♪ COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

TED: A NEW STATEWIDE POLL RELEASED TODAY SHOWS INTERESTING NUMBERS IN THE RACES FOR PRESIDENT AND U.S. SENATE.

>>> ALSO TONIGHT, A PROMINENT REPUBLICAN VALLEY MAYOR PROUDLY SUPPORTS THE DEMOCRATIC PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE.

>>> AND A CONVERSATION FOR THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE FOR ARIZONA CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 2, JONATHAN NEZ.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

.

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

I'M TED SIMONS.

A NEW STATEWIDE POLL RELEASED TODAY SHOWS SIGNIFICANT MOVEMENT IN THE RACES FOR PRESIDENT AND SENATE IN ARIZONA.

JOINING US IS PAUL BENTZ WHICH CONDUCTED THE POLL.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

A BUSY DAY FOR YOU, I'M SURE.

THANKS FOR MAKE TIME FOR US.

LET'S GET RIGHT INTO THIS.

THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE, TRUMP IS NO LONGER LEADING.

>> THAT'S CORRECT, I THINK WE SAW A LITTLE BIT OF A SHIFT HERE.

THERE'S EARLY ENTHUSIASM FOR HARRIS.

CERTAINLY I THINK WE SAW NEAR THE END OF THE BIDEN EXPERIENCE THAT SORT OF LOST MOMENTUM AND POTENTIALLY LEFT THE STATE FOR TRUMP, BUT NOW IN OUR LATEST RESEARCH, WE SEE HARRIS UP BY 2 1/2 POINTS.

>> IS THAT WITHIN THE BOUNDS?

>> WITHIN THE MARGIN OF ERROR, SO IT'S A DEAD HEAT AT THIS POINT, I THINK ONE THING IN BEAR IN MIND IS WE SAW BIDEN CONSISTENTLY TRAILING TRUMP, AND NOW WE'VE SEEN, THIS IS THE FIRST BIT OF DATA AFTER THE PRIMARY THAT DEMONSTRATES HARRIS WITH A NARROW LEAD.

TED: HOW MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE DOES THIS LOOK LIKE THAN THE LAST TIME BIDEN WAS CANDIDATE?

>> WE'VE SEEN A BUNCH OF DIFFERENT POLLING PRIOR TO BIDEN DROPPING OUT, HE HAD BEEN TRAILING TRUMP CONSISTENTLY, BUT MOSTLY BEHIND.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE SEEN THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE TAKE A LEAD.

WE'RE IN THE HONEYMOON PHASE RIGHT NOW.

THERE IS ADVERTISING AGAINST HARRIS.

I EXPECT THIS RACE WILL NARROW.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE'VE SEEN THE DEMOCRATIC LEAD.

TED: POLL CONDUCTED WITHIN WHAT DATES.

>> THE PRIMARY AND AUGUST 5.

WE WERE OUT OF THE FIELD BEFORE THE ANNOUNCEMENT.

IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHEN WALZ IS HERE, HOW THAT IMPACTS, HOW THEY ROLL HIM OUT.

FOR NOW WE DID A HARRIS VERSUS TRUMP.

TED: LET'S DIG DEEPER AND START WITH THE PARTIES.

LOOKS WHEN WE SEE THE CHART, INDEPENDENTS TELL THE STORY, DO THEY NOT?

>> INDEPENDENTS ARE THE KEY TO THE STATE OF ARIZONA, YOU NEED TO WIN INDEPENDENTS TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

A THIRD OF THE ELECTORATE AND MAKE THE MOST DIFFERENCE SWINGING BACK AND FORTH.

WE SEE HARRIS WITH AN EIGHT-POINT LEAD AMONG INDEPENDENTS.

TED: YEAH, AND IT LOOKS LIKE, THIS LOOKS NORMAL, DOES IT NOT.

79%, 80%, YOU SHOULD HAVE THAT IN YOUR BASE, THAT'S GOING TO COME UP LATER.

>> EXACTLY.

YOU NEED 80% OF THE BASE, IF NOT MORE TO BE SUCCESSFUL AND WITHIN INDEPENDENTS.

