Arizona Attorney General debate between Mayes, Petersen gets heated
Incumbent Kris Mayes and challenger Warren Petersen clashed on election integrity, data centers, and partisan office use in a heated pre-election debate.
- On Wednesday, September 23, 2026, Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes and Republican challenger Warren Petersen debated for an hour, clashing over their differing approaches to the state's top law enforcement office ahead of the November 3, 2026 general election.
- Mayes highlighted her record on consumer protection, citing lawsuits against the Trump administration that she said saved the state $2.3 billion, while emphasizing efforts to manage utility costs and block harmful mergers.
- Petersen cited his decade of legislative experience as Senate President, criticizing Mayes for what he termed a "sham investigation" and pledging to prioritize election integrity and public safety.
- The hour-long debate featured frequent interruptions and personal attacks, with Mayes quipping, "It's too bad that Warren can't do anything but read off of your sheet there," after Petersen relied on notes.
- Voters must register by October 5 to participate in the November 3, 2026 general election, with both candidates competing for undecided residents' support on issues ranging from immigration to economic regulation.
12 Articles
12 Articles
Debate Debacle: Poorly PreppedArizona Republican's Hilarious Nosedive
Republican Warren Petersen struggled to make it through the debate against Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes.He "couldn't have shown up LESS prepared to debate tonight," said Democrat American Bridge VP Kelsie Taggart.She posted a supercut of Petersen struggling to speak and looking down at his notes.At one point, Mayes quipped, "It's too bad that Warren can't do anything but read off of your sheet there. But, ya know, we'll go ahead and re…
Arizona Republican ridiculed for belly-flop debate performance
Republican Warren Petersen struggled to make it through the debate against Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes. He "couldn't have shown up LESS prepared to debate tonight," said Democrat AmericanBridge VP Kelsie Taggart. She posted a supercut of Petersen struggling to speak and looking down at his notes. At one point, Mayes quipped, "It's too bad that Warren can't do anything but read off of your sheet there. But, ya know, we'll go ahead and …
Arizona Capitol Times
Rose Law Group ReporterMayes, Petersen clash over Trump, ICE in attorney general’s debate
Mayes, the current attorney general, and Petersen, weighed in on the Trump administration, ICE and other issues Wednesday night. The post Mayes, Petersen clash over Trump, ICE in attorney general’s debate first appeared on Arizona Capitol Times.
Arizona AG candidates debate law enforcement. Here’s where they stand
Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes and challenger Warren Petersen wasted no time taking sharp shots in their first televised debate Wednesday. Petersen criticized Mayes over earlier remarks about masked immigration agents, saying they endangered law enforcement. Mayes countered by accusing Petersen of opposing pro-law-enforcement measures during his time in the Legislature. The candidates also clashed over the expansion of data centers, a growi…
Norton, Mansour trade attacks over risk and partisanship in treasurer debate
The Republican and Democratic nominees for Arizona Treasurer attempted to woo voters Wednesday evening during a debate in which both men tried to paint the other as untrustworthy of being responsible for overseeing how the state’s money is invested. Republican Elijah Norton and Democrat Nick Mansour each claimed that they intend to keep “partisan politics” […]
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