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

WE'LL LOOK AT THE WEEK'S TOP STORIES INCLUDING RESULTS FROM TUESDAY'S PRIMARY ELECTION.

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

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

I'M TED SIMONS.

IT'S FRIDAY AND THAT MEANS IT'S TIME FOR ANOTHER EDITION OF THE JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE, AND JOINING US TONIGHT, JEREMY DUDA OF AXIOS PHOENIX, LAURIE ROBERTS OF "THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC" AND AZCENTRAL.COM AND MARY JO PITZL OF "ARIZONA REPUBLIC" AND AZCENTRAL.COM.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

JEREMY, START WITH YOU, START WITH KARI LAKE, THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY FOR U.S. SENATE.

SHE WINS BIG.

DID SHE WIN BIG ENOUGH?

>> PROBABLY NOT BIG ENOUGH TO WIN OVER THROUGH SKEPTICS WITHIN THE PARTY.

I DON'T KNOW, IF YOU HAVE 55% IN A THREE-WAY RACE, MARK LAMB GOT 40%, FORGET WHO THE THIRD CANDIDATE WAS.

YOU HAVE A PUSH LATE IN THE RACE FROM CRITICS OF LAKE'S PARTY SAYING I DON'T THINK SHE CAN WIN, PUT UP MARK LAMB AGAINST RUBEN GALLEGO.

OBVIOUSLY THAT WASN'T ENOUGH, LAKE WAS OVERWHELMING FAVORITE FROM START TO FINISH.

55% IN THE RACE IS GOING TO CAUSE CONSTERNATION WITHIN THE PARTY.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT MEANS ANYTHING FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION BUT DOES SIGNIFY, THEY HAVE A LOT OF FOLKS WITHIN THE PARTY, A LOT OF VOTERS WHO ARE NOT SURE SHE CAN WIN IN NOVEMBER.

>> I THINK IT ABSOLUTELY SIGNIFIES SOMETHING FOR THE GENERAL ELECTION RATES.

YOU HAD FOUR OUT OF TEN REPUBLICAN PRIMARY VOTERS BECAUSE SOME OF THEM WOULD HAVE BEEN INDEPENDENTS, WHO DID NOT VOTE FOR KARI LAKE.

THAT'S FOUR OUT OF TEN SHE'S GOT TO WIN OVER.

THAT'S A LOT FOR SOMEONE WHO -- EVERYBODY HAS AN OPINION ABOUT KARI LAKE, YOU EITHER LOVE HER OR DON'T LIKE HER AT ALL.

VERY FEW PEOPLE ON THE FENCE.

THESE ARE FOUR OUT OF TEN PEOPLE WHO VOTED FOR A GUY WHO BARELY HAD A CAMPAIGN.

NO BIG ENDORSEMENTS, NO MONEY, NO VISIBILITY AND YET FOUR OUT OF TEN REPUBLICANS WENT FOR HIM.

YOU HAVE TO WIN THOSE PEOPLE OVER IN ADDITION TO ENOUGH OF THE INDEPENDENTS WHO COME OUT AND DECIDE THIS RACE TO SWING THEM OVER, AND HISTORY IS NOT ON THE SIDE OF MAGA CANDIDATES BEING ABLE DO THAT.

>> WHAT DOES THIS FINISH MEAN FOR FUND-RAISING, FROM THE REPUBLICAN SENATORIAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE OR WHATEVER IT'S CALLED.

I DON'T THINK THEY'VE BEEN HIGH ON HER TO BEGIN WITH.

>> WELL, THE NUMBERS I HEARD IS THEY WERE LOOKING FOR 60% OF THE VOTE.

SHE BOASTED OR PEOPLE BOASTED SHE WOULD GET 70%.

A MORE REALISTIC NUMBER MIGHT BE 60% AND SHE DIDN'T APPROACH IT.

SHE CAN MAKE A NARRATIVE THAT SHE CAN DO IT.

WILL THE AMERICAN PEOPLE BELIEVE IT AND DO THEY NEED THIS STATE?

>> THE REPUBLICANS IN WASHINGTON ARE LOOKING AT THE BIGGER MAP WHICH STATES THEY WANT TO PUT THE MONEY INTO.

THAT MAY BE SOMETHING THEY LOOK AT AND SAY OKAY, WE WERE ON THE FENCE, TRYING TO DECIDE WHICH WAY TO GO.

