.

WHAT I HAVE FOUND IS THAT PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN AN INDEPENDENT EFFORT AND SO I'M HERE TO TALK ABOUT THING THAT MATTER TO PEOPLE, IMMIGRATION, WATER AND THE ECONOMY AND THAT'S WHY I'M RUNNING FOR UNITED STATES CONGRESS.

>> Ted: NOW TO JAVIER RAMOS.

>> I'M YOUR DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR CONGRESS AND THESE ARE MY REASONS WHY I'M RUNNING FOR OFFICE.

I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN A SMALL MIGRANT COMMUNITY IN ARIZONA, RAISED BY A SINGLE MOTHER AND GREW UP IN THE ONION FIELDS OF THE WEST VALLEY AND LEARNED A LOT FROM MY MOTHER.

THE AMERICAN PRINCIPLES OF HARD WORK, ETHICS, STANDING UP AND RESPECTING OUR ELDERS AND EDUCATION WAS A GREAT EQUALIZER.

I GRADUATED FROM LAW SCHOOL, WORKED IN CITY, STATE, INTERNATIONAL, BOTH IN ARIZONA AND WASHINGTON, D.C.

WHEN SHERIFF PAPIA WAS IN POWER AND 1070 WAS THE LAW OF THE LAND, WE WERE MOVING BACK FROM MARYLAND TO ARIZONA, MY SON, WHO WAS IN THIRD GRADE SAID, DAD, WILL THEY STOP US WHEN WE GET TO ARIZONA?

I COULD NOT STAND UP FOR MY FAMILY, BUT I WILL STAND UP NOW AND I WILL STAND UP FOR A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO CHOOSE AND OUR DEMOCRACY.

>> Ted: CLINT, LET START WITH YOU AND WHY SHOULD VOTERS REJECT AN INCUMBENT CONGRESSMAN WITH LOTS OF EXPERIENCE FOR YOU?

>> BECAUSE THE EXPERIENCE ISN'T PAYING OFF AND THE PROBLEM IS, AS I MENTIONED, ANDY ACTUALLY HAS PROPOSED AND BEEN PART OF 160 SOME BILLS AND ONE PASSED AND REMAINED THE VETERAN CENTER IN CHANDLER.

THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF NOISE AND EXPERIENCE AND WHAT'S BEEN ACCOMPLISHED?

NOT MUCH.

WHAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED IS THAT THERE HAS BEEN A PARTICIPATION AND LEADERSHIP ROLE IN THE EFFORTS TO UNWIND THE ELECTION TO INCITE THE DISTRUST OF OUR INSTITUTIONS, INCLUDING THE FBI AND THE DOJ WHO NOW HE WANTS TO DEFUND AND OUT-THERE IDEAS THAT HE'S BEEN A PART OF.

>> Ted: JAVIER, WHY DO YOU WANT VOTERS IN A HEAVILY REPUBLICAN DISTRICT TO SAY IT'S TIME FOR A DEMOCRAT?

>> ANDY BIGGS HAS BECOME IRRELEVANT.

THE CHIPS AND SCIENCE TECHNOLOGY BILL WHICH WOULD BRING INFRASTRUCTURE AND TECHNOLOGY TO OUR EAST VALLEY AND VOTED AGAINST THE INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT ACT AND THE PAST ACT TO PROTECT OUR VETERANS AND VOTED AGAINST THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND INVESTMENT ACT.

HE VOTES AGAINST EVERYTHING AND BOTH MY OPPONENTS, MY REPUBLICAN OPPONENTS ARE OUT OF TOUCH WITH WHAT OUR DISTRICT NEEDS.

>> Ted: HE TOLD THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC HE ASKS THESE QUESTIONS QUESTIONS.

IS GOVERNMENT THE BEST ENTITY TO CARRY IT OUT?

HE FINDS, FOR THE MOST PART, ONE OF THOSE THREE IS KNOW.

DOES IT MAKE SENSE TO YOU?

>> IT DOES NOT.

