♪.

TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," IT'S THE JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE.

WE'LL LOOK AT THE WEEK'S TOP STORIES INCLUDING FALLOUT FROM LAST WEEK'S MIDTERM ELECTIONS.

>>> AND LATER IN THE HOUR ON CRONKITE NEWS, MEET PLAYERS FROM THE BASEBALL MIRACLE LEAGUE, WHERE EVERYONE GOES THE PLAY.

ANNOUNCER: THIS HOUR OF LOCAL NEWS IS MADE POSSIBLE BY CONTRIBUTIONS FROM FRIENDS OF PBS.

MEMBERS OF YOUR PBS STATION, THANK YOU.

TED: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

IT'S FRIDAY AND THAT MEANS TIME FOR THE JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE, AND JOINING US TONIGHT FOR A LOOK AT THE WEEK'S TOP STORIES, JEREMY DUDA OF AXIOS PHOENIX, LAURIE ROBERTS OF "ARIZONA REPUBLIC" AND AZCENTRAL.COM AND BOB CHRISTIE OF THE ASSOCIATED PRESS.

JEREMY, START WITH YOU, ALL ELECTION ALL THE TIME HERE, WE DIDN'T HAVE A SHOW LAST WEEK BECAUSE OF VETERANS DAY.

GENERAL THOUGHTS, AN OVERVIEW, GENERAL THOUGHTS ON THE ELECTION.

>> JUST LIKE THE REST OF THE COUNTRY, WE THINK WE SAW UNEXPECTED THINGS, THIS IS EXPECTED TO BE PRETTY SIZABLE REPUBLICAN WAVE YEAR, YOU HAVE A DEMOCRAT IN THE WHITE HOUSE, A PRETTY UNPOPULAR ONE AT THAT SUPPOSED TO BE CARRYING REPUBLICANS' VICTORY IN A LOT OF RACES, IT'S A PREDOMINANTLY REPUBLICAN STATE, BUT WE SAW DEMOCRATIC SWEEP FOR THE TOP THREE RACES ON THE BALLOT POSSIBLY TOP FOUR, ATTORNEY GENERAL STILL UNDECIDED.

I THINK A LOT OF FOLKS EXPECTED MARK KELLY TO BEAT BLAKE MASTERS, ADRIAN FONTES TO BEAT MARK FINCHEM FOR SECRETARY OF STATE.

THE BIG SURPRISE WAS KATIE HOBBS OVER KARI LAKE.

THERE WAS SO MUCH ENERGY BEHIND LAKE, AND THEY SEEMED LIKE THEY VERY MUCH EXPECTED TO WIN, AND IT WAS CLOSE, BUT HOBBS PULLED THAT OUT.

TED: HOBBS PULLED IT OUT, LAKE'S CAMP EXPECTED TO WIN, AND STILL EXPECT TO WIN.

>> THE KARI LAKE CAMP PUT OUT TODAY KATIE HOBBS WILL NEVER BE CONSIDERED GOVERNOR IN THEIR VIEW.

IT IS VERY GRACEFUL.

THEY TALK ABOUT VOTER SUPPRESSION, TENS OF THOUSANDS OF VOTERS WERE SUPPRESSED BECAUSE THE LINES WERE LONG AND SOME OF THE PRINTERS IN THE VOTING CENTERS DID NOT WORK.

MARICOPA COUNTY SAID THERE IS NO EVIDENCE OF VOTER SUPPRESSION.

>> IT SMACKS US TO STAY IN THE SPOTLIGHT.

TED: SO MANY OTHER REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES WHO DIDN'T SUCCEED AND THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES HAVE CONCEDED, OKAY, IT'S OVER.

>> NO DOUBT, BLAKE MASTERS LOST CONSIDERABLY WIDER MARGIN AS DID FINCHEM FOR SECRETARY OF STATE AGAINST FONTES, ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WE'VE HAD EVEN THE ELECTION REPUBLICANS, RUNNING FOR SECRETARY OF STATE OR GOVERNOR, LOST IN A FAIRLY CLOSE ELECTION, THEY HAVE STOOD UP AND DID NOT DO WHAT DONALD TRUMP DID AND DENIED THEY LOST.

THEY CAME OUT GRACIOUSLY, CONCEDED, CALLED OPPONENT AND SAID I LOST FAIR AND SQUARE.

WE HAVE NOT SEEN THAT WITH MS. LAKE.

TED: JEREMY, LAKE'S CAMPAIGN, THE WAR ROOM, WHATEVER THEY CALL IT ON TWITTER, THEY KEEP SHOWING VIDEOS OF PEOPLE SAYING I HAD TO STAND IN LINE HERE, AND I HAD TO DO THIS AND THAT.