IF THERE IS AN EFFECT ON THE GENERAL ELECTION, THAT'S THE BIGGEST ONE THAT SIGNAL TO THE MONEY FOLKS, WE DON'T NEED TO DO AS MUCH IN ARIZONA, GO TO OHIO OR MONTANA OR MICHIGAN OR SOMEWHERE ELSE.

TED: MARY JO, A LOT OF EYES ON THE MARICOPA COUNTY RECORDER.

STEPHEN RICHER LOSES TO JUSTIN HEAP.

WAS THAT A SURPRISE?

>> YES, I THOUGHT IT WAS A SURPRISE, BUT UPON REEXAMINATION, WHO SHOWS UP IN PRIMARIES?

THE ARGUMENT THAT'S ALWAYS MADE IN PRIMARIES IS THAT THE PEOPLE ARE MORE AT THE EDGES OF THE PARTY AT THE EXTREME EDGES AND THIS SHOWED THAT THE MAGA CROWD SHOWED UP AND VOTED BIG FOR HEAP.

THERE WAS NO QUESTION.

THIS WAS NOT A CLOSE RACE AT ALL.

TED: YEAH, YEAH, LOW TURNOUT A FACTOR?

>> PERHAPS.

REMEMBER, ALSO IT'S A THREE-PERSON RACE WHERE THE OTHER CANDIDATE WAS ALSO A MAGA GUY.

HE WOULD BE THE ULTRA-MAGA DON HIATT, BUT TWO MAGA CANDIDATES WHO SPLIT THE VOTE AND RICHER WOULD HAVE GOTTEN IN.

THIS SIGNIFY HOW STRONGLY THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IDENTIFIES WITH MAGA.

MAGA RUN MOST OF THE BIG RACES.

THEY DIDN'T WIN THEM ALL BUT THEY GOT THE PRIZE AND THAT WAS STEPHEN RICHER, THAT WAS THE NUMBER ONE TARGET.

TED: THEY BAGGED THAT ONE.

>> RICHER'S PERSONA IS SO MUCH ABOUT FIGHTING WITH THE MAGA CROWD, THE STOLEN ELECTION CROWD, WHATEVER YOU WANT TO CALL IT.

STOP THE STEAL.

YOU GO ON TWITTER ANY GIVEN DAY, YOU SEE PEOPLE ARGUING ABOUT THIS, GOING PUBLIC AND SAYING IN THE MIDDLE OF A CONTESTED REPUBLICAN PARTY THAT HE'S VOTING FOR JOE BIDEN IS GENERALLY NOT GOING TO HELP YOU IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

IF YOU DO IT BEFORE THE DEBATES WHICH CAME A FEW WEEKS LATER.

THE ANIMOSITY THERE, I DON'T KNOW IF RICHER DID A LOT TO TAMP THAT DOWN OR A LOT OF WHAT HE DID FANNED THOSE FLAMES.

CERTAINLY I THOUGHT IF DON HIATT PULLED 20%, HE MIGHT HAVE BEEN ABLE TO PULL THROUGH.

HE PULLED 22% AND LOST BIG.

TED: DOES STEPHEN RICHER CAMPAIGN FOR JUSTIN HEAP OR PERHAPS THE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE?

>> WELL, WE KNOW HE'S GOING TO VOTE FOR BIDEN.

I DON'T KNOW IF HE'LL STICK TO -- OR WAS GOING TO.

I DON'T KNOW IF HE'LL STICK WITH THE TICKET OR NOT.

THE EASY THING DO WOULD BE SILENT.

TED: TIM STRINGAM IS THE DEMOCRAT.

DOES HE HAVE A CHANCE NOW?

>> YEAH, NOBODY KNEW WHO HE WAS BEFORE.

HE IS AN ATTORNEY MAKING FIRST RUN FOR OFFICE.

WE HAVE TO FIND OUT A LOT MORE ABOUT HIM.

WE ALL WANT TO FIND OUT A LOT MORE ABOUT HIM BECAUSE WE'VE GOT A HORSE RACE NOW POTENTIALLY HERE.

YOU ARE GOING TO SEE THE TURNING POINT PEOPLE, THE FAKE ELECTOR-TYPE PEOPLE, AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE OF TYLER BRAUGHER AND SENATOR JAKE HOFFMAN, THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND JUSTIN HEAP.

YOU'LL SEE THEM TURN OUT THE VOTE AS BEST THEY CAN.

IT'S GOING COME DOWN TO THE SWING VOTERS IN THE MIDDLE, AND WHERE HAVE THEY GONE HISTORICALLY?

