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TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

IT'S THE JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE, WE'LL LOOK AT WEEK'S TOP STORIES INCLUDING CONGRESSMAN DAVID SCHWEIKERT ANNOUNCING HIS CANDIDACY FOR 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, AND JOINING US TONIGHT, JEREMY DUDA FROM AXIOS PHOENIX.

JIM SMALL FROM THE "ARIZONA MIRROR" AND CAMRYN SANCHEZ FROM KJZZ RADIO.

PANEL, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

DAVID SCHWEIKERT HAS THREATENED, HINTED ABOUT IT, HE FINALLY DID IT?

>> FINALLY MADE THE JUMP.

TOYING FOR IT A MONTH AND A HALF, TWO MONTHS, RUMORS GOING AROUND.

HE FINALLY MADE IT OFFICIAL.

TIRED OF WASHINGTON.

HE'S BEEN THERE FOR 15, 14, 15 YEARS, REPRESENTING NORTHWEST PHOENIX, SCOTTSDALE AREA.

KIND OF A BIG SHAKE-UP INTO THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY FOR GOVERNOR THAT HAD BEEN LOOKING LIKE THEY ARE SOLIDIFIED A TWO-WAY RACE BETWEEN ANDY BIGGS AND KARRIN TAYLOR ROBSON.

THERE'S A LOT TO UNPACK IN EFFECT ON THE TERMS OF THE RACE, IT'S INTERESTING WITH A GUY WHO FLIRTED WITH OTHER OFFICES BEFORE, AND ALWAYS GOING BACK TO HIS DISTRICT.

TED: SO JIM, WHY THIS OFFICE, AND WHY NOW?

>> WELL, AS DAVID SCHWEIKERT HAS SAID IT, HE SEES A REPUBLICAN PARTY IN CRISIS IN ARIZONA, AND YOU KNOW, DOESN'T THINK THAT EITHER OF THE CANDIDATES, THE CURRENT REPUBLICAN CANDIDATES FOR GOVERNOR, KARRIN TAYLOR ROBSON WHO RAN IN 2022 AND LOST TO KARI LAKE, AND ANDY BIGGS, ONE OF SCHWEIKERT'S FELLOW CONGRESSMEN FROM ARIZONA ARE LEADING THE STATE, AND HE THINKS THEY ARE VULNERABLE IN A GENERAL ELECTION, SO YOU KNOW, AFTER THIS IS THE THIRD OR FOURTH CYCLE WE'VE HEARD HIS NAME BANDIED ABOUT EARLY ON, AND HE HAS DECIDED THAT HE'S THE PERSON THAT HE THINKS HE'S THE PERSON TO JUMP IN THERE AND REALLY CHANGE THE TONE AND THE TENOR OF THE RACE, AND POTENTIALLY LAID OUT A ROAD MAP FOR THE IDEOLOGY AND THE REPUBLICAN BRAND IN ARIZONA.

TED: HOW DOES HE STACK UP AGAINST ROBSON AND BIGGS?

>> THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION BECAUSE ROBSON IS CONSIDERED THE LESS FAR RIGHT, TURNING POINT, MAGA CANDIDATE, WHATEVER WE CALL IT.

ALTHOUGH SHE IS TRUMP ENDORSED, AND BIGGS IS THE OTHER SECTION OR REPRESENTS IT, AND SCHWEIKERT DROPPING IT IS A LITTLE SURPRISE TO ME, EVEN THOUGH WE'VE HEARD RUMORS ON AND OFF AND NOTHING SURPRISES ME BECAUSE I'M SO SMART, NEITHER IS TRUMP ENDORSED OR REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MAGA WING, BUT ALSO SO IT'S -- IS HE EXPECTING TAYLOR ROBSON TO DROP OUT AND HOPEFULLY PICK UP HER VOTERS OR POTENTIALLY GOING TO BE HARMFUL TO HER AND SHE'LL BE HARMFUL TO HIM AND IT WILL HELP ANDY BIGGS.

TED: HE'S NOT MAGA ENOUGH, I WOULD THINK, FOR THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY.

IT WOULD SEEM LIKE HE AND KARRIN TAYLOR ROBSON WOULD SPLIT A VOTE THAT WOULD FURTHER ENHANCE.

THE BIGGS' CAMPAIGN MUST HAVE HAD A PARTY WHEN THEY HEARD ABOUT THIS?

>> FOR THE PAST COUPLE MONTHS, IT'S THE BIGGS PEOPLE ONLINE ON SOCIAL MEDIA FOR MAKING THE MOST NOISE ABOUT WARNING AGAINST, THIS NOT WANT TO DO COMPLAINING ABOUT HIM GETTING IN.

