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TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

IT'S THE JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE.

A LOOK AT THE WEEK'S TOP STORIES INCLUDING A KINDA SORTA CONCESSION, MAYBE, IN ARIZONA'S SENATE RACE.

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 THE JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE.

AND JOINING US TONIGHT, JEREMY DUDA OF AXIOS PHOENIX.

CAMRYN SANCHEZ OF KJZZ RADIO AND WAYNE SCHUTSKY ALSO OF KJZZ RADIO.

JEREMY, WANT TO GET TO THE SENATE RACE IN A SECOND.

TRAGIC NEWS OUT OF TUCSON AND SHOCKING NEWS.

TALK TO US ABOUT JOHN McLEAN.

>> THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE FOR LD17 NORTHERN TUCSON, PIMA COUNTY AREA.

VERY CLOSE RACE.

SOMETHING WE ALL HAD OUR EYE ON IN TERMS OF RACE FOR CONTROL OF THE LEGISLATURE.

ACCORDING TO TUCSON POLICE, HIT EARLY THIS MORNING BY A DRUNK DRIVER WHO RAN A STOP SIGN, I BELIEVE, AND DIED FROM THE TRAGIC, UNFORTUNATE, UNEXPECTED AND I THINK EVERYONE WAS VERY SHOCKED.

TED: ANY RESPONSE FROM -- BASICALLY JUST SORRY TO HEAR THIS, BUT NOT TOO MUCH MORE.

>> YOU WERE STARTING TO SEE STATEMENTS COME OUT FROM THE FOLKS WHO KNEW HIM, CAMPAIGNED WITH HIM, AND SHOCKED, SADDENED, WISHING THEIR BEST THOUGHTS TO HIS FAMILY AND LIKE YOU SAID TRAGIC SITUATION.

TED: YEAH, OKAY, JOHN McLEAN KILLED IN AN ACCIDENT IN TUCSON TODAY.

CAMRYN, TALK ABOUT THE U.S. SENATE RACE, AND WHAT WAS THAT THAT WE HEARD FROM KARI LAKE THIS WEEK?

>> WE DIDN'T HEAR MUCH OF ANYTHING FROM HER THIS WEEK.

SHE PUT OUT THE VIDEO AND MADE THE STATEMENTS LIKE ARIZONA IS GREAT, TRUMP IS GREAT, RUNNING WAS GREAT, BUT NEVER SAID, AND I LOST THE RACE TO RUBEN GALLEGO.

CONGRATULATIONS.

IT'S NOT ACTUALLY A CONCESSION, ALTHOUGH THE TONE OF IT COULD BE A CONCESSION, BUT KNOWING KARI LAKE, WE'RE WANTING HER TO BE MORE CLEAR ABOUT IT, IN THE PAST, SHE HASN'T BEEN KNOWN FOR CONCEDING.

>> NOT A CONCESSION BUT SEEMED LIKE AN ACKNOWLEDGMENT, SHE'S NOT IN THE SENATE WHICH IS MORE THAN WHAT WE HEARD TWO YEARS AGO WHEN SHE LOST THE GOVERNOR'S RACE, WE DIDN'T HEAR THE CONCESSION OR CONGRATULATIONS AND WE DIDN'T HEAR IT WAS RIGGED.

WE DIDN'T HEAR I'M GOING TO COURT TO RIGHTFULLY CLAIM THE SEAT I WAS CHEATED OUT, SOME OF HER SUPPORTERS ARE SAYING THAT BECAUSE OF HOW FAR SHE RAN BEHIND DONALD TRUMP AND OTHER REPUBLICANS, BUT IT WAS AT LEAST ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT IS OVER, GIVEN WHAT WE'VE SEEN FROM THE PAST TWO, THREE YEARS IS AS GOOD AS WE CAN EXPECT.

TED: ON ELECTION DAY, SHE SAID SHE WOULD ACCEPT THE RESULTS.

IS SHE SAYING NOW SHE WILL ACCEPT THE RESULTS OR EVERYTHING EXCEPT THAT.

>> IF THE ELECTION IS FAIR, AND GIVEN THAT IN THE PAST, SHE'S MADE UNSUBSTANTIATED CLAIMS THAT ELECTIONS WEREN'T FAIR.

I NEVER PUT A TON OF CREDENCE INTO THOSE, ECHO WHAT JEREMY SAID AND THIS IS AS CLOSE AS A CONCESSION WE'RE GOING TO GET FROM HER, AND ACKNOWLEDGMENT IS A BETTER TERM, THIS VIDEO SEEMED A BEST WAY TO SAVE FACE.

