Arizona Democrats are in crisis

Arizona Democrats are in crisis

Author: The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com July 23, 2025 Duration: 30:50
Arizona Democrats have held the spotlight this month with two very different votes. One elected legacy politician Adelita Grijalva for the party's representation in the CD 7 race to fill her late father's seat in Congress. The other was to oust their state party chair, Robert Branscomb II. Arizona Democrats are riddled with political infighting after losing the presidential election in 2024, and soon the party will need to come together for midterm campaigns, including the re-election of Gov. Katie Hobbs. This week on The Gaggle, we joined by Stacy Pearson, a Democratic political strategist and co-founder of Lumen Strategies. Pearson joins the show to give a status update on the party, what these two votes indicate for the future and what she thinks the Democrats need in order to get it together. Email us! thegaggle@arizonarepublic.com Leave us a voicemail: 602-444-0804 Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tik Tok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Guest: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Stacy Pearson, political strategist⁠⁠⁠⁠ Hosts: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Ron Hansen⁠⁠⁠, ⁠⁠⁠Mary Jo Pitzl⁠⁠⁠ Producer: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Amanda Luberto⁠ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Every Wednesday morning, The Gaggle: An Arizona politics podcast cuts through the noise to focus on a single issue shaping life in the state. Hosted by The Arizona Republic’s national political reporters Ron Hansen and Stephanie Murray, and produced by Amanda Luberto, this isn't just a recap of headlines. Instead, the conversation goes deeper with a guest-a politician, a journalist, or another key public figure-to unpack the real-world implications of a policy, a vote, or a debate. You’ll hear how decisions made at the capitol or in city halls ripple out to affect communities, schools, and wallets. The discussion is grounded in the expertise of the Republic’s newsroom, offering clarity and context that’s often missing from the daily churn. For anyone trying to understand the forces directing Arizona’s future, this weekly podcast provides an essential, focused look at the mechanics of state politics and government, making the complex both accessible and relevant. It’s a straightforward guide to what’s happening, who’s involved, and why it all matters for your day-to-day.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

The Gaggle: An Arizona politics podcast
Podcast Episodes
Outspoken: In 1776, the Declaration of Independence was breaking news [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:56
Most of us picture the Declaration of Independence as a faded parchment under glass, guarded in the National Archives and summoned for big speeches every Fourth of July. how the news of its signing actually reached the p…
Don Bolles’ legacy and press violence today [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:18
50 years ago, a bomb exploded underneath the car of Arizona Republic investigative reporter Don Bolles outside the Clarendon Hotel, where he was set to meet a source. He was mostly known during his life for exploring and…
BONUS: The Republicans running for Arizona's CD 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:34
Republican Congressman David Schweikert has held his seat in Congressional District 1 since 2010, but this year, he's leaving the seat open to run for Governor. Republicans are desperate to keep it for their party. A few…
Outspoken: Why the Declaration of Independence is still "radical" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 17:47
For some, the words on the Declaration of Independence can only be described as "radical." Rev. Byron Williams argues that the promise of a sovereign government is still reshaping global politics and moral imagination 25…
Why the Hobbs-Mayes feud could hurt Democrats in 2026 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:27
Gov. Katie Hobbs and Attorney General Kris Mayes are supposed to be on the same team. They're both Democrats in Arizona seeking reelection this November, trying to not only keep their seats but also keep Arizona's purple…
BONUS: The Democrats running for Arizona's CD 1 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:04
Editor's Note: Since this podcast was recorded, candidates Victor Weintraub and Mark Robert Gordon have withdrawn from the race. Arizona Democrats have spent much of the past 16 years plotting how to oust Republican Cong…
Mark Kelly’s future is fueling 2028 presidential buzz [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:42
Sen. Mark Kelly isn't just an Arizona name. He's a NASA astronaut, a veteran, a gun rights activist after the assassination attempt on his wife Gabrielle Giffords, and as recent as 2024, a vice presidential option. He's…