AS CAMRYN SAID, IT IS YOU WOULD THINK HE WOULD TAKE MORE OUT OF ROBSON, VERY CONSERVATIVE GUY, DESPITE THE FACT HE'S IN A SWING DISTRICT THERE, VERY CONSERVATIVE VOTING RECORD.

HE'S NOT MAGA.

HE DOESN'T HAVE THE TRUMP ENDORSEMENT LIKE TWO OPPONENTS HERE.

I HAVEN'T HEARD A LOT OF CONSENSUS WHO HE HURTS MORE.

HE'S NOT REALLY AN ESTABLISHMENT GUY, WHEN HE FIRST GOT TO CONGRESS, HE WAS A TEA PARTY INSURGENT TYPE, FIGHTING WITH LEADERSHIP, PUNISHED, MELLOWED OUT OVER THE YEARS, THAT DOESN'T TRANSLATE TO THE MAGA AREA WHERE WE SEE ESTABLISHMENT TYPE TO VOTERS, BUT THE BIGGS FOLKS HAVE SEEN A LOT MORE CONCERNED ABOUT HIM POTENTIALLY GETTING IN THE RACE FOR THE PAST COUPLE OF MONTHS.

REMAINS TO BE SEEN WHO HE TAKES MORE VOTES OUT OF.

TED: I CAN'T SEE A REPUBLICAN PRIMARY FOR ARIZONA A CANDIDATE WHO DOES NOT HAVE DONALD TRUMP'S ENDORSEMENT DOING MUCH.

>> I AGREE.

I'M PUZZLED AS TO WHAT THE PATH TO VICTORY WOULD BE FOR DAVID SCHWEIKERT IN THE WAY THE RACE IS CENTERED RIGHT NOW.

WHAT MAKES SENSE IS IF KARRIN TAYLOR ROBSON EXITS THE RACE FOR SOME REASON, AND THERE'S NO INDICATION THAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, AND I DON'T THINK THERE'S REASONABLE BELIEF THAT WOULD HAPPEN, BUT THAT WOULD BE THE THING THAT WOULD POTENTIALLY SET DAVID SCHWEIKERT UP, GIVE HIM A DEFINED PATH TO VICTORY.

I DON'T THINK IT WOULD BE A GOOD ONE BECAUSE DONALD TRUMP HAS ENDORSED THE OTHER CANDIDATES IN THE RACE, AND IF ONE DROPS OUT, THERE WOULD BE ONE TRUMP ENDORSED CANDIDATE, AND I THINK THAT CARRIES THE DAY IN ANY REPUBLICAN PRIMARY.

CERTAINLY ONE AS PROMINENT AS THIS.

TED: AND I WANT TO GET TO THE CD1 RACE NOW THAT SCHWEIKERT IS OUT.

BACK TO THE GOVERNOR'S RACE, TALKED ABOUT THE ROBSON CAMPAIGN, THE BIGGS CAMPAIGN, WHAT ABOUT THE HOBBS CAMPAIGN, WHAT DO THEY THINK ABOUT THIS?

>> IT'S A QUESTION WHO IS EASIEST FOR HER TO BEAT, RIGHT?

I MEAN, I THINK FOR HOBBS, MAYBE THE MORE DANGEROUS CANDIDATE TO CONSIDER AS IT HAS BEEN WAS KARRIN TAYLOR ROBSON.

SCHWEIKERT IS NOT SOMEONE THEY WANT TO UNDRESS, IF HE DOES MAKE IT OUT OF THE PRIMARY RACE, BECAUSE HE'S HAD AN IMPRESSIVE TRACK RECORD HOLDING ONTO A COMPETITIVE SEAT AGAINST MANY CHALLENGES FROM ALL KINDS OF DEMOCRATS, SHAH AND HOBBS CAME WITHIN A PERCENTAGE POINT OF BEATING HIM.

I DON'T KNOW IF, LIKE JIM, IS THE PATHWAY TO GET OUT OF THE PRIMARY.

TED: IS HE KNOWN ENOUGH STATEWIDE, A, AND, B, HE'S GOT ETHICS ISSUES THAT POP UP.

THEY'LL GROW LIKE WEEDS DURING THE CAMPAIGN.

>> IF YOU DON'T START OFF THE CAMPAIGN NOT SUPER WELL KNOWN, MONEY SOLVES ALL THE PROBLEMS.

NOBODY STATEWIDE KNEW WHO DOUG DUCEY WAS WHEN HE STARTED RUNNING.

HIS OPPONENTS CAN GET THE MONEY TO MAKE THE ETHICS ISSUE WELL KNOWN, WHICH THEY'RE ALL GOING TO NOW IT.

