Innovative serial entrepreneur and political disruptor Hugh Lytle is announcing his Independent candidacy for Arizona Governor January 27th at 10am outside Sun Devil Stadium (at the plaza on Veterans Way between the Stadium and the ASU Activity Center). Lytle was a quarterback for Arizona State University before a broken collar bone forced a change of plans. More than 40 years … Read More
Guest Editorial: Update: State of the Governor’s Race
By David Schweikert As we head into the holiday season, I wanted to take a moment and give you an update on the state of play in the Republican primary for Governor. But before I do, I want to address the troubling decision by Karrin Taylor Robson to put out a made-up poll, from a made-up polling firm, that preposterously … Read More
How is the Governor’s Race Stacking Up? Recent Fundraising Numbers Provide Insight
By Alexander Lomax Yes, it’s not even 2026 yet. But the 2025 legislative session is over, and much like how drafts and training camps allow us to peer into the future season of our favorite sports teams, there is something that allows us to handicap future political races: fundraising. Fundraising numbers for Q2 are now in…so how do they look? … Read More
New Data Orbital & AZ Free News Poll: 2026 AZ GOP Gubernatorial Primary
Data Orbital is pleased to announce the results of its latest mixed-mode survey of likely 2026 Republican Primary Election voters in Arizona. The survey was conducted from January 18th to January 20th. Survey results reveal that Congressman Andy Biggs leads the field of prospective candidates with 31.7% compared to 12.4% for Karrin Taylor-Robson and 7.4% for Kimberly Yee. 45.0% were … Read More
Potential Civil War with Arizona Democrats Brewing? Governor Hobbs May Have a Serious Primary Challenger
By Alexander Lomax All’s fair in love, war, and politics, but there are typically a few axioms that keep people in line and keep order in what can otherwise be a cutthroat, back-stabbing industry. One of those is that when your party holds a significant seat, you do not give them a tough primary. Sure, you can prevent some fringe … Read More
Katie Hobbs’s Race Problem
By Alexander Lomax In what is looking to be a tough election year for Democrats nationally, Katie Hobbs’s path to the 9th floor was already a fairly narrow one. Now a problem from the past has re-emerged and has made that narrow path a more treacherous one. Those who follow local politics closely may remember the story of Talonya Adams, … Read More
Featured Editorial: Deals with the Devil – Kari Lake Encounters the Danger of Polarized Primaries
By Ronald Sampson It’s the time honored trope in politics: you move out to the wing for the primary election, and pivot towards the middle for the general election. However, the danger is in going too far to one side to win a primary, only to make yourself unpalatable to general election voters as a result. This is the delicate … Read More
It’s Getting Feisty – The Gloves are Coming Off in AZ Governor, Secretary of State Primaries
By Alexander Lomax It was only a matter of time, but that time has finally come: the primary fights have finally begun in earnest. Matt Salmon must have read our previous op-ed about the probable fruitlessness of his campaign and has reacted in-kind. A PAC supporting him recently launched a 6-figure ad buy going after Kari Lake for previous support … Read More
Guest Editorial: Is Matt Salmon Arizona’s Own Jeb Bush?
By Ronald Sampson “Please clap.” Rarely in modern history have a career’s worth of hopes and dreams been dashed by two syllables. In fact, only one other example comes to mind, in the form of Howard Dean’s “HEEEEE-AHHHHH” screech after getting destroyed in a Presidential primary in ‘04. Two syllables made Jeb Bush a sad meme, a man with all … Read More
Guest Editorial: Could Katie Hobbs Actually Become Governor?
By Alexander Lomax The 9th Floor has become a cozy, safe space for Republicans ever since the Janet Napolitano days. Before that, Democrats often had to be rather centrist and pragmatic in order to win the office. So does Katie Hobbs, former Senate Minority Leader from the progressive stronghold of central Phoenix, actually have a chance to win? In order … Read More