THAT'S HOW DEMOCRATS ARE SUCCESSFUL THE LAST FEW CYCLES, THEY'RE GETTING LARGE DEDICATED PORTIONS OF THE BASE AND LARGE INDEPENDENT VOTE AS WELL.

TED: GENDER, HARRIS HAS A MASSIVE LEAD AMONG WOMEN.

OVER 50% NOW HERE, SURPRISE YOU AT ALL?

>> A LITTLE BIT, BUT IT'S A POWERFUL AUDIENCE WHERE ABORTION IS ON THE BALLOT AND WE'RE HAVING A LOT OF FEMALE-FOCUSED ISSUES.

I THINK IT WILL BE VERY POWERFUL FOR HER AMONG WOMEN.

TRUMP IS WINNING AMONG MEN RIGHT NOW.

TED: YES.

>> THE OTHER ONE I THOUGHT WAS INTERESTING IS THEY'RE BASICALLY TIED AMONG 65 AND OLDER.

THE OLDER DEMOGRAPHIC LEANED REPUBLICAN THE LAST FEW YEARS, TO BE TIED IS A BIG ADVANTAGE FOR THE DEMOCRATS.

TED: WE GOT THAT CHART FOR AGE GROUPS.

UNDER 29 AND 40 FOR THE AGE GROUP.

HARRIS NOT REALLY A SURPRISE BUT 65+.

44, THAT'S A TIE.

>> THE YOUNGER VOTERS, I WANT TO HIT ON THE FACT I DON'T THINK THERE'S A LOT OF ENTHUSIASM FOR BIDEN OR FOR TRUMP AMONG YOUNGER VOTERS.

HAVING A YOUNGER CANDIDATE LIKE HARRIS HAS INCREASED ENTHUSIASM AMONG YOUNGER VOTERS.

TO THE POINT ABOUT 65 AND OLDER BEING TIED IS A HUGE PROBLEM FOR TRUMP.

THEY'VE BEEN SUCCESSFUL FOR REPUBLICANS DEMOGRAPHICS, TALKING ABOUT IMMIGRATION, IF THEY'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE THE ADVANTAGE, THEY'RE GOING TO STRUGGLE THIS ELECTION.

TED: TALK ABOUT STRUGGLING, I DON'T SEE MUCH OF A POST-CONVENTION BOUNCE FOR THE REPUBLICANS.

>> NOT A LOT OF ENTHUSIASM OR UPTICK THAT YOU WOULD TYPICALLY SEE, BUT WE'RE SEEING THAT RIGHT NOW FOR HARRIS.

I EXPECT THIS WILL NARROW.

ALL OF OUR RACES DO IN ARIZONA, THEY'LL COME BACK CLOSER TO TIME.

TED: THE U.S. SENATE RACE, AND HOLY SMOKES, YOU HAVE GALLEGO UP 11 POINTS OVER KARI LAKE.

LOOK AT THAT.

DOES THAT SURPRISE YOU?

>> A PRETTY SURPRISING LEAD.

WE EXPECTED HIM TO BE LEADING BUT UP BY 11 POINTS, NEAR 50% IS A PRETTY BIG DEAL, AND IT SHOWS THAT THERE'S NOT A LOT OF MOMENTUM GOING FOR LAKE RIGHT NOW.

TED: LOOK AT THE PARTIES IF WE CAN, AND INDEPENDENTS, THIS TIME INDEPENDENTS, AGAIN, TELLING THE STORY.

ALL, THERE'S YOUR UNDER 80% FOR THE REPUBLICANS.

THAT MAKES A DIFFERENCE IF LAKE CAN'T GET MORE THAN 70%.

>> THAT'S HUGE, THAT DROP-OFF FROM TRUMP IS A BIG DEAL BECAUSE SHE'S EMULATED TRUMP, BUT ANYBODY WHO'S NOT HIM, THE MAGA CANDIDATES THAT ACT LIKE HIM BUT AREN'T HIM, DON'T GET THE SAME APPEAL.

AND THE BIGGER CHALLENGE IS IF SHE ACTS LIKE A REPUBLICAN TO APPEAL TO THAT AUDIENCE, SHE LOSES INDEPENDENTS EVEN FURTHER.

HAVING AN 18-POINT DEFICIT IS CHALLENGING TO REPUBLICANS.