IT DOESN'T LOOK GOOD FOR PEOPLE LIKE HEAP, BUT IT'S A NEW YEAR.

>> THE DAY AFTER THE ELECTION, YOU SAW TIM STRINGHAM MAKING APPEAL TO MODERATE REPUBLICANS THE SENATE RIGHT REPUBLICANS WHO VOTED FOR STEPHEN RICHER SAYING I'M YOUR CANDIDATE, JUSTIN HEAP IS NOT THE GUY YOU WANT TO VOTE FOR.

THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF PRESSURE FOR THAT.

REPUBLICAN SUPPORTER, I SPOKE WITH TIM STRINGHAM, HE SPOKE WITH PROMINENT REPUBLICANS BACKING HIM, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GOING TO BE REPUBLICAN ENDORSEMENTS OR ANYTHING, BUT THERE WILL BE A LOT OF SUPPORT FOR THAT.

IF YOU VOTED FOR MARK LAMB OVER KARI LAKE IN THE PRIMARY, YOU ARE PROBABLY VOTING FOR KARI LAKE IN THE GENERAL.

IF YOU VOTED FOR STEPHEN RICHER IN THE PRIMARY, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU ARE VOTING FOR HEAP IN THE GENERAL.

SWING VOTERS SAY I DON'T KNOW IF BIDEN WON IN 2020.

THAT'S NOT GOING TO GO OVER WITH SWING VOTERS.

>> THE JOB OF THE RECORDER IN CHARGE OF VOTER REGISTRATION, EARLY VOTING, SIGNATURE VERIFICATION, AND HEAP AS A LAWMAKER HAS BEEN CRITICAL OF A LOT OF THE CURRENT PRACTICES.

HE SIGNED ONTO LEGISLATION THAT WOULD GET RID OF EARLY VOTING, WHICH HASN'T HAPPENED, OF COURSE.

TED: LAURIE, AMISH SHAH IS THE WINNER THERE.

IS THAT A SURPRISE?

SECONDLY, IS A SURPRISE SECOND PLACE IS ANDRE CHERNY?

>> IT'S A SURPRISE TO ME, I PREDICTED THE FOURTH PLACE GUY OR THIRD PLACE WOMAN.

IT'S A FIVE-WAY PRIMARY, ANYTHING CAN HAPPEN IN SUCH A RACE.

NOT A REAL HIGH-PROFILE RACE.

WHAT I SAW WAS AMISH SHAH DID TWO THINGS OTHERS DIDN'T DO.

HE DIDN'T DO A LOT OF NEGATIVE CAMPAIGNING AGAINST OTHERS AND DIDN'T HAVE A LOT OF STUFF AIMED AT HIM, THEY WERE SHOOTING AT EACH OTHER.

HE PLAYED UNDER THE GROUND IN THAT WAY.

BUT THE OTHER THING HE DID WAS KNOCK ON A LOT OF DOORS.

I LIVE IN SCOTTSDALE.

ONE OF MY NEIGHBORS HAD A LITTLE AMISH SHAH SIGN OUT, WHICH SURPRISED ME BECAUSE I NEVER SAW THE GUY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, BUT HE WAS ALL OVER THE PLACE APPARENTLY WORKING REALLY HARD AND THAT WORKS.

WHEN SOMEONE COMES TO THE DOOR AND LOOKS YOU IN THE EYE.

>> EARLIER IN THE CYCLE, I HAD A CAMPAIGN STRATEGIST SAY SHAH'S STRATEGY OF KNOCKING ON DOORS IS NOT GOING TO WORK IN A CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT WITH A LOT OF GATED COMMUNITIES IN IT.

HERE WE ARE.

>> IT'S SHAH VERSUS SCHWEIKERT.

DOES HE HAVE A SHOT AGAINST SCHWEIKERT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THIS IS A VERY COMPETITIVE DISTRICT.

SCHWEIKERT ONLY WON BY 3200 VOTES A COUPLE YEARS AGO IN A RACE WHERE DEMOCRATS PUT UP AN UNKNOWN CANDIDATE.

THEY DIDN'T PUT MONEY INTO THE RACE AND IT WAS SUPER CLOSE.

DEMOCRATS VIEW THIS AS A TOP PICK OPPORTUNITY.

THERE IS MONEY ON BOTH SIDES.

A HANDFUL OF REPUBLICANS, SEVEN OR EIGHT PERSON MAJORITY IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES.

EVERY SEAT IS GOING TO MATTER.