WE'RE FEDERAL TAXPAYERS AND PAYING OR TAX DOLLARS TO WASHINGTON, D.C. WE NEED TO BRING BACK THOSE TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO OUR CITY AND STATE TO BUILD THE INFRASTRUCTURE AND BUSINESSES THAT WE NEED.

>> Ted: CLINT, HE SAYS HE WORKS WITH DEMOCRATS AND THE CONTINGENCY BE ACT AND ARE YOU BUYING THAT?

>> I DON'T DOUBT HE TALKED TO DEMOCRATS AT SOME POINT IN HIS CAREER.

I CAN TELL YOU THAT, OUT OF 435, HE RANKS 432 AS FAR AS BEING BIPARTISAN AND NOT ACCOMPLISHING ANYTHING BIPARTISAN OF SIGNIFICANCE.

>> CAN I INTERRUPT.

I SIGNED THE DROP CONTINGENCY PLAN AND BORN AND RAISED HERE.

MY SCIENCE TEACHER SAID, YOU'LL RUN OUT OF WATER BY 2025, WE HAVE TO RUN PUT THIS IN THE FOREFRONT.

MY CONSTITUENTS ARE GETTING HIT THE WORST.

WE NEED SOMETHING, WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, EXPERIENCE IN CITY, STATE, INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL WORK.

I WOULD WORK WITH UPPER BASIN, LOWER BASIN AND SUPPORT THE GOVERNOR AND PUT THAT UNDER THE APPROPRIATION'S COMMITTEE TO SUBSIDIZE WATER TO DESALINATE.

>> Ted: THE ONE BILLION DOLLARS IS ACQUIRING WATER AND NOT MUCH OF CONSERVATION.

DOES THAT MAKE SENSE TO YOU?

>> THERE'S A THREE-PART PLAN AND THAT'S ONE PART TO DESALINATE THE WATER AND THE BIGGEST WATER USERS IS THE IMPERIAL VALLEY OUT OF THE SOUTHERN PART OF CALIFORNIA.

THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO PUT WATER BACK INTO THE COLORADO RIVER AND USING MORE WATER AND I'M HERE TO PROTECT OUR WATER RIGHTS FOR OUR STATE.

WE NEED SOMEBODY WHO HAS EXPERIENCE WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, TO MY REPUBLICAN OPPONENTS, HE DOES NOT KNOW HOW TO GET THIS COMPLETED.

HE NEVER WORKED AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL.

HE IS A PROBATE ATTORNEY.

PLEASE GO TO MY OPPONENT, BUT WE NEED SOMEBODY THERE TO ACTUALLY GET THE JOB DONE.

>> Ted: LET'S LET HIM RESPOND.

>> I'VE DONE LITIGATION FOR MANY YEARS AND I STAY OUT OF COURT.

IF PEOPLE CAN GET TOGETHER AND TALK ABOUT THINGS, THEY CAN SOLVE PROBLEMS INSTEAD OF STAYING I KNOW EVERYTHING AND CAN MAKE THIS HAPPEN.

THAT'S WHAT WE HAVE WITH OUR CURRENT CONGRESSMAN AND IT'S NOT WORKING.

>> Ted: WATER POLICY, WHAT ARE YOUR IDEAS AND WHAT DO YOU PLAN TO DO?

>> IT'S A MULTIFACETED THINGS.

PARTIES OF DIFFERENT LEVELS AND DIFFERENT STATES NEED TO BE BROUGHT TOGETHER.

ARIZONA NEEDS TO HAVE A TEAM THAT WORKS TOGETHER AND, AGAIN, OUR CONGRESSMAN ISN'T ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE THAT PUTS A TEAM TOGETHER.

A CONGRESSMAN HAS A ROLE TO PLAY AND WE DON'T DICTATE HOW IT WORKS.

YOU HAVE STATE AND FEDERAL AND LOCAL DEPOSITS AND GOVERNMENT AND TRIBAL ORGANIZATIONS AND ALL PARTIES INVOLVED AND YOU HAVE TO GET PEOPLE TOGETHER TO TALK ABOUT THEM.