HER ALLIES WERE RETWEETING AND POSTING IT AND POSTING STATISTICS HOW IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE FOR HER TO WIN, THE MONEY WAS AGAINST HER, DESPITE THE FACT THAT REPUBLICANS SWEPT THE DEMOCRATS IN EVERY OTHER RACE ACROSS THE STATE.

TED: CAMRYN, LET'S REVIEW WHY DONALD TRUMP AND OTHER REPUBLICANS DID SO WELL IN ARIZONA AND NOT SO MUCH FOR HER?

>> LEADING UP TO THE ELECTION, ALL OF THAT TIME WE WERE TALKING ABOUT IT, IT SEEMED IN THE POLLS GALLEGO WAS LEADING LAKE, AND WE TALKED ABOUT THAT A FEW TIMES AND ONE OF THE REASONS WE TALKED ABOUT THE MOST IS THE FACT SHE'S HAD A HARD TIME GETTING INDEPENDENTS AND THE REPUBLICANS SHE NEEDS TO RALLY BEHIND HER AND GIVE HER THE SUPPORT WITH, YOU KNOW, ADAMANT SUPPORT NOT JUST BE GRUDGING SUPPORT BECAUSE SHE SAID IN THE PAST, SHE WANTS TO DRIVE THE STAKE TO THE HEART OF THE McCAIN PARTY, AND THOUGH SHE TRIED TO WALK IT BACK, IT STUCK IN PEOPLE'S MINDS AND NO ONE COULD MOVE ON FROM IT, AND RUBEN GALLEGO WAS A MORE POPULAR CANDIDATE THROUGH AND THROUGH ALL THE WAY.

TED: AND HARD TO GET MONEY, McCONNELL, THE CAMPAIGN GAVE HER NOTHING.

>> NATIONAL REPUBLICANS MADE IT CLEAR THEY WERE PRIORITIZING OTHER CONTESTED SENATE SEATS, FAR MORE THAN ARIZONA, MITCH McCONNELL WAS WATCHING HIS HANDS OF HER AND SHARING SENTIMENT OF REPUBLICANS IN D.C. AND ARIZONA THEY DID NOT VIEW THIS AS A WINNABLE RACE.

IT ENDED UP CLOSER THAN A LOT OF US EXPECTED TO BASED ON THE POLLING BUT THE POLLING HAD HER RUNNING FAR BEHIND DONALD TRUMP.

TED: DOES SHE HAVE AN ARGUMENT, IF McCONNELL'S GROUP POURED TEN BUCKS INTO THE RACE.

DOES SHE HAVE AN ARGUMENT THIS COULD BE CLOSER OR A WIN?

>> I DON'T THINK SO.

BECAUSE IT'S NOT LIKE THE VOTERS IN ARIZONA DON'T KNOW WHO KARI LAKE IS.

SHE RAN A WELL-FUNDED CAMPAIGN TWO YEARS AGO, PEOPLE KNOW WHO SHE IS AND THAT'S WHY SHE LOST.

SHE HAS A LIKABILITY ISSUE WITH ARIZONA VOTERS.

ANECDOTALLY I SPOKE WITH ARIZONA VOTERS, SOME WERE NEVER-TRUMPER WHO LEFT THE SPACE BLANK AND COULDN'T STOMACH VOTING FOR KARI LAKE.

TED: CAMRYN, THE ARROGANCE THE NOT CONCEDING THE RACE?

>> I THINK PEOPLE WANTING TO MOVE ON IN LOCAL RACES OR STATEWIDE RACES BUT KARI LAKE IS ONE OF THE POSTERS OF THE ELECTION FRAUD MOVEMENT IN ARIZONA AND KEPT IT GOING IN 2022 WHEN REPUBLICANS WEREN'T DOING SO WELL IN THE ELECTION.

TED: IS THAT WHY RUBEN GALLEGO HAD MORE VOTES IN MARICOPA COUNTY?

>> AS HAS BEEN SAID, LAKE HAD LIKABILITY ISSUES.

IF YOU LOOK BACK TO THE GOVERNOR'S RACE, ESPECIALLY EARLY ON, THERE'S A BUZZ THERE, AN ENERGY ABOUT HER, SHE MANAGED TO EMULATE THE TRUMP STYLE BETTER THAN ANY OTHER CANDIDATE, REALLY FROM ALL THE OTHER CANDIDATES WE'VE SEEN TRY THAT AND FALL FLAT.

