♪.

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

WE'LL LOOK AT THE WEEK'S TOP STORIES, INCLUDING THE SENATE PRESIDENT CALLING FOR A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION INTO THE STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL AND SECRETARY OF STATE.

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

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, CAMRYN SANCHEZ FROM KJZZ RADIO.

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

PANEL, GOOD TO HAVE YOU ALL HERE.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

CAMRYN, START WITH YOU.

HOLY SMOKES, THE SENATE PRESIDENT WANTS A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION AGAINST TWO OF THE TOP THREE DEMOCRATS IN THE STATE.

>> EVERY TIME I'M WORRIED WE MOVED ON FROM 2020, SOMETHING BRINGS US BACK.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE ELECTION.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT CONCERNS OF ELECTION INTERFERENCE.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WARREN PETERSEN, A REPUBLICAN GOING AFTER DEMOCRATS, WHO SAY THAT THIS IS, OF COURSE, RIDICULOUS, AND I HAVE A BAD FEELING IT MIGHT END UP IN COURT.

TED: SO WAYNE, THE CLAIM IS THAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL INTERFERED WITH THE FEDERAL PROBE BY, WHAT, BY BULLYING COUNTY RECORDERS, WHAT DID YOU DO?

WHAT'S THE CHARGE, THE CLAIM HERE?

>> INTERFERENCE BY STERN LETTER, APPARENTLY.

THEY WROTE THE LETTERS TO THE COUNTY RECORDERS AFTER SENATE PETERSEN TURNED OVER DOCUMENTS TO A FEDERAL GRAND JURY SUBPOENA.

THEY SENT LETTERS TO THE COUNTY RECORDER SAYING YOU SHOULDN'T DO THIS.

IF YOU GET A SUBPOENA, THERE'S CONCERNS ABOUT VIOLATING STATE AND FEDERAL PRIVACY LAWS AND ALSO ADDITIONALLY, WROTE A LETTER TO PETERSEN HIMSELF ASKING FOR MORE INFORMATION WHAT HE TURN OVER, SO HIS CHARGE IS THOSE LETTERS EFFECTIVELY AMOUNT TO TRYING TO STICK THEIR NOSES INTO THE FEDERAL INVESTIGATION, WHICH THERE'S AN ONGOING GRAND JURY, AND ASKED THE D.O.J.

TO LOOK INTO IT.

TED: AND APPARENTLY, I THINK THE LETTER WAS, AT BEST A THINLY VEILED THROW THE COUNTY RECORDERS, WAS THE CLAIM ON PETERSEN'S SIDE.

>> RIGHT.

YOU DON'T TIE IT BACK TO THE REQUEST THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION MADE OF THE STATE THROUGH SECRETARY OF STATE ADRIAN FONTES'S OFFICE TO TURN OVER THE STATE'S VOTER ROLLS UNREDACTED.

HE HAS REFUSED SO FAR AND THE A.G.

IS DEFENDING HIM IN THE LAWSUIT THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SUBSEQUENTLY FILED.

STATE PRIVACY LAWS SAY WE CAN'T RELEASE THE INFORMATION.

DOESN'T LIMIT WHO WE RELEASE IT TO.

THIS IS PRIVATE VOTER INFORMATION, SO THEY REFUSE TO GIVE IT TO THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, AND I THINK THE CONCERN NOW IS THAT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION RUNNING INTO ROADBLOCKS IN COURT.

OTHER COURTS, THEY'RE SUING 29 STATES OVER THIS EXACT SAME THING THAT SOME OF THE COURT CASES HAVE NOT GONE IN FAVOR OF THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, AND NOW THEY'RE GOING TO TRY TO CIRCUMVENT THE COURT AND THE LAWS AND IMPANEL GRAND JURIES AND SAY THEY'RE HAVING THINGS THEY NEED TO HAVE COPIES OF THE VOTER ROLLS TO INVESTIGATE THE CASES THAT MAY OR MAY NOT EXIST, THERE MIGHT NOT BE ANYTHING THERE, OTHER THAN TO GET THE INFORMATION, THEY CAN DO WHAT THEY SAID SIX MONTHS AGO THEY WOULDN'T DO, WHICH IS TURN IT OVER TO HOMELAND SECURITY SO THEY CAN SCOUR THE VOTER ROLLS, LOOK FOR PEOPLE WHO THEY CLAIM ARE ILLEGALLY REGISTERED BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT LEGAL CITIZENS AND ARREST THEM.

TED: SENATE PRESIDENT SAYING THIS WAS A PATTERN OF CONDUCT THAT SUGGESTED INAPPROPRIATE ATTEMPT TO INTERFERE WITH A GRAND JURY INVESTIGATION.