THE BOTTOM LINE IS IT SOUNDS LIKE THESE PEOPLE, A, VOTED AND, B, HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO LEAVE AND GO SOMEWHERE ELSE AND VOTE?

>> KARI LAKE IS HIGHLIGHTING SOMETHING THAT WAS A VERY REAL PROBLEM.

DID AFFECT A SIZABLE NUMBER OF VOTERS, THIS HASN'T HAD EFFECT ON THE OUTCOME ON HER RACE.

YOU HAD 70 OUT OF 223 VOTING CENTERS IN MARICOPA COUNTY FOR SOME OF THE DAY, THEY HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TABULATORS WERE NOT PRINTING BALLOTS.

THEY FOUND OUT IN THE MIDAFTERNOON, IT WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE PRINTERS, THEY WEREN'T PRINTING OUT MARKS DARK ENOUGH.

THERE WERE 17,000 VOTERS THEY TOLD TO TAKE THEIR BALLOTS AND STICK THEM IN A BOX DOOR 3 AND TAKE THEM TO THE CENTRAL ELECTION CENTER AND COUNT THEM LATER.

A LOT OF THE PEOPLE GO TO THE VOTING PLACE INSTEAD OF VOTING BY MAIL BECAUSE THEY WANT TO SEE THEIR VOTE COUNTED.

LAKE HAS NOT SHOWN THAT PEOPLE DID NOT VOTE BECAUSE OF THAT.

THEY LEFT, THEY GOT FRUSTRATED AND WENT HOME WITHOUT VOTING.

IF YOU CAN FIND A FEW, SHE'S LOSING NOW BY $17,000 -- 17,000 VOTERS, FOR LAKE, THAT'S STILL -- THAT DID NOT AFFECT THE RACE.

>> WASN'T THAT SAME ARGUMENT BROUGHT UP ON ELECTION NIGHT, WASN'T THE REPUBLICAN PARTY EXPANDING VOTING HOURS BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE BEING DISENFRANCHISED AND THE JUDGE SAID SHOW ME SOMEONE.

>> THEY DON'T HAVE ANYONE BECAUSE NO ONE, MAYBE ONE PERSON, THERE'S ALWAYS AN EXCEPTION TO THE RULE.

VERY IMPORTANT ALSO TO LOOK AT THE REPUBLICANS WHO DID WIN STATEWIDE RACES, KIMBERLY YEE AND TOM HORNE, NEITHER WERE PART OF THE MAGA TICKETS, I WOULD CALL THEM MAGA ADJACENT, THEY WOULD BUY INTO THE CONCEPTS OF THE MAGA MOVEMENT, TRUMP DID NOT ALIGN HIMSELF WITH THEM, AND THEY WON EASILY.

>> SURE, THAT IS A GOOD POINT, SOMEONE WE SAW ALL OVER THE COUNTRY AND HERE IN ARIZONA, REPUBLICANS EVERYWHERE DID NOT CLEAN UP THE WAY THEY EXPECTED TO AND LOT OF THEM VIEW THAT AS BECAUSE OF DONALD TRUMP, A REPUDIATION OF VOTERS BY TRUMPISM.

A COMBINATION OF DEMOCRATS GETTING ENERGY FROM ROE V. WADE BEING OVERTURNED AND PEOPLE BEING SICK OF THE ELECTION TRIALISM, TRUMPISM, AND MOST OF THE CANDIDATES HERE LOST.

>> AND THE YELLING, THERE'S A CERTAIN NUMBER OF VOTERS, WE TALKED REPEATEDLY ABOUT THE INDEPENDENT VOTERS AND SWING DEMOCRAT VOTERS, CANDIDATES MATTER, IF YOU SPEND THE ELECTION CYCLE YELLING HOW THINGS ARE HORRIBLE AND OPPONENT IS HORRIBLE AND THERE'S NO EVIDENCE THAT REALLY THERE IS HORROR INVOLVED, JUST YOU OPPOSE THEM, THERE WAS NEVER ANYTHING FROM KARI LAKE THAT MADE PEOPLE WANT TO GO TO HER IF THEY WERE A SWING VOTER.

TED: WITH THAT IN MIND, LAURIE, DID KATIE HOBBS WIN THE RACE OR KARI LAKE LOSE IT?

>> KARI LAKE LOST IT.

PEOPLE WHO ARE DEMOCRATS, PEOPLE ARE SOME MODERATES, IN MY VIEW, A LOT OF PEOPLE VOTED KATIE, NOT LAKE, KATIE, NOT KARI LAKE, AND THAT'S OKAY BECAUSE SHE IS -- IT'S BY NO MEANS A MANDATE, WE'RE A VERY DIVIDED STATE, 17,000 VOTES OUT OF, WHAT, 2.5 MILLION CAST?

