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

WE'LL LOOK AT WEEK'S TOP STORIES, INCLUDING THE GOVERNOR'S MOST LIKELY CHOICE TO JOIN HER ON THE GUBERNATORIAL TICKET AS HER LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR.

THE JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE IS NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

.

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

I'M TED SIMONS.

IT'S FRIDAY, AND THAT MEANS IT'S TIME FOR THE JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE.

JOINING US TONIGHT, DENNIS WELCH OF CBS 5 AND 3TV.

WAYNE SCHUTSKY FROM KJZZ RADIO AND JIM SMALL FROM THE "ARIZONA MIRROR."

PANEL, GOOD TO HAVE YOU ALL HERE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

DENNIS, START WITH YOU.

JOHN GILES, HE IS STILL THE MOST LIKELY CHOICE FOR THE GOVERNOR FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR, BUT STILL NOT THE OFFICIAL CHOICE.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> I KNOW IT'S BEEN THE WHOLE DRAMA ALL WEEK, AND POLITICAL DRAMA THAT NOBODY WANTED AND DON'T KNOW IF THEY CARE AT THIS POINT.

EARLY IN THE WEEK, THE "NEW YORK TIMES" BROKE A STORY CITING TWO ANONYMOUS SOURCES THAT JOHN GILES WAS GOING TO BE THE PICK.

SHE WAS PICKING THE FORMER REPUBLICAN MAYOR OF MESA TO BE HER RUNNING MATE.

THE FIRST TIME FOR THE DEMOCRATS FOR SITTING GOVERNOR TO BE RUNNING WITH A RUNNING MATE, BUT WHEN YOU WOULD CALL THE GOVERNOR'S CAMPAIGN, THEY WERE VERY INSISTENT THEY WERE NOT GOING TO CONFIRM OR DENY ANYTHING IN THOSE REPORTS, SO I KNOW THAT GOVERNOR'S CAMPAIGN HAS BEEN PRESSED ABOUT THIS ALL WEEK.

THERE WAS A PRESS CONFERENCE IN THE EXECUTIVE TO YOU THER WEEK TALKING ABOUT MEDICAL DEBT RELIEF, AND SHE WAS ASKED ABOUT JOHN GILES THING OVER AND OVER AFTERWARDS, AND SHE WOULD NOT SAY WHETHER IT WOULD BE GILES OR NOT.

AT THIS POINT, FROM WHAT I'M HEARING AND I KNOW, IT IS LIKELY GOING TO BE JOHN GILES FROM MESA IS GOING TO BE HER RUNNING MATE.

TED: WAYNE, WHAT'S THE HOLDUP, YEA OR NAY, IS IT THAT BIG OF A CHOICE?

THAT BIG OF A DECISION?

>> YOUR GUESS IS AS GOOD AS MINE.

THE COMMON KNOWLEDGE IS YOU WANT A CANDIDATE THAT'S NOT GOING TO LOSE YOU AN ELECTION, BUT THE BEST LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IS NOT GOING TO WIN YOU AN ELECTION.

GILES IS A SMART CHOICE.

WE ALL ANTICIPATED AFTER "THE NEW YORK TIMES" STORY COMING OUT, THE CAMPAIGN WOULD CONFIRM THE NEWS THEY OR SOMEONE CLOSE TO THEM LEAKED TO "THE NEW YORK TIMES."

WHY I DON'T LIKE CITING ANONYMOUS SOURCES FOR STORIES THAT DON'T HAVE IMPACT BEYOND GETTING A REPORTER THE SCOOP AND CREATING POLITICAL INTRIGUE.

NO IDEA WHY THEY'RE HOLDING OFF.

TED: JIM, IT WOULD SEEM TO ME, THE LONGER YOU WAIT ON SOMETHING LIKE THIS, THE LESS IT LOOKS LIKE YOU WERE ALL THAT EXCITED ABOUT JOHN GILES IN THE FIRST PLACE?

>> IT DEFINITELY DOES TAKE AWAY THE IMPACT, RIGHT?

THE NORMAL CADENCE FOR THESE THINGS A LOT OF TIMES IS A CAMPAIGN WILL LEAK SOME INFORMATION TO A NEWS OUTLET, PUBLISH A SCOOP BASED ON ANONYMOUS SOURCES AND A DAY LATER, THE NEXT MORNING, THEY MAKE AN OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT.

THAT'S NOT WHAT THEY'RE DOING RIGHT NOW.

I DON'T KNOW WHY.

IT DOESN'T MAKE A LOT OF SENSE BUT TAKES THE IMPACT AND THE GRAVITAS AWAY FROM THIS, IF THEY ULTIMATELY DO ANNOUNCE GILES.

AND IF THEY DON'T, I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF QUESTIONS BECAUSE WE'VE ALL BEEN HEARING FOR WEEKS THAT JOHN GILES WAS AT THE TOP OF THE LIST AND GOING TO BE THE LIKELY CHOICE FOR IT EVEN AFTER THERE WERE REPORTS HE TURNED IT DOWN.

