Eight Years Later, Arizona Still Isn’t Done Talking About John McCain

Last week marked eight years since Senator John McCain died at his Cornville ranch after a long fight with brain cancer, and if anything, the tributes have only gotten more consistent with time. Whatever else has shifted in Arizona politics since 2018, the state’s habit of pausing every August to remember him hasn’t. Arizona Keeps the Torch Lit Governor Katie … Read More

Thank You, Readers

Readers, it’s no secret that we enjoy being relative insiders to the world of Arizona (and specifically Scottsdale) politics, and this year has been an interesting one. We’ve been fortunate in our ability to carve a successful niche of sharing a wide variety of viewpoints and stances of one of the best areas and states in the world, and we’re … Read More

Speaker’s Corner: Katie Hobbs Only Believes in Democracy When It’s Convenient

By Ronald Sampson Katie Hobbs stood in front of reporters on August 20 and told them she’s worried about the citizen initiative process getting eroded, while in the same breath standing by her override of the Axon vote. Voters gathering signatures to put a question on the ballot, she said, that’s sacred stuff. She opposed messing with it back when … Read More

A Scottsdale Guy Just Got Handed the Keys to Chase Field

Big congratulations are in order for Mark Winkleman, founder and president of MGS Realty Partners, who was just named to lead the $500 million renovation of Chase Field for the Maricopa County Stadium District. It’s exactly the kind of high-stakes, high-visibility assignment that calls for someone who has already proven he can manage complicated public responsibility, and Winkleman has done … Read More

Arizona Democrats Lead Down Ballot Races

By HighGround Public Affairs The latest statewide survey from HighGround Public Affairs reveals that the Democratic nominees for statewide down ballot offices have taken the lead with six weeks remaining until early voting starts. In the same survey that showed Governor Katie Hobbs with a fifteen-point advantage in the Governor’s race, the top of the Democratic ticket is also faring … Read More

Too-Early-To-Call Results from Arizona’s Primary Election Day: Primary Validations, Shocks, and Comeback Stories in the Waiting

By Alexander Lomax The first election results dropped from the night, and absolutely nothing is set in stone at this moment, but there is definitely plenty of certainty and more than enough question marks to keep us hitting refresh on our browser constantly. First, Scottsdale. One councilmember is likely advancing and a few incumbents are fighting for their seats. Scroll … Read More

Guest Editorial: How an Arizona Teacher Sparked My Entrepreneurial Journey

By Michelle Watson After attending a graduation ceremony recently, I found myself thinking not just about the graduates and their futures, but about the teachers who helped get them there. At a time when there is an ever-changing landscape in education that dominates the headlines, it’s worth remembering something simpler and far more personal: teachers change lives every single day … Read More

Handicapping the Elections: Contested Primaries in Statewide Races

By Alexander Lomax The Arizona Governor’s Race Narrows to Two (plus Hobbs) Karrin Taylor Robson’s exit in February cleared the Republican gubernatorial field down to Andy Biggs and David Schweikert. Both are sitting members of Congress. Both will face off on July 21. Biggs holds a commanding financial edge. His campaign reports roughly $2.7 million raised for the cycle and … Read More