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
Border security is on the ballot this year for Arizonans [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:16
Some of this election cycle's biggest issues are what stirs the electorates here in Arizona. No debate or interview is complete without asking a candidate about abortion and immigration. Political angst regarding the bor…
BONUS: Q&A with CD1 candidate Amish Shah [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:29
The Gaggle, a politics podcast by the Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, collaborated with our politics team to connect with candidates so you can hear them make their case in their own words. This is part of a series o…
A cheat sheet to your 2024 propositions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:19
Taking up a lot of the ballot’s real estate are 13 propositions. From abortion rights to worker tips, arguments for and against the propositions fill up more than 300 pages in the state’s official Publicity Pamphlet. And…
BONUS: Q&A with Maricopa County Recorder nominee Tim Stringham [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:01
From now until your ballot arrives, The Gaggle, a politics podcast by the Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, collaborated with our politics team to connect with candidates so you can hear them make their case in their o…
8 key districts could determine the Arizona Legislature's future [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 23:30
The future of control of the state house depends on eight competitive districts on your ballot this November. Driven by redistricting, lots of donation money, and Gov. Katie Hobbs’ long-stated intention to flip the Legis…
BONUS: Q&A with CD6 candidates Juan Ciscomani and Kirsten Engel [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:03
Early ballots are being packaged up to be sent out to Arizona voters by October 9th. This year is the big one. From contentious mayoral races to electing a new Maricopa County recorder, the local elections will come to d…
BONUS: Q&A with Kamala Harris' senior advisor, Jen Cox [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:51
Early ballots are being packaged up to be sent out to Arizona voters by October 9th. This year is the big one. From contentious mayoral races to electing a new Maricopa County recorder, the local elections will come to d…