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

A LOOK AT WEEK'S TOP STORIES, INCLUDING SENATOR MARK KELLY NOT GETTING A NOD AS KAMALA HARRIS' VICE PRESIDENTIAL RUNNING MATE.

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 ANOTHER EDITION OF THE JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE, AND JOINING US, JIM SMALL OF THE "ARIZONA MIRROR."

HOWIE FISCHER OF CAPITOL MEDIA SERVICES AND CAMRYN SANCHEZ OF KJZZ RADIO.

PANEL, GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

JIM, START WITH YOU.

MARK KELLY, THE FINAL THREE FOR THE VICE PRESIDENTIAL NOD.

SEEMED LIKE HE FINISHED THIRD IN THE FIELD OF THREE THERE.

>> YEAH, IT CAME DOWN TO TIM WALZ, THE ULTIMATE CHOICE FOR RUNNING MATE FOR KAMALA HARRIS AND PENNSYLVANIA GOVERNOR JOSH SHAPIRO, BUT CERTAINLY WE ENDURED WEEKS OF SPECULATION WHERE MARK KELLY WAS ON THE LIST AND WHETHER ARIZONA WAS GOING TO GO INTO PLAY A MORE PROMINENT ROLE IN THE CAMPAIGN.

TED: IMPACT OF THE SENATE SEAT POSSIBLY GOING UP FOR GRABS.

DID THAT PLAY A PART, DO YOU THINK?

>> I DON'T KNOW IT PLAYED A PART.

HIS DECISION CAME DOWN TO OKAY, I HAVE THE SAFE SENATE SEAT FOR A WHILE, INCUMBENTS TEND TO GET RE-ELECTED OR TAKE A FLIER ON THIS CAMPAIGN, WHICH AT THE TIME THAT THEY WERE SELECTING VICE PRESIDENT, NOBODY KNEW AT THE POLLS WHETHER TRUMP WAS BEATABLE.

EITHER THAT OR FLAME OUT IN A PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN.

TED: YOU'RE SAYING IT WAS HIS DECISION?

>> I THINK THAT HE WOULD HAVE -- IF SHE SAID YES, BUT I DON'T THINK HE PRESENTED HIMSELF AS WANTING IT.

I THINK HE SAID WHATEVER YOU WANT, MADAM VICE PRESIDENT.

I THINK HE WAS NOT AS ANXIOUS AS SOME PEOPLE SUGGEST.

TED: THAT'S PART OF THE JOB INTERVIEW IS REALLY SHOWING THAT YOU WANT THE JOB.

>> YES.

WALZ MAKES SENSE TO PLAY OFF THE VANCE IN PARTICULAR AND PUTTING OUT SOMEONE FROM THE MIDWEST TO GO AGAINST SOMEONE KIND OF FROM THE MIDWEST AND SQUARING OFF AGAINST ONE ANOTHER.

AND HE HAS EXPERIENCE UNDER HIS BELT.

HE'S WELL LIKED IN MINNESOTA.

IT MAKES SENSE.

TED: IS HE A CANDIDATE FOR DEFENSE SECRETARY IF KAMALA HARRIS WINS?

>> KELLY?

IT'S A POSSIBILITY.

TED: WHAT DO YOU THINK, JIM?

IT'S A POSSIBILITY?

>> THE WHIRLWIND VP SWEEPSTAKES ELEVATED MARK KELLY ON THE NATIONAL STAGE IN A WAY HE HADN'T BEEN BEFORE.

HE HAD RECOGNITION BECAUSE OF WHO HE WAS, BECAUSE OF HIS WIFE, BECAUSE OF GABRIELLE GIFFORDS, BECAUSE OF WINNING A COUPLE ELECTIONS BACK TO BACK IN INCREASINGLY PURPLE STATE, I THINK HE BUILT A NATIONAL PROFILE, THIS ELEVATES THAT A LOT.

I THINK IT WILL BE INTERESTING TO SEE WHERE DOES THIS GO?

DOES IT GO INTO A CABINET SECRETARY POST INTO A POTENTIAL HARRIS ADMINISTRATION, OR THERE IS TALK ABOUT THIS SETS THE STAGE FOR HIM DOWN THE ROAD.

MAYBE AFTER THE NEXT PRESIDENTIAL TERM OR TWO TO SEE MAYBE HE'S IN THE MIX AS A POTENTIAL PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE.

TED: DOWN THE ROAD MEANS HE STAYS IN THE U.S. SENATE, WHICH MEANS IT HELPS ARIZONA WITH THE INCREASED PROFILE, DON'T YOU THINK?