TED: GENDER, IT'S INTERESTING AS WELL, KARI LAKE'S NUMBERS FOR WOMEN, THEY'RE WORSE THAN DONALD TRUMPS.

>> IT'S INTERESTING THAT YOU THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ASSUME WOMEN VOTE FOR WOMEN CANDIDATES.

THAT'S NOT ALWAYS THE CASE.

YOU'RE RIGHT.

TRUMP HAS A BETTER NUMBER AMONG FEMALE VOTERS THAN LAKE DOES.

TED: AS FAR AS AGE GROUPS ARE CONCERNED, GALLEGO IS WING EVERY SINGLE AGE GROUP.

>> THAT'S THE BIGGEST TAKE AWAY.

LAKE'S SHTICK IS STARTING TO WEAR THIN, SHE HASN'T CHANGED MESSAGING OR WHO SHE IS.

HASN'T STARTED ADJUSTING THE 2022 LOSS.

>> I THINK I SAID THE TRUMP RACE, THIS IS THE RACE WHERE THE UNDER 40 IS BIG FOR GALLEGO.

THEY'RE ALL THERE.

AND THIS IS -- SO MUCH TO ASK YOU.

WHERE IS J.D.

VANCE IN THE NUMBERS?

>> I DON'T THINK WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF A BUMP FOR J.D.

VANCE.

HAS NOT, AFTER THE CONVENTION, AFTER YOU ROLL OUT VICE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE, THERE'S A LOT OF ENTHUSIASM IN THE NEXT WEEK AND NEXT MONTH FOR REPUBLICANS.

THEY'RE NOT EXPERIENCING.

THAT I THINK IT WAS MITIGATED.

THIS IS UNPRECEDENTED TIME, SWITCHING PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES BY THE DEMOCRATS AT THIS PERIOD OF TIME, IT'S A RISKY MANEUVER.

AT THE MOMENT, THE POLLING DEMONSTRATES IT SEEMS TO BE PAYING OFF.

WE'LL SEE IF IT REALLY DOES.

TED: AS FAR AS KARI LAKE IS CONCERNED, IS SHE CONSIDERED A DRAG ON THE TICKET HERE IN ARIZONA?

>> I CERTAINLY THINK SO.

I THINK WE'RE GOING TO SEE THE OUTSIDE FUNDING, THE NRSC, PEOPLE PULL OUT OF THE STATE AND FOCUS RESOURCES ON OTHER STATES WHERE THEY ARE MORE EFFECTIVE.

TED: WHAT DO YOU TAKE FROM THIS?

ARE REPUBLICANS GOING TO BACK AWAY AND SAY WE'VE GOT BETTER WAYS TO SPEND OUR MONEY?

>> AT THE MOMENT, THE ARIZONA SENATE RACE IS NOT A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN BE COMPETITIVE.

THEY WILL LIKELY PULL THEIR MONEY AND PUT IT WHERE THEY ARE MORE USEFUL.

TED: THERE'S NO WALZ EFFECT AT ALL.

THINK THAT MIGHT BUMP THE NUMBERS FOR DEMOCRATS?

>> THEY'RE COMING TO TOWN, HE'S A LARGELY UNKNOWN FACTOR LOONING AMONG ARIZONANS.

SEE HOW THEY FRAME HIM.

THEY'VE BEEN TOUTING THE PROGRESSIVE BACKGROUND, THAT'S NOT OUR STATE, WHAT APPEALS TO US.

TALKS ABOUT HOW THEY FRAME HIM, HIS TEACHING AND COACHING BACKGROUND, IT COULD HELP.

WE'LL HAVE TO SAY.

TED: PAUL BENTZ, HIGH GROUND, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU.

.

>> ARE KAMALA HARRIS HAS GAINED SUPPORT OF MORE THAN A DOZEN MAYORS IN ARIZONA.

ONE IS THE REPUBLICAN MAYOR OF MESA, JOHN GILES.

MAYOR GILES JOINS US TO EXPLAIN WHY THIS LIFE LONG REPUBLICAN IS PUBLICLY BACKING A DEMOCRAT?

HOW YOU DOING, MAYOR?

>> GOOD TO BE WITH YOU, TED.

