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Editor's Note: Since this podcast was recorded, candidates Victor Weintraub and Mark Robert Gordon have withdrawn from the race.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
Inside the drama unfolding in Scottsdale City Council [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 21:09
Scottsdale residents voted in a new mayor and new City Council in the 2024 election. Almost immediately, the new faces at City Hall started kicking up dust in a city that calls itself “The West’s Most Western town.” Elim…
How federal Medicaid cuts would impact Arizonans [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:21
Congress is looking to make room for trillions in tax cuts that are titled to corporations and the wealthy. Now, America's health-care program for the disabled, pregnant women and low-income earners is up for possible la…
How Trump's federal job cuts are affecting Arizonans [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 20:50
Trump and his self-created Department of Government Efficiency, or DOGE, after the internet meme, is attempting to rein in the amount of national spending and the size of the federal government. About 32,000 of the 3 mil…
Gov. Hobbs vs. the Legislature: what can actually get done this year. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:26
The new year also brought a slightly larger Republican majority in both the House and Senate, furthering the political divide at the Capitol. Gov. Katie Hobbs has already delivered her first veto of the year, denying a R…
Speaker Steve Montenegro shares Republicans' goals for 2025 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:51
Steve Montenegro is not new to the Capitol — he served eight years in the Legislature before an unsuccessful run for Congress in 2018. In 2022, he returned to state politics when he was elected to represent Legislative D…
How stable are Arizona's political parties? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:55
Being a swing state, Arizona's politics are watched with a magnifying glass across the country. It's not just who wins – though that is definitely what matters most – but it is smaller things. Among the details that seem…
What big changes are coming for Maricopa County? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 32:19
Maricopa County is the economic driver of Arizona and at least politically, largely shapes the state's identity. During the 2024 election, the county went through a political overhaul. There are a lot of new faces dealin…
What Trump's executive orders mean for Arizona [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 26:10
President Donald Trump's "Day 1" has come and gone and so far, he has kept most of his promises. The president signed an abundance of executive orders in the hours following his inauguration, some directly impacting Ariz…
What is the mood at the Arizona-Mexico border right now? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:35
President-elect Donald Trump is gearing up for his inauguration on Jan. 20 and the start of the new administration holds significance for Arizona. Trump has promised to start mass deportations on "day one" and to quickly…