WE'RE A VERY DIVIDED STATE.

WHAT YOU DO WITH THAT AND BEGINNING TO SEE THAT, THE FIRST STATEMENT SHE MADE WAS TO THOSE PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T VOTE FOR ME, I WANT TO REACH OUT TO YOU, BE YOUR GOVERNOR, TOO.

SHE APPOINTED A TRANSITION TEAM HEADED BY A REPUBLICAN AND DEMOCRAT.

THOSE ARE GOOD MOVES.

WHILE PEOPLE MAY NOT HAVE BEEN KEEN ON KATIE HOBBS, THEY MAY WELL COME INTO THE HOBBS CAMP AS SHE GOVERNS.

TED: HOW WILL A KATIE HOBBS GOVERN?

>> SHE'LL GOVERN AS A MODERATE BECAUSE SHE'LL HAVE NO CHOICE.

IT'S NOT REALLY UP TO HER HOW SHE GOVERNS BECAUSE SHE HAS A REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE, VERY NARROW MAJORITY MUCH LIKE THE PAST TWO YEARS, 31-29 IN THE HOUSE.

16-14 IN THE SENATE, BUT STILL A REPUBLICAN MAJORITY, YOU CANNOT PASS ANYTHING WITHOUT REPUBLICAN VOTES AND WITHOUT GETTING THE REPUBLICAN AND HOUSE SPEAKER AND REPUBLICAN SENATE PRESIDENT ON BOARD.

HAVE TO BE A LOT OF NEGOTIATION, HORSE TRADING, NEITHER SIDE IS GOING TO GET ANYTHING TOO IDEOLOGICALLY LEFT WING OR RIGHT PASSED.

WE'LL SEE VERY MUCH FOR SIX YEARS OF JANET NAPOLITANO WHERE SHE HAD REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE, HAS TO BE A LOT OF COMPROMISE.

THEY SIMPLY HAVE NO CHOICE.

TED: BOB, IS THERE GOING TO BE COMPROMISE DOWN THERE, OR A LOT OF LONG LUNCHES BECAUSE NOTHING IS GETTING DONE.

>> INTERESTING TO THINK ABOUT THIS PHILOSOPHICALLY OR PRACTICALLY.

YOU HAVE A MUCH MORE CONSERVATIVE CAUCUS IN BOTH CHAMBERS I THINK, NOT ALL OF THEM, BUT A FAIR MAJORITY, MORE CONSERVATIVE AS A WHOLE THAN IN PREVIOUS YEARS.

ARE THEY GOING TO TRY TO FORCE SOMETHING ON THE GOVERNOR, DO YOU SEE HOW MANY TIME SHE SMACKS BILLS DOWN BEFORE YOU SAY I GUESS WE CAN'T DO THAT.

IT'S GOING TO BE FEELING OUT BETWEEN THE LEGISLATURE AND THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OVER THE FIRST COUPLE MONTHS OF LEGISLATIVE SESSION, I SUSPECT IT WILL BE A LONG YEAR BECAUSE BUDGET NEGOTIATIONS ARE GOING TO DRAG OUT, I THINK ALL THE ELECTION BILLS WE SAW THEM PUSHING LAST YEAR ARE NEVER GOING TO SEE THE LIGHT OF DAY.

HOWEVER, KATIE HOBBS WANTS TO GET RID OF THE OLD TERRITORIAL ABORTION BAN.

THAT'S A PRIMARY FOCUS FOR HER.

SO WHAT DOES THE LEGISLATURE DO?

THE LEGISLATURE CAN'T VOTE FOR THAT.

HOW DO YOU PICK UP TWO OR THREE REPUBLICANS AND GET THE SPEAKER AND THE PRESIDENT TO PUT IT UP.

TED: ARE THERE TWO OR THREE REPUBLICANS TO PICK UP?

>> WELL, IT IS STILL THE SAME MARGINS AS THE 4-1 VOTE ON EACH SIDE.

I WOULD SAY THEY ARE A MUCH MORE CONSERVATIVE GROUP THAN BEFORE.

ON THE OTHER HAND, THE LEADERSHIP BATTLES LEFT A BAD TASTE IN THE MOUTHS OF SOME PEOPLE, IF THEY WANT TO HAVE PARTICULAR BILLS OF THEIR OWN PASSED, WHO'S TO SAY THEY WON'T STRIKE A DEAL.

I'M REMEMBERING BRUCE BABBITT, GOVERNOR, WE HAD A STAUNCHLY REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR BUT LEADERS WANTED TO MAKE A DEAL.