>> THE FACT HE'S GOT SENIORITY GIVEN THAT KYRSTEN SINEMA IS LEAVING, AND HE WILL ADVANCE, AS YOU KNOW, THE SENATE IS ALL ABOUT SENIORITY.

THE OLDEST PERSON RUNS EVERYTHING.

AS LONG AS HE'S THERE LONGER, HE HAS MORE INFLUENCE.

TED: JIM, WE HAD A POLL, HIGHGROUND PUBLIC AFFAIRS, HOLY SMOKES, THINGS FLIPPED AND FLIPPED HARD HERE, TALK TO US ABOUT IT.

>> A POLL THAT STARTED ON PRIMARY ELECTION DAY AND RAN FOR SEVERAL DAYS AFTER THAT.

AND YEAH, IT REALLY DEMONSTRATES PRETTY VISCERALLY THE ENTHUSIASM THAT YOU SEE COMING OUT OF DEMOCRATS FOR KAMALA HARRIS THAT REALLY WAS NOT THERE FOR JOE BIDEN, AND THAT WAS ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WAS SCARING DEMOCRATS THE MOST, AND THE POLL SHOWS KAMALA HARRIS LEADING IN ARIZONA, WITHIN THE MARGIN OF ERROR BUT NEAR THE EDGE OF IT, WHICH IS SOMETHING THAT YOU WERE NEVER GOING TO SEE WITH JOE BIDEN HERE.

WE HADN'T SEEN IT IN A YEAR'S WORTH OF POLLS.

>> AND INDEPENDENTS VERY MUCH BEHIND KAMALA HARRIS.

WERE YOU SURPRISED TO SEE THE NUMBERS FLIP LIKE THIS?

START WITH THE PRESIDENTIAL AND GO TO U.S. SENATE?

>> I'M NOT SUPER SURPRISED.

THERE IS UPSWELL WITH THE NEWS OF HER BEING THE NOMINEE AND THE PICK, AND THE PEOPLE GETTING EXCITED AND TURNING THEIR HEADS AND IT COULD FADE, BUT MAKES SENSE TO ME THERE'S AN UPTICK IN SUPPORT AND ENTHUSIASM AND SOMETHING I HEARD WHEN I TALK TO PEOPLE ON THE STREET, EVEN PEOPLE WHO AREN'T AS POLITICAL AS WE ARE.

>> THE FACT IS, WE TALKED ABOUT IT ON THE SHOW, IN TERMS OF INDEPENDENTS, PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT ATTACHED TO THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND THESE ARE FOLKS THAT TRUMP AND KARI LAKE SAID IF YOU'RE NOT WITH US, YOU'RE AGAINST US.

SHE HASN'T REACHED OUT.

TRUMP HASN'T REALLY REACHED OUT TO THE MIDDLE.

IT'S NOT SURPRISING THE INDEPENDENTS SAY WE'VE GOT SOMEBODY NEW.

TED: WOMEN FOR HARRIS UP 15 POINTS.

MEN FOR TRUMP UP 10 POINTS.

65+, THIS WAS A REALLY INTERESTING -- TIED, TIED AT 65+.

THAT IS USUALLY A REPUBLICAN STRONGHOLD.

WHAT'S GOING ON THERE?

>> IT HAS BEEN, LIKE A LOT OF THE DIFFERENT DEMOGRAPHIC GROUPS OVER THE LAST 10, 15 YEARS, WE SAW THE BREAKDOWNS THAT ARE REPUBLICAN NO LONGER ARE.

THE YOUNGER VOTERS TEND TO SUPPORT DEMOCRATS AT A MUCH WIDER MARGIN.

BUT I THINK THAT IT REALLY DOES SPEAK TO WHAT CAMRYN WAS SAYING, THE ENERGY AND THE REJUVENATION THAT PEOPLE FEEL LIKE, OKAY, WE HAVE A NEW CANDIDATE, WE'RE NOT CHOOSING BETWEEN A, THE SAME TWO PEOPLE WE HAD TO CHOOSE FROM FOUR YEARS AGO, AND B, LET'S FACE IT, REALLY OLD WHITE GUYS, AND SO IT CHANGES THE DYNAMICS OF THE CAMPAIGN A LOT.

TED: LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT SENATE RACE.

WE'LL START WITH YOU AND THE FACT THAT RUBEN GALLEGO, DOUBLE-DIGIT LEAD OVER KARI LAKE?

>> 11-POINT LEAD OVER LAKE, WHICH IS FLYING AWAY WITH IT.

WE'LL SEE IF THAT'S ACTUALLY HOW IT BREAKS DOWN ON ELECTION DAY.

A GOOD SIGN FOR GALLEGO'S CAMPAIGN, AND SIMILAR REASONS AS WE SAW IN THE LAKE -- IN LAKE'S ELECTION 2022, SHE'S HAD TROUBLE GETTING INDEPENDENTS ON BOARD, CERTAINLY NOT GETTING DEMOCRATS.

