>>> COMING UP NEXT ON ARIZONA HORIZON.

WE'LL UPDATE THE LATEST ELECTION RESULTS AND GET ANALYSIS FROM OUR PANEL OF POLITICAL CONSULTANT, AN ELECTION UPDATE ON THE NEXT ARIZONA HORIZON.

>>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS.

RESULTS FROM YESTERDAY'S ELECTION CONTINUE TO COME IN, THOUGH MOST OF THE HIGHER PROFILE RACES IN ARIZONA ARE EITHER DECIDED OR CLOSE TO IT.

DONALD TRUMP CONTINUES TO LEAD KAMALA HARRIS IN THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE WITH QUITE A FEW ARIZONA PRESIDENTIAL BALLOTS STILL TO BE COUNTED BUT ARIZONA LOOKS TO BE INCLUDED IN THE SEVEN SWING STATES THAT TRUMP WON WITHOUT A SINGLE BATTLEGROUND STATE GOING TO HARRIS.

THE VICE-PRESIDENT CALLED TO CONCEDE THE RACE TO TRUMP EARLIER TODAY.

HER CONCESSION SPEECH HOURS LATER WAS HELD AT HELLER UNIVERSITY IN WASHINGTON D.C. >> SO LET ME SAY MY HEART IS FULL TODAY.

MY HEART IS FULL TODAY, FULL OF GRATITUDE, FOR THE TRUST HAVE YOU PLACED IN ME, FULL OF LOVE FOR OUR COUNTRY, AND FULL OF RESOLVE.

THE OUTCOME OF THIS ELECTION IS NOT WHAT WE WANTED, NOT WHAT WE FOUGHT FOR, NOT WHAT WE VOTED FOR, BUT HEAR ME WHEN I SAY, HEAR ME WHEN I SAY, THE LIGHT OF AMERICA'S PROMISE WILL ALWAYS BURN BRIGHT BUT WE MUST ACCEPT THE RESULTS OF THIS ELECTION.

EARLIER TODAY I SPOKE WITH PRESIDENT-ELECT TRUMP AND CONGRATULATED HIM ON HIS VICTORY.

I ALSO TOLD HIM THAT WE WILL HELP HIM AND HIS TEAM WITH THEIR TRANSITION.

AND THAT WE WILL ENGAGE IN A PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF POWER.

>> PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN CALLED HARRIS TODAY TO CONGRATULATE HER ON A, QUOTE, HISTORIC CAMPAIGN.

THE PRESIDENT ALSO SPOKE WITH THE PRESIDENT-ELECT AND INVITED DONALD TRUMP TO THE WHITE HOUSE.

ONE MORE NOTE, PRESIDENT BIDEN WILL ADDRESS THE NATION ABOUT THE ELECTION AND THE TRANSITION OF POWER TOMORROW.

>>> AND FOR ARIZONA'S U.S. SENATE RACE CONGRESSWOMAN GALLEGO IS STILL IN FRONT OF KARI LAKE.

GALLEGO'S LEAD HAS BEEN SHRINKING BUT THE MARGIN WAS CUT IN HALF BY THIS MORNING.

FOR MORE ON THESE AND OTHER RACES IN YESTERDAY'S SIZABLE ARIZONA BALLOT, WE WELCOME POLITICAL CONSULTANTS CHUCK FROM HIGHER GROUND AND MATTERS OF STATE STRATEGY.

GENTLEMEN, GOOD TO HAVE YOU BOTH HERE.

THANKS FOR JOINING US.

CHUCK, WE'LL START WITH YOU.

OVERALL THOUGHTS ON OVERALL THINGS.

>> IT WAS A GREAT NIGHT.

>> IT WAS AN INTERESTING NIGHT, THAT'S FOR SURE.

>> FASCINATING.

I MEAN, THE FIRST VOTES CAME IN.

THE REPUBLICANS WERE OVER-PERFORMING GOING INTO ELECTION DAY AND THERE WAS LIKE A 6 POINT REPUBLICAN ADVANTAGE, AND NOW THEY COME TO THE TABLE WITH, YOU KNOW, THESE SLIMMER MARGINS THAN YOU THINK YOU'RE GOING TO GET ON THE 6% RETURN.

SO THEN THAT HE LOOKS LIKE IT COULD BE COMPETITIVE, AND THEN ELECTION DAY HAPPENS, AND IT JUST DISAPPEARS.

>> MATT, THOUGHTS ON THE ELECTION OVERALL, JUST IN GENERAL YOUR FEELINGS.

>> YEAH, I THINK GOING INTO IT A LOT OF US WERE ANTICIPATING SOMETHING THAT LOOKED MORE LIKE 2018 GIVEN AN THERE HAD BEEN A RETURN TO PRE-PANDEMIC, PRELIVE VOTING DAY BEHAVIORS.