SHE NAILED IT A COUPLE YEARS AGO.

THE SENATE RACE WAS NOT THE SAME.

THE ENERGY WAS GONE, THE BUZZ WAS GONE, I THINK HER SHTICK WORE THIN, PEOPLE SPENT TWO YEARS LISTENING TO HER CLAIM SHE WON THE GOVERNOR'S RACE AND LOSE CASE AFTER CASE AFTER CASE FOR THAT, AND THERE WERE A LOT OF TRUMP-GALLEGO VOTERS IN THE STATE WILLING TO SPLIT THE TICKET BECAUSE OF THAT.

>> AND I WOULD SAY SHE ALSO IS YOUNG, AND SENATE INCUMBENTS, ESSENTIALLY REPUBLICANS IN ARIZONA HAVE THE POSSIBILITY OF BEING RE-ELECTED AGAIN AND AGAIN, AND THAT MAY HAVE PLAYED A ROLE FOR PEOPLE I CAN STOMACH ONE MORE TERM OF TRUMP AND MOVE ONTO J.D.

VANCE, WHOEVER THE NEXT REPUBLICAN NOMINEE WILL BE.

IF THEY'RE STARING DOWN THE BARREL OF 24, 30 MORE YEARS OF LAKE AS A SENATOR, LET'S PUT UP ANOTHER CANDIDATE AND SIX YEARS GO WITH GALLEGO.

TED: GALLEGO WAS DOING HIS THING AND, TALK ABOUT HIS CAMPAIGN STRATEGY.

OBVIOUSLY HE WON, IT WORKED TO A CERTAIN DEGREE.

WAS IT OVERWHELMING, WAS IT A BOFFO CAMPAIGN, WHAT WOULD YOU SAY IN.

>> HE LET IT SPEAK FOR HIMSELF.

WE WATCHED THE POLLING AND I'M SURE HE DID, TOO.

IN THE DEBATE, SHE WAS TALKING A LOT AND TALKING OVER HIM, I WONDER IF THIS WAS ONE OF THE REASONS HE DIDN'T FIGHT BACK IN THE DEBATE BECAUSE HE WANTED TO LET HER SHOW THAT SIDE OF HERSELF, AND HOPING PEOPLE WOULDN'T APPRECIATE IT VERY MUCH.

>> THERE WAS A COMBATIVENESS FROM LAKE'S CAMPAIGN, SPOKE WITH YOU AND OTHER REPORTERS, ALWAYS KIND OF LOOKING FOR A FIGHT, AND SAID OVER AND OVER AGAIN, PEOPLE WANT A FIGHTER.

PEOPLE WANT SOMEBODY WHO'S GOING TO FIGHT FOR THEM, I DON'T KNOW IF THEY WANT SOMEONE WHO'S GOING TO FIGHT FOR THE SAKE OF FIGHTING.

TED: WHAT'S NEXT FOR KARI LAKE?

WHAT HAVE WE SEEN?

>> WE'VE HEARD POTENTIAL RUNS OF THIS, THAT AND THE OTHER THING.

I'M WAITING TO SEE WHAT STOMACH REPUBLICAN VOTERS IN ARIZONA HAVE FOR ANOTHER LOSING RACE.

SHE'S LOST TWO BIG RACES, I'M WONDERING HOW VOTERS REMAIN LOYAL TO HER.

TED: DOES SHE JOIN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION?

>> LOT OF THINGS IN THE BIG POLITICAL ARENA WITHOUT HAVING TO WIN ELECTION, SUCH AS BEING APPOINTED TO A POSITION OR GO FOR SOMETHING YOU DON'T GET THE POPULAR VOTE FOR LIKE RUNNING A LOCAL PARTY OR HAVE TUCKER CARLSON AND RUN YOUR OWN SHOW.

THIS IS BASED ON PURE ME SPECULATING.

I HAVE NOT TALKED TO HESHGS DON'T SPEAK FOR HER AT ALL.

IT'S POSSIBLE SHE CAN STAY IN THE PUBLIC EYE AND IN POLITICS BUT NOT HAVE TO RUN ANOTHER ELECTION.

TED: SPEAKING OF THE PUBLIC EYE, KYRSTEN SINEMA -- IS SHE STILL -- NOTHING FROM HER?

>> GETTING PRESS RELEASES FROM HER OFFICE, SHE'S BEEN VERY QUIET AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO EXPECT A LOT MORE OF THAT.