WHAT CAME OUT OF THAT IS THE LANDMARK GROUND WATER MANAGEMENT ACT, AND AHCCCS APPROACHING HEALTH CARE FOR THE POOR.

GOOD THINGS HAPPEN IF YOU HAVE GOOD PEOPLE THAT ACT AS LEADERS.

THE QUESTION IS DO WE HAVE PEOPLE WHO ACT AS LEADERS OR SORE LOSERS.

>> RIGHT, I TALKED TO A VERY EXPERIENCED POLITICAL PERSON THIS WEEK AT LENGTH WHAT TO EXPECT GOING FORWARD.

HE SAID NOT MUCH IN THE FIRST SESSION.

YEAR TWO IS WHEN WE CAN SEE, ONCE THEY'VE BEEN BATTED DOWN A FEW TIMES AND THE GOVERNOR BATTED DOWN A FEW TIMES, MAYBE THEY CAN GET SOMETHING DONE.

TED: MAKE SENSE TO YOU, JEREMY?

>> IT DOES, THEY HAVE TO SPEND TIME TO FEEL EACH OTHER OUT AND SENATE PRESIDENT PETERSON, FEELING OUT THEIR OWN CAUCUSES, YOU HAVE THINGS THAT ARE DIVIDED, CLASHES BETWEEN THE ESTABLISHMENT TYPES AND MAGA TYPES, ONE LEADING ONE CHAMBER AND THE OTHER SIDE LEADING THE OTHER CHAMBER.

EVERYONE WANTS TO APPROACH.

THIS BOB MENTIONED THE ELECTION BILLS.

I DON'T KNOW IF WE'LL EVER SEE KATIE HOBBS' DESK, THEY WILL HAVE COMMITTEE HEARINGS, WENDY ROGERS, THE LEADING ELECTION DENIER IN THE STATE IN CHARGE OF SENATE ELECTION COMMITTEE IS THE CHAIR.

THERE'S NO QUESTION A LOT OF THIS STUFF IS GOING TO GET A HEARING IN COMMITTEE.

CAN IT GET 16 VOTES IN THE SENATE?

I DON'T THINK IT CAN.

CERTAINLY THEY CAN GET KATIE HOBBS' SIGNATURE.

TED: HOW LONG DOES KARI LAKE GO WITH I DIDN'T LOSE THE ELECTION, IT'S A FRAUD, A FAKE, A PHONY.

>> AS FAR AS SHE CAN.

SHE'S LOOKING TO BECOME THE STACEY ABRAMS OF THE RIGHT.

STACEY ABRAMS LOST HER ELECTION IN 2018?

2018.

AND I DON'T THINK SHE EVER CONCEDED, SHE BECAME VERY MUCH A ROCK STAR ON THE LEFT NATIONALLY.

I ENVISION KARI LAKE TRYING TO DO THE SAME THING.

TED: YEAH, AND SHE WAS AT MAR-A-LAGO YESTERDAY, SPEAKING IN FRONT OF A GROUP OF TRUMP SUPPORTERS AND GOT A STANDING OVATION ACCORDING TO THE "WASHINGTON POST" AND "NEW YORK TIMES" WHICH HAD THAT.

TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S RACE WHICH IS UNBELIEVABLY CLOSE.

AS OF OUR TAPING TIME HERE ON A FRIDAY, LATE FRIDAY AFTERNOON, WHAT DO WE GOT?

>> 306 VOTES WAS THE LAST.

TED: 306 OUT OF 2.5 MILLION.

>> ABSOLUTELY PHENOMENAL, AS TIGHT AS CAN YOU POSSIBLY BE.

LESS THAN 10,000 VOTES IN THE STATE TO BE COUNTED.

NOT ALL WILL BE COUNTED BECAUSE THEY ARE PROVISIONALS OR PROBLEMS, THE REASON THEY'RE NOT COUNTED IS THERE'S PROBLEMS WITH THEM.

MAYBE HALF OR 60, 70% WILL BE COUNTED.

PIMA COUNTY, FAIRLY DEMOCRATIC, AND THEN THERE'S MARICOPA COUNTY WHICH IS KIND OF WOBBLING REPUBLICAN THIS YEAR.

TED: EXCEPT THOSE ARE MOSTLY EARLY BALLOTS DROPPED OFF ON ELECTION DAY WHICH PRIMARILY FAVORED REPUBLICANS THIS YEAR.

>> NOT BY A LOT.

>> DEPENDS ON THE BATCH.

SOME ARE SURPRISINGLY LOW MARGINS, SOME OF THEM ARE HIGH, THERE'S ONLY A FEW THOUSAND LEFT, WE HAVE NO IDEA HOW THEY'RE GOING TO BREAK.