NO ONE PERSON HAS ALL THE ANSWERS.

SO WHAT WE HAVE TO DO IS FIND MORE WATER SOURCES, DESAL IS A GREAT IDEA AND BE BETTER AT CONSERVING, TOO.

>> TED, THIS IS NOT A PLAN.

MY OPPONENT IS FOLLOWING ME TO TRY TO INCORPORATE HIS IDEAS.

I HAVE TALKED ABOUT THIS OVER THE LAST 0 20 YEARS.

WE NEED TO DEAL SERIOUSLY ON THESE ISSUES.

IF WE DON'T DO SOMETHING, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WILL GET INVOLVED AND IT WILL BE SOMETHING WE WON'T APPRECIATE.

OUR CURRENT CONGRESSMAN HAS NOT BROUGHT THIS TO THE FOREFRONT.

>> Ted: YOU SAID THE CURRENT CONGRESSMAN HAS NOT BROUGHT THIS TO THE FOREFRONT.

HE'S BEEN RE-ELECTED NUMEROUS TIMES.

WHAT MAKES YOU THINK THAT ANDY BIGGS DOES NOT SPEAK FOR THE INTERESTS AND THE PEOPLE IN THIS DISTRICT?

>> HE SPEAKS ON FEAR.

HE DID YOU NOT SPEAK ABOUT WATER.

HE SPEAKS ABOUT FEAR OF DIVISION DIVISION, WHERE THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS THE PARTY OF UNIFICATION, THE PARTY AND DIVISION.

ANDY IS THE PARTY OF DIVISION AND TALKS ABOUT THE IMMIGRATION ISSUES.

HE TALKS ABOUT DEFUNDING THE FBI AND THE POLICE.

HE TALKS ABOUT FEAR AND THAT IS NOT THE PARTY AND THE ARIZONA I WANT.

>> Ted: LET TALK ABOUT THE FACT THIS DISTRICT RE-ELECTS HIM.

ARE THESE THE BELIEFS, THE ACTIONS, THE BEHAVIOR THAT PEOPLE IN THIS DISTRICT TRULY WANT?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

THE WAY THIS WORKS, IN A POLARIZE THEPOLARIZED ENVIRONMENT AND OUR DISTRICT IS VERY MUCH A RED DISTRICT, DEMOCRATS ARE OUTNUMBERED 2-1 IN THIS DISTRICT AND ANDY BIGGS WAS ELECTED IN 2016, AND 29,000 PEOPLE ELECTED HIM.

ONCE YOU'RE IN AS AN INCUMBENT, YOU'RE IN, SOME PEOPLE THINK FOR LIFE AND LET'S HAVE AN OF COURSE AND PEOPLE WHO LOOK TOGETHER WHO SAY, I CAN HAVE A RATIONAL PERSON WHO WON'T PANDER TO THE FAR RIGHT AND WILL BE ABLE TO GET THINGS DONE AND GET THINGS TOGETHER TO TALK ABOUT IT.

>> Ted: 2-1 AND SOMEWHERE ALONG THOSE LINES, YOU'RE A DEMOCRAT AND SOME SAYING YOU'RE PLAYING THE SOILER IN THIS RACE AND NOT TAKING CAMPAIGN FUNDS.

WITH YOU IN HERE, ANDY BIGGS IS ALMOST ASSURED OF VICTORY AND HOW DO YOU RESPOND?

>> IT'S EASY MATH.

WE ACTUALLY RECEIVE 40% OF THE VOTE.

WE RECEIVED 32% AND I DON'T AGREE WITH THE NUMBERS.

32% DEMOCRAT AND WE GET 12% OF THE INDEPENDENTS AND THAT'S 40%.

THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND Mr. SMITH KNOWS THIS, TOO, HIS OWN POLLS SHOWS THIS.

HE'S POLLING 3%, THREE PERCENTAGE POINTS BEHIND ANDY BIGGS, ACCORDING TO OH POLLS.