AT WORST, IT WAS A BLATANT ATTEMPT.

IS HE TRYING TO SUGGEST THAT WHAT THE ELECTION OFFICIALS AND THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ARE TRYING TO DO IS SIMILAR TO WHAT MARK KELLY AND DEMOCRATS TRIED TO TELL ENLISTED SERVICE PEOPLE THE SAME THING, BY THE WAY, DON'T DO THAT BECAUSE IT'S NOT RIGHT?

>> HIS CLAIM IS THEY'RE INTERFERING WITH VERY ABOVE BOARD FEDERAL REQUESTS AND THE COUNTERARGUMENT IS THEY'RE CONCERNED THE FEDERAL REQUEST IS AGAINST LAW ITSELF, AND PUTS COUNTY RECORDERS IN THE AWKWARD POSITION THAT MAKES ME WONDER HOW IT'S GOING TO GO COUNTY-BY-COUNTY, 20, DIFFERENT BOARDS OF SUPERVISORS RESPONDING IN DIFFERENT WAYS.

MOHAVE COUNTY AND COCHISE COUNTY HAVE RESISTED CERTIFYING ELECTION RESULTS.

MAYBE THEY DO ONE THING AND COUNTIES DO ANOTHER THING AND HAVE INCOMPLETE INFORMATION SENT OUT AND HAVE COUNTIES NOT SURE WHO THEY ARE SUPPOSED TO COOPERATE WITH, WHICH I THINK LEAVES THEM IN THE AWKWARD POSITION OF NOT KNOWING WHOSE ORDERS TO FOLLOW AND POTENTIAL LEANED UP IN COURT.

>> AND ATTORNEY GENERAL MAYES SAID THIS IS LAYING THE GROUNDWORK TO DENY ELECTION RESULTS IN NOVEMBER.

>> ALL BACK TO THE FACT THIS IS GOING TO 2020 UNPROVEN CONSPIRACY THEORIES THAT THE ELECTIONS WERE SOMEHOW STOLEN THROUGH WIDESPREAD VOTER FRAUD.

THEORIES THAT HAVE NEVER BEEN PROVEN.

WE'VE GONE THROUGH A DOZEN COURT CASES THAT HAVE NOT VALIDATED ANY OF THE CLAIMS.

THE SENATE AUDIT FROM WHICH PETERSEN TURNED OVER RECORDS FROM ULTIMATELY CONCLUDED THAT JOE BIDEN WON THE ELECTION.

THEY'RE SAYING, HEY GUYS, REMEMBER THIS IS ABOVE BOARD, BUT IT'S GOING BACK TO THE ONE ORIGINAL SIN OF WIDESPREAD ELECTION FRAUD IN MARICOPA COUNTY, SO REMEMBER THAT THIS IS THE END GOAL.

TED: WE'RE GOING TO GET ON CYBER NINJAS, RETURN TO THAT AS WELL IN A SECOND.

POLITICAL ASPECT OF THIS, YOU HAVE THE SENATE PRESIDENT GOING AFTER THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, SAYING FEDS, YOU WANT TO INVESTIGATE MY OPPONENT?

>> ALMOST LIKE HIS CAMPAIGN MIGHT BENEFIT FROM BEING ABLE TO RUN ADS THAT SAY MY OPPONENT IS BEING INVESTIGATED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE FOR BREAKING FEDERAL LAW.

IT COULD EASILY GET TO THAT POINT, AND I THINK THAT'S PRETTY OBVIOUS THAT THAT'S PART OF IT AS WELL.

ADRIAN FONTES IS ALSO RUNG FOR RE-ELECTION.

I'M SURE IF THERE WAS A WAY TO WRAP KATIE HOBBS INTO THAT LETTER AND THAT REQUEST FOR A D.O.J.

INVESTIGATION, I'M SURE THAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED AS WELL.

TED: WE HAD FONTES, SECRETARY OF STATE ON THE PROGRAM HERE.

HE'S PRETTY UPSET ABOUT THIS, DIDN'T THINK IT WAS THE RIGHT THING, BUT POLITICALLY, IS THAT THE RIGHT THING FOR REPUBLICANS?

IS THIS A WINNING STRATEGY?

A WINNING TOPIC?

>> SEEMS TO BE ONE THEY'RE DOUBLING DOWN ON, I'M NOT SURE IT'S WORKING OUT VERY MUCH IN THEIR FAVOR.

