For a century, the Colorado River has been governed by a fragile set of deals among seven states. This month, Arizona decided those deals were no longer enough. On October 16, Gov. Katie Hobbs and the Arizona Department of Water Resources moved to join Nevada’s lawsuit against the U.S. Department of the Interior. Then, on October 27, the Central Arizona … Read More
Handicapping the Elections: How Arizona’s Statewide Races Will Play Out
By Alexander Lomax Arizona’s ballot is long this year. Voters will choose a governor, attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer, schools chief, mine inspector and two corporation commissioners. For the first time, they will also elect a lieutenant governor, paired on a ticket with the governor. Early ballots are already coming back, so here is how we see each race … 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
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
The July Surprise
A Meteor With a Timestamp There is a political meteor headed for Arizona, and most people don’t know it’s coming. Sometime this July, the federal Bureau of Reclamation is expected to announce its final framework for Colorado River water allocations post-2026. Seven states have spent two years failing to reach an agreement. So the federal government stepped in. Its draft … Read More
The Worst Excesses of the Two Party System at Play in Arizona
By Alexander Lomax If you needed a clean illustration of how the two-party system works to protect itself, look no further than what is happening right now to Hugh Lytle’s campaign for Arizona governor. Lytle, a Scottsdale businessman running under the label of what was previously called the No Labels Party, is facing two separate legal challenges designed to remove … Read More
Arizona Business Leader Hugh Lytle Seeks To Make History As First Independent Arizona Governor With A Campaign Organized To Win
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
Water Issues are Back to the Forefront in Arizona: How Concerned Should You Be?
The collapse of Colorado River negotiations on November 11 wasn’t just a bureaucratic failure; it’s a warning sign that Arizona’s water future remains deeply uncertain. When Governor Katie Hobbs and bipartisan legislative leaders jointly urged federal intervention, calling Colorado River reliability “a matter of national security,” they weren’t being hyperbolic. The question isn’t whether Arizona faces water challenges, but how severe those … Read More
Momentum for Arizona as an AI Hotbed is Building, but Not Without Roadblocks
Arizona’s transformation into a major technology hub reached another milestone this month with Cognite’s announcement of its new global headquarters in Tempe. The Industrial AI company’s relocation from Oslo, Norway represents more than just another corporate move; it’s validation of Arizona’s emergence as a serious player in the artificial intelligence economy. With over 100 new jobs coming to the Phoenix area … Read More
What Last Tuesday’s Elections Tell Us About Next Year’s Elections in Arizona
By Ronald Sampson Last Tuesday wasn’t just a good night for Democrats; it was a blueprint for what could be coming to Arizona in 2026. Across the country, Democrats secured decisive victories in Virginia and New Jersey governor’s races, with Abigail Spanberger and Mikie Sherrill winning by comfortable margins while campaigning heavily on economic issues and cost of living. In … Read More