SHE'S ABOUT TO LEAVE OFFICE.

KIND OF IGNOMINIOUS END TO SOMEONE WHO HAD A MAJOR HIGH OFFICE, AND POLITICAL TERMS, SHE IS YOUNG TOO, SHE COULD -- THERE IS A CHANCE FOR A COMEBACK, BUT BASED ON THE FACT SHE LEFT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY VOTING BASE IS NOT PARTICULARLY ENTHRALLED WITH HER AND THE WAY SHE CONDUCTED HERSELF IN THE SENATE FOR SIX YEARS.

I DON'T KNOW IF SHE'LL SAY THAT AGAIN.

I WOULDN'T EXPECT TO HEAR MUCH FROM HER FOR A WHILE.

TED: SHE'S WORKED WITH SENATOR KELLY ON THIS AND THAT, AS FAR AS THE POLITICAL SPHERE, ZIPPO.

>> I VIEWED HER AS SOMEONE WHO WAS WAITING TO SEE HOW THE OPEN PRIMARY BALLOT MEASURE FARED, AS AN INDEPENDENT, INDEPENDENTS WOULD HAVE BENEFITTED MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE FROM THE MEASURE MAKING IT EASIER TO RUN AND MOVE TO THE GENERAL ELECTION, BUT WITH THAT OUT OF WAY, I DON'T EXPECT TO HEAR MORE FROM HER.

TED: ASKED WHAT WAS NEXT FOR KARI LAKE, WHAT'S NEXT FOR KYRSTEN SINEMA?

>> I DON'T SPEAK FOR HER, I COULD SEE HER TAKING A NICE, CUSHY QUIET JOB AND LIVING OFF OF IT FOREVER AND NOT RUNNING AGAIN AND MAYBE JUMPING BACK IN, IN THE FUTURE.

TED: AN APPOINTMENT POSSIBLE SOMEWHERE DOWN THE LINE?

>> WITH TRUMP?

TED: A SYMPATHETIC PRESIDENT.

>> MAYBE, MAYBE.

AT THE RALLIES, I'VE SEEN KELLY OFTEN, I'VE SEEN GALLEGO, STANTON, I HAVE NOT SEEN HER.

TED: SHE'S BEEN INVISIBLE.

JEREMY, A FAKE ELECTOR JUDGE RECUSING HIMSELF.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO THE FAKE ELECTOR CASE?

>> JUDGE COHEN SET TO RETIRE IN A COUPLE MONTHS, I BELIEVE, IN THE LONG RUN, IT DOESN'T MEAN A LOT.

I DON'T THINK HE'S RULED ON THE MAJOR ISSUES BEFORE HIM FROM DEFENDANTS TRYING TO GET THINGS DISMISSED BUT DEFINITELY IF NOTHING ELSE FOR RHETORICAL PURPOSES, GIVE ANOTHER ARROW TO THE DEFENDANTS IN THE FAKE ELECTORS CASE, TRYING TO PORTRAY THIS AS BIAS, POLITICALLY MOTIVATED FROM THE LEFT AND E-MAIL THAT JUDGE COHEN SENT OUT JAKE HOFFMAN, SENATOR HOFFMAN, ONE OF THE FAKE ELECTOR DEFENDANTS THAT GOT HIM TO RECUSE HIMSELF, AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE LONG RUN REMAINS TO BE SEEN.

HE WAS GOING TO BE GONE IN A COUPLE MONTHS, HARD TO SEE IF THAT WAS GOING TO HAVE SERIOUS IMPACT ON THE CASE.

TED: WAYNE, TALK ABOUT THE E-MAIL AND WHY HE FELT COMPELLED TO RECUSE?

>> SENT AN E-MAIL TO ALL THE COLLEAGUES AND JUDGES AND COMMISSIONERS IN THE MARICOPA COUNTY COURT, A SEND-ALL SITUATION WHERE, HE WAS TALKING ABOUT ALLEGATIONS FROM REPUBLICANS THAT VICE PRESIDENT HARRIS WAS A DEI HIRE, THAT SHE GOT THE NOMINATION BECAUSE OF RACE OR GENDER, NOT BECAUSE OF QUALIFICATIONS AND SAYING THAT HE FELT COMPELLED TO SPEAK UP AND SHOULD ALWAYS SPEAK UP WHEN THE COMMENTS ARE MADE ABOUT PEOPLE QUALIFIED FOR THE POSITIONS THEY'RE IN, AND I THINK HE COMPARED IT TO NOT SPEAKING UP TO SOME SITUATIONS IN NAZI GERMANY, AND THINGS LIKE THAT, AND SENT A FOLLOW-UP E-MAIL APOLOGIZING SAYING THIS WASN'T THE RIGHT FORUM FOR THIS, MY PASSIONS GOT THE BETTER OF ME.