THE EXECUTIVE ORDER OF PUTTING TOGETHER THE DATABASE USING SAVE INFORMATION AND HAVING THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY DECIDE WHO IS ELIGIBLE TO VOTE AND INSTRUCTING THE POST WAS TO GET INVOLVED, I THINK, FOR SOME PEOPLE WHO ARE RED MEAT, REPUBLICAN BASED, YEAH, WE'RE COMING OUT WITH FRAUD.

FOR A LOT OF FOLKS, I DON'T KNOW IF I LIKE THE DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND POST OFFICE INVOLVED THAT WAY THEY HAVEN'T BEEN IN THE PAST AND ASKING FOR VOTER INFORMATION TO BE TURNED OVER.

IF WE'RE GOING BACK TO 2020, IT'S AN OLD TOPIC.

WE'RE BEATING A HORSE THAT DIED SIX YEARS AGO, AND IT BRINGS UP THE CONCERN OF ELECTION FRAUD INTO THE NEXT ELECTION WHICH PEOPLE ARE TIRED OF, EVEN HERE IN ARIZONA, SO I'M NOT SURE IT WILL HAVE EFFECT THAT, BUT, YES, WILL GENERATE HEADLINES.

TED: AND WE GOT SENATORS AND KELLY AND GALLEGO ASKING FOR THE FEDS, BASICALLY, THE NEW DHS SECRETARY ALONG WITH I.C.E., TO END THE ELECTION PROBE.

LET'S GET IT OVER WITH, THIS IS A WASTE OF TIME, A WASTE OF RESOURCES, ESPECIALLY IN THESE TIMES.

>> YES, WE'VE GOT TWO AGENCIES ESSENTIALLY OPERATING SEPARATE BUT KIND OF HAPPENING AT THE SAME TIME PROBES WEEK GOT THE D.O.J.

ONE AND THERE'S BEEN REPORTING THAT DHS ASKED FOR RECORDS TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE RELATED TO 2020 AS WELL.

DHS IS LOOKING INTO THAT, IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'RE LOOKING INTO, AGAIN, UNPROVEN CLAIMS OF VOTER FRAUD FROM 2020, MARK BRNOVICH, LOOKING INTO HIS CONCLUSIONS FROM THE SENATE AUDIT AND GALLEGO AND KELLY BASICALLY SAID, WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

THIS IS THE INVESTIGATIVE ARM OF DHS, YOU ARE SUPPOSED TO BE GOING AFTER DRUG TRAFFICKERS, HUMAN TRAFFICKERS, THAT'S WHERE YOUR RESOURCES NEED TO BE FOCUSED ON, NOT GOING AFTER THE PRESIDENT'S ENEMIES AGAIN.

TED: JIM, IS THIS A WINNING STRATEGY, IS THIS A WINNING IDEA AS FAR AS REPUBLICANS?

GOODNESS GRACIOUS, THE CYBER NINJAS THING WAS A BORDER LINE -- WELL, IT WAS A CIRCUS, AND THE RESULTS WIND UP, YOU HAVE A LOYAL PARTISAN CONDUCTING THE THING, NEVER DONE AN ELECTION RESULT, AND IT DIDN'T CHANGE THE RESULTS AT ALL.

>> NO.

NO, I DON'T THINK THIS IS A WINNING STRATEGY AT ALL.

ALL OF THIS IS HAPPENING IN SERVICE OF DONALD TRUMP'S EGO.

HE'S BEEN BEATING THIS DRUM SINCE 2021 -- 2017, REALLY.

ALL OF THIS STRETCHES BACK A DECADE.

I DON'T -- NO.

I THINK THIS IS MEAT FOR THE REPUBLICAN BASE FOR THE MAGA BASE, BUT BEYOND, THAT NO, I THINK IF ANYTHING, IT'S GOING TO ALIENATE MORE VOTERS, AND AS YOU LOOK AT ALL OF THE THINGS THEY'RE TRYING TO DO IN THE NAME OF STAMPING OUT FRAUD THAT DOESN'T EXIST, THEY DON'T HAVE ANY PROOF FOR, THEY'RE GOING TO END UP DISENFRANCHISING A LOT OF PEOPLE AND MAKE IT HARDER FOR MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF AMERICANS TO VOTE, AND I THINK THAT'S A MESSAGE THAT HAS, I THINK, STARTED A BREAKTHROUGH, AND WE'LL SEE IF DEMOCRATS KEEP POUNDING THAT MESSAGE AND DELIVER IT TO VOTERS.

BUT I THINK THIS CONSTANT FOCUS ON FRAUD AND ON 2020 BEING STOLEN, I AGREE WITH WHAT WAS SAID EARLIER, VOTERS ARE JUST DONE WITH THAT AND TURNED OFF TO IT.