>> AND MAYBE THE PR STRATEGY IS A LOT SMARTER THAN I AM.

TAKES A LOT TO OUTSMART ME, BUT COULD BE MUCH SMARTER BECAUSE WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT IT ALL WEEK.

INSTEAD OF YOU GET SOMEBODY SCOOPS EVERYBODY ON THIS, THE NEXT DAY YOU CONFIRM IT AND YOU MOVE ON.

AND TO ME AT THIS POINT, KNOWING IT'S PROBABLY LIKELY GOING TO BE GILES.

WHAT I THINK IS INTERESTING IS THE QUESTION OF WHAT DOES THIS ACTUALLY GIVE THE GOVERNOR?

OBVIOUSLY, SHE'S BEEN TRYING BE THIS BIPARTISAN WARRIOR AT THE CAPITOL, CITING BIPARTISAN BUDGETS SHE SIGNED WITH THE REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED LEGISLATURE AND CAN SAY THAT NOW.

I THINK WITH JOHN GILES, THAT GIVES HER SOME OF THAT, BUT MIGHT BRING BAGGAGE.

I KNOW JOHN GILES IS A CLASSIC CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN, AND HIS VIEWS ON THINGS LIKE ABORTION, FOR EXAMPLE, ARE VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE KATIE HOBBS, AND ALSO THIS IS A FORMER MAYOR WHO OVERSAW PRIVATIZATION OF SOME OF THEIR JAILS IN MESA.

THIS IS SOMETHING THEY KNOW THE DEMOCRATS DO NOT LIKE, AND I KNOW SHE'S GOING TO BE FIGHTING FOR THOSE INDEPENDENT, THE MODERATE REPUBLICAN VOTERS THAT SHE'S GOING TO NEED TO WIN.

MY QUESTION IS, ARE SOME OF THOSE DEMOCRATS GOING TO BE TURNED OFF A LITTLE BIT, AND MAYBE NOT SO EXCITED TO VOTE COME NOVEMBER.

TED: AND AGAIN, JOHN GILES, FORMER REPUBLICAN NOW.

HE'S IN THE A REPUBLICAN ANYMORE, BUT HE'S NOT A DEMOCRAT EITHER.

HOW MUCH OF AN IMPACT IS THAT?

IS THAT SOMETHING THAT THEY'RE STEWING OVER HERE?

>> I DON'T KNOW.

YEAH, AS YOU MENTIONED, HE REREGISTERED AS AN INDEPENDENT, LOWER CASE I, IS THE TIMING POLITICAL BECAUSE OF PENDING DECISION?

POSSIBLY.

HE ENDORSED JOE BIDEN IN 2020, HE ENDORSED KATIE HOBBS IN 2022 AND BIDEN AND KAMALA HARRIS IN 24.

SO HIS SPLIT FROM THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS MANY YEARS IN THE MAKING.

I GET DENNIS'S POINT ABOUT THE ISSUES THAT HE'S BEEN ON A DIFFERENT SIDE THAN THE TRADITIONAL DEMOCRATIC VOTER ON.

I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY VOTERS ARE GOING TO DIG THAT DEEP INTO THAT.

THE CALCULUS HERE IS DEMOCRATS AREN'T VOTING FOR ANDY BIGGS, REGARDLESS WHO SHE CHOOSES, THEY MADE A PICK THAT MIGHT GET THE CROSSOVER INDEPENDENTS AND MODERATE REPUBLICANS SHE RELIED ONTO WIN LAST TIME AROUND.

TED: GILES SPOKE AT THE DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION.

WHAT DOES HE BRING -- SAY IT'S A DONE DEAL.

WHAT DOES HE BRING TO THE VALLEY?

EAST VALLEY, HOW MUCH?

LDS, HOW MUCH?

>> THOSE ARE COMMUNITIES HE HAS STANDING AND HAS A POLITICAL PROFILE, AND HAS PEOPLE WHO WILL LISTEN WHEN THEY HEAR ABOUT HIM BEING INVOLVED IN SOMETHING.

I THINK MORE THAN ANYTHING, WHAT IT DOES IS DOESN'T NECESSARILY BRING IN A CONSTITUENCY OF VOTERS, RIGHT?

WE SEE THAT AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL WITH THE PRESIDENT PICKING A VICE PRESIDENTIAL PICK FROM A DIFFERENT PART OF THE COUNTRY.

I'M FROM THE NORTHEAST AND WE'LL PICK SOMEONE FROM THE SOUTH TO COALESCE THE VOTERS.