HASN'T HURT HIM SO FAR IN HIS SWING DISTRICT, BUT THIS IS A LARGER STAGE, GOING TO BE A LOT OF MONEY IN HERE, AND IF HIS OPPONENTS VIEW HIM AS A THREAT, WHICH I'M SURE THEY WILL, THAT IS AN ISSUE IN THE PRIMARY AND IF HE GETS THAT FAR OTHER IN GENERAL ELECTION.

ONE POINT I THOUGHT INTERESTING TO ME IS TALKED ABOUT A CONSERVATIVE VOTING RECORD AND THE DISTRICT AND THE TRACK RECORD.

HE SAID I'M MORE CONSERVATIVE THAN THE DISTRICT, PEOPLE ARE VOTING FOR ME ANYWAY.

SHOW RESPECT ON THE ISSUES, LISTEN TO THEM, THIS IS A DIFFERENT STAGE.

GOVERNOR, STATEWIDE, IT'S DIFFERENT THAN THE COMPACT DISTRICT.

LIKE TO SEE HOW THAT TRANSLATES INTO A STATEWIDE RACE.

TED: VERY WEALTHY AS WELL.

NOT NECESSARILY THE CASE AROUND THE STATE.

HOBBS CAMPAIGN, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> ULTIMATELY WHAT THEY WANT TO SEE IS ANDY BIGGS GET THROUGH THE PRIMARY, AND MAKE IT INTO THE GENERAL.

THEY VIEW HIM AS SOMEONE WHO'S GOING TO BE IN THE KARI LAKE LANE, AND THEY UNDERSTAND, I THINK, WHAT IT WILL TAKE TO RUN A CAMPAIGN AGAINST THAT.

SO IF THE IDEA IS A DAVID SCHWEIKERT IS ULTIMATELY GOING TO CANNIBALIZE VOTES AWAY FROM KARRIN TAYLOR ROBSON, THAT'S ONLY GOOD FOR THE HOBBS CAMPAIGN BECAUSE IT GIVES ANDY BIGGS A BETTER CHANCE OF GETTING THROUGH THE PRIMARY.

TED: LET'S GET NOW TO CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 1, THE SEAT HELD BY LAME DUCK, DAVID SCHWEIKERT, WHAT HAPPENS THERE?

>> I LOVE IT WHEN IT HAPPENS, IT'S LIKE THE WATERFALL EFFECT.

IF HE -- AS HE LEAVES, HE'S LEAVING A COMPETITIVE DISTRICT, VERY KEY FOR REPUBLICANS, AND WE'RE ALL ASSUMING THAT A BUNCH OF REPUBLICANS JUMP IN AND THERE'S GOING TO BE A BIT OF A FRENZY TO TAKE OVER THE SPOT, IT'S A VALUABLE CONGRESSIONAL SEAT AND WANT TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T GO INTO THE HANDS OF DEMOCRATS.

WE'VE HEARD NAMES ANNOUNCED BUT NO ONE HAS ANNOUNCED YET, WHICH IS ANNOYING.

AND THE QUESTION IF SOMEONE LIKE MATT GRESS, WHICH IS THE NAME I'VE HEARD THE MOST SO FAR, HE IS A LAWMAKER IN ANOTHER COMPETITIVE DISTRICT.

TED: YES.

>> BUT THERE'S A BIG OPPORTUNITY FOR SOME UP AND COMING REPUBLICAN.

TED: WHAT ABOUT THE STATE REPUBLICAN PARTY CHAIR GINA SVOBODA?

>> SHE IS CONSIDERING IT.

SHE IS RAISING HER PROFILE OVER THE LAST FEW MONTHS, AND INTERESTING WAYS THAT COULD MAKE HER APPEALING IN A GENERAL ELECTION.

LESS SO IN A PRIMARY TALKING ABOUT THE NEED FOR GUARDRAILS ON THE VOUCHER-STYLE ESA PROGRAM.

SOME OF HER CRITICS IN THE PARTY TRIED TO GET HER OUSTED AS PARTY CHAIR.

SHE'S KNOWN TO BE CLOSE TO PRESIDENT TRUMP, SO THAT'S SOMETHING THAT COULD HELP HER AND I'M SURE THERE WILL BE A LOT OF JOCKEYING FOR THAT ENDORSEMENT, REPRESENTATIVE JOSEPH CHAPLIK, FREEDOM CAUCUS, MAGA TYPE IS LOOKING AT IT.

WHERE THE TRUMP ENDORSEMENT COMES DOWN IS HARD TO SAY.

THERE'S A SENTIMENT HE CARES LESS ABOUT IDEOLOGY THAN WINNING RIGHT NOW.

WHOEVER WINS THE HOUSE HAS PROBABLY GOT TO WIN CD1.

