Arizona statewide election campaigns

In the Arizona midterm elections, Democratic incumbents are showing strength in statewide polls. Attorney General Kris Mayes holds a 6-point lead over Republican challenger Warren Petersen, while Secretary of State Adrian Fontes maintains a similar advantage over Republican Alex Kolodin. Debates between candidates have focused on election security and the reliability of electoral processes.

As the campaign intensifies, the race for Attorney General has become increasingly contentious. Petersen, the current Arizona Senate President, has criticized Mayes for being “soft on crime,” while Mayes’s campaign has accused Petersen of engaging in “pay-to-play” politics. These allegations involve claims that Petersen received contributions from entities previously investigated by the Attorney General’s office, including a management firm involved in litigation with the state, a private prison company, and a nicotine manufacturer.

During a recent debate in Scottsdale hosted by the Arizona Media Association and the Citizens Clean Elections Commission, the candidates engaged in frequent personal attacks. Petersen accused Mayes of unprofessionalism, alleging she has engaged in “yelling and pounding her fists on tables during meetings.” Mayes countered by accusing Petersen of lying and criticized his legal career. The candidates also sparred over immigration, election integrity, utility rates, and water access. While Mayes defended her record of filing lawsuits against the Trump administration based on constitutional protections, Petersen accused her of engaging in “political lawfare” and “environmental radicalism.”

Recently, Arizona State Representative Lydia Hernandez accused DJ Quinlan, a political consultant identified as Mayes’s campaign treasurer, of harassment. Hernandez released screenshots of text messages in which the sender criticized her for endorsing Petersen, using insults such as “Gross. Selfish politician” and stating the contact was intended “To shame you.” Petersen has called on Mayes to condemn the behavior and remove Quinlan from his position, describing the incident as unprofessional.