TED: GOOD TO BE WITH YOU AS WELL.

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?

>> THIS IS NOT SOMETHING THAT I TAKE LIGHTLY.

I TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE TRYING TO BE AS NONPARTISAN AS I CAN.

THE STATE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FIELD AND I WORK ON A CITY COUNCIL THAT'S MADE UP OF PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRATS AND CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICANS AND WE GET ALONG VERY WELL AND I THINK WE ACCOMPLISHED GOOD THINGS IN MESA BECAUSE WE FOCUS ON SOLVING PROBLEMS AND DON'T GET INVOLVED IN PARTISAN ISSUES WHENEVER WE CAN AVOID IT.

IT'S WITH RELUCTANT THAT I DIP MY TOE INTO PARTISAN CONTROVERSIES BECAUSE THAT'S POLARIZING.

I HONESTLY THINK I NEED TO DO THIS IN MY ROLE AS MAYOR.

I NEED TO BE AN ADVOCATE FOR WHAT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF MY CITY.

AND I THINK A SECOND TRUMP PRESIDENCY WOULD NOT BE GOOD FOR MY COMMUNITY.

TED: WAS THERE AN INCIDENT, ONE MOMENT, AN AH-HAH MOMENT WHERE I SAID I CAN'T TAKE IT ANYMORE?

>> THAT HAPPENED A WHILE BACK WITH PRESIDENT TRUMP.

SOME OF US HAVE SHORT MEMORIES.

A LOT OF US RECALL THE FOUR YEARS AS A NATIONAL NIGHTMARE.

THE CONTINUOUS GOVERNING BY TWEET.

THE CONTINUOUS CHAOS AND SCANDAL.

A WHILE BACK PRESIDENT TRUMP LOST ME.

TED: SO NOW, ARE YOU AS MUCH FOR HARRIS, OR IS IT MAYBE EVEN MORE AGAINST TRUMP?

HOW DOES THAT BALANCE WORK?

>> I HAVE TO ADMIT THERE'S A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF SHE'S NOT DONALD TRUMP THAT GOES INTO MY CALCULATION HERE, BUT I HAVE TO SAY, I HAVE GENUINE ENTHUSIASM FOR VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS AND ALSO -- AND GOVERNOR WALZ.

I THINK THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, THE VICE PRESIDENT, I'M CONVINCED THAT THE TOP OF HER AGENDA IS DOING WHAT'S IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE UNITED STATES.

CERTAINLY AS A REPUBLICAN, I WOULD DIFFER WITH HER ON POLICY POINTS, BUT I DON'T QUESTION HER GOOD FAITH, AND I THINK SHE'S EVOLVED AS A CANDIDATE OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS AS VICE PRESIDENT.

I THINK NOW, SHE AND PRESIDENT BIDEN HAVE DONE THINGS LEGISLATIVELY OUT OF CONGRESS, THAT THE CHIPS ACT, THE BIPARTISAN INFRASTRUCTURE ACT, THE INFLATION ACT THAT HAVE GOTTEN BIPARTISAN SUPPORT AND THEY'VE BEEN BENEFICIAL TO COMMUNITIES LIKE MESA.

TED: WHAT POLICY POINTS DO YOU THINK YOU WOULD DISAGREE WITH HER ON?

>> BEING A REPUBLICAN.

SOME OF THE CORE SOCIAL ISSUES, I DON'T ENDORSE ABORTION ON DEMAND.

THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS IN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY THAT THINK THAT'S AN ABSOLUTE CHOICE FOR WOMEN.

AT THE BORDER, I DON'T AGREE WITH OPEN BORDER POLICY.

BUT I THINK -- I BLAME FRANKLY DONALD TRUMP PUTTING THE KABASH ON THE BIPARTISAN IMMIGRATION REFORM ACT THAT SENATOR SINEMA ACCOMPLISHED ON THAT.

TED: ARE YOU STILL A REPUBLICAN?

>> I AM.

TED: DO REPUBLICANS STILL THINK YOU'RE A REPUBLICAN?

>> WHETHER THEY THINK I AM OR NOT, I AM.