MAYBE, IF ANYTHING, WHAT IT'S GOING TO DO IS GIVE PERMISSION FOR MODERATE REPUBLICANS, RIGHT OF CENTER INDEPENDENTS TO SAY, LOOK, I'M STANDING -- I'M SOMEONE YOU KNOW AND RESPECT WHO MAYBE YOU VOTED FOR IN THE PAST, AND I'M STANDING WITH KATIE HOBBS, AND KIND OF GIVES PERMISSION FOR SOME OF THOSE FOLKS ON THE FENCE ABOUT HOBBS WHO DON'T LIKE BIGGS TO SAY I'M GOING TO CAST MY VOTE FOR KATIE HOBBS INSTEAD OF SKIPPING THE CONTEST OR THROWING A VOTE TOWARD THE THIRD PARTY.

TED: AND AGAIN, THE IDEA OF A RUNNING MATE IS DON'T MESS IT UP.

>> LIKE A VP PICK, A TRADITIONAL VP PICK, YOU CAN MESS THAT UP AND AVOID THOSE KINDS OF MISTAKES.

I DON'T THINK JOHN GILES IS A MISTAKE AT ALL.

FROM THE FOLKS I TALKED TO, THEY LOOK AT IT AS A WISE AND SOLID PICK.

IT'S NOT AS SEXY AS JIMMY McCAIN.

ONE OF THE NAMES, JOHN McCAIN'S SON WAS OUT THERE, THAT DIDN'T HAPPEN.

HE WAS A SOLID PICK FOR HER.

HE IS NOT GOING TO ELECTRIFY AUDIENCES, I WAS THERE LIVE FOR THE CHICAGO CONVENTION, THE 24 CONVENTION SPEECH, AND THE CROWD THERE LOVED WHAT HE HAD TO SAY, NOT SO MUCH LIKE HOW HE SAID IT OR WHAT HE HAD TO SAY, JUST THE FACT THAT HE REPRESENTED AN ANTI-TRUMP REPUBLICAN, SOMEBODY WILLING TO STAND UP FOR HIS PARTY.

TED: LET'S SAY IT'S GILES FOR ARGUMENT'S SAKE HERE.

GILES, SINE KERR, WHO MAKES A BIGGER DIFFERENCE?

DOES IT MATTER?

>> I GO WITH A WASH ON THAT.

AGAIN, REPUBLICANS HAD A CELEBRATORY WEEKEND HE SINE KERR WAS BRINGING THE PARTY TOGETHER.

BUT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A THREE-TERM RURAL LEGISLATOR FROM BUCKEYE.

SHE'S NOT REALLY WELL KNOWN OUTSIDE OF FOLKS WHO PAY ATTENTION TO THE CAPITOL OR FOLKS HEAVILY INVESTED IN AGRICULTURAL ISSUES.

AGAIN, SHE WAS ANOTHER PICK, SHE'S NOT GOING TO LOSE YOU VOTES.

SHE IS WELL RESPECTED WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AMONGST THE REPUBLICAN ELECTORATE WHO IS LOCKED IN, I DON'T SEE EITHER ONE MOVING THE NEEDLE.

>> AT BEST, I AGREE WITH WAYNE ON THIS ONE.

IN A WASH AT THE END OF THE DAY, AT BEST, THE JOHN GILES THING GETS MORE OF A POP FROM A MEDIA PERSPECTIVE.

YOU'RE GOING TO WIN A NEWS CYCLE A LITTLE MORE BECAUSE YOU'RE GOING TO GET THE HEADLINE, FORMER REPUBLICAN MAYOR, TAPPED AS DEMOCRAT GOVERNOR'S RUNNING MATE.

THAT'S A HEADLINE PEOPLE WILL LOOK AT, TAKE A SECOND LOOK AT AND WANT TO READ A STORY ABOUT.

TED: BEFORE WE LEAVE THIS, ANYONE HAVE AN ANSWER FOR THIS.

IS THERE A LINE OF SUCCESSION FOR THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR?

>> YOU MEAN IF THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR IS NO LONGER THE LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR?

TED: YES.

>> THE GOVERNOR GETS ANOTHER ONE AND I BELIEVE THEY HAVE TO BE CONFIRMED.

TED: IT'S AN APPOINTMENT, THERE IS NO LINE OF SUCCESSION?

>> NO, I BELIEVE IT'S AN APPOINTMENT TO REPLACE.

TED: AN APPOINTMENT?

>> AND WITH SENATE CONFIRMATION, WHICH WOULD GET INTERESTING AGAIN, IF WE HAVE A REPUBLICAN-LED LEGISLATURE AND DEMOCRAT GOVERNOR.

TED: YES?

>> THERE IS A LITTLE DRAMA ABOUT WHEN THEY MAKE THE APPOINTMENT.

YOU HAVE ADRIAN FONTES SAYING, YOU HAVE TO HAVE YOUR ANNOUNCEMENTS -- NAMES IN BY THE CLOSE OF BUSINESS TODAY BECAUSE WE GOT TO GET READY TO PRINT THE BALLOTS.

PRINTING MILLIONS OF BALLOTS IS NOT A SIMPLE THING AND YOU WANT TO GET ON THAT EARLY.

AND FONTES WANTS THE NAMES EARLIER THAN WHAT SHE IS LEGALLY REQUIRED TO DO, WHICH IS THE BEGINNING OF SEPTEMBER.