TED: IF IT'S A PRIMARY VOTE, WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR AS FAR AS THE RED MEAT FOR PRIMARIES, WE CAN TALK ABOUT NOW, THE PRIMARY REGARDING THE GOVERNOR.

REPUBLICAN SIDE.

AND BOY, IT SOUNDS LIKE CONGRESSMAN SCHWEIKERT AND BIGGS, WE'RE STARTING TO GET FRICTION HERE.

>> YOU KNOW AS SOON AS SCHWEIKERT JUMPED INTO THIS RACE, HE HAD A HISTORY OF AGGRESSIVE ADS AGAINST OPPONENTS, PREVIOUSLY AGAINST DAN QUAYLE, ELIJAH NORTON.

HE SAID I BELIEVE AGAINST QUAYLE, GOES BOTH WAYS AND AGAINST HORTON, IS IT BEING STRAIGHT WITH YOU?

THE NORTON ONE LED TO A LAWSUIT.

NORTON WAS LIKE YOU CAN'T IMPUGN ME AND TALK ABOUT MY SEXUALITY.

I'M SORRY, WE WOULD NEVER DO THAT.

HERE WE ARE.

IT'S NOT A SEXUALITY THING THIS TIME, BUT HE DID PUT OUT MAILERS GOING AFTER BIGGS FOR HISTORY OF WHAT HE SAYS IS WHITE SUPREMACY, ANTI-SEMITISM, THROUGH BIGGS' TIES THROUGH CERTAIN FOLKS, HE WENT ON A TALK SHOW WITH THE HOST WHO SAID PRETTY OUTLANDISH THINGS INCLUDING TALKING ABOUT JEWISH PEOPLE NEEDING TO BE DEPORTED, TALKING ABOUT A FINAL SOLUTION.

BIGGS IS IN FAVOR OF A TEXAS CANDIDATE WHO LIKES TO MAKE A LOT OF NAZI JOKES, STUFF LIKE THAT.

BIGGS ECHOED THE SENTIMENT OF MARICOPA COUNTY LEADERS WHICH I'M SURE WE'RE ABOUT TO TALK ABOUT, AND IT'S SAD WE CAN'T GET ALONG AND DO WHAT'S BEST FOR THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

TED: THAT'S A PLEASANT THOUGHT THERE.

BACK TO THE MARICOPA COUNTY REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE HERE.

THEY'RE NOT HAPPY AT ALL WITH THE ATTACKS AGAINST CONGRESSMAN BIGGS?

>> THAT'S NOT SURPRISING.

MARICOPA COUNTY REPUBLICAN COMMITTEE IS LOADED WITH BIGGS SUPPORTERS.

THEY'RE PROBABLY NOT LIKING THIS LOOK FOR HIM INTO THE GENERAL ELECTION, WHICH THEY THINK HE'S GOING TO TAKE THE PRIMARY.

AND THEY LOVE CENSURING PEOPLE, THEY CENSURED SCHWEIKERT IN THIS CASE.

THIS ISN'T UNUSUAL FOR A MEMBER OF THEIR ILK TO STEP UP AND CRITICIZE THAT PERSON WHETHER THEY ARE REPUBLICAN OR NOT.

TED: JIM, THIS IS POLITICS, AND CONGRESSMAN BIGGS HAS BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH THE FOLKS, HE'S BEEN ON THE PROGRAMS, ENDORSED THE TEXAS CONGRESSMAN.

WHAT'S WRONG HERE?

HE'S POINTING OUT WHAT HE DID.

>> HE IS, BUT IT'S REPUBLICAN POLITICS, RIGHT?

I THINK YOU CAN REALLY THROW A DART AT ANY REPUBLICAN POLITICIAN, AND CERTAINLY ONES AT THIS LEVEL AND FIND PEOPLE THEY ASSOCIATED WITH WHO HAVE HISTORY OF SAYING THINGS THAT ARE ANTI-SEMITIC AND RACIST AND MISOGYNISTIC, AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

THAT'S KIND OF ALMOST PAR FOR THE COURSE IN REPUBLICAN POLITICS.

IN A LOT OF WAYS THESE DAYS, THE RESPONSE BACK FROM THE BIGGS PEOPLE AND FROM SOME OTHER REPORTING THAT CAME OUT AFTER THE INITIAL MAILER, LOOK, DAVID SCHWEIKERT IS ASSOCIATED WITH NOT MAYBE THE SAME PEOPLE, BUT OTHER PEOPLE WHO HAVE SAID SIMILAR THINGS AND TAKEN SIMILAR POSITIONS.