WE NEED 40% TO WIN THIS RACE AND WE'LL GET THAT 40%.

HISTORICALLY WE'VE ALWAYS GOTTEN 40%.

THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS AT A CROSS-ROADS.

ARE THEY THE PARTY OF TRUMP, McCAIN, GOLDWATER?

MY OPPONENT LEFT THAT PARTY.

HE ONLY HAS A 3% POLLING CHANCE OF WINNING.

>> Ted: ARE YOU THE SPOILER IN THIS RACE?

[ Laughter ] >> THE DEFINITION OF A SPOILER IF THAT PERSON DROPS OUT, DOES THE PERSON WHO WAS OTHERWISE BEHIND TAKE THE LEAD?

UNTRUE AND CAN'T HAPPEN IN THIS DISTRICT.

EVERY PERSON RUNNING AGAINST ANDY BIGGS LOSING BY 15 TO 18 POINTS AND NOW WE'RE DOWN TO A REDDER DISTRICT.

THE CURRENT AT THE LAST PRIMARY WAS 23% OF THIS DISTRICT AND IS DEMOCRAT.

AND 34% ARE INDEPENDENTS.

AND SO THAT LEAVES 40 SOMETHING, 42% OF REPUBLICANS AND A LOT OF THOSE DISAFFECTED AND THE ONLY WAY TO TAKE OUT A INCUMBENT REPUBLICAN IS AS INCUMBENT AND NAME RECOGNITION AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE DOING.

>> Ted: ALL POINTS IN BETWEEN WOULD SAY INFLATION IS A PROBLEM AND WHY IS INFLATION A PROBLEM AND IS SPENDING FROM WASHINGTON, PRINTING MONEY, THE WHOLE NINE YARDS THERE, IS THAT A FACTOR?

>> NO, IT'S NOT.

INFLATION IS A PROBLEM BECAUSE OF CORPORATIONS.

CORPORATIONS MAKE PROFIT OVER END OVER END OVER END.

NO COMMITTEE IS INVESTIGATING THE PROFIT MARGINS THAT THE CORPORATIONS ARE MAKING EVERY YEAR.

SO THAT IS NOT THE PROBLEM WITH INFLATION.

>> Ted: WOULD YOU SUPPORT HIGHER CORPORATE TAXES IN.

>> YES, I WOULD.

THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT WHICH ANDY BIGGS VOTED AGAINST.

IT WOULD NOT BE AGAINST PEOPLE MAKING $400,000 A YEAR.

ANYTHING ABOVE THAT, CORPORATIONS WOULD PAY ABOVE THAT.

>> Ted: CORPORATE TAXES, WOULD THAT HELP AS FAR AS INFLATION?

>> NO.

INFLATION IS BASED ON FAKE MONEY, FALSE MONEY INTO THE ECONOMY AND THAT'S WHAT WE'VE HAD WITH SEVERAL OF THE BILLS OVER THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS AND THAT IS THE PROBLEM.

NOT BECAUSE CORPORATIONS HAVE TOO MUCH PROJECTS AND I'M NOT A BIG FAN OF CORPORATIONS EITHER.

THEY HAVE THEIR OWN RESPONSIBILITY THAT WE NEED TO MONITOR THAT.

THAT DOESN'T CAUSE INFLATION.

>> Ted: WOULD YOU HAVE VOTED FOR COVID RELIEF FUNDS, THE ACTS WE SAW, THE TRILLION DOLLARS COMING OUT OF WASHINGTON TO HELP DURING THE PANDEMIC?

>> SOME OF IT.

I FEEL LIKE SOME OF IT WOULD STILL NOT HAVE BEEN SPENT, WHICH IS BEYOND BELIEF TO ME, AND SO I FEEL LIKE WE GAVE IT OUT TOO EASY AND TOO MUCH AND THAT IS WHAT CAUSES INFLATION, INFLUX.

>> Ted: DID WE GIVE IT OUT TOO EASY AND TOO MUCH.