SO THERE'S A LITTLE BIT OF DRAMA THERE, AND I THINK IT POINTS, WE WERE TALKING BEFORE THE SHOW A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOLES IN THE LEGISLATION THAT WAS DRAFTED A FEW YEARS AGO.

TED: HOLES?

HOLY SMOKES!

THE WIND'S BLOWING THROUGH.

I THOUGHT IT WAS AUGUST 7.

>> AUGUST 7 IS THE PRACTICAL DEADLINE HE NEEDS, BUT IN DIFFERENT AREAS, SUPREME COURT FILINGS, HE SAID AUGUST 20 IS THE DEADLINE TO RESOLVE LAWSUITS OVER BALLOT MEASURES, BUT THE LAW SAYS FOR LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SPECIFICALLY, SEPTEMBER 4.

THAT'S THE STATUTORY LAW, THAT'S THE DROP DEAD.

THE OTHER ONES ARE THE PEOPLE RUNNING THIS THING ARE SAYING, WE NEED THESE NAMES TO PRINT THE BALLOTS.

>> YOU CAN ONLY DROP DEAD SO MANY TIMES.

OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

MARICOPA COUNTY ELECTION RESULTS.

JIM, 99% OF RESULTS WERE POSTED 24 HOURS AFTER THE PRIMARY.

THAT'S PRETTY GOOD.

>> IT IS GOOD, AND IT'S DUE TO A COUPLE OF FACTORS.

ONE, TURNOUT WAS PRETTY LOW, EVEN FOR A MIDTERM PRIMARY TURNOUT, NOT GREAT.

AND I THINK THE SECOND THING THAT HAD A MAJOR IMPACT WAS THE FIRST TIME WE USED A NEW LAW THAT ALLOWS FOR PEOPLE WHO SHOW UP AT A POLLING PLACE WITH EARLY BALLOT IN HAND.

THEY HAVE A CHOICE OF PUTTING IT IN THE TUB THAT'S TAKEN DOWN TO THE CENTRAL COUNTY OFFICE TO BE TABULATED AND COUNTED, OR SHOW THEIR I.D.

RIGHT THERE, CRACK OPEN THE ENVELOPE AND RUN TO T THROUGH A TABULATOR IN FRONT OF THEM.

THAT HAS TO CUT DOWN THE WORK THAT ELECTION OFFICIALS HAVE TO DO ONCE THE POLLS CLOSE, AND ONCE ALL THOSE COLLECTED EARLY BALLOTS ARRIVE BACK DOWN AT THE CENTRAL TABULATING FACILITY.

TED: THE EARLY BALLOTS, SOUNDS LIKE THEY FOUND A WAY TO MAKE THEM MORE AMENABLE.

>> I'M ONE OF THE SCOFFLAWS.

I FEEL LIKE SOMEBODY REPORTING ON THIS, I'M WAITING UNTIL THE LAST MOMENT TO PUT MY BALLOT IN, BECAUSE I DON'T WANT TO PUT MY BALLOT IN AND VOTE ON -- THAT MAY HAVE WORKED, AND OVERALL IT'S A GOOD THING FOR THE STATE THAT THE COUNT WENT OH, WELL AND WAS SO QUICK.

THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS, I THINK, THE LENGTH OF TIME TO COUNT THE VOTES, BREATHES THAT QUESTION MARK IN THE PUBLIC, WONDERING WHAT'S GOING ON, THEY START QUESTIONING WHETHER THEY SHOULD TRUST THE ELECTION RESULTS.

FACT THEY GET ON IT DONE QUICKLY THIS TIME AROUND IS GOOD FOR THE STATE AND HOPE THEY CAN CARRY THAT ON INTO NOVEMBER WHICH IS A BIG, BIG STORY.

TED: THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY AGREED UPON.

>> IT IS NICE TO SEE THAT EVERYTHING SEEMINGLY WENT OFF WITHOUT A HITCH.

THEY BOTH AGREED THIS IS A GOOD NEW OPTION FOR VOTERS.

I WAS AT ONE OF THE POLLS AND THE FIRST THREE PEOPLE WERE A REPUBLICAN, DEMOCRAT AND INDEPENDENT.

THE FIRST THREE, HOW DID VOTING GO?

THEY VOLUNTEERED THEY USED THAT OPTION AND LOVED IT.

>> CAN YOU IMAGINE IF SOMETHING WENT WRONG WITH THE PRIMARY.

THE ISSUES LEADING UP TO THE NOVEMBER ELECTION WOULD BE SOMETHING I DON'T THINK ANYBODY WOULD REALLY WANT TO BE DEALING WITH.

TED: JIM, DO YOU THINK THAT THE BIG TEST IN NOVEMBER WILL HAVE MUCH MORE IN THE WAIVE TURNOUT HERE, LOTS MORE FOLKS DROPPING, DOING ALL THE THINGS YOU SEE THERE.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> GOOD QUESTION.