>> THE IMPORTANT POINT IS THIS IS GOING TO A RECOUNT.

THIS IS THE FIRST RECOUNT I CAN THINK OF IN A BIG RACE.

WE MAY NOT KNOW WHO THE NEXT ATTORNEY GENERAL IS GOING TO BE UNTIL HAPPY NEW YEAR TIME.

TED: IS THAT HOW LONG IT'S GOING TO TAKE?

>> THEY CAN'T START UNTIL AFTER THE CANVASS WHICH IS DECEMBER 5.

AND NOT A QUICK COUNT THE VOTES, MAKE SURE THE MACHINES ARE THERE, PEOPLE ON BOTH SIDES FOR THAT, AND YOU DO THEM AGAIN, AND THE HAND SAMPLE COUNTS, YOU DO THE WHOLE THING.

>> THAT'S ALL DONE IN SECRET.

YOU GO TO THE JUDGE, ONCE IT'S WITHIN THE RECOUNT MARGIN, NOTHING IS RELEASED PUBLICLY UNTIL ALL OF THIS IS DONE AND BROUGHT BACK AND OPENS THE PAPER AND SAYS TA DA.

TED: GERALDO RIVERA FOR THAT ANNOUNCEMENT.

JEREMY, WHY IS THIS RACE SO CLOSE?

THE KELLY RACE NOT SO CLOSE, THE HOBBS RACE NOT AS CLOSE, THE YEE RACE NOT REMOTELY CLOSE.

WHY IS THIS ONE SO DOWN AND UP?

>> VOTERS ARE GOING TO PAY MORE ATTENTION TO THE CANDIDATES WHETHER YOU HAVE AN R OR D NEXT TO YOUR NAME.

ABE HAMADEH RAN AS THE MAGA SLATE WITH LAKE AND MASTERS AND FINCHEM.

THAT TURNED OFF THE SAME REPUBLICAN VOTERS TURN OVER TO MARK KELLY AND KATIE HOBBS AND ADRIAN FONTES, FAR ENOUGH DOWN BALLOT AND DIDN'T GET ENOUGH ATTENTION.

YOU CAN PROBABLY ATTRIBUTE THAT TO BEING SO CLOSE.

THIS COULD BE WITHIN 200 VOTES, OLD ENOUGH TO GET A RECOUNT UNDER THE OLD LAW LET ALONE THE NEW ONE, BUT EVEN THE OLD ONE.

TED: WHY THIS RACE?

KRIS MAYES IS SOMEWHAT WELL KNOWN IN POLITICAL CIRCLES.

>> IN POLITICAL CIRCLES, NOT 2.5 MILLION ARIZONANS.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT RANK AND FILE ARIZONAN, THEY WATCHED THE MASTERS RACE, CERTAINLY THE KARI LAKE THING, POSSIBLY THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S RACE BECAUSE THE ELECTION DENIAL THING WAS SUCH A BIG THING.

IT'S DOWN THE BALLOT AND YOU'RE GETTING TO THE NAMES AND I DON'T KNOW WHO THE PEOPLE ARE, AND I THINK OF LEANING REPUBLICAN.

TED: REPORTED WITH TOO MANY DEMOCRATS ALREADY.

>> THERE WAS WEIRD BEHAVIOR.

IF YOU LOOK AT RESULTS, THEY SAY, TO ME, VOTERS WERE THOUGHTFUL IN A LOT OF WAYS.

LOOK AT THE CORPORATION COMMISSION, CHOSE THE TWO REPUBLICANS OVER DEMOCRATS, THAT WAS PEOPLE GOING HOME TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

KIMBERLY YEE PICKED UP 15,000 VOTES OVER MARTIN QUEZADA.

I HAVE NO IDEA WHY HE DIDN'T DO THAT.

AND THE BALLOT MEASURES ARE ALL OVER THE MAP, BUT VOTERS TOOK THE TIME, I THINK.

TED: I WANT TO GET TO THE BALLOT MEASURES IN A SECOND.

AS FAR AS THECRETION AT RACES ARE CONCERNED, TOM O'HALLERAN, A VICTIM OF REDISTRICTING, RIGHT?

>> THE WRITING ON THE WALL AS SOON AS THE MAPS WERE APPROVED.

FOR 20 YEARS HYPERCOMPETITIVE, RURAL NORTHERN ARIZONA BASED DISTRICT.

O'HALLERAN WAS A FORMER MODERATE REPUBLICAN IN THE LEGISLATURE, BECAME AN INDEPENDENT AND MODERATE DEMOCRAT.