MAYBE ALIENATING A FEW REPUBLICANS ALONG THE WAY, AND GALLEGO IS WORKING HIS BUTT OFF.

>> ONE OF THE INTERESTING THINGS TO SEE IS THERE MORE THAN ONE DEBATE?

KARI SAID SHE'S NOT HAPPY WITH CLEAN ELECTIONS RUNNING THE DEBATES NOW.

REUBEN WANTS CERTAIN FORMATS.

YOU KNOW, THIS COULD CHANGE A LOT OF MINDS.

I'M NOT SAYING EVERYBODY SITS AROUND AND WATCHES THE DEBATES BUT THE NEWS THAT COMES OUT OF THAT THAT MAKE THE DIFFERENCE, PEOPLE GETTING THE ZINGERS, THE LINES.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN THERE?

THE FACTS ON THE GROUND IS LAST TIME I LOOKED, RUBEN GALLEGO HAD 9 MILLION CASH ON HAND, AND KARI HAD 2 MILLION.

NOW THAT DOESN'T SAY THERE WON'T BE THIRD PARTY MONEY SPENT ON THE RACE, BUT NOT THE MONEY DOES EVERYTHING BUT YOU NEED MONEY IF YOU RAISE A STATEWIDE RACE IN ARIZONA.

TED: WE LIKE TO THINK PEOPLE WATCH OUR DEBATES, SEE WHERE THAT GOES.

THANK YOU FOR THE PLUG.

LET'S GO BACK TO THE NUMBERS HERE.

THE INDEPENDENT, 18-POINT LEAD FOR GALLEGO AMONG INDEPENDENTS, AND WOMEN, LAKE IS DOWN 21 POINTS TO GALLEGO AMONG WOMEN.

DONALD TRUMP IS DOING BETTER AMONG WOMEN THAN KARI LAKE.

>> YEAH, AND THAT'S SAYING SOMETHING, RIGHT?

THE NUMBERS WERE REALLY NOT GOOD FOR LAKE, AND HONESTLY THEY'RE NOT DIFFERENT FROM A LOT OF OTHER POLLS WE'VE SEEN, WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE CROSS TABS AND YOU KIND OF DIVE INTO THE POLLS, AND YOU SEE A LOT OF SIMILAR THINGS.

INDEPENDENTS HEAVILY FOR RUBEN GALLEGO.

WOMEN TEND TO FAVOR RUBEN GALLEGO WHILE MEN FAVOR KARI LAKE, AND YOU ALSO SEE A SIZABLE CHUNK OF REPUBLICANS WHO ARE NOT WILLING TO VOTE FOR KARI LAKE.

THAT'S WHAT AT THE END OF THE DAY WHAT DID HER IN, IN HER RACE FOR GOVERNOR, AND YOU CAN SEE THE SAME THING STARTING TO HAPPEN ALL OVER AGAIN.

IN THIS POLL I THINK SHE LOST 15% OF REPUBLICANS SAID THEY'RE GOING TO VOTE FOR RUBEN GALLEGO.

THAT'S NOT A NUMBER THAT IF YOU'RE A CANDIDATE FOR OFFICE AND 15% OF THE PEOPLE IN YOUR PARTY ARE ABANDONING YOU TO GO TO THE OTHER CANDIDATE, THAT'S A SIGN SOMETHING IS SERIOUSLY WRONG WITH THE WAY YOU ARE SPEAKING TO THE FOLKS WHO OUGHT TO BE LOCK STOCK AND BARREL BEHIND YOU.

>> THERE'S ANOTHER PIECE TO THAT.

I LOOKED AT WHAT HAPPENED TWO YEARS AGO IN TERMS OF THE GOVERNOR'S RACE.

MAY BE REPUBLICANS WHO ARE UNWILLING TO VOTE FOR RUBEN GALLEGO BUT WILL SKIP THE RACE.

KARI LAKE LOST BY 17,000 VOTES LAST TIME.

THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO CAST A BALLOT BUT SKIPPED THE GOVERNOR'S RACE WAS 35,000.

THE PEOPLE WHO DECIDED I CAN'T LIVE WITH HER IS SIGNIFICANT AND COULD BE SIGNIFICANT IN THIS RACE.

TED: THOUGHTS?

>> I WAS GOING TO FOLLOW UP ON JIM'S POINT SAYING LOOKING AT ELECTION NIGHT NUMBERS WE WERE THINKING THE SAME THING, SHE SHOULD HAVE LEFT MARK LAMB IN THE DUST.