MUCH TO THEIR CHAGRIN, I HAVE THIS H A LOT OF FEEDBACK ON SOCIAL MEDIA SUGGESTING I OUGHT TO CHANGE PARTIES.

TED: YEAH, WHAT HAPPENED TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, JEFF FLAKE COMPARES IT TO A FEVER AND SAYS THE FEVER WILL EVENTUALLY BREAK, HE SAID THAT A FEW YEARS AGO AND THE FEVER IS GOING STRONG.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO YOUR PARTY?

>> HIJACKED BY THE EXTREME RIGHT.

THAT COHORT WAS ALWAYS THERE IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND IT WAS ALWAYS IN THE MINORITY.

BUT THAT CLICK OF INDIVIDUALS HAS TAKEN OVER AND HIJACKED THE PARTY, AND I DON'T KNOW IF JEFF FLAKE IS RIGHT OR NOT.

I KEEP WAITING FOR THE PENDULUM TO SWING BACK TO THE MIDDLE, BUT SO MUCH MONEY TO BE MADE IN CABLE NEWS AND OTHER OUTLETS TO CONTINUE TO ATTRACT PEOPLE TO THE FAR RIGHT AND USE THE ALGORITHMS TO CONTINUE TO PROGRAM DOPE MEAN INTO PEOPLE AND TELL THEM WHAT THEY WANT TO HEAR, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S COMING BACK.

TED: SO MANY REPUBLICANS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN HAPPY WITH TRUMP, THEY DON'T TURN INTO DEMOCRATS, THEY TURN INTO INDEPENDENTS.

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED TO JOHN GILES.

>> THE THOUGHT CROSSED MY MIND.

IT'S IMPORTANT THAT PEOPLE LIKE ME NOT DO THAT.

IF THERE IS HOPE FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, TO GET OUT OF THE DOWNWARD SPIRAL, VOICES LIKE MINE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO STAY IN THE PARTY AND VOICE OUR CONCERNS.

SO IT MIGHT BE A KAMIKAZE MISSION BUT SOMETHING I NEED TO DO.

TED: ARE YOU GOING TO ATTEND THE EVENT OF KAMALA HARRIS, THE TICKET TOMORROW, THE EVENT IN GLENDALE?

>> YES, I WAS HAPPY TO ACCEPT THE INVITATION.

TED: ARE YOU GOING TO SPEAK?

>> I AM GOING TO SPEAK.

>> ARE YOU GOING TO THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION?

>> I AM GOING TO THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION.

TED: LOOK AT THAT.

YOU ARE STILL A REPUBLICAN, HUH?

>> I'VE BEEN CONVINCED THERE SAY ROLE FOR ME TO BE THERE TO SUPPORT THE HARRIS-WALZ CAMPAIGN.

TED: LAST QUESTION, IF REPUBLICAN NATIONAL OFFICIALS SAY WHAT'S GOING ON IN MESA, TALK TO THE MAYOR AND SEE.

WHAT WOULD YOU TELL THEM?

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE THEM?

>> I WOULD SAY LET'S GO BACK TO BEING THE PARTY, WE NEED A BIG TENT.

IF WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO SHRINK THE REPUBLICAN PARTY TENT, THAT IS THE DOWNWARD SPIRAL THAT'S GOING TO LEAD TO IT BEING IRRELEVANT.

THAT'S CLEAR, WE NEED TO BROADEN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY TENT SO NON-MAGA VOICES AREN'T TOLD TO GET THE HELL OUT OF THE ROOM, AND ABSENT THAT TYPE OF A REFORM THAT'S NOT A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

TED: IS THAT A FUTURE FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY?

IS IT POSSIBLE?

IS IT VIABLE?

>> IT IS.

DONALD TRUMP USED TO SAY WE WERE GOING TO GET TIRED OF WINNING.

THE OPPOSITE IS WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

EVENTUALLY IF REPUBLICANS GET TIRED OF LOSING, THEY HAVE TO REALIZE THEY BROADEN THEIR PERSPECTIVE AND NOT GET RID OF PEOPLE LIKE ME.

TED: MESA MAYOR JOHN GILES, GOOD TO SEE YOU.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

>> MY PLEASURE.

.