SEEMED IDEALLY SUITED TO THE OLD DISTRICT, BUT ONCE THEY GOT TO THE SOUTHERN PARTS AND ADDED YAVAPAI COUNTY, CONSERVATIVE, HIGH TURNOUT REPUBLICAN STRONG HOLD, ALWAYS GOING TO BE DIFFICULT TO HOLD ON.

HE DID FAIRLY WELL, BUT FROM ELECTION NIGHT ON, I THINK WE COULD SEE HOW THAT WAS GOING TO END UP.

>> IF YOU LOOK AT DISTRICT 6, GABBY GIFFORDS OLD SEAT, THAT WAS A FAIRLY SWINGY DISTRICT.

REDISTRICTING MADE THAT INTO A REPUBLICAN LEANING DISTRICT.

THIS IS A REPUBLICAN YEAR AND THAT'S THE ONE RACE WE CAN SAY.

>> VERY COMPETITIVE.

>> YEAH.

>> IN A DEMOCRATIC YEAR -- TED: CISCOMANI, IS HE GOING TO BE A RISING STAR IN THE HOUSE?

>> I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF EYES ON HIM FOR A LOT OF YEARS.

A MAINSTREAM CONSERVATIVE, NOT A MAGA TYPE, TALKING ABOUT FAKE ELECTION FRAUD FROM 2020.

I THINK THE PROFILE OF REPUBLICANS AND FOLKS IN THE PARTY WANT TO PROMOTE AFTER WHAT WE SAW WITH TRUMPISM GETTING REPUTEIATED A BIT.

TED: LAURIE, DAVID SCHWEIKERT SURVIVED.

>> HE DID SURVIVE.

IT TOOK MARICOPA COUNTY TO GET HIM OVER THE EDGE.

HE WAS NEVER PART OF THE BIG THREE OF LESKO, BIGGS AND GOSAR, WHO WERE ALL PASSIONATE ELECTION DENYERS BUT CAME HOME AT END AS HE HAD TROUBLE AND SAID, WELL, YEAH, I THINK THERE WAS A PROBLEM HERE TOO AND DONALD TRUMP ENDORSED HIM.

I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THAT GOT HIM MORE VOTES OR FEWER VOTES AT THIS POINT.

HE'S HAD PROBLEMS BEFORE WITH THE FEC AND ETHICS COMMITTEE.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT HE'LL SEE AFTER THIS.

THIS COULD BE A MAKE-OR-BREAK YEAR, IF SOMEBODY COULD COME INTO THE DISTRICT, A DEMOCRAT NO LESS, AND IT WAS COMPETITIVE, BUT HE DID PULL IT OUT, BY THE SKIN OF HIS TEETH.

>> INCRIMINATIONS AGAINST THE DEMOCRATS, NOT JUST IN ARIZONA BUT CALIFORNIA AND OTHER STATES, IF THEY HAD JUST OPENED PURSE STRINGS, THEY COULD HAVE GOT THEM OVER THE LINE.

THEY'VE ONLY GOT REPUBLICANS, SIX VOTE MAJORITY, IF THEY COULD HAVE HELPED JEVIN HODGE IN CD1 AND KIRSTEN ENGEL, BOOM.

TED: SCHWEIKERT WAS TARGETED FROM THE GET-GO.

>> HE WAS BUT NOT WITH THE BIG CHECKBOOK.

HE GOT A COUPLE MILLION DOLLARS AND RAISED GOOD MONEY BUT IT WASN'T -- >> THAT WAS NOT SOMEWHERE WHERE THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATS WERE SPENDING.

THEY SPENT FOR O'HALLERAN.

>> THEY SPENT ON GREG STANTON AND WON BY 16,000.

TED: GET TO THE BALLOT MEASURES HERE, JUST A FEW, PROP 211, THE DARK MONEY, SMOKED THAT ONE AWAY.

>> IT COULD HAVE PASSED A LONG TIME AGO IF TERRY GODDARD AND GROUP OF INTREPID VOLUNTEERS WORKED FOR YEARS TO GET THIS ON THE BALLOT TO GET BEYOND THE COURT CHALLENGES THAT THE DARK MONEY GROUPS BROUGHT AND THEY GOT THERE, AND THE REASON IT WAS FOUGHT FOR SO LONG IS THE DARK MONEY GROUPS KNOW IF IT GOT BEFORE VOTERS, VOTERS WOULD APPROVE IT BY 72% OF THE VOTE.

THERE WAS NOT EVEN A CAMPAIGN FOR THAT.

>> MORE THAN -- BIGGER PERCENTAGE THAN RAISING THE MINIMUM WAGE IN A LOW WAGE STATE.