SHE BEAT HIM BUT NOT BY 70 OR 80%, JUST A FEW POINTS, REALLY.

>> THE OTHER THING THAT IS IMPORTANT LOOKING AT THIS POLL THAT YOU CAN SEE IS WITH REGARD TO KIND OF HOW REPUBLICANS ARE VIEWING THE TWO CANDIDATES, TRUMP AND LAKE IS SHE LOST TWICE AS MANY REPUBLICANS AS DONALD TRUMP DID.

THAT IS, AGAIN, ANOTHER ONE OF THE SIGNS THAT YOU KNOW, IF SOMEONE WHOSE MODELED HERSELF, BUILT HER CAREER AS BEING ARIZONA'S VERSION OF DONALD TRUMP, THAT SHE'S LOSING DOUBLE THE AMOUNT OF REPUBLICANS AS DONALD TRUMP WHO IS HAVING A DIFFICULT TIME HOLDING ONTO PEOPLE IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

THAT SHOULD BE A HUGE WARNING FLAG.

>> IF WE HAVE ONE MORE SECOND, MAYBE ABORTION PLAYS INTO IT.

A FEW REPUBLICAN WOMEN WERE VERY IRRITATED BY LAKE'S FLIP-FLOPPING ON WHETHER OR NOT THE ABORTION BAN WAS A GOOD IDEA TO UPHOLD AND ALSO OFFENDING DEMOCRATS AND INDEPENDENTS BY BEING VERY ANTIABORTION IN GENERAL, SO I THINK SHE'S POTENTIALLY LOST FAVOR ON BOTH SIDES OF THAT DEBATE.

TED: AGAIN, THIS IS A POLL, THIS IS A SNAPSHOT.

THINGS WILL TIGHTEN UP.

HOLY SMOKES.

A LOT OF FAKE ELECTOR STUFF GOING ON HERE.

WHO IS LORAINE PELLEGRINO?

>> A FORMER CHAIR OF AHWATUKEE REPUBLICAN WOMEN, ALSO SECRETARY OF THE REPUBLICAN ELECTORS.

THE 11 OF THEM.

AND WAS AS SUCH, ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO WENT IN AND SIGN SAID, LOOK, DONALD TRUMP WON ARIZONA, HE DESERVES THE 11 ELECTORAL VOTES AND THE WHOLE THING GOT SENT OFF TO WASHINGTON, GOT FILED AS AN OFFICIAL DOCUMENT, AND CLEARLY IT WASN'T.

NOW THERE WAS AN ARGUMENT THAT WELL, WE MEANT IT AS BACKUP PLAN, THAT WAS NEVER GOING TO SELL.

UNLIKE NEW MEXICO WHERE THEY SAID IT WAS A BACKUP PLAN, IT WAS VERY CLEAR SOMEBODY WAS GOING TO BE THE FIRST TO FLIP.

YOU TAKE SOMEBODY WHO DOESN'T HAVE LOTS OF MONEY, WHO DOESN'T HAVE THE BACKING OF JAKE HOFFMAN WHO'S GOT FOLKS WILLING TO PAY FOR HIS DEFENSE AND GOING TO GO DOWN WITH THE SHIP, SOMEBODY WAS GOING TO FLIP.

AND WHAT SHE WILL PROVIDE IS NOT JUST WHAT HAPPENED.

WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENED, IT WAS FILMED, THEY FILMED THE THING.

THEY WILL SAY HOW DID THEY GET TOGETHER?

HOW DID THIS HAPPEN?

WHO URGED THEM TO SIGN THIS.

TED: JEN ELLIS WAS THE FIRST TO PUBLICLY ANNOUNCE TO FLIP AND DAYS LATER HERE COMES PELLEGRINO, CORRECT?

>> YES, JEN ELLIS TALKING ON TV NEWS STATIONS WAS THE FIRST TO FLIP.

THEY DISMISSED THE CHARGES AGAINST HER AND SHE SIGNED AN AGREEMENT SAYING I WILL TESTIFY ON BEHALF OF THE PROSECUTION, WHEREVER, WHENEVER, I'LL TELL THE TRUTH.

IF I DON'T I CAN IS EXPECT TO HAVE THE CHARGES REFILED AGAINST ME.

TED: DAYS LATER, PELLEGRINO DECIDES TO BOOST CHARGES, MISDEMEANOR, WE'LL GO WITH IT.

>> TAKING THE CHARGES AND USING THE LEVERS THAT THOSE FREUD TRY TO GET PEOPLE TO, YOU KNOW, TO FLIP AND TO TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED AND WHY IT HAPPENED AND WHO DID WHAT WHEN IN ORDER TO HELP PROVE THE CASE AGAINST THE FOLKS WHO ARE NEVER GOING TO SURRENDER.