>> IT WAS BOTH UNDER PRESIDENT TRUMP AND PRESIDENT BIDEN.

>> THAT'S NOT TRUE.

>> AND VOTED FOR CONGRESSMAN BIGGS IN THE LAST RACE.

>> Ted: HOLD ON A SECOND.

>> I NEVER VOTED FOR DONALD J. TRUMP.

>> WILL YOU VOTE FOR COOPER OR STAN IN YOUR DISTRICT?

>> NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS.

I NEVER VOTED FOR DONALD J. TRUMP.

>> SIMPLE QUESTION, THE PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT WANT TO KNOW, IS Mr. SMITH A REPUBLICAN?

>> Ted: LET FIND A DIFFERENT WAY TO ASK THAT.

IF YOU ARE ELECTED, WHO WILL YOU CAUCUS WITH?

>> PEOPLE ASK ME THAT ALL OF THE TIME AND IT'S A UNICORN SITUATION BECAUSE THE DEMOCRATS AND THE REPUBLICANS, THEY AREN'T USED TO HAVING ANY INDEPENDENTS IN THE UNITED STATES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

I DON'T THINK I'LL BE WELCOME IN EITHER MAJOR PARTY CAUCUSES, BUT A LOT OF OTHER CAUCUSES THAT DEAL WITH WATER AND THE SOUTHWEST AND OTHER CAUCUSES THAT I CAN BE A PART OF.

>> Ted: IF YOU'RE NOT A PART OF EITHER PART OF THE CAUCUSES THERE THAT GET THINGS DONE ONE WAY OR ANOTHER, SHOULD VOTERS SEND YOU TO WASHINGTON IN.

>> ABSOLUTELY, BECAUSE THERE ARE SO MANY WAYS TO GET THINGS DONE NOT RELATED TO THE CAUCUSES.

IF YOU THINK ABOUT CAUCUSES, THINK ABOUT THE FREEDOM CAUCUS THAT THROWS WRENCHES INTO EVERYTHING, EVEN IN TRUMP, EVEN WITH ANDY BIGGS.

>> Ted: ARE YOU BUYING THAT?

>> NO, AND THEY DID NOT BUY MY OPPONENT'S SENTIMENT.

HE TURNED AN INDEPENDENT JUST LAST YEAR AND MOVED INTO THE DISTRICT, WHICH IS NO LONGER IN THE DISTRICT AND CAN'T EVEN VOTE FOR HIMSELF.

SO WHY WOULD HE ASK VOTERS TO VOTE FOR HIM WHEN HE CAN'T VOTE FOR HIMSELF?

SO THE NUMBER ONE ISSUE RIGHT NOW, BESIDES SAVING OUR DEMOCRACY AND REPUBLIC IS ROE V. WADE.

HE IS SLOWLY MOVING LEFT.

THE WHOLE OBJECTIVE WAS TO KICK ME OUT OF THE RACE AND NOW THEY'RE MOVING LEFT.

ALL REPUBLICANS MOVED LEFT AND I'M THE ONLY CANDIDATE IN THIS RACE WOULD WOULD DEFEND A WOMEN'S RIGHT TO CHOSE AND CODIFY ROE V. WADE.

>> Ted: RIGHT NOW IT'S LEFT TO THE STATES AND WHY NOT LEAVE IT TO THE STATES?

>> BECAUSE IT'S IN OUR CONSTITUTION AND I BELIEVE THE SUPREME COURT GOT IT WRONG.

THE FIRST THING IN OUR PREAMBLE IS LIFE, LIBERTY AND LIBERTY IS FREEDOM.

THE WHOLE PUP PURPOSE OF THE BILL OF RIGHTS IS PRIVACY RIGHTS, TED, AND WE KNOW THAT.

THE SUPREME COURT GOT IT WRONG WHEN THEY TOLD EVERYBODY THEY WOULD NEVER PUT THEIR RELIGION TOWARDS THE MAKING ON THE SUPREME COURT DECISIONS.