IT COULD GO EITHER WAY.

ONE OF THE SEATS WHO DETERMINES WHO CONTROLS THE CHAMBER.

TED: THAT SAID, THE SCHWEIKERT CAMP, IS THIS THE CANDIDATE THEY LEAST WANTED TO SEE?

>> HARD TO SAY.

SHAH HAS A LEGISLATIVE RECORD AND THEY'VE BEEN COMBING THROUGH THAT.

YOU NEVER KNOW, WHEN YOU'RE IN THE MINORITY IN THE ARIZONA LEGISLATURE, A LOT OF STUFF YOU'RE GOING TO VOTE AGAINST.

BUDGETS, BILLS.

I'M SURE THEY'RE COMBING THROUGH IT RIGHT NOW.

SHAH IS RELENTLESS IN TERMS OF DOOR KNOCKING.

I LIVE IN HIS FORMER LEGISLATIVE DISTRICT, YOU CAN SEE HIS YARD SIGNS WHERE VOLUNTEERS HAVE KNOCKED ON THE DOOR AND SAID WILL YOU VOTE FOR ME.

>> HAS A REPUTATION OF WORKING ACROSS THE AISLE AT THE LEGISLATURE.

I CAN SEE THIS BEING SOMETHING THE DISTRICT WOULD LIKE.

THOUGH IT IS A MARGINALLY REPUBLICAN DISTRICT, THIS MUCH, THIS IS A DISTRICT THAT ALSO VOTED FOR JOE BIDEN FOUR YEARS AGO.

I DON'T KNOW, I'M NOT MAKING ANY MORE PREDICTIONS ON THIS.

>> SHAH IS KNOWN AS ONE OF THE MORE MODERATE DEMOCRATS AND HAS WORKED ON ISSUES AT THE CAPITOL.

>> FOR EVERY ATTACK THAT MIGHT COME ON HIM VOTING AGAINST THE BUDGET OR VOTING AGAINST SCHOOL VOUCHERS, HE'LL POINT TO THE LEGISLATION HE WORKED ON WITH REPUBLICANS AND BILLS OF HIS THAT GOT THROUGH BECAUSE YOU GOT TO PLAY WITH THE MAJORITY PARTY IF YOU WANT TO WIN.

>> LAURIE, REPEAT AFTER ME.

CONGRESSMAN ABE HAMADEH.

>> WOO!

CAN'T SAY IT.

>> THE BEST THING THAT HAPPENED TO HIM IS TRUMP PROCRASTINATED AND DIDN'T COME OUT SOONER WITH THAT ENDORSEMENT, DUAL ENDORSEMENT OR DUALING ENDORSEMENTS WHEN YOU ENDORT TWO PEOPLE.

ALL OF A SUDDEN THE SATURDAY BEFORE THE VOTERS GO TO THE POLLS, HE COMES OUT WITH A LATE NIGHT ENDORSEMENT OF BLAKE MASTERS.

IF YOU LOOKED, AND THAT MIGHT HAVE MADE A BIG DIFFERENCE HAD HE DONE IT A WEEK OR TWO BEFORE.

IF YOU LOOK AT ELECTION DAY VOTERS, MASTERS WON THAT COMPETITION BUT SO MANY PEOPLE VOTED BY THE TIME TRUMP WEIGHED IN THAT THE DYE WAS CAST, YEP, CONGRESSMAN ABE.

THE HAPPY CONGRESSMAN.

TED: BEN TOMA, THE THIRD, NEVER GOT THE TRACTION, IS IT MAGA?

IS IT TRUMP?

IS IT ALL THAT IS?

>> A BIG PART OF IT.

THOUGH THERE'S FIVE PRETTY WELL-KNOWN REPUBLICANS IN THE RACE, YOU ARE LOOKING AT THIS AS A TWO-PERSON CONTEST BETWEEN BLAKE MASTERS AND ABE HAMADEH.

IF YOU WERE WATCHING TV ANY TIME THE LAST FEW WEEKS, THIS IS SUCH A NASTY, BRUTAL CAMP.

BY POLITICAL STANDARDS AND THE STANDARDS YOU ARE USED TO SEE OVER THE YEARS, THIS WAS BAD.

LOTS OF VERY -- RACE-BAITING AND MASTERS TRYING TO HIGHLIGHT OVER AND OVER THAT HAMADEH HAS A MUSLIM BACKGROUND.

I THINK THAT TURNED A LOT OF PEOPLE OFF.