IT REALLY GETS TO THAT IDEA OF THE BAD THINGS BEING RACIST, BEING CALLED THE RACIST, AND I THINK THAT IS A MIND-SET THEY THINK WE'VE SEEN PEOPLE CRITICIZE REPUBLICANS AND CONSERVATIVES FOR OVER THE LAST NUMBER OF YEARS, AND SEEMS TO BE A LITTLE -- SOME OF THAT AND I THINK DAVID SCHWEIKERT IS REALLY FRANKLY BEHIND IN THE POLLS IN THIS RACE.

I THINK ANDY BIGGS IS IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT.

THEY'RE LOOKING FOR ANYTHING THEY CAN DO TO TRY TO SHAKE VOTERS' CONFIDENCE IN HIM AND VOTERS' BACKING OF HIM AND PEEL PEOPLE AWAY.

TED: DOES THIS SHAKE VOTERS' CONFIDENCE IN CONGRESSMAN BIGGS?

REPUBLICAN PRIMARY VOTERS FIRST?

>> REPUBLICAN PRIMARY VOTERS ARE THE FOLKS WHO THIS WOULD AFFECT LESS.

THESE KINDS OF MAILERS, SINCE IT'S NOT BIGGS WHO SAID IT HIMSELF.

IF BIGGS WENT OUT AND SAID ON TWITTER OR SOMETHING LIKE ALL JEWISH PEOPLE IN ARIZONA NEED TO BE DEPORTED, THAT WOULD CAUSE MORE OF A STIR.

SCHWEIKERT SAYING IN THE PAST, BIGGS WENT ON A PODCAST, THE GUY WHO HOSTED THE PODCAST SAID THIS WAS BAD.

TO THAT MATTER, MAYBE, DOES IT, MAYBE NOT, NOT IN THE PRIMARIES, ANYWAY.

MARICOPA COUNTY VOTE WAS NOT OVERWHELMING, IT WAS 18-12.

IT'S A CONDEMN NATION, NOT AN OFFICIAL CENSURE, IT DOESN'T HAVE THAT MUCH EFFECT.

I THINK THEY'RE HOPING FOR REPUBLICANS NOT TO EAT THEIR OWN IN THE PRIMARIES AND MAKE EACH OTHER LOOK BAD AND DO DAMAGE, BUT THEY WANT TO DEFEAT HOBBS.

TED: DOES THIS DO DAMAGE?

>> THE GENERAL ELECTION IS WHERE IT CAN DO DAMAGE.

THEY'RE DOING FAVORS FOR THE HOBBS CAMPAIGN, WHY THE COUNTY REPUBLICAN PARTY IS UPSET ABOUT THIS, YOU'RE DOING HER FAVORS.

IT'S A STEP FURTHER ON EFFECT ON THE PRIMARY VOTE.

THE WHOLE REASON BIGGS IS GOING ON THE PODCASTS, WHO DO YOU THINK IS LISTENING TO THEM?

A LOT OF REPUBLICAN PRIMARY VOTERS.

SOMETIMES GENUINELY GET SURPRISED BY BEING CONFRONTED BY WHAT THE PEOPLE DO BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT DOING DUE DILIGENCE.

THERE'S A REASON.

THE PODCAST SHOWS ALL THIS STUFF, SUPER POWERFUL MEANS OF CONNECTING WITH BASE VOTERS.

IT'S A CYCLICAL THING, DAMNED IF I DO OR DAMNED IF I DON'T, GO ON THE SHOWS OR POTENTIALLY LOSE CONNECTING WITH THE VOTERS.

TED: AS CAMRYN MENTIONED, THIS IS NOT NEW TERRITORY FOR HIM.

>> I AGREE WITH JIM THAT SCHWEIKERT IS PROBABLY TRAILING SIGNIFICANTLY RIGHT NOW, AND HE'S NEVER BEEN ONE TO GIVE UP.

I'D SEE HIM CONTINUE TO SWING.

TED: YEAH, JIM, SRP ELECTIONS WERE THIS WEEK, THIS MAY BE THE FIRST TIME IN ALL MY JEERS DOING THE JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT SRP ELECTIONS.

THIS WAS A BIG DEAL BECAUSE OF TURNING POINT ACTION, AND COMING TAT FROM ALL SIDES HERE.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> YEAH, THIS IS MAYBE MY FIRST TIME TALKING ABOUT THIS AND PAYING ATTENTION TO THIS ELECTION.

YEAH.

SRP HAS A WEIRD BYZANTINE ELECTION TO RUN THE UTILITY BOARD.

END OF THE DAYS, YOU HAD TURNING POINT USA AND TURNING POINT ACTION AND ALL OF THEIR MONEY PUT TOGETHER A SLATE OF CANDIDATES.

THEY WENT OUT.