>> THAT'S THE KEY, PELLEGRINO CAN HELP WITH THE OTHER 10 ELECTORS.

JENNA CAN HELP WITH THE OTHER FOLKS.

SHE WAS THE ONE WHO CAME TO ARIZONA WITH RUDY GIULIANI AFTER THE 2020 ELECTION AND HELD UP HER CELL PHONE SO DONALD TRUMP COULD TALK TO THE QUOTE, UNQUOTE LEGISLATIVE HEARING AND I USE THE TERM LOOSELY HOW ALL OF THIS WAS STOLEN AND KNOWS THE INSIDE.

SHE COULD GET A JOHN EASTMAN TO FLIP AND NOW GETTING DEEP DOWN INTO THE TRUMP 47, IF YOU WANT TO CALL IT THAT.

TED: DOMINOS STARTING TO FALL?

ARE WE GOING TO SEE MORE IN THE DAYS AND WEEKS?

>> I WOULD SAY SO.

THESE AREN'T THE FIRST TWO EXPECTED TO FLIP.

I WOULD SAY IT MAKES A STRONG CASE AND YOU GO AFTER THE BIG FISH, RUDY GIULIANI, KELLI WARD, JAKE HOFFMAN, ANTHONY KERN AND ELLIS WAS THE FIRST ONE TO FLIP.

SHE'S THE TRENDSETTER THERE, PELLEGRINO WAS THE FIRST TO BE CONVICTED SO SHE ALSO GETS TO A TRENDSETTER.

TED: HOFFMAN, REAL QUICKLY AS FAR AS THE CASES TO DISMISS.

HOFFMAN FILED A CASE BECAUSE OF THE SLAP LAW, YOU SHOULD NOT BE -- PLEASE EXPLAIN, WHAT THE SLAP LAW IS.

>> ANTI-SLAP STATUTES PROTECT PEOPLE FROM SAYING OR DOING THINGS THAT OFFEND THE GOVERNMENT.

ARIZONA VERY CONVENIENTLY IN 2022, I BELIEVE, CHANGED ANTI-SLAP STATUTES TO PROTECT GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS LIKE LAWMAKERS, FOR EXAMPLE, AND THAT'S EXACTLY THE STATUTE THAT WAS JUST CHANGED BUT THEY'RE USING IN THIS CASE TO ARGUE IN THEIR OWN DEFENSE, SO PETERSON AND TOMA ARE BEING TOLD BY THE COURT THAT THEY CAN BE AMICUS, WHICH IS A LEGAL TERM THAT MEANS THEY'RE OUTSIDE THE CASE BUT CAN SORT OF HAVE THEIR PEACE AND SAY WHAT THEY WANT, BUT THEY HAVE TO EXPLAIN, IF THEY'RE DOING THAT, WHAT THE REASONING WAS OR THE PURPOSE WAS FOR CHANGING THE ANTI-SLAP STATUTES, AND I WENT BACK AND DEVOTED MYSELF TO WATCHING THE HEARINGS, ONLY PERSON THAT TALKED ABOUT IT WAS CORY LONGHOFFER.

IF WE HAD AN OVERZEALOUS ATTORNEY GENERAL WE WOULD AGREE TO HAVE THE STATUTE EXPANDED.

I WONDER IF THAT WAS SPECIFIC WITH THE CASE IN MIND, BUT THEY NEVER SAID IT.

>> THE FUN ANGLE ON THAT IS THEY'RE CLAIMING IT'S POLITICAL.

NOT ONLY THE ELECTED OFFICIALS BUT OTHER FOLKS WHO FILE THIS STRATEGIC LITIGATION AGAINST PUBLIC PARTICIPATION, AND THEY'RE SAYING THIS IS ALL POLITICAL.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ANNOUNCED BEFORE SHE WAS ELECTED THESE PEOPLE ARE GUILTY OF SOMETHING, AND HER DEFENSE CURIOUSLY ENOUGH, IS IF THIS IS POLITICAL, I WOULD HAVE INDICTED DONALD TRUMP, AND MY ATTORNEY SAID TO THE GRAND JURY, DO NOT INDICT HIM BECAUSE OF FEDERAL OVERLAP AND EVERYTHING ELSE, AND THE FACT WE DID NOT INDICT DONALD TRUMP, UNINDICTED CO-CONSPIRATOR NUMBER ONE SHOWS THIS IS ALL POLITICAL.

IT'S FASCINATING HOW ALL THIS FITS TOGETHER.

TED: YES, YES.

BILL MONTGOMERY ASKED TO RECUSE HIMSELF ON A CASE OF ABORTION.

LAST TIME HE SAID YES.