SO ANTICIPATING A RED MIRAGE BY THINK IT WAS SURPRISING TO A LOT OF US TO SEE THE OVERWHELMING SUPPORT IN THE DIRECTION THAT WASN'T OURS AND NOT SEEING THE TRADITIONAL CROSSOVER OF INDEPENDENTS AND REPUBLICANS WE'VE SEEN IN THE PAST.

>> DID DONALD TRUMP WIN OR DID KAMALA HARRIS LOSE?

>> I THINK IT'S A DIFFICULT PREMISE TO ASK.

IT DEPENDS ON THE TIME OF DAY.

I THINK THAT WE'LL BE POSTGAMING THIS FOR A WHILE, BUT I THINK HE CERTAINLY WON.

I DON'T THINK THERE'S ANY DENYING THAT AT THIS STAGE.

>> AND AS FAR AS YOU'RE CONCERNED, WHEN -- I MEAN, THE VULGARITIES, THE CONVICTIONS, ALL OF IT, HE GOT MORE VOTES NOW THANK HE DID THE 200 TIMES HE RAN -- TWO OTHER TIMES HE RAN?

>> WELL, BOTH PARTIES ARE ACTING AS IF THEY'RE MINORITY PARTIES, THAT THEY'RE BOTH FIGHTING WITH EACH OTHER FOR CONTROL, AND NEITHER IS ACTING LIKE A MAJORITY PARTY.

AND THAT'S EXHAUSTING BECAUSE WE'RE LIKE CAN'T SOMEBODY LIKE SPEAK TO THE WHOLE COUNTRY HERE INSTEAD OF VILIFYING ONE PARTY OR THE OTHER?

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT WHAT AMERICA IS, WHY -- AND THE STATUS OF WHERE WE ARE TODAY.

IN MY OPINION, BOTH PARTIES ARE IRRELEVANT RETRIEVABLY BAD.

THE DEMOCRATS FAILED TO CAPTURE A NORTH STAR NARRATIVE BUT CAPTURED THE COUNTRY'S ATTENTION, THE NARRATIVE OF THE CAMPAIGN WANDERED AROUND THE LANDSCAPE QUITE A BIT, AND TRUMP WAS THERE THE WHOLE TIME WITH ONE SINGLE NARRATIVE, THOSE PEOPLE ARE TERRIBLE AND THEY RUIN THE COUNTRY, AND I CAN FIX IT.

I MEAN, THAT WAS HIS NARRATIVE THE WHOLE TIME.

>> ALSO IT WASN'T SO MUCH THE ECONOMY, IT WAS PRICES, IT WAS AFFORDABILITY, AND AGAIN IT SEEMS LIKE EYEDLISTIC FOLKS KIND OF WENT ONE DIRECTION AND PEOPLE WHO HAVE TO PAY THE BILL WENT ANOTHER DIRECTION.

>> I THINK THAT'S FAIR.

SOME OF THE REFLECTION THAT DEMOCRATS WILL DO AFTER THIS IS RELOOK AT OUR EMPATHETIC MESSAGING ON THE ECONOMY.

IT'S A HARD THING TO MESSAGE, RIGHT.

YOU HAVE TO SAY, LOOK, I UNDERSTAND THAT INFLATION IS HURTING YOU WEEK TO WEEK.

YOU KNOW, AT GROCERY STORE, BUT ALSO HAVING TO ARTICULATE TO, THAT A LOT OF THE REASONS FOR THOSE HIGH PRICES WAS BECAUSE OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, RIGHT.

SO YOU HAD TO SQUARE THAT PERFECTLY, AND THEN HAD YOU THAT VERY DIFFICULT DYNAMIC.

>> AGAIN, ECONOMY CONSUMED OF -- LOTS OF PEOPLE HAVE JOBS RIGHT NOW.

LOTS OF THOSE JOBS PAY PRETTY WELL, BETTER THAN THEY HAVE IN THE PAST.

THERE HAVE BEEN MORE JOBS IN THE PAST, AND YET YOU GO TO THE GROCERY STORE AND GO WHAT'S GOING ON HERE.

>> RIGHT.

GAS WAS UP FOR A GREAT PERIOD OF TIME THERE.

FOOD PRICES AND INFLATION WAS UP.

WE HAD HE LINGERING SUPPLY CHAIN PROBLEMS.

IT JUST DEVELOP FOOD IN THIS NARRATIVE THAT REALLY DOESN'T REFLECT IN THE NEWER DAY TO DAY ECONOMY WITH THE EXCEPTION OF FOOD PRICES AT GROCERY STORE.

COULD I [ INDISCERNIBLE ] -- YOU KNOW, I WAS LOOKING AROUND GOING I THINK WE'RE DOING PRETTY GOOD.

THE STOCK MARKET IS GOING ON, THE UNEMPLOYMENT IS WAY DOWN.

INTEREST RATES ARE SLOWING GOING DOWN.

THE ECONOMY LOOKS HEALTHY BUT THE AMERICAN PUBLIC WAS EXHAUSTED FOR THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS OF STRUGGLE ON THE ECONOMY.