HONESTLY THE BIGGEST THING IT CALLED TO ME IS JUDGMENT IN THE FIRST PLACE, YOU THINK A JUDGE ON THE BENCH SINCE 200ALD REALIZE THAT SENDING AN E-MAIL LIKE THAT TO A LOT OF JUDGES, MANY APPOINTED BY REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS, IT WAS GOING TO GET PAST THE LINE TO REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE, WHICH IS WHAT WE SAW WHICH LED TO THE SITUATION JEREMY DESCRIBED.

TED: SEND-ALL IS RARELY A GOOD THING HE.

DID APOLOGIZE, AS WAYNE MENTIONED, WRONG FORUM, BUT DID WHAT HE SAID AND STATED IN THE E-MAIL, DID THAT REPRESENT BIAS IN THE CASE?

>> CERTAINLY WHAT THE DEFENDANTS SAY AND WHAT THE REPUBLICANS AT LARGE SAY, THAT YOU CAN'T HAVE A JUDGE IN A CASE LIKE THIS WHERE ALL OF THE DEFENDANTS ARE FANS OF DONALD TRUMP AND HAD A HAND IN SUBMITTING THEIR NAMES TO GET HIM ELECTED IN THE VERY CONTROVERSIAL AND VERY SIGNIFICANT ELECTION, AND THEN BE WILLING TO RULE ON THIS CASE BUT TELLING PEOPLE THAT YOU SUPPORT DEFENDING KAMALA HARRIS FROM ATTACKS.

IS THAT THE CASE?

I GUESS THAT'S FOR THE GENERAL PUBLIC, YOU CAN DECIDE THAT IN THE COURT OF PUBLIC OPINION, BUT THEY'RE CERTAINLY CONCERNED HOW IT LOOKS.

I AGREE WITH WAYNE, IT SEEMS LIKE NOT AN EASY MISTAKE TO MAKE TO FLIP AND FALL AND SEND AN E-MAIL TO ALL OF YOUR COLLEAGUES, I DON'T KNOW ABOUT THAT.

TED: JEREMY, YOU REFERRED TO THIS EARLIER, WHAT'S NEXT WITH THIS?

>> I THINK MOTIONS TO DISMISS UNDER THE ANTI-SLAP LAW, OTHER MOTIONS AS WELL.

IT'S A LONG TIME BEFORE WE SEE A TRIAL, PRESUMING NOTHING IS DISMISSED.

THERE'S A LOT OF COURTROOM MANEUVERING AND MOTIONS AND RULINGS AND ALL THAT TO GO BEFORE THIS GETS ANYWHERE NEAR FINAL CONCLUSION.

TED: ANTI-SLAP LAW IS?

>> I FORGOT THE ACRONYM, TO ALLOW PEOPLE TO MORE EASILY DISMISS LAWSUITS BROUGHT AGAINST THEM BY PUBLIC FIGURES, PROTECT PEOPLE'S RIGHT TO CRITICIZE PUBLIC FIGURES AND ELECTED OFFICIALS.

>> POLITICALLY SPEAKING.

WAYNE, TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, SHE IS OUT AGAINST PROJECT 2025, YOU WROTE ABOUT THIS.

TALK TO US ABOUT IT.

>> KRIS MAYES, OUR ATTORNEY GENERAL CALLED A ROUNDTABLE OF JOURNALISTS AND HAD A BROAD DISCUSSION, BASED ON 2025, THE CONSERVATIVE PLAYBOOK HOW TO REMAKE THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT WRITTEN BY ALLIES OF DONALD TRUMP.

HE TRIED TO DISTANCE HIMSELF FROM IT.

THERE ARE THROUGH LINES BETWEEN POLICY PROPOSAL AND BUY IT THERE.

SHE SAID I'M GOING TO FIGHT EFFORTS TO RESTRICT ACCESS TO ABORTION, AND DEPORT DREAMERS OR UNLAWFULLY DEPARTMENT ANY U.S. CITIZEN UNDER THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION'S PLANS TO DO MASS DEPORTATIONS, AND THIS ISN'T UNUSUAL.