I WOULD CODIFY ROE V. WADE BECAUSE THAT IS OUR PRIVACY RIGHT THAT EVERY AMERICAN HAS A RIGHT TO.

>> Ted: WOULD YOU CODIFY COVID?

>> NOT ON A FEDERAL LEVEL.

I NEED TO GO BACK TO SOMETHING.

I DID NOT MOVE INTO THIS DISTRICT RECENTLY.

I'VE LIVED IN THIS DISTRICT SINCE 1981 AND I HAVE VOTED IN ELECTIONS SINCE THEN.

I DON'T THINK YOU VOTED ANYWHERE NEAR THAT MANY TIMES.

WHEN I REGISTERED TO BE A CANDIDATE IN THIS RACE, I WAS SOLIDLY IN THE DISTRICT.

AS YOU KNOW, REDISTRICTING CAME ABOUT AND I WATCHED THAT HAPPEN IN THE BOUNDARY MOVED AND I'M FOUR AND A HALF MILES OUTSIDE.

IF I WIN, I'M MOVING OUTSIDE OF THE DISTRICTS.

COVID I.

>> Ted: YOU SAY LEAVE IT UP TO THE STATES.

IS THAT IN STEP WITH YOUR DISTRICT?

>> MY DISTRICT, MOST OF THE PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT THINK THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD STAY OUT OF THAT.

>> Ted: ARE YOUR IDEAS IN STEP WITH THE CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 5?

>> YES, AND HOW WOULD I KNOW?

I'M NOTI'M THE ONLY CANDIDATE THAT NOT MY SIGNATURES.

I'VE MET WITH VOTERS WHERE THEY'RE AT AND I MET APPROXIMATELY CLOSE TO 30,000 INDIVIDUALS IN THE LAST TWO YEARS AND THIS IS WHAT THEY'RE TELLING ME, THE YOUNG PEOPLE.

THEY ASK ME, THE NUMBER ONE QUESTION, DO YOU SUPPORT ROE V. WADE.

THESE ARE YOUNG FEMALES AGE 20 AND 21 AND YES, THAT IS YOUR DECISION.

CODIFY ROE V. WADE.

AND THAT'S THE DECISION BETWEEN MYSELF AND THE REPUBLICANS.

>> Ted: YOU THINK THEY WOULD RATHER THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT COME IN AND ONCE AGAIN PUT THE RULES AND REGULATIONS ON ABORTION AS OPPOSED TO LETTING STATES DECIDE?

>> CORRECT.

IN OUR CONSTITUTION, THE INTERSTATE COMMERCE LAW AND WE HAVE TO GET MEDICINE ACROSS STATE LINES AND PEOPLE DRIVE ACROSS STATE LINES.

IT'S A FEDERAL ISSUE AND I WOULD SUPPORT IT.

YOU'LL HAVE FEMALES RUNNING FROM STATE TO STATE TO STATE AND THAT IS NOT CORRECT.

WE WANT EQUALITY BETWEEN MEN'S HEALTHCARE AND WOMEN'S REPRODUCTIVE HEALTHCARE.

>> WE KEEP THE GOVERNMENT OUT OF THE HEALTHCARE.

>> Ted: LET'S TALK ABOUT IMMIGRATION REFORM.

WHAT DO FOLKS IN YOUR DISTRICT WANT REGARDING HEALTHCARE REFORM?

>> I HAVE EXPERIENCE AND Mr. RAMOS REFERENCED EARLIER SB1070 2011.

I DEFEATED Mr. PARIS PIERCE AND I HAVE CREDENTIALS SUPPORTING MY IMMIGRANT NEIGHBORS AND WE NEED A COURSE, A SECURE BORDERS AND A FUNCTIONAL BORDER AND WE NEED TO WORK WITH THE AGENCIES AND WE NEED COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM.

LOTS OF THINGS NEED TO BE CHANGED AND CONGRESS HAS A MAJOR ROLE AND THEY KICKED THE CAN FOR DECADES.