I HOPE THE SUCCESS SCALES IN PROPORTION WITH THE TURNOUT.

A LOT MORE INTENSITY AND LOT MORE FOCUS, TOO.

THOSE ELECTION TABULATION DELAYS MATTER A LOT MORE NOW I THINK IN THE GENERAL ELECTION THAN THEY DID 10, 15 YEARS AGO WHERE, THE PRIMARY WAS WHERE, MOST OF OUR CONTESTS GOT RESOLVED.

TED: GENERAL ELECTION, YOU ARE LIKELY TO SEE LONGER LINES AT POLLING PLACES.

FOLKS SHOWING THE I.D.

HAVE TO STAND IN THE SAME LINE WITH THE OTHER VOTERS, THAT WILL BE A TEST OF THE NEW OPTION.

PEOPLE ARE MORE THAN WILLING TO DO IT IN THE PRIMARY WHEN THERE IS NO LINE.

THEY'RE WILLING TO WAIT IN THE LINE RATHER THAN DROP IT OFF AND LEAVE.

TED: DENNIS, AMERICA FIRST IS A CONSERVATIVE LEGAL GROUP, SUING THE SECRETARY OF STATE OVER THE WORDING OF A BALLOT MEASURE.

WE'RE AT THAT TIME OF YEAR WHERE THE WORDING OF BALLOT MEASURES IS BACK IN THE HEADLINES.

TALK TO US.

>> THIS IS LIKE THE VOTER I.D., AND THIS WOULD WANT PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP IN ORDER TO VOTE.

THEY'RE SAYING THAT FONTES, THE WAY THEY PUT THE LANGUAGE ON THE BALLOT, DOESN'T INCLUDE STRONG ENOUGH LANGUAGE ON THAT, TO TELL THE VOTER THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT THIS MEASURE IS.

WELL, THE THING IS, IT'S ALREADY THE LAW OF THE LAND IF YOU'RE NOT A CITIZEN, YOU CANNOT VOTE, AND, YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, THE FOLKS BEHIND ALL THIS, THIS IS THE MESSAGING WITH THE CAMPAIGN, THEY'D LIKE TO SEE SOME OF THAT MESSAGING ON THE BALLOT LANGUAGE ITSELF.

TED: BASICALLY, SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE SAID THIS IS THE LAW, WHY WOULD WE PUT THIS ON A BALLOT MEASURE?

THEY'RE SAYING YOU'RE DIMINISHING THE MEASURE BY NOT PUTTING IT ON THERE?

>> THIS MEASURE IS BROAD, HAS TO DO BY CAMPAIGN FINANCE BY FOREIGN NATIONALS, REQUIRING I.D.

BY EVERYONE INCLUDING VOTE BY MAIL.

THOSE WERE EMPHASIZED IN THE BALLOT LANGUAGE BECAUSE THEY WERE TRUE CHANGES IN THE LAW.

TWICE IN THE LAW IT SAYS THE ELECTIONS WILL BE DECIDED BY U.S.

CITIZENS.

THAT IS ALREADY THE LAW, SO THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE ARGUMENT IS WE ONLY HAVE 50 WORDS TO WRITE THE EXPLAINERS FOR THE VOTERS ON THE BALLOT WHY, WASTE THEM ON THINGS THAT ARE ALREADY THERE?

TED: AND THE ARGUMENT, THE PLAINTIFF, THE ARGUMENT IS BASICALLY, SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE, THE WORDING IS ADVOCACY AND NOT EXPLANATION.

>> WELL, AND I SUSPECT THAT THE RESPONSE TO THAT CLAIM IS GOING TO BE, NO, WHAT YOU'RE ASKING FOR IS ADVOCACY, YOU'RE ASKING TO PUT YOUR CHOSEN CAMPAIGN RHETORIC ONTO THE BALLOT FOR ALL THE VOTERS.

TED: IF YOU REALLY THOUGHT IT WOULD BE ADVOCACY, THE WORDING WOULD SAY, WE'RE NOT SURE HOW PEOPLE DOING MAIL-IN VOTING ARE SHOWING THEIR I.D.

THAT WOULD BE TRUE.

>> YEAH, IT WOULD BE TRUE, I KIND OF AGREE WITH JIM ON WHAT THE ADVOCACY IS.

OBVIOUSLY, IF YOU'RE AMERICA FIRST ON, THIS YEAH, YOU WANT YOUR LANGUAGE ON THERE.

IT'S DEFINITELY GOING TO HELP YOU OUT.

IF YOU GO OUT AND YOU ASK PEOPLE IN THE STREET, SHOULD YOU PROVE CITIZENSHIP IN ORDER TO VOTE?

MOST PEOPLE WOULD PROBABLY SAY YEAH, YOU SHOULD DO THAT.

THEY'D LOVE TO SEE THAT IN THE BALLOT QUESTION BECAUSE IT GETS THEM A LOT CLOSER TO WHERE THEY WANT TO BE.