I WAS TALKING TO A FRIEND OF MINE, WHO DO YOU LIKE IN THE PRIMARY?

KEEPING UP WITH MASTERS CAN A REAL TURNOFF.

>> THIS WAS ALL ABOUT TRUMP.

DEBBIE LESKO ENDORSED TOMA.

GOVERNOR JAN BREWER ENDORSED TOMA.

TOMA IS THE ONLY ONE IN THE RACE WHO HAD A CONSERVATIVE RECORD OF ACHIEVEMENT, AND YET HE LIVED IN THE DISTRICT UNLIKE THE TWO CARPETBAGGERS THAT PARACHUTED IN.

TED: DO THEY GET IT FROM THE REPUBLICAN SIDE?

>> WHAT WILL THE NEXT CONGRESS BE?

REPUBLICAN CONTROLLED, DEMOCRAT CONTROLLED?

HOW DOES HE COMPORT HIMSELF AS A CONGRESSMAN, AND I DON'T KNOW, DOES BLAKE MASTERS MOVE BACK INTO TUCSON NOW SINCE HE'S LOST?

OR HANG AROUND AND DEAD-ON TWO YEARS HENCE.

TED: IT'S NOT OVER WHEN IT'S OVER?

>> YOU HAVE TO WAIT.

PARTLY DEPENDS WHO IS THE PRESIDENT.

IF IT'S TRUMP, ABE HAMADEH IS GOING TO BEND OVER BACKWARDS TO DO WHAT HE SAYS.

IF IT'S NOT TRUMP, IF IT'S KAMALA HARRIS THEN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY CHANGES OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS AND SEE THE WAY THEY SWING.

TED: DISTRICT 3, DEMOCRATS, YASSAMIN ANSARI, THAT HAS CREPT UP OVER TIME.

>> I HAVEN'T SEEN UPDATES FROM TODAY WHEN PRETTY MUCH THE LAST OF THE BALLOTS ARE SUPPOSED TO BE COUNTED.

FORGIVE ME IF THIS CHANGES BY THE TIME PEOPLE WATCH THIS, BUT NO, UNTIL THE LAST BALLOTS ARE IN, DEFINITELY TOO EARLY TO CALL THAT WITH SUCH A NARROW MARGIN, AND WITH THE LAST VOTES THAT CAME IN, EARLY BALLOTS GOT DROPPED OFF ON ELECTION DAY WHICH ARE PREDOMINANTLY DEMOCRATIC VOTERS.

THAT'S WHY YOU'VE SEEN SO MUCH TIGHTENING AND A SHIFT IN THERE.

>> THIS IS A BATTLE AGAINST TWO PRETTY WELL-KNOWN CONSERVATIVES -- CONSERVATIVES?

PROGRESSIVES.

YEAH, PROGRESSIVES.

CRYPTOCURRENCY PEOPLE COME IN, THAT'S THE TRUMP CROWD, TRYING TO GET ONE OF THEM ELECTED AND OTHER PEOPLE, THE MYSTERY GROUP TRYING TO SELL VOTERS ON THE FACT THAT RAQUEL TERAN IS MAGA ADJACENT.

WHO WOULD BELIEVE THAT?

I'M INTERESTED IN KNOWING WHY THE OUTSIDE FORCES ARE PLAYING ONE AGAINST THE OTHER, PREFER ONE OVER THE OTHER.

IT'S ANYBODY'S GAME IN THE DISTRICT.

I DON'T THINK IT'S BEEN CALLED YET.

>> I THINK ALSO, I DON'T KNOW THE PERCENTAGE, BUT IT'S A HEAVILY LATINO DISTRICT, AND TERAN TRYING TO BE THE FIRST LATINA ELECTED TO CONGRESS IN ARIZONA, AND SHE'S HANGING ON WITH FINGERNAILS.

TED: STICKING WITH YOU, MARY JO.

MARK FINCHEM, NO FINGERNAILS THERE, GOT SMOKED.

>> THERE WERE THREE CANDIDATES IN THE RACE, BENNETT SEEN AS THE MODERATE TRADITIONAL REPUBLICAN, AND FINCHEM AND STEVE ZIFFERMAN, FINCHEM IS ESTABLISHED IN THE PUBLIC MIND, AND IT WAS NOT CLOSE AT ALL.

HE WON OVERWHELMINGLY, AND HE'S ONLY BEEN A RESIDENT OF YAVAPAI COUNTY AND PRESCOTT FOR BEST WE CAN TELL A YEAR OR SO, AFTER HE LOST THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S RACE, HE WAS FROM ORO VALLEY.

