BONUS: The Democrats running for Arizona's CD 1

BONUS: The Democrats running for Arizona's CD 1

Author: The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com May 23, 2026 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Editor's Note: Since this podcast was recorded, candidates Victor Weintraub and Mark Robert Gordon have withdrawn from the race.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 Congressman David Schweikert from Congressional District 1. 2026 is their best opportunity with Schweikert leaving to run for governor. Six Democrats are in the running to represent the left in the 2026 CD1 election. In this bonus episode of The Gaggle, we walk you through the similarities and differences between the people on your primary ballot. Email us! thegaggle@arizonarepublic.com Leave us a voicemail: 602-444-0804 Follow us on ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠X,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ and ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tik Tok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ Host: Laura Gersony 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
Why Andy Biggs wants to be Arizona's next Governor [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:58
Congressman Andy Biggs says Congress is "broken" and now one of Trump’s biggest Arizona allies is ready to come home and give Arizona a new direction. This week on The Gaggle, we sit down with gubernatorial candidate And…
Democrats want Maricopa County. Here's their challenge. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:28
Maricopa County is one of the closest watched parts of the nation heading into the 2026 midterm election. It's one of the largest swing counties in America, in one of the most crucial states for both parties. Democrats a…
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos' web of half-truths [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:25
Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos is quickly becoming more well-known after facing national scrutiny for how his department has handled the unsolved disappearance of Nancy Guthrie. In light of that, The Arizona Republic un…
Why Trump is visiting Phoenix so early in the 2026 midterm cycle [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 27:31
President Donald Trump is set to be the main speaker at Turning Point's "Build the Red Wall" event on April 17. Trump's appearance will kick off the midterm election season in Arizona, a battleground state that has candi…
Adrian Fontes wants you to know your mail-in ballot is safe [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:57
As we approach the 2026 midterms, the next big fight in the election process is already brewing. Trump rolled out an executive order intended to limit mail-in voting to people screened by the Postal Service and the Depar…
Inside Maricopa County's elections feud [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:28
The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors and County Recorder Justin Heap have been in a bitter legal battle for months on who is in charge of what parts of the election process. They continue to fight over minute details…
The reality of data centers on Arizona's economy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:27
The polarization over data center expansion is one of the best examples of the new business climate in Arizona. Some want the state to be on the forefront of the "AI revolution" while others aren't sold on it's economic…
You can now bet on politics, but is it legal? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 28:56
These days you can bet on just about anything from the palm of your hand: pocket cash on the outcome of an Arizona Diamondbacks game or the Super Bowl. But now, you can also win money betting on politics. Gamblers can wa…
Why Trump is dipping back into 2020 ballots [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:12
The 2020 election is apparently still not over. President Donald Trump has two states that he hasn't gotten over losing, Arizona and Georgia, under his conspiratorial microscope again. Tusli Gabbard, the FBI and the US J…
Arizona and the Epstein files [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:24
Jeffery Epstein has dominated attention seven years after his death. His wealth, social circles and varied interests ensured the digital trail of his life would lead in many directions. But not many could have guessed th…