IF YOU DROVE NEAR SRP TERRITORY, YOU SAW SIGNS PLASTERED EVERYWHERE, AND THEY HAD A CANVASSING EFFORT.

THEY WERE DOING ROBUST VOTER OUTREACH TO TRY TO GET THEIR -- ESSENTIALLY A SLATE OF PEOPLE WHO WERE OPPOSED TO CLEAN ENERGY MANDATES AND INCREASING CLEAN ENERGY USAGE IN THE UTILITY DISTRICT.

TRY TO GET THEM ON THE BOARD TO BE ABLE TO TAKE OVER THAT BOARD.

THEY DIDN'T.

THERE'S COMPETING SLATE OF CLEAN ENERGY CANDIDATES.

TURNING POINT WON THE PRESIDENCY AND THE VICE PRESIDENCY OF THE BOARD BUT DID NOT WIN CONTROL OF THE BOARD, AND THE CLEAN ENERGY SLATE HELD CONTROL OF THAT, AND THAT'S A BIG DEAL BECAUSE IT POTENTIALLY CHANGES THE POLICIES THAT SRP IS GOING TO ENACT, AND ALSO, YOU KNOW, TURNING POINT REALLY WENT HEAVY INTO THIS AND PUBLIC ABOUT WHAT THEY WERE TRYING TO DO HERE, AND ENDED UP FAILING.

TED: WELL, TURNING POINT SAID IT WAS A HUGE VICTORY AND A MOMENTOUS WIN BECAUSE THEY WON THE PRESIDENCY AND THE VICE PRESIDENCY, THEY WON THE COMMITTEES AND ADVISORY BOARDS BUT CALLED IT A MOMENTOUS WIN.

>> CAN I SAY WITH CONFIDENCE, I HAVE NEVER TALKED ABOUT AN SRP ELECTION UNTIL NOW.

WAYNE HAS.

BUT I'VE HEARD ABOUT IT.

ANYWAY, EVERYBODY GETS TO CLAIM VICTORY, WHICH IS ODD BECAUSE IT'S NOT LIKE A DEBATE WHERE EVERYONE CAN SAY I WON THAT DEBATE.

THERE ARE WINNERS AND LOSERS IN THIS ELECTION.

WHAT THEY'RE REALLY SAYING THEY'RE JAZZED BECOME THE TURNING POINT FOLKS IS THEY GOT THE PRESIDENCY AND THE VICE PRESIDENCY, BUT THEY DON'T HAVE THE MAJORITY OF THE SEATS.

THE CLEAN ENERGY FLIPPED SEATS AND GOT WHAT THEY NEEDED TO GET.

THE WHOLE VICTORY SEEMS INCOMPLETE.

TED: AS AN EXPERT ON THE SRP ELECTIONS APPARENTLY, FOUR TIMES THE NUMBER OF BALLOTS RECEIVED THAN THE 2024 VOTE, AND MOSTLY THESE FOLKS WERE THERE BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T LIKE TURNING POINT'S PRESENCE.

>> AS CAMRYN MENTIONED, I DID A PODCAST AS TO THE IMPORTANT OF THE SRP ELECTION, AND THERE WERE A FEW DIFFERENT ELECTIONS HAPPENING, FOR THE BOARD WE'RE TALKING ABOUT, THE ELECTRIC COMPANY, THE BIG ONE.

36,000 BALLOTS VERSUS 7500 OVER THE PAST FEW ELECTIONS.

HUGE INCREASE.

I POSED THE QUESTION TO SANDRA KENNEDY WHO LOST THE PRESIDENCY.

SHE'S HOLDING ONTO A SEAT ON THE BOARD, WHEN SHE SAW THE RESULTS SHE WAS JUMPING UP AND DOWN, IF THAT TELLS YOU ANYTHING ABOUT WHO WON HERE BECAUSE THE PRESIDENT GETS TO BREAK UP TIES WITH.

AN 8-6 MAJORITY, I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY TIES HE'S GOING TO HAVE TO BREAK UP.

TED: INTERESTING.

THE HUGE VICTORY, MOMENTOUS WIN NOT SO HUGE AND MOMENT US.

>> NOT ACCORDING TO CLEAN ENERGY FOLKS.

TED: JIM, TURNING POINT'S INFLUENCE FOR NOVEMBER, WHAT ANNOUNCE ARE WE SEEING?

>> POTENTIALLY.

THIS RACE DID SERVE MAYBE AS A LITTLE BIT OF A PROVING GROUND FOR STRATEGIES THAT MAY OR MAY NOT ULTIMATELY GET RULED OUT IN ARIZONA OR IN OTHER STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, COME TIME FOR THE JULY PRIMARY HERE AND IN THE NOVEMBER ELECTION.