TED: THE TRUMP ENDORSEMENT IN THAT PARTICULAR DISTRICT.

A WEALTHY DISTRICT, NORTHEAST SCOTTSDALE, NOT NECESSARILY A MAGA BREEDING GROUND, HOW BIG WOULD A TRUMP ENDORSEMENT BE?

>> IT IS GOING TO BE BIG, IN 90% OF CIRCUMSTANCES GOING TO CARRY THE DAY.

IN A GENERAL ELECTION, IN A COMPETITIVE DISTRICT, IN THE CURRENT POLITICAL CLIMATE, WHEN YOU HAVE A PRESIDENT WHO IS IN SOME POLLS, SUB-40% ON APPROVAL, THAT'S NOT SO GOOD.

AND THAT'S HONESTLY SOME OF THE PUSH AND PULL WITH DAVID SCHWEIKERT OVER THE LAST DECADE IS EMBRACING TRUMP WHEN IT IS POLITICALLY BENEFICIAL AND KEEPING TRUMP AT AN ARM'S DISTANCE AND ALMOST SAYING I DON'T KNOW WHO THAT IS AT OTHER TIMES, AND IT'S BEEN A BACK-AND-FORTH.

ANY REPUBLICAN RUNNING IN A COMPETITIVE DISTRICT IN THE COUNTRY CERTAINLY IN ARIZONA JUAN CISCOMANI IN TUCSON HAS THE SAME CHALLENGE, WHERE YOU NEED TO STAY IN GOOD GRACES WITH THE PRESIDENT AND WITH THE PARTY AND THE PARTY FAITHFUL BUT AT THE SAME TIME, YOU DON'T WANT TO PUT YOURSELF IN JEOPARDY IN A GENERAL ELECTION ANY MORE THAN YOU NEED TO.

TED: THAT'S A LOT OF MATH GOING ON HERE, IF YOU'RE ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE BECAUSE, AGAIN, THIS IS SUCH A UNIQUE DISTRICT?

>> IT IS A VERY TIGHT LINE TO WALK, AND SCHWEIKERT DID THAT FAIRLY WELL.

NEVER KNOWN AS A MAGA GUY, BUT NEVER KNOWN AS AN ANTI-MAGA GUY, AND VOTED WITH FELLOW REPUBLICANS ON ALMOST EVERYTHING.

WE HAVE A COUPLE OF CELEBRITY NAMES FLOATING OUT THERE.

TED: YES, YES.

>> DANICA PATRICK, HER NAME HAS COME AROUND FOR OTHER OFFICES.

I DON'T KNOW IF SHE SAID ANYTHING PUBLICLY ON THIS.

HER NAME IS OUT THERE.

TODD GRAHAM, THE FORMER SUN DEVIL FOOTBALL COACH, A CONSULTANT TOLD ME HE IS CONSIDERING IT, CURRENTLY ON THE COACHING STAFF AT TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY BUT MAINTAIN ACE RESIDENCE OUT HERE.

WE HAVE JAY FEELY RUNNING IN THE EAST VALLEY, FORMER CARDINALS KICKER.

TED: AND CAMRYN, THERE COULD BE A BIG MONEY NAME, PERHAPS, A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS PERSON-TYPE NAME, PERHAPS IN THAT DISTRICT THAT WOULD SEEM GOOD FOR THE DISTRICT THAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT YET?

>> 100%.

THE OTHER I HEARD IS THE GUY WHO STARTED MOUNTAINSIDE FITNESS, I HOPE EVERYONE JUMPS IN.

I HOPE THERE ARE 12 DEMOCRATS AND 12 REPUBLICANS AND IT'S AS CRAZY AS POSSIBLE.

BUT AT LEAST THREE TO FIVE MINIMUM PEOPLE ARE GOING TO JUMP IN.

TED: WHAT DOES IT DO TO THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY?

>> OPENS IT UP FOR THEM.

THIS HAS BEEN A HIGHLY COVETED SEAT FOR DEMOCRATS SINCE IT WAS CREATED, AND EVEN ITS PREDECESSOR DISTRICT, DEMOCRATS MADE A COUPLE OF SERIOUS RUNS AT IT, AND IT DEFINITELY, DAVID SCHWEIKERT, AS WE TALKED ABOUT HERE, WAS VERY GOOD AT RUNNING IN THAT DISTRICT, AND KNEW THAT DISTRICT FORWARDS AND BACKWARDS AND WAS ABLE TO FEND OFF DEMOCRATS, EVEN IN YEARS WHERE HE WAS FACING, WHEN THE ETHICS ISSUES WERE MUCH MORE FRESH AND TIMELY, IN YEARS WHERE REPUBLICANS WERE STRUGGLING UP AND DOWN THE BALLOT OR IN COMPETITIVE DISTRICTS IN OTHER STATES.