WE'VE SEEN REPUBLICAN AG'S FILE ACTIONS AGAINST THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, BEFORE THAT, MANY DEMOCRATIC AGs FILE LAWSUITS AGAINST THE FIRST TRUMP ADMINISTRATION.

IT'S STATUS QUO THAT SHE'S GOING TO FIGHT A LOT OF HIS POLICY PRIORITY.

TED: AND COMPARE THAT WITH THE GOVERNOR WHO'S GOING TO DO WHAT FIGHTING MASS DEPORTATIONS.

>> HOBBS IS A LITTLE MILDNER HER STANCE, NOT PLEDGING TO FIGHT EVERYTHING BUT I WANT TO WORK TOGETHER WITH REPUBLICANS AND WE'RE GOING TO DO OUR BEST, AND, YOU KNOW, BEING, I THINK, LESS FORCEFUL, LESS COMBATIVE, LESS HOSTILE OFF THE BAT.

MAYES, THIS IS OUT OF CHARACTER AND NOT A SURPRISE AND WHAT SHE'S BEEN DOING AND TOTALLY MAKES SENSE AND A LOT OF THE PROPOSALS ARE UNCONSTITUTIONAL, THAT SHE HAS A RIGHT TO DEFEND.

>> WE'VE SEEN IN A NUMBER OF STATES, DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS, DEMOCRATIC ATTORNEYS GENERAL VOWS TO DIG IN THEIR HEELS AND FIGHT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, AND MAYES AND BLUE STATES OR SWING STATES -- NOT SWING STATES, THAT STATES THAT WENT FOR HARRIS, OBVIOUSLY BLUE STATES, ARIZONA IS NOT THAT BUT KRIS MAYES HAS SPOKEN WITH THE OTHER DEMOCRATIC AGs, LOOKING TO BE THE ARIZONA REPRESENTATIVE OF THIS MOVEMENT AND KATIE HOBBS NOT INTERESTED.

SHE DOES NOT THINK THAT WOULD BE PRODUCTIVE.

SHE WANTS TO WORK WITH THE ADMINISTRATION.

SHE MADE IT CLEAR THAT IF THE NEED COMES UP, SHE'LL FIGHT ANYTHING THEY DO, SHE FEELS LIKE IT'S HURTING ARIZONANS BUT LOOKS TO TAKE A MORE CONCILIATORY APPROACH AND INTERESTING TO SEE HOW THE DIFFERENT APPROACHES PLAY OUT IN TWO YEARS WHEN BOTH OF THE DEMOCRATS ARE UP FOR RE-ELECTION IN ARIZONA DESPITE SWING STATE STATUS IS A CENTER-RIGHT STATE, AND TWO PEOPLE NARROWLY WON THEIR RACES, KRIS MAYES, 280 VOTES.

TED: CAMRYN, IN CHARACTER FOR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND IN CHARACTER FOR THE GOVERNOR AS WELL?

>> SHE'S READING BEHIND THE LINES, SHE'S GOT AN ELECTION COMING UP IN TWO YEARS.

ARIZONANS TOLD HER THEY PREFER REPUBLICAN POLICIES IN TWO DIFFERENT AREAS.

SAID SHE I'LL WORK CAN W THAT IN OFFICE.

THAT BEING SAID, SHE'S INDICATED SHE'LL ONLY GO SO FAR, ESSENTIALLY VETO VOTING LEGISLATION THAT REPUBLICANS ARE PUSHING TO SPEED UP ELECTION RESULTS.

>> METAPHORCALLY SPEAKING SHE'S IN A REPUBLICAN SANDWICH, SHE'S GOT DONALD TRUMP AT THE TOP AND REPUBLICAN STATE LAWMAKERS AT THE STATE LEVEL.

TED: LEGISLATIVE LEADERSHIP, THIS IS THE ONE THAT GOT THE HEADLINES HERE, WE REMEMBER STEVE MONTENEGRO, AN UP-AND-COMER AND GONE AWAY WITH THE SCANDAL AND BACK.

HE'S THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

WHO'S STEVE MONTENEGRO?

>> THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE.

I WASN'T THERE FOR THAT, THAT WAS IN 2018.