>> TRUMP DID VERY WELL WITH MALES, ESPECIALLY YOUNG MALES.

AND HARRIS IT SOUNDS LIKE DID NOT DO ALL THAT WELL WITH YOUNG FEMALES.

WHAT'S THAT ALL ABOUT?

>> I THINK WE'RE GONNA AGAIN HAVE TO POSTGAME ALL THAT OUT.

BUT I THINK TRUMP HAS HAD EIGHT YEARS, NINE YEARS TO BE DEFINED AND, YOU KNOW, BE ANALYZED BY THE POPULOUS AND THE VOTERS, AND HE DIDN'T HAVE THAT MUCH TIME.

BARRING THE PRIMARY SHE HAD PREVIOUSLY IN 2019 AND 2020, VOTERS WERE REALLY JUST GETTING TO KNOW HER THESE LAST 100 DAYS.

I THINK HAD SHE HAD MORE TIME YOU COULD HAVE REMEDIED SOME OF THAT.

>> WHAT'S THE UNIFYING AREA?

WHAT'S THE NORTH STAR OF THE NARRATIVE OF THE HARRIS CAMPAIGN?

WHEN THEY LEFT CHICAGO IT SEEMED LIKE THEY HAD WRAPPED THEMSELVES PRETTY WELL IN THE FLAG, THE CONSTITUTION, THE BILL OF RIGHTS, THE CELEBRATION AND THE FREEDOM OF THE AMERICAN INDIVIDUAL.

THAT'S WHAT AMERICA'S ABOUT.

AND THEN THAT DISAPPEARED.

IT LIKE WENT AWAY UNTIL THE SPEECH THE OTHER NIGHT WHEN SHE CAME BACK TO IT AND DIVERTED THE GRIEVANCE, IT'S ABOUT WIN IT'S ABOUT THE ECONOMY, IT'S ABOUT YOUR PAYROLL.

THERE WAS NEVER, TO ME -- AND I LOOK AT YOUNG PEOPLE TODAY, IF YOU'RE 28 YEARS OLD, ALL YOU'VE KNOWN IS DONALD TRUMP AT TOP OF THE TICKET.

THAT'S IT.

AND NOW WE'VE GOT ANOTHER FOUR YEARS ON THAT.

HOW DO YOU INSPIRE YOUNG PEOPLE?

I DON'T REALLY KNOW BUT WANT TO HEAR SOME ICONIC AMERICAN VALUE BESIDE WHAT IT IS TO BE AMERICAN AND WHY AMERICA SHOULD BE CELEBRATED.

>> DOES THAT MAKE SENSE OR DOES IT MAKE SENSE THAT THE HARRIS CAMPAIGN SIMPLY WASN'T AGGRESSIVE ENOUGH?

I'VE HEARD PEOPLE SAYING THAT SHE NEEDS TO DO WHAT CHUCK SAYS, SHE NEEDS TO DO MORE OF THAT AND PRESENT WHO ARE YOU AND FORGET ABOUT WHO YOU'RE AGAINST.

I'M WONDERING IF SHE SHOULDN'T HAVE JUST GONE UP THERE, I'M THE CANDIDATE WHO'S NOT A CONVICTED FELON.

>> I THINK SHE DID DEGREE TO THAT ALL THE TIME.

A LITTLE BIT LIKE WHACK A MOLE HERE.

SHE HAD TO BE PERFECT HE AND HE JUST HAD TO SAY THEY WERE TERRIBLE THE ENTIRE TIME.

THE INFRASTRUCTURE WAS THERE FOR A REPUBLICAN VICTORY JUST GIVEN THE FACT THAT, YOU KNOW, HER BOSS, THE PRESIDENT, WHO OBVIOUSLY MY SIDE SUPPORTS, YOU KNOW, HAS GOT A 40% APPROVAL RATING.

AND THAT'S HARD WHEN YOU HAVE TO DEFEND THAT MESSAGE AND PRESENT A NEW OUTLOOK FOR THE FUTURE.

>> IT WAS LIKE JOHN MCCAIN WHEN HE INHERITED THE SECOND BUSH TERM, EVERYBODY WAS DOWNRIGHT -- NOBODY WANTED ANOTHER REPUBLICAN TERM.

THE ECONOMY WENT SOUTH.

OBAMA POPPED NEW IOWA, AND EVERYBODY WENT THAT WAY.

IT FELT SORT OF LIKE THAT TYPE ELECTION, WHERE THAT HANGOVER FROM BIDEN AND THE FOUR YEARS OF STRUGGLE THAT THE COUNTRY'S GONE THERE, WHETHER WE AGREE WITH THAT OR NOT, IT WAS PERCEIVED TO BE THERE.

>> THE YOUNGER MALE VOTE, THE LATINO MALE VOTE ESPECIALLY, VERY STRONG TOWARD TRUMP, AT LEAST IN TERMS COMPARISON TO PREVIOUS VOTES, WHETHER OR NOT KELLY AS A HAVEN'T CANDIDATE MADE A DIFFERENCE?

