Republicans weigh experience vs. loyalty in AG race
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Republican primary voters will soon be asked to decide what matters more in an attorney general: courtroom experience or party loyalty.
Why it matters: The AG is the state's top lawyer, and has broad authority to challenge the federal government and private companies on behalf of Arizonans.
- Issues of consumer protection, election integrity, states' rights and federal overreach often fall to the AG's office.
State of play: The Republican primary pits Air Force prosecutor and private-sector attorney Rodney Glassman against state Senate President Warren Petersen.
- The winner of the July 21 election will take on incumbent Democratic AG Kris Mayes in November.
The intrigue: Glassman and Petersen agree on a lot, though you wouldn't know it based on their vitriolic attack-slinging of late.
- Both have slammed Mayes for attempting to undo President Trump's executive orders, said they would continue to investigate unsubstantiated claims of election fraud in the 2020 election, and have promised to prioritize border security.
Rodney Glassman
Bio: Glassman is an attorney, Air Force Reserve JAG officer and former Tucson City Council member.
The pitch: He argues that his prosecutorial and courtroom experience make him the most capable person to helm the AG's office.
The weak spots: Glassman is a perennial candidate. He ran unsuccessfully for AG four years ago, and before that failed to garner enough voter support for multiple other positions.
- His only successful run for office was for the Tucson City Council in 2007 — as a Democrat.
- Glassman's former political affiliation is likely his biggest liability. He was the Democrat's U.S. Senate nominee in 2010 (defeated by late U.S. Sen. John McCain), ran for the state party chair and has donated money to Democratic candidates.
- He switched parties in 2015.
Warren Petersen
Bio: Petersen is an attorney who's represented the East Valley in the Legislature since 2017, and has served as Senate president since 2023.
The pitch: He argues that his long history in GOP leadership makes him the most electable Republican to take on Mayes.
The weak spots: Petersen's been a licensed attorney for only three years, and his prosecutorial experience is thin.
- He points to nine cases he prosecuted with the Scottsdale City Attorney's Office, which were part of a clinic while a law student at ASU, per KJZZ.
- His legislative leadership could be an asset, but also carries baggage. Any Republican missteps or Democratic wins from the past several years can be used against him.