HE MANAGED TO HOLD IT OFF, AND IS A VERY ADEPT CAMPAIGNER AND VERY GOOD ON THE GROUND.

SO WITHOUT HIM THERE, THAT CERTAINLY OPENS THINGS UP FOR DEMOCRATS AND WHOEVER GETS TO THE PRIMARY, AMISH SHAH IS TRYING TO MAKE ANOTHER RUN AT IT, ARLENE WOODS ARE TWO OF THE MORE PROMINENT DEMOCRATS IN THE FIELD, WHOEVER COMES OUT OF IT IS GOING TO FIELD THE ABILITY TO STRETCH THEIR WINGS IN THAT RACE, AND REALLY RUN A DIFFERENT CAMPAIGN THAN THEY WOULD HAVE TO AGAINST DAVID SCHWEIKERT.

>> THE BOTTOM LINE HERE AS WELL AS AROUND THE STATE AND THE COUNTRY IS A GROWING REPUBLICAN PARTY REGISTRATION ADVANTAGE THAT CAN'T BE IGNOREED?

>> IT'S A GREAT TIME FOR THEM.

THEY'VE BEEN DOING BETTER AND BETTER, AND DEMOCRATS HAVEN'T BEEN CATCHING UP AND SEEMINGLY HAD STRIFE WITHIN THE PARTY, AND WERE LATE TO THE GAME.

IT'S ALMOST THE 2026 ELECTION YEAR.

TED: GIVE ME -- GO TO EACH ONE OF YOU HERE, GIVE ME THE FRONT-RUNNERS, BOTH PARTIES?

.

>> FOR CD1?

TED: YEAH.

>> OKAY.

I'M GOING TO SAY MATT GRESS.

TED: MATT GRESS AND?

>> HE HASN'T ENTERED YET.

DEMOCRAT OR REPUBLICAN?

MAYBE SHAH.

TED: OKAY.

>> THINKING SHAH, IF YOU WANT LAST TIME, A VERY DETERMINED CAMPAIGNER, KNOCKS THE DOORS WITH A LOT OF GUSTO.

I THINK AGREE, LOOKING AT GRESS AS THE FRONT-RUNNER.

>> THAT MAKES ME FEEL BETTER.

>> SOMEONE WHO REPRESENTS A VERY SWING DISTRICT IN THE LEGISLATURE IS WELL BUILT FOR A SIMILAR RACE AT CONGRESSIONAL LEVEL.

THE PRIMARY -- COMES DOWN TO CAN HE GET THROUGH THE PRIMARY.

TED: MOST LIKELY TO SUCCEED AT THIS POINT?

>> AMISH SHAH HAS A LEG UP BECAUSE HE WAS ABLE TO GET THROUGH THE PRIMARY TWO YEARS AGO.

ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, I THINK IT'S IMPOSSIBLE PERSONALLY.

I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU CAN SAY BECAUSE I THINK THAT IDEA THAT YOU WERE GOING TO GET SOME WEALTHY BUSINESSMAN OR BUSINESS PEOPLE MAYBE MORE THAN ONE THAT JUMPS INTO THE RACE THAT SCRAMBLES THINGS IF THE TRUMP CAMP RECRUITS SOMEBODY IN THE RACE, THAT GOES A LONG WAY FOR IT, AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT DOES, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT A LOT OF HESITANCY IS FOR.

WHY WE HAVEN'T SEEN TWO OR THREE OR FOUR PEOPLE JUMP IN AS WE HAVE IN THE PAST.

EVERYBODY IS WAITING TO SEE WHAT TEAM TRUMP IS GOING TO DO AND TAKE AN ACTIVE ROLE INTO GETTING INTO THE RACE.

TED: JEREMY, ARIZONA SUPREME COURT HEARD THE DARK MONEY CHALLENGE, PROP 211, SAYING IT'S OKAY TO CHALLENGE IF YOU'RE THE LAWMAKERS, YOU HAVE STANDING.

>> NOT A RULING OVER -- AS YOU WALK IN THE STANDS.

WHETHER YOU GET TO WALK IN THE STANDS.

KEEP IN MIND, THEY HEARD A CASE THEY HEARD RECENTLY CHALLENGING THE NUTS AND BOLTS OF THE CONSTITUTIONALITY OF THE DARK MONEY DISCLOSURE LAW.

HOUSE SPEAKER STEVE MONTENEGRO, SENATE PRESIDENT WARREN PETERSEN SAID YOU DON'T HAVE STANDING TO DO THAT.