THEY WANT THE YES VOTE ON THAT.

TED: ALL RIGHT.

WAYNE, WHO IS RALPH HEAP AND WHY DOES RALPH HEAP AND CLEAN ELECTIONS, WHY AREN'T THEY GETTING ALONG?

>> RALPH HEAP AND THE FAMILY ARE MY BEAT NOW.

HE'S A STATE LAWMAKER AND RUNNING FOR THE CORPORATION COMMISSION.

HE'S IN A FINANCIAL PICKLE, AS IT WERE, BECAUSE HE WILL NOT FIND A DOCUMENT WITH THE CLEAN ELECTIONS COMMISSION THAT HE FILED ALL HIS CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS AND THEY ARE ACCURATE.

WITHOUT SIGNING THAT, HE WILL NOT RECEIVE HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS OF CLEAN ELECTIONS FUNDING, HE SAID LET ME NOT BE A CLEAN ELECTIONS CANDIDATE.

THEY SAID, NO, HE CAN'T PRIVATELY FUND RAISE.

HE'S HEADING INTO A GENERAL ELECTION WITH NO MONEY AND NO WAY TO GET IT.

TED: ISN'T THAT LIKE A BANK ROBBER SAYING, JUST KEEP IT.

>> I LOVE IT.

HE SAYS I'M NOT GOING TO SIGN A PAPER THAT SAYS ALL THE FACTS ARE NOT STRAIGHT ON THIS.

TOTALLY SHADY.

LET ME BE A REGULARLY PRIVATELY FINANCED CANDIDATE.

WHAT ABOUT THE MONEY YOU WERE GOING TO GET THROUGH THE PRIMARY WITH.

I LOVE THAT STORY.

TED: JIM, AND MUCH OF THIS DEALS WITH CAMPAIGN SIGNS AND HOW MANY CAMPAIGN SIGNS HE HAD.

MUST HAVE BEEN A DIME A DOZEN, LITERALLY FOR THAT MONEY.

>> THAT'S IMPORTANT, IF YOU ARE RUNNING UNDER THE PUBLIC FINANCING UNDER CLEAN ELECTIONS, THEY HAVE STRICT RULES HOW YOU SPEND THE MONEY BECAUSE IT'S TAXPAYER DOLLARS, AND AMONG THE THINGS THEY LOOK FOR ARE BASICALLY ARE YOU GETTING CUT A DEAL THAT OTHER CANDIDATES AREN'T GOING TO GET ON SOME KIND OF WORK.

WHETHER IT'S SIGNS, MAIL, A CONSULTING FEE, ATTORNEYS OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, AND THAT CERTAINLY -- I THINK THAT'S WHAT WAS RAISED, HEY, MAYBE THERE'S A PROBLEM HERE, AND, YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY A FASCINATING FIGHT, AND IT'S UNPRECEDENTED.

I DON'T EVER REMEMBER SEEING EXAMINE TRY TO BACK OUT OF CLEAN ELECTIONS BETWEEN A PRIMARY AND A GENERAL.

TED: AFTER YOU GET THE MONEY.

>> AFTER YOU GET THE MONEY.

>> HEAP HASN'T ACTUALLY GOTTEN THE MONEY IN THIS CASE AND WOULDN'T SIGN THE DOCUMENT TO GET THE FIRST TRANCHE OF MONEY.

THE SMALL DONATIONS THAT CLEAN ELECTIONS ARE ALLOWED TO GET, BASED ON THE SMALL DONATIONS ONLY REPORTED $600 FOR THE SIGNS.

EVERYONE THAT'S SEEN THE SIGNS ALL OVER THE STATE.

THAT'S NOT ENOUGH TO PAY FOR THESE THINGS, THEY'RE 20, 30, $40 DEPENDING WHERE YOU GET THEM FROM.

SOMEONE PAID FOR THE SIGNS AND YOU DIDN'T TELL US WHO.

>> AND THE OTHER THING IS THAT'S POSSIBLE, WHICH WE HAVE SEEN CLEAN ELECTIONS RUN AFOUL OF, YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO GO INTO DEBT AS A CLEAN ELECTIONS CANDIDATE.

YOU CAN'T SPEND MONEY BEFORE YOU HAVE IT IN YOUR BANK ACCOUNT.

IF HE SIGNED A CONTRACT THAT SAID, HEY, DO 8,000 SIGNS AND I'LL PAY YOU FOR THEM WHEN THEY COME IN, THAT IS EXPRESSLY FORBIDDEN AND THE KIND OF THING THAT CAN GET YOU REMOVED AND HAS GOTTEN PEOPLE REMOVED FROM OFFICE BEFORE AND FINED TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS.

TED: WHAT ABOUT THE BALLOT HERE?

HE FINISHED THE HEAD, OF NICK MYERS'S, THERE IN THE PRIMARY.

TALK ABOUT LINE OF SUCCESSION, WHAT HAPPENS IF MR.