>> I'VE HEARD SHAPIRO BECAUSE OF HIS CONNECTION TO PENNSYLVANIA OR MARK KELLY BECAUSE OF HIS MILITARY BACKGROUND AND THOSE THINGS.

BE GIVEN THE BREADTH OF THE SWEEP LAST NIGHT, NO.

IT WOULDN'T HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE.

IT WAS SET TO HAPPEN.

THE TRACK LINES WERE ALL THERE FOR THIS TO HAPPEN, AND GUESS WHAT, HE CLOSED THE DEAL LAST NIGHT.

>> AND AGAIN HE GOT MORE VOTES OVERALL UNLIKE DID HE IN 2069 IN 20, AND WE'VE GOT ALL OF THESE THINGS ON -- IN 2016 AND IN 2020, AND WE'VE GOT ALL OF THESE THINGS ON THE RECORD.

>> I'D BE CURIOUS ON CHUCK'S TAKE ON, THIS I THINK FOR SOME UNDERS AND OBVIOUSLY A LOT OF REPUBLICANS THEY FELT BAD REGARDLESS OF THE BREADTH OF THOSE NEGATIVE THINGS AGAINST HIM.

I THINK THEY FELT THAT HE WAS BEING PERSECUTED.

NOT SO MUCH PROSECUTED AS OUR SIDE WOULD HAVE SEEN.

SO I FEEL LIKE THERE WAS A LITTLE BIT OF, YOU KNOW YEAH, KEEP PILING IT ON WITH THIS GUY.

WE'RE GOING TO RETALIATE BECAUSE WE'RE ANGRY.

AND IT'S UNFORTUNATE BECAUSE NOW THERE'S THIS CONSTANT ANGER PENDULUM SWINGING.

RIGHT NOW OUR SIDE ANGRY AGAIN THAT WILL MOTIVATE US... >> WE ALL STRUGGLE WITH THE IDEA OF DONALD TRUMP FIGHTING FOR THE LITTLE MAN FROM HIS JET IN HIS MAR-A-LARGO RESIDENCE AND YOU WILL OF A THE GOLDNESS AROUND HIM.

BUT HE CAPTURED THAT.

PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT.

PEOPLE BELIEVE HE WAS FIGHTING AGAINST THE MAN, FIGHTING FOR THE LITTLE GUY, FIGHTING AGAINST THE SYSTEM THAT WAS SET AGAINST THEM.

AND THAT'S A POWERFUL MAN IN AMERICA.

YOU KNOW, THE LITTLE MAN GOES TO WASHINGTON.

WE DON'T WANT TO ACCEPT THAT, BUT PEOPLE BOUGHT THAT, PEOPLE DO AGREE WITH THAT.

>> SO, CHUCK, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, WHAT IS THE REPUBLICAN PARTY RIGHT NOW?

>> IT DOESN'T EXIST.

>> IT'S MAGA.

>> IT'S NOW THE MAGA PARTY, IT'S MAKE HE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN PARTY.

IT'S NOT JEFF PLANK, JON KYL, ARIZONA ICONIC PEOPLE.

IT'S NOT A REPUBLICAN PARTY.

IT IS THIS NEW WORKING CLASS, HE'S COMPLETELY MORPHED THE PARTY INTO A WORKING-CLASS, SMALL REPRESENTING THOSE FORMERLY DEMOCRATIC STINT WANESES -- CONSTITUENCYS AND HIJACKED THE PARTY TO BE THEM.

AND IT'S NOT AN IDEA-BASED PARTY.

IT'S NOT ABOUT ECONOMIC FREEDOM.

HE'S A TARIFF GUY.

HE'S GONNA DO TARIFFS.

HE'S NOT ABOUT ECONOMIC FREEDOM AND FREE MARKETS.

HE'S ABOUT GOVERNMENT SPENDING.

HE'S A BIG SPENDER.

HE WANTS TO USE THE GOVERNMENT TO SUPPORT STRATEGIC INITIATIVES.

I MEAN, IT'S NOT ANYTHING LIKE THE FORMER REPUBLICAN PARTY.

IT IS A WHOLE NEW ENTITY.

>> AND WHERE DOES THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY GO FROM SNEER IS KAMALA HARRIS A LEADER AT THE PARTY?

IS SHE A LEADER AT THE SENATOR.

>> I THINK WE REMAIN AN ASPIRATIONAL PARTY.

WE'RE A VERY HIGHLY EDUCATED PARTY.

WE ARE A COASTAL PARTY.

I THINK TO CHUCK'S POINT, THERE'S BEEN A REORIENTATION IN TERMS OF THE WORKING CLASS USED TO BE OUR BASE.

THAT'S NOT THE CASE ANYMORE.

THE LEADER WILL SORT ITSELF OUT.