WHAT THEY'RE CHALLENGING HERE IS MORE OF AN ADMINISTRATIVE ISSUE ON THE AUTHORITY TO ENFORCE THIS GOES TO THE CLEAN ELECTIONS COMMISSION, AND THEY SAY HEY, WE'RE THE LEGISLATURE, THAT'S OUR PURVIEW, THAT SHOULD GO TO US.

THE PRIOR COURT SAID YOU DON'T HAVE THE DISCLOSURE TO CHALLENGE THAT.

THEY CAN GO TO COURT AND PROCEED WITH THE CHALLENGE TO THE LAW.

TED: THE TRIAL COURT SAID YOU DON'T HAVE STANDING BECAUSE YOU HAVEN'T BEEN SHOWN YOU ARE HURT BY THIS.

AND WEIRD ARGUMENT REGARDING BANK CARDS AND SALING, THE BOTTOM LINE IS THEY COULD BE HURT BY THIS?

>> YEAH, IT'S KIND OF A PRIVACY ISSUE FROM THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE FOLKS WHO HATE THIS LAW.

AND UNFORTUNATELY FOR THE COURT VOTERS, VERY OVERWHELMINGLY PASSED THIS IN 2022, 70%, POPULAR WITH THE VOTERS, AND THE COURT TAKES THAT INTO SERIOUS CONSIDERATION, BUT THE ARGUMENT FROM THE OTHER SIDE IS IT'S OVERLY BROAD AND VAGUE AND INVASION OF PRIVACY AS AN ISSUE FOR DONORS WHO COULD BE HARMED AND THERE COULD BE A CHILLING EFFECT ON THEM PARTICIPATING IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS, AND THAT'S NOT HOW IT SHOULD PLAY OUT AND LIKE JEREMY MENTIONED THE POWER IS SUPPOSED TO BE WITH THE LEGISLATURE SO THEY'RE UPSET ABOUT IT.

TED: BUT THE PEOPLE HAVE THE POWER, JIM, AS FAR AS THE INITIATIVES AND REFERENDUMS ARE CONCERNED.

SO THE IDEA THAT -- COULD THIS AFFECT OTHER VOTER-APPROVED MEASURES?

>> MAYBE, THE ISSUE THE COURT TOOK IS LOOK, IT DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER IT'S THE LEGISLATURE ITSELF THAT PASSES A LAW OR THE VOTERS THAT INVOKE LEGISLATIVE POWERS, IF THAT LAW IMPERMISSIBLY SPELLS OUT THE POWER, WHETHER IT'S A POWER TO THE EXECUTIVE OR LEGISLATURE OR JUDICIAL BRANCH.

IT IS WHAT THE VOTERS DID IN THIS CASE.

SUPREME COURT SAID JUST BECAUSE THE VOTERS APPROVED IT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S AUTOMATICALLY HUNKY-DORY AND FOLLOWS THE CONSTITUTION AND BASICALLY SAID JUST THE IDEA THAT THAT MIGHT HAVE HAPPENED IS ENOUGH STANDING -- ENOUGH REASON FOR THE LEGISLATURE TO SUE TO SAY, HEY, WE HAVE CONSTITUTIONALLY VESTED POWERS, WE NEED TO BE ABLE TO DEFEND THEM IN COURT WITHOUT ACTUALLY HAVING A CONCRETE HARM PROVE TO US.

THAT BY ITSELF IS ENOUGH.

TED: AND AGAIN, THE LEGISLATURE CAN'T STAND THE IDEA OF VOTERS APPROVING LAWS.

>> NOT HISTORICALLY BEEN TOO KEEN ON THIS.

TED: NO.

NO.

ALL RIGHT.

YOU WANT PER ELECTIONS MANUAL?

>> SURE.

TED: TALK ABOUT THE ELECTIONS MANUAL, ADRIAN FONTES, SECRETARY OF STATE GOT A NEW RULE BOOK, HE SUBMITTED IT.

NOW WHAT HAPPENS TO IT?

>> THE EPM, THE RULE BOOK IN QUESTION IS GUIDELINES FOR ELECTIONS WORKERS AND THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO HAVE ONE FOR EVERY ELECTION CYCLE WHICH IS OBVIOUSLY VERY IMPORTANT AND SHOULD ALL BE ON THE SAME PAGE ABOUT IT, BUT IT'S BEEN CONTENTIOUS SINCE FONTES HAS BEEN IN OFFICE.

HE'S A DEMOCRAT AND LAWMAKERS ARE REPUBLICANS.