>> Ted: CONGRESS AND BIGGS CALLS THIS AN INVASION.

DO YOU AGREE?

>> NO, THEY'RE COMING FROM PLACES WITH TERRIBLE THINGS AND FLEEING GANGS.

BUT WE NEED REGULATIONS AND WE CAN'T HAVE AN OPEN BORDERS.

>> Ted: HOW THOSE COINCIDE WITH YOUR DISTRICT.

>> I LIVED THE LIFE,.

I GREW UP GREW UP WHEN IMMIGRATION CAME HERE.

EVERYBODY CAN TALK ON A THEORETICAL BASIS AND I HAD PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE.

WHEN I HAD FRIENDS RUNNING FROM IMMIGRATION AND 70% OF PEOPLE IN ARIZONA AGREE.

DACA CHILDREN SHOULD HAVE A PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP AND THAT'S WHAT I WOULD DO.

I MET WITH THEM LAST WEEK WITH PROPOSITION 308 AND SUPPORTING IN-STATE TUITION FOR DACA RECIPIENTS.

>> Ted: CONGRESSMANARE SMUGGLERS FLOODING THE YEAR WITH FENTANYL AND IS THERE A CRISIS AT THE BORDER?

>> NO ONE WANTS AN OPEN BORDER AND THAT'S A MISNOMER AND THEY SAID THE DEMOCRATS WANT AN OPEN BORDER.

I DON'T WANT AN OPEN BORDER.

WE NEED A HUMANE SITUATION OF RESOLVING THOSE ISSUES.

WE HAVE ISSUES OF DRUG CROSSERS, OF GUNS CROSSING BACK TO SOUTHERN MEXICO AND WE HAVE TO RESOLVE THOSE ISSUES.

I'VE WORKED IN THESE AREAS AND THE SECOND LARGEST TRIBAL NATION OUT THERE.

AND MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THEY DON'T WANT THE BORDER WALL BEING BUILT AND IT IS A MULTI--PRONGED APPROACH.

>> Ted: LET TALK ABOUT THAT BORDER WALL, YOU WANT IT COMPLETED?

>> THERE ARE PLACES YOU CAN'T DO IT BECAUSE OF DIFFERENT OWNERSHIP OF THE LAND AND PLACES WHERE IT'S NOT FUNCTIONAL AS FAR AS CANYONS AND GEOGRAPHICAL FEATURES, BUT YEAH, THERE NEEDS TO BE A SOLID BORDER AND MONITORED CAREFULLY.

BUT AS FAR AS THE WALL, IF YOU SAY THAT, IT'S KIND OF CODE FOR FINISH WHAT HAS NOT WORKED SO FAR.

>> Ted: IT HASN'T WORKED SO FAR AND HASN'T.

BEEN BUILT SO FAR AND WHY IS THAT?

>> SO MANY PROBLEMS WITH PEOPLE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHERE TO USE IT.

IT'S A FOOD FIGHT.

CONGRESS IS A FOOD FIGHT AND LOTS OF LEVELS IN BETWEEN ARE.

WE CAN'T GO DOWN THERE LIKE OUR CONGRESSMAN AND SAY, THERE'S A PROBLEM.

WHAT'S THE SOLUTION?

ELECT A REPUBLICAN AND THAT'S NOT THE SOLUTION.

>> Ted: CONGRESSMAN BIGGS THINKS HE HAS A SOLUTION AND KEEPS THIS FROM HAPPENING AND HOW DO YOU SAY THIS IS NOT IT AS YOU PREVIOUSLY EXPRESSED?

>> IN 2020, THERE'S A POLL AND 70% OF PEOPLE IN ARIZONA WANT SAY THEY NEED TO SECURE THE BORDER AND WE NEED A HUMANE WAY OF APPROACHING OUR NEIGHBORS TO THE SOUTH.