THIS TIME NO, NOT A GOOD IDEA.

>> HE DID AN ABOUT-FACE AFTER HE OFFICIALLY SAID NO, NO, I'M NOT GOING TO AND SUDDENLY A WEEK AND A HALF, TWO WEEKS LATER RECUSED FROM THE CASE.

THIS IS ALL ABOUT ABORTION.

BILL MONTGOMERY, WHEN HE WAS COUNTY ATTORNEY IN MARICOPA COUNTY, SPOKE OFTEN AGAINST ABORTION AND A LOT OF HIS POLITICAL CAREER CAME UP.

HE'S BEEN A VERY STRIDENT ABORTION OPPONENT AND SAID SOME THINGS AND POSTED SOME THINGS ON SOCIAL MEDIA THAT HAVE BEEN INFLAMMATORY AND EXTREME RHETORIC SAYING PLANNED PARENTHOOD IS GUILTY OF GENOCIDE, THAT PEOPLE ARE KILLING BABIES AND SELLING OFF THEIR PARTS.

ALL OF THE STUFF THAT IS AT A MINIMUM INFLAMMATORY AND MANY CASES NOT TRUE.

SO IN THIS LAWSUIT ABOUT THE LEGISLATURE'S DESCRIPTION FOR THE PUBLICITY PAMPHLET FOR THE ABORTION RIGHTS MEASURE, THERE'S LITIGATION WHETHER IT'S BIASED OR NEUTRAL AND THE CASE IS GOING TO THE SUPREME COURT AND THE ABORTION RIGHTS PROPONENTS SAID JUSTICE BILL MONTGOMERY YOU NEED RECUSE YOURSELF BECAUSE YOU ARE BIASED, YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO RULE ON THIS FAIRLY, AND HE SAID, YEAH, NO, I CAN BECAUSE PLANNED PARENTHOOD ISN'T DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN THIS CASE, I DON'T HAVE A CONFLICT, I DON'T NEED TO DO ANYTHING.

>> THAT'S THE QUESTION.

HOW INVOLVED IS PLANNED PARENTHOOD.

THEY ARE THE NUMBER TWO FUNDER FOR ARIZONA ABORTION ACCESS.

THE SEIU PUT IN MORE MONEY.

DOES THAT MAKE THEM INVOLVED?

DO YOU HAVE TO BE A NAMED PLAINTIFF OR DEFENDANT TO BE INVOLVED?

WHAT ABOUT THE OVERALL STATEMENTS?

NOW HIS ARGUMENT, OF COURSE, IS LOOK, I CAN HAVE PERSONAL FEELINGS ABOUT ABORTION AND THAT'S TRUE OF ANY JUDGE.

AS REPORTERS WE HAVE PERSONAL FEELINGS ABOUT A LOT OF STUFF, THAT DOESN'T MEAN I'M NOT GOING TO WRITE ABOUT CERTAIN ISSUES.

TED: YOU WEREN'T NECESSARILY MARCHING AND SHOUTING IN FRONT OF THINGS YOU DISAPPROVE OF.

>> THAT'S TRUE.

I WAS NOT DEMONSTRATING IN FRONT OF PLANNED PARENTHOOD AS BILL MONTGOMERY DID.

THIS IS A SPECIFIC FIGHT OVER THE WORDS UNBORN HUMAN BEING IN THE DESCRIPTION.

ARIZONANS FOR ABORTION ACCESS SAID SHOULD BE FETUS.

SO THIS IS A VERY SPECIFIC FIGHT OVER IS THAT A NEUTRAL WORD?

THIS IS THE PRECURSOR, THE WARM-UP ACT BECAUSE THE NEXT ACT IS GOING TO BE IS THE MEASURE SO CONFUSING AND MISLEADING AND WAS THE DESCRIPTION SO MISLEADING SHOULD HAVE NEVER GOTTEN ON THE BALLOT IN THE FIRST PLACE?

A TRIAL JUDGE RULED AGAINST ARIZONA RIGHT TO LIFE ON THAT, THAT TOO WILL END UP ON THE ARIZONA SUPREME COURT, AND WILL MR. MONTGOMERY PRESENT ABOUT THAT.

>> TWO THINGS, NOT THAT HE'S ARIZONA FOR ABORTION ACCESS, IT IS LIKE PLANNED PARENTHOOD, IF THE FOUR OF US WERE FOR ABORTION ACCESS AND HOWIE WERE PLANNED PARENTHOOD, THAT'S HOW IT WORKS.

THEY ARE A PARTY HERE.

I COVERED THIS FOR THE RADIO THIS WEEK.

MONTGOMERY ASKED TO RECUSE HIMSELF.

DIDN'T I WRITE THIS STORY A YEAR AGO?