HEAP -- IS THIS BASICALLY A MONEY SITUATION, OR IS THIS A BALLOT APPEARANCE SITUATION?

>> JUST MY UNDERSTANDING IS IT'S A MONEY SITUATION.

I THINK MOVING FORWARD ON THE BALLOT, AND HE'S GOING TO HAVE SOME TROUBLE IF HE DOESN'T HAVE ANY MONEY WHETHER HE'S ON THE BALLOT OR NOT.

PARTICULARLY IF HE IS ON THE BALLOT, GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF TROUBLE MOVING OUT THERE.

YOU STARTED OFF THE QUESTION, WHO IS RALPH HEAP?

HE'S NOT A HOUSEHOLD WORD OUT THERE, AND HE'S GOING TO NEED MONEY TO GET HIS NAME OUT THERE.

TED: SO NICK MYERS, REGARDLESS WHAT HAPPENS, NICK MYERS WILL NOT APPEAR ON THE BALLOT IF RALPH HEAP IS THERE?

>> IF RALPH HEAP IS THERE.

THAT'S THE QUESTION.

AS JIM MENTIONED, THERE IS A MECHANISM TO REMOVE HEAP ON THE BALLOT BASED ON THE ALLEGATIONS THEY FIND AGAINST THEM.

THEY ARE CALLING FOR HEAP TO DROP OUT OF RACE, IF HE STAYS ON, HE DOESN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO RUN THE CAMPAIGN AND BEING ACCUSED OF NEFARIOUS CAMPAIGN ACTIVITY.

WHAT I HEARD FROM THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE, IF THAT HAPPENS BEFORE AUGUST 20, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY CAN NAME A REPLACEMENT, COULD BE NICK MYERS, COULD BE SOMEONE ELSE ON THE BALLOT INSTEAD.

TED: IS THIS GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN A GENERAL ELECTION?

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.

I THINK MONEY MAKES A BIG DIFFERENT IN GENERAL ELECTIONS.

TED: FOR CORPORATION COMMISSION?

>> CORPORATION COMMISSION.

IF YOU HAVE SOMEBODY INVOLVED IN SCANDAL ABOUT THAT, I THINK THE CORPORATION COMMISSION IS INVOLVED OVER THE YEARS WITH ENOUGH SCANDAL OUT THERE, SEEMS LIKE EVERY FEW YEARS, THERE'S SOMETHING NEW.

I DON'T KNOW IF THE VOTERS WANT TO PUT IF HEAP IS ON THE BALLOT, I DON'T THINK THEY WANT TO PUT SOMEBODY ON THE COMMISSION WHO'S ALREADY MIRED IN SCANDAL.

TED: JIM, SOUNDS LIKE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL SAID MAYBE SHE WILL DEFEND PROP 114, WHERE LOCAL LAW ENFORCEMENT CAN ARREST THOSE CROSSING ILLEGALLY.

IS SHE WAITING FOR A BETTER TIME TO COMMIT OR NOT COMMIT?

>> THIS IS A SECURE THE BORDER ACT, THAT WAS APPROVED OVERWHELMINGLY TWO YEARS AGO.

YEAH, THERE'S A LAWSUIT THAT'S BEEN FILED AGAINST IT AND ESSENTIALLY, SHE HAS DEFENDED IT UP TO A POINT SO FAR, TO SAY, LOOK, THE PLAINTIFFS DON'T HAVE STANDING.

THEY HAVEN'T BEEN HARMED.

WE'RE NOT AT A POINT WHERE THEY HAVE THE ABILITY TO SUE.

PART OF THE LAW WAS DELAYED UNTIL A TEXAS LAW, SIMILAR TEXAS LAW WENT INTO EFFECT, THAT HAPPENED EARLIER THIS YEAR, SO LAST MONTH, THE ARIZONA LAW WENT INTO EFFECT.

THERE WAS A LAWSUIT FILED BY IMMIGRANT RIGHTS GROUP, TO ESSENTIALLY BLOCK THE ARIZONA FROM GOING INTO EFFECT SAYING THIS IS GOING TO CAUSE PROBLEMS AND THE DAMAGE IT'S CAUSED.

SO FAR, THE JUDGE SAID I'M NOT GOING TO PREEMPTIVELY BLOCK, THIS WE'RE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE TRIAL.

WE'LL SEE IF YOU CAN PROVE THE HARM.

TED: AND WILL THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND/OR HER STAFF BE ANYWHERE NEAR THE COURTROOM?

>> AS JIM SAID, THEY ALREADY HAVE, TO A POINT.

TED: TO A POINT.

>> THEY ARGUED THAT THE JUDGE SHOULDN'T BLOCK IT AS THE TRIAL IS PROCEEDING, BUT SHE WON'T TELL US IN.

THE PAST SHE HAS NOT DEFENDED LAWS THAT SHE ARGUES ARE UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

THIS WILL BE HARDER TO ARGUE AGAINST SINCE IT WAS COUCHED IN THE FACT AS YOU MENTIONED, IT HAS TO WAIT UNTIL THE TEXAS LAW GOING THROUGH THE FEDERAL COURT SYSTEM GOES INTO EFFECT.