HE AND THE LAWMAKERS HAVE FRICTION AND TRIED TO INCLUDE THINGS THEY DON'T LIKE WHICH THEY'RE CHALLENGING, MULTIPLE LAWSUITS AS WELL, GOING AFTER HIS VERSION OF THE EPM BUT ULTIMATELY THE NEXT STEP IN THE PROCESS IS TO SEND IT ALONG TO OTHER OFFICIALS WHO HAPPEN TO BE DEMOCRATS, HOBBS, MAYES HAS TO SIGN OFF TO, SO THAT'S AWKWARD BECAUSE IT'S BEEN PASSED ALONG AS COURT CASES ARE CHALLENGING IT AT THE SAME TIME.

SO IF THEY APPROVE IT BUT IT'S DEEMED BAD, THEN WE HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD, IT'S CHAOTIC AND WE'RE GETTING CLOSER TO THE ELECTION.

TED: PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP IS THE BIG BUGABOO, HUH?

>> THAT'S THE ISSUE AS FAR AS WHAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE OR ELECTIONS OFFICIALS CAN DO TO CONFIRM THAT.

WHETHER OR NOT THEY HAVE THE AUTHORITY TO REACH OUT TO PEOPLE IN THE SYSTEM FLAGS AS NONCITIZENS AND SAY DO YOU HAVE THIS PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP OR LEAVE IT AT THAT?

THE LEGISLATURE, MONTENEGRO AND PETERSEN FLAGGED THAT IN THE INITIAL DRAFT.

FONTES MADE CHANGES ON OTHER THINGS.

WHO KNOWS?

THIS IS ALMOST 500 PAGES.

IT JUST CAME OUT, THE LAWYERS ARE PORING THROUGH IT.

EVERYONE IS GOING TO FIND SOMETHING THEY HATE.

SEEMS LIKE FONTES DIDN'T GET QUITE AS CREATIVE.

HE'S GOING BACK TO COUNTY RECORDER, LIKES TO PUSH THE ENVELOPE AND SEE HOW FAR THINGS CAN GO.

REMEMBER THE LAST ELECTIONS PROCEDURE MANUAL, COUNTY SUPERVISORS DON'T WANT TO CERTIFY ELECTION RESULTS, WE'RE GOING TO MOVE ON, OR SAID NO TO THAT.

WE HAD COURT RULINGS RECENTLY ON VOTER INTIMIDATION THINGS WHICH HE DID TONE DOWN A BIT IN THIS VERSION TO COMPLY WITH THE NINTH CIRCUIT, BUT THERE MIGHT BE LAND MINES IN THERE WE HAVEN'T EVEN REALIZED YET.

WE HAVE TO WAIT UNTIL THE LEGISLATURE'S LAWYERS LOOK AT IT.

TED: THIS IS THE ELECTIONS PROCEDURE MANUAL.

THIS IS NOT LAW.

THAT'S A BIG DEAL.

SEEMS LIKE IT SHOULD BE A BIG DEAL, PEOPLE ARE TREATING IT AS IF IT'S LAW.

IT'S NOT LAW?

>> IT'S NOT LAW, BUT IT CARRIES THE FORCE OF LAW, THAT IS SPECIFICALLY IN STATE ELECTIONS LAWS, WHERE ESSENTIALLY THEY DELEGATE SAYING HERE'S ALL THE MAIN LAWS, THE BIG LAWS.

IN ORDER TO IMPLEMENT THESE THINGS, HOW DO ALL OF 15 ARIZONA COUNTIES RUN THE ELECTIONS AND HOW DO THEY TAKE THE LAWS IN TITLE 16 AND PUT THEM INTO PRACTICE, RIGHT?

IT DOES CARRY THE WEIGHT OF LAW MOSTLY.

THERE ARE PARTS OF IT THAT DO NOT.

WE HAVE COURT RULINGS ON THAT PARTICULAR MATTER OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS BUT CARRIES THE WEIGHT OF LAW FOR THOSE ELECTIONS WORKERS FOR THE COUNTIES THAT ARE CONDUCTING THE ELECTIONS.

TED: ALL RIGHT, JEREMY, JOHN GILLETTE LOOKS LIKE HE HAD A POOR CHOICE OF WORDS WHEN HE SAID A WASHINGTON CONGRESSWOMAN SHOULD BE HANGED FOR HER SPEECH PROTESTING DONALD TRUMP.

>> POOR CHOICE ON ESCALATING SERIES OF WORDS, MORE LIKE IT.

HE DID SAY IN TERMS OF REPRESENTATIVE PAUL FROM WASHINGTON STATE.

IT IS NOT WHAT YOU THINK.

HE SAID PEOPLE SHOULD BE TRIED AND HANGED TO TRY TO OVERTHROW THE GOVERNMENT THE WAY HE CLAIMED SHE DID, SHE WAS CALLING FOR A PEACEFUL PROTEST.