MY WIFE IS NAVAJO AND MY CHILDREN WERE NAVAJO AND EVERYONE IS IMMIGRANTS AND OUR GREAT NATION IS BASED ON IMMIGRANTS AND WE HAVE TO HAVE A HUMANE WAY OF RESOLVING IMMIGRATION ISSUES.

>> Ted: AND YOU WOULD VOTE FOR THE DREAM ACT?

>> YES, YES, I WOULD.

>> AS I STANDS?

>> YES.

>> Ted: EXPLAIN.

>> THEY WERE BROUGHT HERE AS INFANTS AND PARENTS FLEEING FROM WHATEVER CIRCUMSTANCES, TAKING THEIR LIFE IN THEIR HANDS AND WE'VE INVESTED IN THEM IN SCHOOL AND ALL REASONS WHY WE NEED TO TREAT THEM AS FULL-BLOWN CITIZENS.

>> Ted: IS THAT WHAT THE PEOPLE, THE RESIDENTS WANT?

>> YES.

AS FAR AS THE CONSTITUENCY, THE MAJORITY OF THE CONSTITUENCY AND THERE ARE, OF COURSE, PEOPLE THAT SERIOUSLY DISAGREE AND SUPPORT ANDY BIGGS AND THAT'S HOW IT WILL BE.

>> Ted: IT'S TIME FOR CLOSING STATEMENTS AND IN REVERSE ORDER, WE START WITH JAVIER RAMOS.

>> THANK YOU.

50,647 MODERATES VOTED FOR ME TO HAVE THE HONOR AND THE TRIDGE OF VOTED AND I STAND FOR COVID.

YOU'VE HEARD THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN MYSELF AND I PROTECT A WOMEN'S PRIVACY RIGHT AND RIGHT TO CHOOSE.

I REMEMBER ONE PERSON BY THE NAME OF MARY IN SUN LAKES AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I PUT A POLITICAL SIGN IN MY HOUSE AND SAID, JAVIER, DON'T WIN JUST TO RIN BUTRUN TO WIN WITH PURPOSE AND PROTECT A WOMAN'S RIGHT TO CHOSE AND I RUN TO PROTECT OUR DEMOCRACY.

THANK YOU, TED.

>> Ted: THE CLOSING STATEMENT FROM CLINT SMITH.

>> I ALSO SUPPORT THE IDEA THAT THE GOVERNMENT SHOULD NOT INTERVENE BETWEEN A WOMAN AND HER DOCTOR.

MY BIG THING IS DEMOCRACY IS AT STAKE AND WE ARE IN JEOPARDY AND WE HAVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO CONSEQUENCES AS OF YET FOR OUR CONGRESSMAN WHO ACTIVELY PARTICIPATED AND WHO ACTIVELY PROPOSED THE FAKE ELECTOR SCHEME AND PARTICIPATED IN THAT IDEA AND SOUGHT A PARDON IN CONJUNCTION WITH THAT AND WHO ALSO PROPOSED THAT SCHEME TO RUSTY BOWERS ON JANUARY 6th JANUARY 6th AND EVEN THOUGH HE DENIED IT.

THAT'S WHAT HE DID AND IT'S JUST AS BAD AS ANYTHING ELSE THAT HAPPENED.

WHAT WE NEED IS SOMEBODY TO ADDRESSADDRESSED THE PROBLEMS AND ONLY PUT $4200 IN THE CAMPAIGN CAMPAIGN AND A DEMOCRAT WHO WON'T WIN THIS RACE AND A CONSERVATIVE WHO IS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SPECTRUM WHO CAN PUT THIS COALITION TOGETHER AND IT'S GROWING AND THAT WILL PREVAIL HERE.

>> Ted: CANDIDATES, THANK YOU AND OUR NEXT ARIZONA DEBATE RUNNING FOR ARIZONA SECRETARY OF STATE AND ADRIAN FONTES AND MARK FINCHEM SET FOR 5:00 P.M. AND 10:00 P.M. AND LIVE LIVESTREAMED.

CATCH ALL OF ARIZONA HORIZON'S PAST PROGRAMMING.

THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS AND THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.