HE OWNED A PROPERTY IN PEORIA.

HE KEPT MOVING NORTH.

TED: IS THERE ROOM FOR THE KEN BENNETTS NOW IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY?

>> A LOT LESS THAN THERE USED TO BE.

BENNETT GOT A SURPRISE, THERE IS SO MUCH ANIMOSITY TOWARDS HIM, THE GRASSROOTS FROM THE MAGA CROWD.

REPUBLICANS HAVE A ONE VOTE MAJORITY IN ARIZONA SENATE.

BENNETT WENT THE OTHER WAY ON SOME VOTES AND THAT COMFORT A MAJORITY OF MANY VOTES.

HE'S WELL-KNOWN UP THERE, I THOUGHT IN THE THREE-WAY RACE, MAYBE THAT CAN CARRY HIM THROUGH, APPARENTLY NOT.

>> IT'S WORTH POINTING OUT, HE IS THE LAST MODERATING VOICE IN THE SENATE REPUBLICAN CAUCUS.

SO WHO KNOWS IF THE REPUBLICANS CONTINUE TO CONTROL THE SENATE, WHO KNOWS WHAT COMES OUT OF THAT?

I WOULD SAY THAT THERE WERE SOME MAGA LOSSES.

SOME PEOPLE WON THAT WERE FROM THE MODERATE SIDE OF THE PARTY, SO IT CAN BE DONE, IF YOU LOOK AT SUPERVISOR TOM GALVIN, RACHEL MITCHELL WAS ABLE TO HOLD ONTO THE COUNTY ATTORNEY WAS SEAT.

SO -- >> AND YOU HAD VINCE LEACH.

>> YEAH, I WOULDN'T CALL HIM A MODERATE.

LESS OF A LOUD MOUTHED CULTURE WARRIOR THAN JUSTINE WADSACK, AND PRESUMABLY DOESN'T DRIVE 71 MILES AN HOUR ON THE ROADS AND TRY TO USE IT TO GET OUT.

TED: NOT A SHRINKING VIOLET OR ANYTHING, BUT HE DID BEAT A NOISY CANDIDATE.

>> NOISY CANDIDATE.

ONE OF THE THINGS HE DID AND I THOUGHT IT WAS GENIUS, IF YOU'RE A LEACH PERSON, BEFORE THE WEIRDNESS CAMPAIGN CAME UP WITH THE DEMOCRATS NATIONALLY, ABOUT A MONTH AND A HALF AGO, HE LAUNCHED THIS SERIES OF ADS.

I DON'T KNOW IF THEY WERE ON TV, THEY WERE ON YouTube AND SOCIAL MEDIA.

THE THEME WAS SOMETHING IS WEIRD ABOUT JUSTINE WADSACK AND WENT THROUGH DIFFERENT THINGS.

I THINK THE ADS WERE DEVASTATING AND POINT OUT SHE APPROVED A SOCIAL MEDIA MESSAGES THAT 9/11 WAS A CONSPIRACY AND UVALDE WAS A FALSE OPERATION, WEIRD OUT OF THE MAINSTREAM VIEW THAT WAS EFFECTIVE IN THAT CASE.

>> THE WAY THE RACE'S TEST TURNED OUT, IT'S CALLED FOR LEACH, THE MARGIN IS ALMOST IDENTICAL BUT FLIPPED FROM TWO YEARS AGO WHEN SHE BEAT LEACH.

>> ANOTHER THING ABOUT THE RACE IS HIM WINNING PROBABLY DASHED THE SENATE -- DEMOCRATS' HOPES OF PICKING UP THAT RACE.

THEY HAVE TWO OTHER RACES THEY CAN HIT HARD AND THEY WERE WANTING TO JUSTINE WADSACK TO WIN THE RACE BECAUSE THEY THOUGHT THEY COULD PICK HER OFF.

>> DAVID COOK AND, OH, MY GOODNESS, JACK SELLERS.

MODERATING-TYPE PEOPLE.

CONSERVATIVES IN THE OLD.

CONSERVATIVE MOLD, OUT.

>> VERY DIFFERENT RACES IN THE HOUSE.

COOK WAS THE LATEST PERSON TO TAKE A SHOT AT WENDY ROGERS IN THE PRIMARY.

WAS NOT PARTICULARLY CLOSE.