YOU KNOW, I THINK IT REMAINS TO SEEN, BUT THE FACT THAT THERE WAS SO MUCH ANECDOTAL EVIDENCE THAT PEOPLE SHOWED UP TO VOTE BECAUSE THEY WERE EXCITED ABOUT TURNING POINT'S PRESENCE AND THE ACTIVITIES IN THAT ELECTION, I THINK, YOU KNOW, MIGHT BE A SOBERING THOUGHT FOR REPUBLICANS AND FOR CONSERVATIVES MOVING FORWARD INTO THE ELECTION CYCLE.

TPUSA HAS BEEN HANDED OVER A LOT OF THE GROUND GAME TO THEM.

I KNOW THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN DID OUTSOURCE A LOT OF STUFF TO THEM IN 2024, AND THE REPUBLICAN PARTIES HERE HAVE DONE SOME OF THAT AND THE CAMPAIGNS HAVE AS WELL.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GOING TO GIVE ANYONE PAUSE BUT IT MIGHT.

TED: AND THIS HAD TO BE CONSIDERED A POWER PLAY ON TP'S PART, RIGHT?

>> THIS ISN'T THE NORMAL TPUSA SITUATION WHERE THEY'RE INJECTING THEIR OWN CANDIDATES INTO THE RACE.

THEY WERE BACKING A BUNCH OF GUYS AND WOMEN WHO HAVE RUN FOR THE POSITIONS BEFORE.

THEY LIKE THEM MORE THAN THE OTHER SIDE, AND IN THIS CASE, A FEW OF THE FOLKS WHO WON IN THE PAST ENDED UP LOSING.

THAT TELLS YOU -- ANSWERS YOUR QUESTION ABOUT DID THEY FAIL HERE?

THE ONE THING I WOULD CAUTION IS THAT THIS IS A VERY UNIQUE ELECTION IN TERMS OF HOW IT'S SET UP.

ONLY LAND OWNERS WITHIN THE AREA CAN VOTE.

IT'S HARD TO EXTRAPOLATE INTO RAMIFICATIONS FOR STATEWIDE AND NATIONAL, IT'S DEFINITELY A STRETCH FOR TPUSA TO CLAIM ANY SORT OF VICTORY.

TED: DO YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO ADD?

>> NO, IT WAS A SURPRISE TO ME.

THE LAST TIME I TALKED ABOUT A TURNING POINT-BACKED CANDIDATE IT WAS JULIE SPILLS BURY.

THIS IS THE BREAD AND BUTTER, THE GROUND GAME STUFF, GRASSROOTS AND PUSHING REALLY, REALLY HARD AND OTHER FACT THAT THEY DIDN'T DO IT THIS TIME WAS KIND OF A SHOCK.

TED: BUT THE SUCCESS THERE IN MESA, BECAUSE THAT HAPPENED, BECAUSE PEOPLE SAW THAT, BECAUSE THEY'RE SEEING WHAT THEY'RE SEEING, COULD THAT HAVE BEEN A FACTOR IN THIS ELECTION?

>> I DON'T KNOW IF I WANT TO EXTRAPOLATE THAT FAR.

IT MAKES IT WEIRDER THEY DIDN'T DO IT.

TED: CAMRYN, WHO IS RACHEL ALEXANDER AND WHO IS SHERRY JERRIDAN.

>> RACHEL ALEXANDER IS A FORMER PROSECUTOR WHO CALLS HERSELF A JOURNALIST.

SHE MEANT TO SAY SOMETHING ELSE BECAUSE SHE GOT ARRESTED FOR BEING DRUNK AND DRIVING, AND BEING EXTREMELY DRUNK AND TRIED TO SAY SHE KNOWS THE SHERIFF WHOSE NAME IS NOT SHERRY JERRIDAN BUT JERRY SHERIDAN, THIS WAS RELEASED IN DOCUMENTS, AND I THINK THAT NORMALLY WE DON'T COVER RANDOM PEOPLE'S DUIs, SHE HAS A BIG FOLLOWING, PEOPLE LISTEN TO WHAT SHE HAS TO SAY.

SHE WAS DRIVING OFF FROM AN EVENT WHERE SHE WAS WITH SENATE PRESIDENT WARREN PETERSEN AND AN INTERESTING AND BIZARRE SITUATION.

TED: JIM, FORMER MARICOPA COUNTY JIM THOMAS, WE REMEMBER THE DAYS THEY WERE GOING AFTER JUDGES AND SUPERVISORS, EVERYONE WAS INVOLVED IN RICO.