NOW THAT'S INTO EFFECT, I SUSPECT THAT'S WHY SHE'S CAREFULLY WATCHING HER WORDS, IT'S HARDER TO MAKE THE ARGUMENT THE LAW IS NOT LEGAL WHEN THE LAW IT WAS MODELED AFTER IS NOW.

TED: IT'S HARDER TO MAKE THE ARGUMENT RUNNING FOR REELECTION.

>> IT'S ONE OF THE THINGS, YOU DON'T WANT TO MAKE IMMIGRATION NOW AN ISSUE IN THIS RACE, WHEN IT IS NOT NOW.

DEMOCRATS DON'T DO WELL ON THE ISSUE.

WHY WOULD YOU WANT TO BRING THIS UP AND GIVE YOUR OPPONENT SOMETHING VERY SERIOUS AND LEGITIMATE TO ATTACK YOU ON?

WE WERE TALKING, THIS WAS VOTER APPROVED.

YOU DON'T WANT TO BE NOT DEFENDING SOMETHING THAT THE VOTERS SAID OVERWHELMINGLY, WE WANT THIS TO HAPPEN.

TED: WE GOT A COUPLE MINUTES LEFT HERE.

BACK TO THE GOVERNOR'S RACE, THERE WAS A POLL, I CAN'T REMEMBER -- >> AARP.

TED: THAT'S RIGHT, AARP, I SHOULD KNOW, THEY'RE FRIENDS OF THE PROGRAM.

JIM, START WITH YOU, SOUNDS LIKE THE GOVERNOR HAS A BIT OF A LEAD.

MORE THAN YOU EXPECT?

WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE NUMBERS?

>> WHAT WAS IMPRESSIVE ABOUT THIS, THIS WAS A DEMOCRAT FIRM AND A REPUBLICAN POLLING FIRM THAT GOT TOGETHER TO DO THIS.

AND THE REPUBLICAN FIRM IS DONALD TRUMP'S POLLSTERS.

THEY GOT TOGETHER AND DID THIS AND AARP PAYS FOR LEGITIMATE POLLING AND HOBBS IS UP, LOOK, ABOUT 90 DAYS FROM ELECTION DAY.

60 DAYS FROM VOTING FROM THE START OF VOTING, SHE'S UP BY EIGHT POINTS.

TED: RIGHT.

>> AND SHE'S REALLY DOING WELL WITH THOSE INDEPENDENT VOTERS, SHE WAS PLUS 14 WITH THEM.

BIGGS IS MINUS 14 WITH THEM.

TED: YOUNGER VOTERS, TOO.

>> YOUNGER VOTERS, BIGGS DOES WELL WITH OLDER VOTERS.

BIGGS SHOWS HE HAS SERIOUS PROBLEMS HERE IN THE FINAL MONTHS OF THIS CAMPAIGN.

TED: WHAT DID YOU TAKE OF THAT POLL?

>> I DON'T THINK IT'S GOING TO BE THAT LARGE OF A MARGIN BY ELECTION DAY, GIVEN THE LAST ELECTION WAS DECIDED BY 1%.

WHAT STUCK OUT WERE THE BREAKDOWNS BY DEMOGRAPHIC BECAUSE THE ONLY DEMOGRAPHICS THAT BIGGS WAS LEADING WITH WERE REPUBLICANS AND OLDER VOTERS BY A SMALLER MARGIN THAN I EXPECTED AND OLDER MEN BY A LARGE MARGIN.

HOBBS RAN THE TABLE BETWEEN 18 AND MID 40s AND INDEPENDENT VOTERS.

>> AND LATINO VOTERS AS WELL?

>> YESES ARE ABSOLUTELY.

THESE NUMBERS AREN'T -- I DON'T THINK THEY'RE TERRIBLY SURPRISING FROM EVERYTHING WE'RE HEARING ABOUT WATCHING THIS RACE SET UP, AND I THINK THAT IT SPEAKS TO THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE THAT ANDY BIGGS HAS WHICH IS THAT HE DOESN'T HAVE THE MONEY TO OVERCOME FROM STARTING OFF RIGHT HERE.

IF HE'S STARTING OFF 90 DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION, 6, 8, 10 POINTS OF BEING BEHIND ISSUE IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT OF LIFT TO GET PAST KATIE HOBBS.

YOU KNOW, THE GOVERNOR HAS ALREADY SPENT IN THE LAST THREE MONTHS, SHE SPENT MORE ON TV ADVERTISING, MORE THAN DOUBLE WHAT ANDY BIGGS RAISED FOR THE ENTIRE CAMPAIGN.

THE NATIONAL DEMOCRATS ARE COMING IN WITH $10 MILLION, REPUBLICANS ARE NOT COMING INTO ANDY BIGGS' RESCUE.

TED: STOP IT RIGHT THERE.

PANEL, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.