HE RAN FOR CONGRESS, AND THIS BIG THING CAME TO LIGHT WHERE HE HAD BEEN IN THIS RELATIONSHIP WITH THIS PERSON IN THE SENSE THEY WERE TEXTING, SENDING MESSAGES THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA AND RECEIVED A TOPLESS PICTURE FROM HER, AND SHE WAS A JUNIOR STAFFER, SO POLITICALLY IT WAS NOT GREAT, HE WAS A MINISTER AND MARRIED AND HE DID NOT WIN.

TED: HE DID NOT WIN THE CONGRESSIONAL SEAT OR BACK TO THE LEGISLATURE, JEREMY.

HE WAS DOWN AND OUT BUT BACK UP.

WHAT HAPPENED?

>> COUPLE YEARS AGO, HE WON THE CONTESTED PRIMARY, AND A SECOND ACT IN THE LEGISLATIVE POLITICS HERE, AND SO I THINK IN TERMS OF HIS POLITICS, HIS STYLE, I THINK FOR THOSE OF US AROUND THE CAPITOL DURING HIS FIRST TERM, HE WAS THERE TEN YEARS, NINE YEARS?

WE KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT.

WE KNOW WHERE HE STANDS ON THE ISSUES, A CONSERVATIVE REPUBLICAN.

POSSIBLY A BIT DIFFERENT STYLEWISE FOR THE PERSON HE DEFEATED FOR THE SPEAKERSHIP IS AN INTERESTING SUBPLOT.

REPRESENTATIVE JOSEPH CHAPLIK, REPRESENTATIVE OF THE ARIZONA FREEDOM CAUCUS, THE FREEDOM CAUCUS, WE'VE SEEN THEM IN ACTION, COMBATIVE, TRUMP-LIKE, THEY WANT TO FIGHT AND I WOULD CERTAINLY EXPECT STEVE MONTENEGRO TO FIGHT KATIE HOBBS, THE SAME AS WARREN PETERSON, STYLE WILL BE DIFFERENT UNDER A CHAPLIK SPEAKERSHIP.

>> COMPARE SPEAKER TOMA TO SPEAKER MONTENEGRO.

>> I TAKE JEREMY'S WORD FOR THE PERSONALITY THEN.

I THINK IT WOULD BE MORE OF A CONTINUATION FROM WHAT WE SAW OF TOMA.

ALL OF THE REPUBLICANS ARE VERY CONSERVATIVE.

THE DIFFERENCES IS A MATTER OF STYLE AS JEREMY SAID.

THE FREEDOM CAUCUS TYPES WHO ARE MORE FIRE BRAND, MORE TAKE NO PRISONERS, NO COMPROMISE, THE FOLKS LIKE TOMA ARE CRITICAL ARE THE GOVERNOR AND CRITICAL OF DEMOCRATS IN MOST SITUATIONS BUT ALSO ARE POLITICALLY PRAGMATIC AND KNOW HOW TO GET THINGS DONE, THAT'S ULTIMATELY WHAT WON HIM THE SPEAKERSHIP, HE'S A CONTINUATION OF THAT THAT'S MOVED LEGISLATION FORWARD.

TED: WARREN PETERSON ELECTED AS SENATE PRESIDENT.

I CAN IMAGINE SOMEONE RUNNING AGAINST HIM BECAUSE DAVID GOWAN RAN AGAINST HIM.

>> HE INTENDED TO RUN AGAINST HIM.

TED: CHAIRMANSHIPS AND THINGS IN THE SENATE FROM PRESIDENT PETERSON, WHAT DO WE SEE AND KNOW?

>> THERE WERE SHAKE-UPS.

SOME NEW PEOPLE COMING IN GOT SPOTS ON COMMITTEES, INCLUDING KAREN WARNER WHO WON IN A COMPETITIVE DISTRICT, GETS TO RUN THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COMMITTEE, WHICH IS INTERESTING TO ME, I'M ONE OF THE WATER PEOPLE, BUT TJ SHOPE, THE PRO TEM, RUNNING THE HEALTH AND SERVICES COMMITTEE GOT MOVED TO RUN THE WATER COMMITTEE, WHICH IS A HUGE DEAL FOR THE NEXT TWO YEARS, AND THAT WAS CENA KERS'S JOB.

SHOPE SAID ONE OF THE POLICIES IS HOUSING POLICY AND WATER, WHICH IS INTERESTING.

TED: INTERESTING.

>> AND.

AND, THERE'S A FEDERALISM COMMITTEE, AND MARK FINCHEM GETS TO RUN THE COMMITTEE, BUT NOBODY KNOWS WHAT THAT MEANS YET.

TED: AN OLD COMMITTEE THAT RUNS SENATOR LEADERSHIP.