I THINK THE THING THAT PEOPLE WILL FOCUS ON NOW IS WHAT IS OUR MESSAGE GOING INTO THE MIDTERM CYCLE, HOW DO WE NEED TO ORGANIZE, WHAT'S THE POST-ANALYSIS ON WHAT WE MISSED HERE.

TODAY PEOPLE ARE TIRED AND SAD BUT THEY WILL BE PUMPED UP AND READY TO GO.

>> TIRED AND SAD, BUT ARE LESSONED LEARNED FOR THE DEMOCRATS?

>> YES, THERE WILL WILL BE.

>> IT'S BEEN LESS THAN 24 HOURS, BUT WE'LL LEARN.

WE'VE SEEN THIS BEFORE AND WE'VE BEEN RESILIENT BEFORE.

THERE'S A LOT YOU CAN DO.

YOU CAN BURY YOUR HEAD IN THE SAND OR FOCUS ON HOW YOU'RE GOING TO BE CONSTRUCTIVE AND I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE CHOOSING THAT.

>> YOU'RE GONNA HAVE TO DO SOME SOUL SEARCHING, LOOK INSIDE THE PARTY.

MOST PEOPLE DON'T IDENTIFY WITH EITHER PARTY ANYMORE, AND SO WHAT DO PEOPLE IDENTIFY WITH, AND THEN CHOOSE TO EITHER ALLOW THOSE PEOPLE TO PARTICIPATE EQUALLY AND MESSAGE TO THEM OR ABANDON SHIP AND JUST CREATE A NEW ENTITY GOING FORWARD THAT IS REPRESENTATIVE OF AMERICA.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE U.S. SENATE RACE HERE IN ARIZONA, AND WE'LL START WITH YOU.

IS THIS CLOSER THAN EXPECTED?

WHAT DO YOU THINK, MATT?

>>> I THINK THE ENTIRE TIME THEY WERE PLANNING FOR IT TO BE CLOSE.

IT LOOKED LIKE IN POLLING FOR A WHILE GALLEGO WAS REALLY RUNNING AWAY WITH IT, BUT EVERYBODY ANTICIPATED THAT IT WOULD TIGHTEN.

HOPEFULLY THE CURRENT TREND LINES WHERE THE LEAD WAS CUT IN HALF, HOPEFULLY IT HOLDS ENOUGH WHERE HE CAN SEND HER OFF BUT IT'S STILL A SWING STATE AND WE HAVE A REGISTRATION DISADVANTAGE WHICH IS THE WHOLE OTHER ISSUE THAT WILL GO ON WITH OUR SOUL SEARCHING PROGRAM.

BUT, NO, I THINK THAT THIS WAS ANTICIPATED.

WE JUST NEED TO BUCKLE UP AND HOLD THE LINE HERE.

>> WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE RACE?

>> A LITTLE CLOSER THAN I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE.

I THOUGHT WE WOULD HAVE MAINTAINED A BETTER LEAD.

BUT REPUBLICANS TURNED OUT ON ELECTION DAY AND SHIFTED THE NARRATIVE.

HE'S STILL THE SECOND HIGHEST VOTE-GETTER IN THE STATE BEHIND THE PRESIDENT.

LAKE HAS ABOUT AS MANY VOTES AS HARRIS GOT.

AND HE'S THE SECOND HIGHEST VOTE-GETTER IN THE STATE UNDERNEATH 139.

HE'S VERY -- THE BALLOTS THAT ARE OUT THERE PREDOMINATELY FROM MARICOPA COUNTY, THERE'S 750,000 BALLOTS LEFT OUT THERE.

THEY'LL DO A DROP TONIGHT AND LATER TONIGHT THEY'LL TAKE CARE OF ABOUT 250,000 OF THOSE FOLKS.

HE WON MARICOPA COUNTY.

HE WILL CONTINUE TO WIN MARICOPA COUNTY.

THE NEXT WILL BE PIMA, AND THEN THE OTHER COUNTY ALSO SORT OF WASH THEMSELVES OUT THROUGH THE MIX.

BUT I SUSPECT HE'S GONNA BE FINE.

>> MATT.

>> I SUSPECT HE'S GOING TO BE FINE.

I THINK THE INTERESTING POINT HERE IS, YOU KNOW, HE TALKS ABOUT THE COMPARISON WITH EXPHAIRS LAKE, THEY'RE BOTH WOMEN.

AND I THINK THAT WE CAN'T DISCARD THE MISOGYNISTIC NATURE OF SOME OF THIS STUFF.

>> LET'S GO THERE FOR JUST A SECOND IF WE CAN.

WE'LL START WITH YOU SINCE YOU BROUGHT IT UP.

HILLARY CLINTON GOT MORE VOTES THAN DONALD TRUMP, STILL LOST THE RACE.

KAMALA HARRIS GOT MORE VOTES THAN DONALD TRUMP AND STILL LOST THE RACE.

IS THERE SOMETHING TO THAT?

>> IT IS.