COOK IS AN INTERESTING FIGURE AT THE CAPITOL OVER THE PAST NUMBER OF YEARS, SOMEONE WHO IS A PRETTY CONSERVATIVE GUY IN GENERAL, BUT VERY WILLING TO BUCK HIS PARTY AND DO IT IN A LOUD FASHION.

SELLERS A LITTLE DIFFERENT SITUATION, INCUMBENT.

NOT FAR FROM THE RIGHT GENERAL COUNCIL MEMBER FROM THE RIGHT.

I DIDN'T THINK IT WOULD BE THAT MUCH OF A DRUBBING.

THAT'S ONE TO WATCH FOR THE GENERAL.

TED: IS THAT GOOD NEWS FOR JOEL NAVARRO, THE DEMOCRAT.

>> COULD BE.

A SWING DISTRICT.

CERTAINLY THE DEMOCRATS ARE GOING AFTER J.D.

MESNARD WHO HAILS FROM THE SAME AREA AS STATE SENATOR.

IF THEY GO AFTER ONE, THEY WILL TRY TO GO AFTER THE OTHER.

TED: WITH THAT IN MIND, REAL QUICKLY, WHAT IS THE MAKEUP OF HOUSE AND SENATE, JUST A GENERAL THOUGHT.

DOES IT CHANGE MUCH.

DOES IT IMPACT WHAT'S COMING IN NOVEMBER?

>> I THINK IT DOES CERTAINLY WITH WADSACK.

UNLESS THE DEMOCRATS CAN KNOCK OFF SHAWNNA BOLICK OR J.D.

MESNARD, THEY'VE GOT TO HAVE THE TWO SEATS OR ONE OF THE TWO TO HAVE A SHARE OF THE POWER.

HOUSE IS A LITTLE MURKIER BECAUSE OF SOME OF THE RACES, I WOULD SAY THEY SHOULD NOT BE AS OPTIMISTIC TODAY AS THEY MIGHT HAVE BEEN A WEEK AGO.

>> THAT MAKE SENSE TO YOU, MARY JO?

>> VERY MUCH.

LOOKING AT THE HOUSE RACES WHERE I'VE BEEN SPENDING MOST OF MY TIME.

THERE'S A PICKUP, MAYBE ONE OR TWO, BUT MORE CAN THE DEMOCRATS EVEN HOLD DEFENSE, I GUESS, PAUSE THEY'RE DOWN BY ONE SEAT, AND THERE IS, IN THE PINAL COUNTY DISTRICT LD16, TERESA MARTINEZ HAS WON, BUT LOOKS LIKE IT MIGHT BE A RUNOFF BETWEEN TWO OF THE OTHER CANDIDATES, AND WHOEVER WINS THAT THEY'LL RUN AGAINST REPRESENTATIVE KEITH SIEM EN.

THEY VOTED AGAINST HIM ONCE.

>> THE DEMOCRATS HAVE THE TOUGHEST HOLD ON HIM, A FAIRLY CONSERVATIVE AREA.

HE'S ABSOLUTELY RIGHT AGAINST VINCE LEACH AND JUFTENE WADSACK.

DEMOCRATS HAD THEIR EYE ON THE DISTRICT.

DEMOCRATS CAME CLOSE IN WINNING THAT SENATE RACE AND ONE OF THE HOUSE SEATS.

THEY HAD BIG DESIGNS ON THE SENATE SEAT BUT LEACH, WHO IS NOT A MODERATE BUT DEFINITELY NOT A FREEDOM CAUCUS PERSON WHO GETS WEIRD HEADLINES FOR WEIRD BEHAVIOR LIKE WADSACK, THAT PROBABLY PUTS IT A BIT OUT OF REACH.

DEMOCRATS ARE PUTTING STUFF OUT ON LEACH THIS WEEK SINCE THE RACE ENDED BUT IT DEFINITELY MAKES IT A LOT HARDER FOR THEM.

TED: WE WERE SAYING ON ELECTION SHOW NIGHT, FEELS LIKE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS THE MAGA PARTY THROUGH AND THROUGH.

>> IT ALWAYS WAS.

IT'S BEEN THE MAGA PARTY FOR A LONG TIME.

THIS REINFORCES IT.

THEY DIDN'T WIN EVERYTHING.

THEY WON MOST CONTESTED RACES, THEY WON THE ONE THEY WANTED, WHICH WAS RICHER, THEY WANTED HIS HEAD ON A PLATTER.