>> SENATOR JAKE HOFFMAN WILL BE TORMENTING GOVERNOR HOBBS' NOMINEES, UNCOVERED SOME THINGS THAT FORCED PEOPLE TO WITHDRAW, CAUSED PEOPLE TO BE REJECTED AND HOBBS TRIED TO FIND A LEGAL WORK-AROUND AND THE COURTS SMACKED HER DOWN ON THAT, ALL OF HER NOMINEES ARE GOING TO HAVE TO GO BACK TO THE COMMITTEE AND JAKE HOFFMAN IS NOT KEEN ON COMPROMISING WITH THE NINTH FLOOR.

ONCE AGAIN, WE'RE GOING TO SEE A LOT OF ACTION OVER THERE.

THE FEDERALISM COMMITTEE IS GOING TO BE INTERESTING, A LOT OF VETO BAIT OUT OF COMMITTEE.

SEE HOW HOBBS WORKS OUT THE VETO STAMP A LOT AND THE ELECTION COMMITTEE WHICH WILL HAVE SENATOR WENDY ROGERS RUNNING THAT, AN INTERESTING THING TO WATCH BECAUSE REPUBLICANS ARE TALKING ABOUT WANTING TO DO EARLY BALLOT, OR FORM AGAIN, AN ELECTION WITH DELAYED RESULTS THEY WANT TO BAR OR SEVERELY RESTRICT PEOPLE'S ABILITY TO DROP OFF BALLOTS ON ELECTION DAY.

HOBBS HAS DRAWN THE LINE IN THE SANDS, WHEN YOU DON'T WANT TO SEND INTO BIPARTISAN COMPROMISES AND NEGOTIATIONS.

TED: THE FEDERALISM COMMITTEE IS NOVEL, NEW, WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT MEANS, WHAT LITTLE WE HAVE HEARD OF IT AND DEFINITION OF THE WORD IS STATE'S POWER VERSUS FEDERAL POWER, STOPPING FEDERAL ENCROACHMENT WHICH IS INTERESTING THEY SET THAT UP AFTER DONALD TRUMP WON, THE STATE'S RIGHTS HE'S GOING TO PRESERVE THAT BUT APPARENTLY NOT TOO SURE OR PREPARING FOR THE FUTURE.

TED: IN GENERAL FROM THE COMMITTEE ASSIGNMENTS, WHAT KIND OF MESSAGE WAS SENT BY PRESIDENT PETERSON?

>> I THINK IT'S MUCH OF A CONTINUATION OF HIS PRESIDENCY FROM THE LAST TIME AROUND.

AGAIN, ALL OF OUR LEGISLATORS, REPUBLICAN LEGISLATORS ARE CONSERVATIVE, HE IS AS WELL, BUT NOT QUITE IN LINE WITH THE FREEDOM CAUCUS BUT GIVES THEIR VIEW.

JAKE HOFFMAN TRYING TO KEEP THEM ON HIS SIDE.

IT'S THE BALANCING ACT.

TO KEEP THE CAUCUS TOGETHER TO DO THE WORK AT THE LEGISLATURE THEY WANT TO DO.

>> IS THAT THE MESSAGE SENDING TO GOVERNOR AS WELL.

WE'RE HERE, NOT GOING ANYWHERE, AND WE'RE THE SAME AS WE ALWAYS WERE?

>> THAT'S FAIR.

AND FOR ANYONE ELSE WHO IS A WATER WONK, KEEP YOUR EARS UP WITH SHOPE'S ANNOUNCEMENT.

HOBBS HAS MADE A BIG PUSH ON WATER AND PUTTING OUT AGENCIES TO DO BIDDING ON WATER POLICY, AND WATER AND HOUSING ARE LIKE THIS WITH ONE ANOTHER BECAUSE WE NEED TO HAVE MORE HOUSING AND WATER, BUT YOU NEED HAVE WATER SUPPLY TO BUILD HOUSING, THAT'S A BIG FIGHT GOING THROUGH THE DEPARTMENT OF WATER RESOURCES RECENTLY, WHICH I WAS JUST COVERING, AND SHOPE IS IN DEFENSE OF THE NEED TO BUILD AND NOT WANTING HOBBS TO BE ANTI-GROWTH.

TED: VERY GOOD, YOU GOT IT IN, YOU GOT EVERYTHING IN.

GOOD CONVERSATION, GOOD TO HAVE YOU ALL HERE.

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.