FROM PERSONAL EXPERIENCE I WAS SPEAKING WE -- THEY SAID THEY WEREN'T GOING TO VOTE FOR HER AND THEY SAID IT WAS BECAUSE THEY COULDN'T SEE HER LEADING THE MILITARY.

THIS IS WOMEN, AND WOMEN OF COLOR.

IT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO LOOK AT ESPECIALLY AS WE RUN CANDIDATES AND FIGURE OUT HOW WE'RE GOING TO HANDLE OUR MESSAGING ACROSS THE COUNTRY, NOT JUST IN ARIZONA.

THOSE AREN'T THINGS THAT OUR PARTY ALWAYS WANTS TO HEAR BUT IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE'VE GOTTA ADDRESS AND THAT'S WHAT WE'LL BE LOOKING AT GOING INTO THE NEXT CYCLE.

>> I'VE HEARD STORIES OF WOMEN THAT ARE ABSOLUTELY LIVID THAT DONALD TRUMP IS GOING TO BE PRESIDENT, AND THE THINGS THAT HE'S ACCUSED OF DOING, ADJUDICATED, YOU KNOW.

>> MY COLLEAGUE MR. COLE SUCCEEDED AT HOME LAST NIGHT.

BUT I TALKED TO MY 30-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER ABOUT THIS LAST NIGHT.

WOMEN ARE ALSO HARDER ON OTHER WOMEN THAN MEN ARE.

AND THAT'S PART OF THAT INTERNAL DYNAMIC THAT OTHER WOMEN HAVE HIGHER STANDARDS FOR JUDGING WOMEN, AND THEY HOLD THEM TO HIGHER STANDARD, AND THAT ALSO IS DEBILITATING, NOT JUST A MISOGYNISTIC.

BUT ABSOLUTELY IT IS TRUE AND EXIST IN OUR CULTURE AND SOCIETY, BUT IT'S ALSO WOMEN JUDGING WOMEN.

AND THOSE ARE BOTH DIFFICULT NARRATIVES TO WRAP YOUR ARMS AROUND.

>> SO CHUCK, WHAT'S NEXT FOR KARI LAKE?

[ CHUCKLING ] I WOULD ASSUME SHE WILL TRY TO MAKE HER WAY INTO SOME ASPECT OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION AND BE OF SERVICE TO HIM IN SOME CAPACITY.

SHE IS A VERY EFFECTIVE SPOKESPERSON.

SHE VERY MUCH A BELIEVENER MAGA.

SHE IS VERY LOYAL TO HIM.

THOSE ARE ALL QUALITIES THAT HE ADMIRES AND WILL EMBRACE.

SO I WOULD ASSUME THAT.

AND I THINK SHE NEEDS TO LEAVE ARIZONA BECAUSE I DON'T THINK THERE'S A PATH FOR HER HERE ELECTORALLY.

IT'S BEEN FORECLOSED.

SHE'S DONE THAT TO HERSELF.

SHE'S CLOSED OFF THAT NARRATIVE AND THAT OPPORTUNITY HERSELF.

>> AND MATT, CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 1, INTERESTING RACE HERE, WHEN WE WERE ON THE AIR LAST NIGHT, IT LOOKED LIKE THAT THERE WAS A CHANCE TO UPEND STRIKER AND A BIG WIN FOR THE DEMOCRATS POSSIBLY.

THINGS KIND OF SWITCHED OVERNIGHT AND LOOKS LIKE SCHWEIKERT MIGHT BE HOLDING ON.

>> WE'LL SEE.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO STRESS THAT IT HASN'T BEEN CALLED YET.

THERE ARE MORE VOTES TO COUNT.

THE HOUSE IS CRUCIAL IN ORDER TO MAINTAIN A CHECK ON PRESIDENT TRUMP.

SO WE'LL SEE.

BUT I I THINK -- WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IT BEFORE WE GOT STARTED, IF SCHWEIKERT DIDN'T APPEAR MUCH IN THE GENERAL ELECTION, HE WAS PRETTY MUCH UNDER THE RADAR THROUGHOUT THE PRIMARY SEASON, AND THAT MAY HAVE BEEN TO HIS BENEFIT.

WE'LL SEE.

BUT CONSTANTLY WE THOUGHT THAT, YOU KNOW, WE CAN GET HIM, THIS IS THE TIME TO GET HIM AFTER REDISTRICTING, WE FELT CONFIDENT, AND HOPEFULLY HE DOESN'T EKE IT OUT THIS TIME.

BUT HE MIGHT.

>> SOUNDS LIKE HE'S GOING TO, CHUCK.

>> I THINK SO.

I THINK HE'LL PREVAIL TONIGHT AND TOMORROW AS THESE BALLOTS GET DROPPED.

BUT, YOU KNOW, WE TALKED ABOUT THAT EARLIER, HE DIDN'T HAVE A VERY PASSIONATE PERSON SHOWING HIM THIS, BUT HE DID THE REPUBLICAN THING, WHICH IS TRASH YOUR OPPONENT.

YOU KNOW, I MAY BE BAD, BUT THAT GUY'S WORSE.