TED: JONATHAN NEZ IS A DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE IN THE 2nd CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

WE SCHEDULED A DEBATE BETWEEN CANDIDATES BUT CONGRESSMAN CRANE DID NOT RESPOND TO OUR INVITATION, SO EARLIER TODAY WE SPOKE WITH JONATHAN NEZ.

WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WE WANTED A DEBATE, WE DON'T GET TO DEBATE BUT I WANT TO TALK TO YOU.

THIS CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT IS HEAVILY REPUBLICAN, THERE'S A 30,000 VOTER ADVANTAGE AS FAR AS REGISTERED VOTERS ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE.

YOU'RE A DEMOCRAT.

WHY ARE YOU RUNNING?

>> THANKS, TED, FIRST OF ALL FOR HAVING ME ON THE SHOW.

I GREW UP IN A VERY CONSERVATIVE HOME, BOTH MY PARENTS BEING REPUBLICAN, AND, YOU KNOW, WHAT WAS INSTILLED INTO ME WAS TO HELP OUT AS MUCH AS YOU CAN THROUGHOUT LIFE.

MY GRANDFATHER WAS A COUNCIL DELEGATE OR LAWMAKER OF THE NAVAJO NATION COUNCIL, AND HE WAS A ROLE MODEL, AN INSPIRATION FOR ME AS I STARTED GOING INTO SCHOOL AND GETTING OUT IN THE WORLD, AND I FELT I WANTED TO HELP OUT.

SO TO HELP, IT'S NOT JUST FOR ONE PARTY, RIGHT?

IT'S TO HELP EVERYBODY.

AS PRESIDENT OF THE NAVAJO NATION, I WAS ABLE TO REACH OUT ACROSS THE AISLE AND GET THINGS DONE FOR THE CONSTITUENCY I REPRESENT.

RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO BRING ALL THE PARTIES TOGETHER, AND I'M GOING TO TRY TO DO THAT FOR THIS DISTRICT, NO MATTER IF THEY VOTE FOR ME OR NOT.

TED: WHAT DO YOU THINK ARE THE MAIN ISSUES FOR THE DISTRICT?

>> I'VE BEEN TRAVELING FROM CANTU, ARIZONA, TO PRESCOTT, PRESCOTT VALLEY AND GLOBE, AND A LOT OF THE THINGS PEOPLE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT IS WATER.

BRINGING WATER INTO THESE COMMUNITIES FOR THE FUTURE GROWTH, AND, YOU KNOW, I HAVE HAD A HISTORY OF HELPING OUT WITH WATER RIGHTS, BRINGING OUR FAIR SHARE OF WATER FOR ARIZONA IN THE DISTRICT AND THE ENTIRE STATE OF ARIZONA, WE NEED TO GET OUR FAIR SHARE OF WATER FROM THE COLORADO RIVER AND SAVE OUR PRECIOUS GROUND WATER.

>> AND WATER OBVIOUSLY A MAJOR ISSUE ALL OVER ARIZONA.

YOUR OPPONENT IS EMPHASIZING LOW TAXES, LESS REGULATION, PRO-GROWTH POLICIES.

IS THAT NOT WHAT PEOPLE IN YOUR DISTRICT WANT TO SEE, AND PERHAPS WANT TO SEE EVEN MORE THAN WATER ISSUES?

>> RIGHT, PEOPLE ARE -- SOME PEOPLE ARE STRUGGLING IN OUR DISTRICT.

PEOPLE SEE THE HIGH PRICES OF FOOD, HIGH PRICES OF GAS AS WELL, AND YOU KNOW, WE REALLY NEED TO HAVE CONGRESS REACH OUT AND HOLD THESE LARGE CORPORATIONS ACCOUNTABLE.

THEY HAVE RECORD PROFIT LATELY, AND WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO DO IS TO MAKE SURE THAT FOLKS THAT ARE IN THE RURAL PARTS OF ARIZONA GET AHEAD, GET AHEAD FOR THEIR FAMILY AND TO ALSO GET AHEAD FOR THE FUTURE.

AS WE SEE IN NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITIES, YOU KNOW, LOOKING OUT FOR THE FUTURE.

SEVEN GENERATIONS AND BEYOND.