THEY DIDN'T WIN, MICHELLE UGENTI-RITA DID NOT RUN, THERE WERE SUCCESSES FOR THE TRADITIONAL PARTY, BUT YEAH, THE QUESTION IS NOW CAN THEY CONVINCE INDEPENDENTS AND SWING VOTERS WHO WILL DECIDE THESE RACES AND SOME OF THESE COMPETITIVE AREAS TO SWING ALONG WITH THEM, AND IN THE PAST THEY'VE NOT BEEN ABLE TO DO SO.

>> SURE, AND SOME OF THESE ARE A REPEAT OF 2022 WHEN THE TRUMP-BACKED CANDIDATES WON STATEWIDE IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARIES AND LOST TO KATIE HOBBS, KRIS MAYES AND ADRIAN FONTES.

A FEW OF THE RACES THIS YEAR, BUT SENATE RACE AND THE COUNTY RECORDER RACE WHICH WE WILL BE TALKING ABOUT A LOT FOR THE NEXT FEW MONTHS.

>> COUNTY RECORDER BECAME ONE OF THE MORE IMPORTANT RACES TO BE WATCHING THIS YEAR AS WILL SELLERS' SEAT IN THE COUNTY SUPERVISOR.

WHILE THE COUNTY RECORDER HANDLES EARLY VOTER AND VOTING REGISTRATION, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS IS IN CHARGE OF ELECTION DAY VOTING.

YOU HAVE DEBBIE LESKO WILL PROBABLY BE ON THERE AND WHO KNOWS WHERE SHE COMES DOWN, KIND OF MAGA BUT SHE LIKES TO BE -- TED: SMALL M. >> SMALL M MAGA, I THINK.

AND TWO NEW PEOPLE, KATE BROPHY McGEE.

>> BROPHY McGEE HAS A TOUGH GENERAL AGAINST DANNY VALENZUELA.

THAT IS VERY MUCH A SWING DISTRICT.

I BELIEVE BIDEN WON THAT AS WELL AS JACK SELLERS' DISTRICT.

TED: I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE NINTH CIRCUIT DECISION REGARDING REGISTRATION FORMS.

SOUNDS LIKE THE NINTH CIRCUIT DID A FLIP-FLOP HERE?

>> THEY REVERSED THEMSELVES.

THERE'S BEEN A LEGAL FIGHT GOING ON FOR A LONG TIME ABOUT AN ARIZONA LAW THAT SAYS YOU GOT -- EVERYBODY'S GOT TO BRING DOCUMENTS TO PROVE THEY ARE U.S. CITIZENS TO VOTE.

THE BILL PASSED, GOVERNOR DUCEY SIGNED IT.

IT'S BEEN IN COURT EVER SINCE.

TWO WEEKS AGO, THE PANEL.

NINTH CIRCUIT SAID WE ARE GOING TO ALLOW PART OF THAT LAW TO TAKE EFFECT.

PEOPLE CANNOT REGISTER TO VOTE IF THEY ARE NOT CITIZENS USING THE STATE REGISTRATION FORM.

THEY CAN STILL REGISTER TO VOTE WITH THE FEDERAL FORM BUT CAN YOU ONLY VOTE FOR PRESIDENT AND CONGRESS, THOSE ARE THE BIG RACES THIS YEAR.

AND TWO WEEKS LATER, ANOTHER PANEL OF THE NINTH CIRCUIT COMES BACK AND SAYS WE'RE GOING TO REVERSE THAT, BACK TO THE WAY THINGS HAVE ALWAYS BEEN FOR NOW AND LET THE CASE PROCEED.

>> DOES THAT EVEN MATTER?

IF YOU ARE A PERSON, YOU AVOW YOUR CITIZENSHIP AND CAN'T VOTE IN STATE AND LOCAL RACES BECAUSE OF THE CITIZENSHIP NEED FOR PROOF OF DOCUMENTS.

IF I REGISTER TO VOTE ON A STATE FORM, I STILL WOULD ONLY BE ABLE TO VOTE ON THE FEDERAL RACES.

>> CORRECT, BUT THE STATE FORM, AND I HAVEN'T GOTTEN THE DATA ON IT, THE STATE FORM IS USED A LOT MORE THAN THE FEDERAL FORM.

THAT BLOCKS PEOPLE.

AFTER THE FIRST RULING, MARICOPA COUNTY REJECTED 200 VOTER REGISTRATION APPLICATIONS.

TED: THE ATTESTATION IS UNDER PENALTY OF PERJURY.

WE GOTTA STOP.

HOLY SMOKES, SO MUCH TO TALK ABOUT.

THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE.

THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.