HE SHOULD HAVE SAID FIRING SQUAD, HANGED HAS RACIAL CONNOTATIONS OR MAYBE CAPITAL PUNISHMENT OR DEATH PENALTY.

THAT IS NOT WHAT PEOPLE ARE GETTING HUNG UP ON A LITTLE BIT, AND ANYONE NOT HAPPY ABOUT THE ORIGINAL STATEMENT IS NOT GOING TO BE PACIFIED BY THE CLARIFICATION.

>> THE CLARIFICATION OF FIRING SQUAD OVER HANGING.

>> MAKES ME FEEL BETTER.

TED: HE DID SAY HE WANTS DUE PROCESS AND MAKE SURE THE CONVICTION IS HAD, BUT THEN, BE THAT AS IT MAY?

>> WE DON'T REALLY KILL PEOPLE LIKE THAT ANYMORE.

NEXT STEP IN THE ISSUE IS BACK TO ETHICS COMPLAINTS.

WE HAD JUST HEARD ABOUT GILLETTE A WEEK OR TWO AGO BECAUSE HE SAID SOMETHING ABOUT MUSLIMS AND NOT BEING A FAN OF THEM, AND DEMOCRATS TRIED TO PUSH OUT THE COMPLAINT AGAINST HIM.

YOU CAN'T SAY STUFF LIKE THAT, AND THE ETHICS COMMITTEE RUN BY REPUBLICANS, YOU CAN SAY WHATEVER YOU WANT, THIS IS A FREE SPEECH ISSUE.

THE DEMOCRATS SAY NOT ONLY IS THIS MEAN BUT IT'S VIOLENT, AND IT ISN'T OKAY.

PLEASE TAKE THIS UP AGAINST GILLETTE.

WILL WE SEE THE SAME RESULT?

QUITE POSSIBLY.

TED: REPRESENTATIVE GILLETTE NOT RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION AND I HAVE A FEELING THE ETHICS COMMITTEE IS NOT GOING TOO FAR, ARE YOU HEARING ANYTHING DIFFERENTLY?

>> YOU DOUBT THEY'RE GOING TO DO ANYTHING DIFFERENTLY.

THE REPUBLICANS ARE RADIO SILENT ON JOHN GILLETTE.

HEY, THIS IS BAD, AND THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE.

IT HAS BEEN A SERIES OF UNRECURRING PHONE CALLS AND E-MAILS AS WE CHASE DOWN REPUBLICANS TO COMMENT ON THIS.

I DON'T HAVE FAITH THAT THE ETHICS COMMITTEE IS GOING TO DO A DARN THING ABOUT IT, BUT INTERESTING TO WATCH HOW THEY'RE GOING TO SAY INEVITABLY, WE DON'T HAVE THE ABILITY TO COME IN AND PUNISH HIM FOR THIS, WHICH THEY ABSOLUTELY DO, AND WATCH REPUBLICANS TURN AROUND IN THE ETHICS COMPLAINT AGAINST SENATOR ANALISE ORTIZ WHO SAID FAMILIES, WATCH OUT FOR THE I.C.E.

AGENTS ROUNDING PEOPLE UP IN FRONT OF THE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, IF YOU ARE DROPPING KIDS OFF, YOU MIGHT WANT TO BE CAREFUL.

THEY SAID THIS IS A FIRST AMENDMENT ISSUE, AND THEY SAID NO, NO, NO.

THERE IS AN OBVIOUS CONTRAST BETWEEN REPUBLICANS FLYING THE FLAG OF THE FIRST AMENDMENT TO SAY HEY, WE CAN SAY WHATEVER YOU WANT, DEMOCRATS, YOU CAN'T SAY THAT.

TED: HOW FAR DOES THIS GO, JEREMY?

>> DEPENDS WHAT REPRESENTATIVE GILLETTE PUTS ON TWITTER.

THIS IS OBVIOUSLY NOT GOING TO GO ANYWHERE ANY MORE THAN THE LAST ONE DID, AND WHATEVER ETHICS COMPLAINT COMES NEXT.

THIS COMES AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF A LOT OF TALK FROM THE RIGHT FROM REPUBLICANS FEELING THAT THE LEFT NEED TO TONE DOWN INFLAMMATORY FLIL RHETORIC, AND WE'RE NOT HEARING THAT IN THIS CASE FROM REPUBLICANS WHEN IT COMES TO FELLOW REPUBLICANS.

TED: IT'S SHOCKING, CAMRYN, SOUNDS LIKE POLITICS ARE INVOLVED HERE.

>> IT REALLY DOES.

TED: I THINK WE SHOULD STOP IT RIGHT THERE.

AS FAR AS WE CAN GO ON THAT.

THANK YOU, PANEL.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.