TED: I WAS GOING TO ASK YOU, ONE OF YOUR QUOTES IS PUTTING THE NEEDS OF RURAL ARIZONANS OVER D.C.

POLITICS.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> AGAIN, AS I TRAVEL THROUGHOUT THE DISTRICT, PEOPLE ARE WANTING TO BE HEARD.

I THINK ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY, THERE'S SUCH A BIG DIVISION BETWEEN REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS AND THERE'S SO MUCH DIVIDE, BUT WHAT WE REALLY NEED IS TO COME TOGETHER AND WORK TOGETHER.

I REMEMBER A TIME WHEN CONGRESS WORKED TOGETHER BIPARTISAN, AND I HAVE A HISTORY OF REACHING ACROSS THE AISLE, YOU KNOW, AS A NAVAJO COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISOR, I WAS ABLE TO REACH ACROSS THE AISLE AND GET THINGS DONE FOR THE PEOPLE, THE VOTERS IN THE DISTRICT, AND I REMEMBER, MY OPPONENT'S PRIMARY CHALLENGER JACK SMITH BEING A YAVAPAI COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISOR, WE WORKED TOGETHER, TO GET THINGS DONE FOR THE PEOPLE IN THE DISTRICT.

I WILL CONTINUE TO DO THAT BEING THE PRESIDENT OF THE NAVAJO NATION, HAVING A VICE PRESIDENT THAT WAS A REPUBLICAN.

TED: YES, INDEED, YOU WERE PRESIDENT OF THE NAVAJO NATION BUT LOST YOUR RE-ELECTION.

WHAT HAPPENED THERE?

WHAT Y DO YOU THINK YOU LOST?

>> LOOK AT WHAT THE ENTIRE COUNTRY WAS GOING THROUGH AT THAT TIME.

I PUT VERY STRICT PROTOCOLS IN PLACE DURING THE TIME.

PANDEMIC, AND THERE WAS A GREAT DIVIDE.

OF COURSE, MY OPPONENT THEN GOT SO MANY ENDORSEMENTS FROM ALL ACROSS THE NAVAJO NATION, AND I KEPT MY CAMPAIGN GRASSROOTS, AND TODAY THERE'S A LITTLE CHANGE OF HEART.

I THINK THEY MISS US, BUT THEY'RE EXCITED ABOUT THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE THE FIRST NATIVE AMERICAN TO BE IN WASHINGTON, D.C. BECAUSE WASHINGTON, D.C., HAS YET TO HEAR A VOICE LIKE MINE.

TED: INDEED, BUT BACK TO COVID, YOUR OPPONENT IS ANTI-MASK MANDATES.

CERTAINLY ANTI-COVID VACCINE MANDATES, SEEMS TO BE RUNNING AGAINST WHAT YOU WERE INVOLVED WITH THERE ON THE NATION.

HOW DO YOU SQUARE THAT?

OBVIOUSLY YOU SEE THINGS DIFFERENTLY.

HOW DO YOU REPRESENT VOTERS IN THE DISTRICT WHO THINK HE'S GOT THE RIGHT IDEA?

>> IT'S ABOUT LISTENING TO FOLKS THAT ARE EXPERTS IN THE FIELD.

WHEN I WAS THE PRESIDENT, I LISTENED TO THE HEALTH CARE EXPERTS AND THE SCIENTISTS, AND WE WERE ABLE TO SAVE LIVES.

BOTTOM LINE, IT WASN'T ABOUT GETTING RE-ELECTED.

IT WAS ABOUT SAVING LIVES.

AND THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO BE FOCUSED ON IS MAKING SURE THE NEEDS ARE ADDRESSED FOR THE PEOPLE THAT VOTE FOR ME AND THOSE THAT DON'T VOTE FOR ME.

>> YOU MENTIONED BEING BACK THERE IN WASHINGTON AND BLAZING TRAILS THERE.

URANIUM MINING, THAT IS A BIG ISSUE.

YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE BAN ON URANIUM MINING.

THE NATIONAL MONUMENT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION SET UP THERE, OPPONENT VERY MUCH AGAINST THAT SORT OF THING, HOW DO YOU RESPOND?

>> I INVITE MY OPPONENT TO COME TO THE NAVAJO NATION.