THIS GOT A LOT OF VOTES, AS DID THE HEALTH CARE ONE, WHICH SAYS, YOU CAN'T CHARGE HIGHER INTEREST RATES ON HEALTH CARE DEBT.

THAT ALSO PASSED BY 72, 73%.

TED: NOT QUITE THAT MARGIN, BUT JEREMY, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IN ARIZONA AFTER ALL THESE YEARS.

>> AFTER DECADES OF SECRETARIES OF STATE ACCIDENTALLY ENDING UP IN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE, ADRIAN FONTES WILL BE THE LAST ONE WHO HAS POTENTIALLY THAT OPPORTUNITY AND GET NEW POLITICIANS TO TALK ABOUT WHO KARI LAKE OR KATIE HOBBS OR WHOEVER THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE FOUR YEARS FROM NOW IS GOING TO PICK AS A RUNNING MATE.

FOR THE STATE WHERE THE LINE OF SUCCESSION IS INVOKED SO OFTEN, THIS COULD COME INTO PLAY.

DOUG DUCEY IS THE FIRST GOVERNOR, BEEN ALMOST 50 YEARS TO ENTER OFFICE THROUGH ELECTION AND NOT LEAVE EARLY.

HE SERVED TWO FULL TERMS, THAT'S IT AND HE'S OUT.

TED: BEEN ADVENTURESOME.

>> ANOTHER INTERESTING THING, THAT'S BEEN ON THE BALLOT BEFORE AND LOST BECAUSE PEOPLE SAW NO REASON TO HAVE YET ANOTHER POLITICIAN ON THE PAYROLL, THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE COULD FUNCTION JUST FINE WITH THAT.

THAT ONE AND WHAT'S THE OTHER ONE THAT PASSED THAT WAS SUCH A SURPRISE TO ME.

TED: VOTER I.D.?

>> VOTER I.D., ANOTHER ONE.

SAME THING.

ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS -- NOT ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS, DREAMERS.

TED: GETTING IN-STATE TUITION.

>> 2006, WE PASSED A LAW IF YOU WERE BROUGHT HERE ILLEGALLY AS STUDENTS HAVE TO PAY OUT-OF-STATE TUITION.

WE FLIPPED THAT.

THESE ARE THE SIGNS THAT WE'RE BECOMING A MORE PURPLISH STATE.

TED: TO YOUR POINT, IT'S A SIGN THAT PEOPLE WERE PAYING ATTENTION.

THERE IS DOWN BALLOT ISSUES HERE AND THERE, BUT PEOPLE WERE PAYING ATTENTION.

>> PEOPLE ARE PAYING ATTENTION, AND THE ONE I POINT TO IS THE THREE INITIATIVE, THE THREE INITIATIVE REFERENDUMS, LEGISLATURE PUT ON BECAUSE ARIZONA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE HATES VOTER INITIATIVES SO WANTED TO MAKE IT HARDER TO PASS THEM, EASY TO GUT THEM AND HARDER TO PASS A TAX LIKE THE TAX OF THE RICH THAT THE VOTERS PASSED TWO YEARS AGO.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE 60%.

VOTERS SAID THAT YOU CAN ONLY HAVE A SINGLE SUBJECT, YOU CAN'T CRAM ALL SORTS OF STUFF INTO INITIATIVE, WHICH DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THAT MUCH, BUT THE MINIMUM WAGE BILL I MENTIONED A FEW YEARS AGO, HAS A COUPLE OTHER THINGS IN IT, AND REJECTED OVERWHELMINGLY, OVERWHELMINGLY ALLOWING THE LEGISLATURE TO GUT INITIATIVES.

TED: BUT AGAIN, JEREMY, THIS SHOWS THAT, YES, THERE WAS CONSIDERATION HERE THERE.

WAS HYPERTENSION FOR MIDTERM ELECTION, THERE WAS A LOT OF ATTENTION ON THE BALLOT, THE BIG BALLOT, AND A LOT OF THINGS TO CHOOSE FROM AND PEOPLE TOOK THEIR TIME.

>> THE CONVENTIONAL WISDOM, THE LESS PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THEM, THE MORE THEY'RE GOING TO VOTE NO.

AS BOB SAID, PEOPLE WERE PAYING ATTENTION, AND THESE OUTCOMES ON THE BALLOT MEASURES CROSSED A LOT OF PARTISAN LINES.

60% TO PASS A TAX HIKE.

THAT'S OBVIOUSLY A CONSERVATIVE MEASURE.

DREAMERS GET IN-STATE TUITION, OBVIOUSLY, A MORE LIBERAL MEASURE, LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, WHO KNOWS?