I MEAN, MY MAILBOX WAS FULL OF THINGS EVERY SINGLE NIGHT ABOUT WHAT A BAD GUY AMYESHA WAS.

IT WAS CRAZY THE AMOUNT OF NEGATIVE NARRATIVE THAT THEY WERE POUNDING WHIM.

>> IF HE SURVIVES, COATTAILS FROM TRUMP OR -- >> I THINK THERE'S A COATTAIL ASPECT BUT I THINK IT'S ALSO GETTING BACK TO VOTER REGISTRATION.

WE'VE HEMORRHAGED DEMOCRATS ESPECIALLY IN THAT DISTRICT SINCE 2022 WHEN THE MARGIN WAS VERY TIGHT.

SO I THINK THAT'S ANOTHER THING WE HAVE TO LOOK AT.

IT'S NOT JUST COATTAILS, RED WAVE INEVITABLE, IT'S WHAT'S OUR MESSAGE TO THE INDEPENDENT, SO WE CAN GET THAT GOOD CROSSOVER VOTER, AND HOW ARE WE DELIVERING THE DEMOCRATIC MESSAGE SO THAT WE'RE GETTING INDEPENDENTS, FIRST-TIME VOTERS TO REGISTER WITH OUR PARTY AND NOT JUST STAY HOME OR GO WITH THE REPUBLICAN SENATOR.

>> THAT DISTRICT'S MOVING TOWARDS THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

>> IS IT, OKAY.

>> IT'S GOT THAT NORTH SCOTTSDALE, FOUNTAIN HILLS AREA, GIANT MAGA COUNTRY UP THERE, BUT IT'S ALSO GOT THAT AREA THAT WAS BILL GATES' DISTRICT ON THE BOARD, WHICH IS NOW GOING TO BE DANNY VANESUELOS ON THE BOARD.

THAT'S CENTRAL PHOENIX FROM NORTH OF CAMEL BACK ALL THE WAY UP THE 51, UP THERE IS GONE BLUE OH PURPLISH.

SO IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY OF GOING FORWARD.

>>> THE FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

SIXTH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, AN INCUMBENT THERE, LOOKED LIKE SOME BIG PROBLEMS LAST NIGHT, NOT QUITE SO BIG BUT THERE'S STILL PROBLEMS THERE.

>> THERE'S STILL PROBLEMS THERE, FRANKLY CAUGHT ME BY SURPRISE IN A GOOD WAY.

I THINK THAT ANGLE IS SHOWING TREMENDOUS PROMISE.

I THINK SEVERAL MONTHS AGO IT WAS HARD TO GAUGE THAT.

SO REMAINING HOPEFUL THERE.

BUT AGAIN, IT TELLS A NARRATIVE OF THINGS THAT WE CAN ASPIRE TO FOCUS ON IN THE NEXT CYCLES, BUT AGAIN, IT COMES BACK TO BUILDING THAT DEMOCRATIC BASE, FIXING VOTER REGISTRATION, GETTING MORE PEOPLE.

THAT'S GOING TO BE OUR ACHILLES HEEL UNTIL WE GET ON TOP OF THAT.

>> YEAH, IT WAS THIS CLOSE.

>> IT IS THIS CLOSE.

IT'S THIS CLOSE BECAUSE PORTIONS OF PIMA COUNTY THAT ARE IN THIS DISTRICT ARE HEAVILY DEMOCRATIC.

THEIR LATER STUFF THAT'S COMING IN NOW IS MORE REPUBLICAN.

IT'S ACOCHISE COUNTY AND MORE REPUBLICAN AND AS THAT GETS REPORTED IN, I THINK YOU'LL SEE THIS CONTINUE TO SHAPE UP.

>> CHUCK, WE'LL STICK WITH YOU ON PROP 139.

MASSIVE.

MASSIVE WIN.

>> I THINK THE REPRODUCTIVE RIGHTS COALITION CALLED THIS CORRECTLY.

THE COUNTRY WAS EXHAUSTED WITH THIS DISCUSSION, AND TRUMP HIMSELF IS SAYING LET STATES DECIDE.

WELL, GUESS, WHAT, LAST NIGHT ARIZONA DECIDED, AND THIS ISSUE IS NOW OFF THE TABLE.

>> MATT, THIS ISSUE MAY BE OFF THE TABLE, AND A LOT OF FOLKS VOTED FOR THIS, BUT WHERE WERE THOSE FOLKS WHEN IT CAME TO THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE, WHEN IT COMES TO OTHER THINGS?

WHERE WERE THEY?

>> THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.

WALL STREET JOURNAL DID SOME GREAT REPORTING ON THIS EARLIER IN THE YEAR WHERE THEY SAID THESE VOTERS WILL VOTE IN FAVOR THIS PROPOSITION AND A STRAIGHT REPUBLICAN TICKET.