AND I DID.

IT WAS FUNNY BECAUSE AT THE TIME WHEN HE SAID NO, I'M NOT GOING TO RECUSE MYSELF AND GAVE A LONG EXPLANATION FOR IT.

A WEEK LATER HE SAID I'M GOING RECUSE MYSELF BECAUSE OF NEW INFORMATION AND NEVER EXPLAINED IT.

FOR THE PAST HOWEVER MANY MONTHS IT'S BEEN, WE'RE ALL WHAT WAS THAT?

I HAVE NO IDEA IF NEW INFORMATION FROM THEN APPLIES NOW.

>> THE NEW INFORMATION COULD BE COMING DOWN THE PIKE.

HOWIE, THE OPEN PRIMARY PROPOSAL WAS BEING CHALLENGED ON SINGLE SUBJECT RULE?

>> TWO CHALLENGES, OPEN PRIMARY IS RIGHT NOW, THE REPUBLICANS HAVE A PRIMARY, DEMOCRATS HAVE A PRIMARY, LIBERTARIANS HAVE THEIR OWN WEIRD METHOD OF SELECTING PEOPLE, GREEN PARTY AND INDEPENDENTS ARE LOCKED OUT.

OPEN PRIMARY SAYS WE HAVE A SINGLE PRIMARY.

YOU ALL VOTE, EVERYBODY GETS A VOTE, THE CANDIDATES GET A VOTE AND FIGURE OUT MAYBE THERE'S TWO DEMOCRATS, THREE DEMOCRATS COME OUT.

THAT'S NOT A PROBLEM IN TERMS OF A SINGLE, IS EVERYBODY ADMITS THAT.

THE SECOND PART OF THE MEASURE SAYS IT IS UP TO LEGISLATURE TO DECIDE WHAT HAPPENS NEXT.

THE LEGISLATURE SAYS ONLY THE TOP TWO GET TO GO ONTO THE GENERAL ELECTION AND THE PROBLEM, BUT THE LEGISLATURE CAN ALLOW UP TO FIVE TO GO UP AND USING THE SYSTEM OF RANK CHOICE VOTING WHICH IS CONFUSING BUT ONLY AN OPTION AND THE ARGUMENT IS YOU CAN'T HAVE THESE AS SEPARATE OR AS A SINGLE AMENDMENT.

WHAT THE COURT SAID, WHAT JUDGE SAID A COUPLE OF HOURS AGO, YES, THEY ARE SEPARATE ISSUES BUT IT'S REALLY SIMPLE.

THEY'RE TRYING TO DO ELECTION REFORM.

THIS IS ALL PART OF ELECTION REFORM, AND YOU CAN'T SAY YOU GOT TO DO ONE FOR THE PRIMARY, ONE FOR THE GENERAL AND ONE ON WHETHER THEY HAVE TO GET A SEPARATE SOURCE OF REVENUES FOR TAXES TO DO IT.

TED: YES, THIS IS SOMETHING REPUBLICANS AND DEMOCRATS ARE NOT CRAZY ABOUT.

>> YEAH, NO, THE PARTIES ARE NOT PARTICULARLY ENAMORED WITH THIS.

REPUBLICANS ARE MORE VOCALLY OPPOSED TO IT AND DONE MORE TO FIGHT AGAINST THIS, BUT YEAH, THE WHOLE IDEA OF THIS MEASURE AS WE'VE SEEN IN OTHER STATES ACROSS THE COUNTRY IS TO TRY TO WEAKEN THE PARTY SYSTEM AND TO TRY TO CREATE SITUATIONS WHERE YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE OFFENSABLY LESS EXTREME TO GET THROUGH THE PRIMARIES, PARTISAN PRIMARIES TEND TO DRAW OUT THE BASIC AND THE VOTERS WHO HAVE THE MOST FERVENT OPINIONS AND GIVES YOU CANDIDATES THAT ARE FURTHER TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT.

IDEA BEHIND THIS IS IF WE PUT EVERYONE TOGETHER AND MIX THEM UP AND PUT THEM ON THE SAME BALLOT AND LET EVERYONE VOTE AT THE SAME TIME, WE'LL END UP IN A SITUATION WHERE WE GOT MORE MODERATE.

FOLKS CLOSER TO THE CENTER AREN'T TO THE POLLS, AND THAT WILL CHANGE OUR GOVERNANCE.

>> COMES DOWN TO THE QUESTION, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO INSIST WE WANT THE PEOPLE OF THE EXTREMES, THAT'S WHY YOU REGISTER AS A REPUBLICAN BECAUSE YOU WANT PEOPLE BELIEVE TO IN X, Y AND Z. TED: IT'S MY PARTY AND I CAN CRY IF I WANT TO.