TED: THAT WILL BE THE MORE LIBERAL.

>> PROBABLY MORE LIBERAL.

THAT'S BEEN MORE OF A DEMOCRATIC ISSUE BECAUSE DARK MONEY WAS VERY REPUBLICAN.

NOW BOTH PARTIES USE IT EFFECTIVELY NOW.

>> FALLOUT FROM THE 60% NOW TO PASS THE TAX, THERE WAS ON THE BALLOT A MEASURE WHICH WOULD INCREASE THE SALES TAX BY TINY ONE-TENTH OF ONE PERCENT TO FUND RURAL FIRE DISTRICTS.

THAT FAILED BY A POINT AND NEEDS 60% TO PASS.

THE RURAL FIRE DISTRICTS AREN'T GOING TO GET IT.

TED: ANALYSTS ON ELECTION NOT WERE NOT SURPRISED.

I WAS SURPRISED.

>> NOBODY IS IN THE MOOD TO HAVE TAXES RAISED AND SAW TAX INCREASE AND RURAL, AND THEY LIVE IN MARICOPA COUNTY, AND WHY WOULD I WANT TO PAY FOR THIS AND WASN'T MUCH OF A CAMPAIGN FOR IT.

TED: NO KIDDING.

BEFORE WE GO, KYRSTEN SINEMA WAS ABSOLUTELY AND POSITIVELY M.I.A.

FOR DEMOCRATS IN THIS.

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

>> YOU KNOW, I TALK TO A LOT OF PEOPLE ABOUT IT, AND OFFICIALLY ALL OF THE CAMPAIGNS SAY NO, NO, SHE GAVE US MONEY HERE, SHE CAME OUT AND PUBLICLY SAID SHE SUPPORTED HOBBS.

BEHIND THE SCENES I GOT THE FEELING THERE WAS A LOT OF BRISTLING.

THE BATTLE WAS FOR THE MIDDLE, FOR MODERATE REPUBLICANS AND INDEPENDENTS, THE VERY PEOPLE KYRSTEN SINEMA'S WHEEL HOUSE.

BEHIND THE SCENES, DEMOCRATS TELL YOU KYRSTEN SINEMA IS FOR KYRSTEN SINEMA, AND DIDN'T HAVE UPSIDE FOR HER, WHETHER IT'S THE GOVERNOR OR THE REST OF IT.

TED: MORE HER DECISION AS OPPOSED TO THE CANDIDATE'S DECISION.

>> WELL, I BELIEVE SO, YES.

IN ONE CASE, THE CANDIDATES CAMPAIGN, SKIED DID YOU ASK FOR HER HELP?

NO, WE KNEW WE WOULDN'T GET IT.

CHICKEN OR EGG.

TED: ISN'T THAT INTERESTING?

WERE YOU SURPRISED BY THAT?

>> YOU KNOW, I AM NOT SURPRISED BY ANYTHING KYRSTEN SINEMA DOES.

I'VE KNOWN HER AWHILE, QUITE AWHILE, AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD TO PUT HER IN A SPECIFIC -- I THINK, LAURIE SAID WHAT'S THE UPSIDE FOR KYRSTEN SINEMA, IN A FIGHT LIKE THIS, BEST FOR A POLITICIAN NOT ON THE BALLOT TO STAY OUT OF IT SO MUD DOESN'T GET ON THEM.

TED: I DIDN'T SEE HER OUT THERE FOR KELLY, FOR GOODNESS SAKES.

>> I SAW CONGRATULATORY REMARKS FOR KELLY, AND I REMEMBER THE SINEMA HOBBS TICKET IN 2010, WE DIDN'T SEE ANY OF THAT.

>> ON THE OTHER HAND, SHE'S RUNNING IN TWO YEARS, PRESUMABLY IF SHE DECIDES TO, AND IF SHE GETS TO A PRIMARY, SOMEWHAT OF AN IF, YOU DON'T WANT TO BE SEEN TOO FAR LIBERAL WHEN YOU DON'T BELONG TO ANY PARTY, I'M MY OWN PARTY OF ONE.

IT MAKES SENSE SHE WOULD STAY OUT OF IT.

BEHIND THE SCENES THERE ARE A LOT OF ANGRY PEOPLE.

A LOT OF ANGER ON THE DEMOCRATIC SIDE WITH KYRSTEN SINEMA.

TED: GOT TO STOP IT RIGHT THERE.

PANEL, GREAT JOB, GOOD TO HAVE YOU ALL HERE.

THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.

COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA PBS, ON CRONKITE NEWS, HOW ARIZONA FOOD BANKS ARE WORKING TO PROVIDE MEALS FOR THE HOLIDAYS?