AND I THINK THE PEOPLE THAT RAN THE CAMPAIGN DID A PHENOMENAL JOB, AND I THINK BROADER AS A PARTY, WE NEED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF MESSAGING THAT PARTY IS GOING TO TRY TO UNDERMINED THAT PROPOSITION IF IT GETS THROUGH.

AND THERE'S A DISCONNECT THERE, OTHERWISE, PEOPLE WOULD BE TYING THE TWO TOGETHER.

AND THERE'S CERTAINLY -- THEY'RE CERTAINLY NOT TYING DROWMP THAT.

>> AND PROP HE 14, WHICH IS LAW ENFORCEMENT GETS INVOLVED WITH IMMIGRATION MEASURES, BE THAT AS IT MAY, AGAIN, YOU'VE GOT TRUMP, YOU'VE GOT GALLEGO, YOU'VE GOT ABORTION RIGHTS.

I THINK PAUL BENTZ WAS ON OUR SHOW A WHILE BACK SAYING THAT IS A VOTER OUT THERE.

>> IT'S A SMORGASBORD VOTER, RIGHT.

I WANT SOME OF THAT, ALA CARTE OVER HERE...

THIS IS WHAT THAT IS.

YOU KNOW, ON ANY IMMIGRATION ISSUE, YOU PUT IT ON THE BALLOT, THEY'RE GONNA FILL IT.

THERE'S MASSIVE FRUSTRATION ON THAT, WHETHER IT IS ACTUALLY GOING TO DO SOMETHING AS BOB SAID, IT REALLY DOESN'T DO ANYTHING, AND IT'S NOT WORTHY, BUT IT'S STILL GOING TO PASS BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE FRUSTRATED WITH IMMIGRATION.

>> AND CERTAINLY NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING UNTIL THE COURTS FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO.

CHUCK, BACK TO YOU.

PROP 140, WHAT HAPPENED?

>> WELL, AS PRESIDENT KENNEDY USED TO SAY, WE DO THESE THINGS BECAUSE THEY ARE HARD.

THIS IS VERY HARD TO DO.

DEEPLY ENGRAINED TRIBAL RELATIONSHIPS IN AMERICAN POLITICS, WE ENDEAVOR TO POINT OUT THAT THEY'RE NOT THERE.

EVERYBODY NEEDS TO BE TREATED EQUALLY, EVERYBODY NEEDS TO BE TREATED FAIRLY.

WE REALLY DIDN'T GET THAT NARRATIVE OUT THERE BEFORE THE TWO PARTIES GOT AHOLD OF US AND THE -- THEY SAID THIS IS CALIFORNIA, COMMUNIST, SOCIALIST, AND PEOPLE JUST SHUT DOWN BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH INFORMATION ON THE BALLOT.

WE HAVE NOT NEEDED A BETTER INFORMATION CAMPAIGN AHEAD OF TIME ELEVATE THE ISSUE, THE NARRATIVE THAT WE WANTED TO SPORT AND LAWYERS PAYING ALL KINDS OF MONEY TO GET IT ON THE BALLOT SO WE DID.

MAYBE NOT THE END.

IT'S STILL A VERY VALID IDEA.

>> IT'S A GOOD IDEA FOR AMERICA TO DO THIS.

>> WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF MINUTES LEFT HERE.

VERY QUICKLY, THE BALANCE OF POWER IN THE LEGISLATURE.

LOOKS LIKE WE COULD HAVE A SPLIT.

TALK TO US ABOUT IT.

>> AGAIN, STILL TOO CLOSE TO CALL.

THERE WILL BE BALLOT CARRYING EFFORTS UNDERWAY.

I'M PAYING A LOT OF ATTENTION TO LG4 AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS THERE.

OBVIOUSLY THREE WOULD BE VERY CONCERNING TO ME AND MEMBERS OF MY PARTY IF REPUBLICANS EXPANDED THEIR CONTROL ON THE LEDGE.

WE JUST GOTTA WAIT AND SEE.

>> AND WE SAW SENATE COULD BE POSSIBLY DIVIDED HERE, BUT THE HOUSE STILL REPUBLICAN.

>> WELL, THE SENATE STILL HAS GOT TWO SEATS IN PLAY, 4 AND 27, THAT ARE STILL IN PLAY, THEY COULD FLIP TO REPUBLICAN.

THE HOUSE, THERE'S A COUPLE OF RACES IN THAT REALM AS WELL, BUT IT LOOKS LIKE THE HOUSE IS GONNA BE 32/28.

LOOKS LIKE THE REPUBLICANS PICKED UP A SEAT.

>> THERE WE GO.

AND POSSIBLY 15/15 THERE IN SENATE, AND YOU'VE GOT A DEMOCRATIC GOVERNOR.

SO SHOULD BE A LOT OF FUN.

>> BACK TO 1600 WEST WASHINGTON WHERE ALL OF THE PROBLEMS GET SOLVED.

>> OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

GOOD TO KNOW.

GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU.

GREAT CONVERSATION.

GOOD HAVE YOU BOTH HERE.

THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.