>> THE REPUBLICANS HATE IT AND THE DEMOCRATS HATE IT AND THEY BOTH SUED AT THE SAME TIME FOR THE SAME REASON, SO THEY CONSOLIDATED THE CASES AND FORCED THEM TO WORK TOGETHER, I'M NOT SURE IF THEY WANTED TO WORK TOGETHER IT.

MAKES MY HEART SMILE TO SEE ROY HERRERA WORK WITH THE FREE ENTERPRISE CLUB AGAINST OPEN PRIMARIES.

IT'S SO CUTE.

LIKE WHEN YOU SEE ATHLETES HUG AFTER A VIOLENT MATCH.

>> THIS IS A SEPARATE CHALLENGE, DO THEY HAVE ENOUGH SIGNATURES.

THEY TURNED IN 240,000, THEY NEED 290,000 OR 250,000, THEY TURNED IN MORE SIGNATURES THAN THEY NEED.

SOME WERE NOT PROPERLY REGISTERED AND THE JUDGE HAS A HEARING ON THAT NEXT WEEK.

TED: IT WAS A FACTOR FOR THE MINIMUM WAGE BALLOT CAMPAIGN BECAUSE THAT'S NOW ADIOS.

>> A JUDGE TOSSED THAT OFF THE BALLOT AND SAID THEY DO NOT HAVE ENOUGH SIGNATURES ON THAT.

SEVEN OR EIGHT HOURS BEFORE THAT, THE CAMPAIGN CAME OUT AND SAID WE'RE NOT GOING TO DO THIS ANYMORE, WE'RE DONE.

WE'RE GOING TO ASK FOR IT TO BE WITHDRAWN, WITH THE HOPE OF ELECTED OFFICIALS SAYING IT'S OFF THE BALLOT AND THE JUDGE DIDN'T HAVE TO RULE ON IT, NOT REALLY THE WAY IT WORKS BUT NOW IT HAS GONE AND THE PROPONENTS SAY THEY'RE GOING TO TRY TO GO TO THE LEGISLATURE AND WORK WITH LAWMAKERS AT THE CITY LEVEL TO GET THIS IDEA PASSED WHICH IS AN $18 MINIMUM WAGE THAT ADJUSTS WITH INFLATION AS WELL AS PHASING OUT THE IDEA OF LOWER WAGES FOR TIPPED EMPLOYEES.

TED: I WAS GOING TO SAY DOES THIS IMPACT THAT MEASURE REGARDING TIPPED EMPLOYEES AND THE LOWER RAGES, 25% LOWER?

>> IT DOESN'T AFFECT IT DIRECTLY BUT THAT WAS DESIGNED TO COUNTER THIS.

THE WHOLE IDEA WAS TO BASICALLY LET RESTAURANTS AND BARS AND ANY OTHER INDUSTRY WHERE YOU HAVE A LOT OF TIPPED WORKERS TO PAY THE WORKERS LESS.

TED: NOTHING LEFT TO COUNTER?

>> IT COMES DOWN TO THE FACT THAT DO -- SHOULD TIP WORKERS BE PAID LESS?

OR IF YOU GOT THE TIPS, WHY AREN'T YOU ENTITLED TO THE SAME MINIMUM WAGE AS EVERYONE ELSE.

THIS IS DESIGNED TO SAVE RESTAURANTS MONEY, STEVE CHUCRI, THE HEAD OF THE RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION SAYS WE'RE WORKING ON BIG MARGINS.

THIS ISN'T ABOUT THE MOMS AND POPS, THIS IS ABOUT THE ROUTINE.

>> UH-HUH.

>> GUESS WHO LOVES THE BILL?

THE ARIZONA RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION AND BEVERAGE ASSOCIATION.

THEY'RE PUSHING IT.

LOVE OR HATE THE TIPPED WORKERS, THE RESTAURANTS ARE NOT GOING TO HAVE TO PAY AS MUCH, WHICH IS GREAT.

IT'S ON THE PEOPLE AT THE RESTAURANT TO PAY A PART OF THE SALARY SO YOU CAN KICK BACK AND ENJOY THAT.

>> THAT BECOMES THE QUESTION, WHEN YOU'RE AT A RESTAURANT, YOU KNOW YOUR EMPLOYEE WORKER IS NOT MAKING MINIMUM WAGE.

25% BELOW THE MINIMUM WAGE.

THERE'S AN OBLIGATION ON YOU TO SAY I WILL HELP MAKE THAT UP.

TED: ALL RIGHT, WE WILL STOP IT RIGHT THERE.

PANEL, GOOD CONVERSATION.

GOOD HAVE YOU ALL HERE.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.