IN FACT, UP IN NORTHERN ARIZONA, THERE IS MANY OF OUR CITIZENS UP THERE THAT HAVE CANCERS BECAUSE OF THE OVER 500 URANIUM MINES THAT ARE STILL OPEN ON THE NAVAJO NATION IN THE TRIBAL COMMUNITIES, AND WE NEED TO HOLD THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABLE TO CLEAN UP THE URANIUM MINES.

WHAT I SEE TOO IS WITH THE MOVEMENT THAT'S HAPPENING THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY TO BRING MORE CANCER TREATMENT RESOURCES INTO THE COMMUNITY, AND WHEN I WAS THE PRESIDENT, WE WERE ABLE TO BRING THE FIRST CANCER TREATMENT FACILITY ONTO ANY TRIBAL GOVERNMENT, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, TED.

OUT OF THE 500+ TRIBES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY, NOT ONE CANCER TREATMENT FACILITY UNTIL RECENTLY AND ON THE NAVAJO NATION.

TED: THAT SAID, AND THAT'S A LOT THAT WAS SAID RIGHT THERE.

THAT SAID, YOUR OPPONENT SAYS THAT URANIUM MINING AND URANIUM, IT'S CRUCIAL AND CRITICAL TO NATIONAL SECURITY.

>> RIGHT.

TED: HAS HE GOT A POINT?

>> LOOK AT IT THIS WAY.

WE NEED TO TAKE BETTER CARE OF MOTHER EARTH AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT HAS A HISTORY OF COMING INTO FEDERAL LANDS AND TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE NATURAL RESOURCES AND NOT CLEANING UP AFTER THEMSELVES.

I UNDERSTAND THAT, YEAH, WE NEED TO PROTECT OUR COUNTRY, AND TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CONTINUE TO MOVE FORWARD IN A FREE SOCIETY, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, IF IT HURTS OUR PEOPLE, ALL OF OUR HUMAN BEINGS, LOOK AT WHAT THE RADIATION EXPOSURE ACT REAUTHORIZATION DID.

THEY'RE GOING THROUGH THE HEALTH EFFECTS OF URANIUM MINING, INCLUDING THE NUCLEAR BOMB TESTINGS THAT OCCURRED AND WE NEED TO MAKE SURE THEY GET COMPENSATED.

TED: LAST QUESTION, BECAUSE WE ARE KIND OF RUNNING OUT OF TIME.

LAST QUESTION IN, AS A NATIVE AMERICAN IN WASHINGTON ON CAPITOL HILL, WHAT DO YOU THINK THAT FOLKS IN TRIBAL LANDS IN THAT DISTRICT, AND THERE'S A LOT OF FOLKS IN TRIBAL LANDS IN THAT DISTRICT, WHAT DO THEY WANT TO SEE FROM THE REPRESENTATIVE?

>> OH, WOW, THEY WANT TO SEE THEM IN THE COMMUNITIES.

MAYBE LIVE IN THE COMMUNITIES.

MY OPPONENT DOES NOT EVEN LIVE IN THE DISTRICT, AND I WANT TO BE ABLE TO ADVOCATE FOR EVERYONE.

SO HAVING A NATIVE AMERICAN IN OFFICE IN WASHINGTON, D.C., WE CAN BRING THOSE RESOURCES INTO THE COMMUNITY.

RIGHT NOW, YOU KNOW, MY OPPONENT HAS YET TO EVEN BRING IN LARGE SCALE PROJECTS INTO THE COMMUNITY BECAUSE HE DOESN'T BELIEVE IN THAT.

I UNDERSTAND PUTTING FUNDING AND MAKING SURE THAT THE DEFICIT DOESN'T GET ANY DEEPER, BUT LET ME SAY THIS, THE FOLKS IN THIS DISTRICT PAY INCOME TAX, AND THEY WANT TO SEE SOME OF THAT MONEY COMING BACK INTO THEIR DISTRICT SO THAT THEY CAN SEE THE IMPROVEMENT OF QUALITY OF LIFE FOR THE FUTURE OF THEIR FAMILIES.

TED: ALL RIGHT, SIR.

JONATHAN NEZ, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU, TED.

TED: AND THAT IS IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.