SHE GOT DISBARRED, DID SHE NOT?

OR SUSPENDED?

.

>> SHE HAD HER LAW LICENSE SUSPENDED.

SHE WAS ONE OF THOMAS' RIGHT-HAND PERSONS AND ONE OF THE TOP LIEUTENANTS AND SHE GOT HER LICENSE SUSPENDED AND I THINK ESSENTIALLY NEVER REAPPLIED TO GET IT REINSTATED.

TED: OKAY, SO WAYNE, TWO COUNTS OF EXTREME DUI.

THREE TIMES THE LIMIT HERE, 2.3, OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT AND DESCRIBED AS ARGUMENTATIVE, STUPOROUS AND INCOHERENT.

SHE KEEPS A PUBLIC PROFILE TO SOME DEGREE, CERTAINLY HAD A PUBLIC PROFILE IN THE PAST, AND BLAMED LIBERALS AND DEMOCRATS.

>> SURPRISE, SURPRISE.

NOT A BIG SURPRISE FOR MS.

ALEXANDER ON THIS GIVEN WITH HER ISSUES WITH THE BAR -- WITH THE SUPREME COURT, SHE BLAMES THE BAR FOR COMING AFTER HER, NOT HER HISTORY FOR BEING TOP LIEUTENANT FOR A MAN GOING AFTER POLITICAL PROSECUTIONS.

SO I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY WERE GOING TO RIG THE BREATHALYZER OR HOWEVER THEY ENDED UP TESTING HER BLOOD-ALCOHOL LEVEL, HOW THE LIBERALS DID THAT, REMINDS ME OF FORMER SENATOR JUSTINE WADSACK, PULLED OVER FOR SPEEDING AND SAID THAT WAS A LIBERAL PLOT, AND THEY KNEW WHERE TO PUT THE TUCSON POLICE OFFICER TO CATCH HER?

I DON'T KNOW.

WHEN IN DOUBT, BLAME LAWFARE, BLAME THE SCARY LIBERAL HIDING BEHIND THE BED.

IT'S A DUI.

COP TO IT, DO YOUR TIME OR SUSPENDED LICENSE, WHATEVER THE PENALTY IS AND MOVE ON.

TED: PAY THE FINE AND MOVE ON.

WE GOT TO MOVE ON HERE, BUT JIM REAL QUICKLY.

THE GOVERNOR VETOED A BILL THAT WOULD LINK CONTRACEPTION TO ADOPTION INFORMATION.

WHAT IS THAT ABOUT?

>> A BILL THAT WOULD REQUIRE EVERY SCHOOL IN ARIZONA, K-12 UP TO PUBLIC UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGES, ANY INFORMATION, ANY UNIVERSITY HEALTH CLINIC TO GET AN STD TEST OR INFORMATION ON CONTRACEPTION.

ANY INCIDENTS LIKE THAT, THE PERSON -- THE STUDENT WOULD HAVE TO BE GIVEN A PACKET OF INFORMATION ON ADOPTION, AND THE GOVERNOR VETOED IT AND SAID THIS DOESN'T MAKE A LOT OF SENSE, AND THESE THINGS AREN'T REALLY CONNECTED, PEOPLE ARE GOING FOR HEALTH CARE, THERE MIGHT BE A TIME AND A PLACE FOR INFORMATION ON ADOPTION, THIS ISN'T IT.

>> EVERY TIME YOU GET AN STD TEST, EVERY TIME YOU HAVE TO BE TOLD ABOUT ADOPTION.

I FIND IT HARD PEOPLE DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE CONCEPT OF ADOPTION.

PEOPLE USE CONDOMS FOR THINGS BESIDE CONTRACEPTION, WHATEVER.

TED: BASICALLY, THE GOVERNOR SAID WHY DON'T YOU FIND A BETTER WAY TO GET KIDS INTO SAFER, HAPPIER HOMES.

>> GOVERNOR IS A BIG SUPPORTER OF ADOPTION.

SHE PUTS MONEY TOWARDS IMPROVING ADOPTION RATES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

TELLING A COLLEGE KID THAT ADOPTION EXISTS WHILE THEY'RE GOING TO GET CONTRACEPTION OR SOMETHING ELSE, THEY'RE GOING TO -- IF THEY GET PREGNANT, NINE MONTHS LATER, I'M GLAD I HAVE A PAMPHLET, NOW I KNOW WHAT MY OPTIONS ARE?

TED: RESPONSE TO 139.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

A DOZEN OR TWO DOZEN BILLS THAT REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN PUSHING THAT ARE UNDERMINING THAT.

TED: ALL RIGHT, PANEL.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

HAVE YOU GREAT WEEKEND.