>>> THE 2018 ELECTION CYCLE

HEATING UP.

>> THIS GOING TO BE A HUGE

POLITICAL RACE, MILLIONS AND

MILLIONS OF OUTSIDE DOLLARS

BEING SPENT.

>> AN OPEN SENATE SEAT CREATES A

DOMINO EFFECT ON OTHER RACES.

>> YOU'LL HAVE SO MANY OF THEM

VACANTING THEIR SEATS

POTENTIALLY.

>> A STATE REPRESENTATIVE FACING

SERIOUS ALLEGATIONS.

>> HELLO, THANK YOU FOR JOINING

US.

ARIZONA'S OPEN SENATE SEAT

GENERATING EXCITEMENT AND

OPENING CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THE

FUTURE OF ARIZONA'S POLITICAL

LANDSCAPE, A COMPREHENSIVE

ANALYSIS FROM POLITICAL

STRATEGIST IN PHOENIX, DREW SEX

TON SERVED AS A PUBLIC AFFAIRS

AND COMMUNICATIONS SPECIALIST

AND NOW REPRESENTS HIGH GROUND

PUBLIC AFFAIRS AND JASON BARASA

FOR THE PARTY, BOTH STRATEGISTS

DEGREE ARIZONA IS IN A UNIQUE

SPOT, 12 MEN, MAJORITY

REPUBLICAN REPRESENTED ARIZONA

IN THE U.S. SENATE AND MARTHA

McSALLY SAID SHE'LL BE IN THE

RACE.

WE BEGIN WITH DREW SEXTON.

>> ANY CANDIDATE THAT WINS THE

NOMINATION FOR THE SENATE SEAT

AS A REPUBLICAN THEY'LL HAVE A

BIG ADVANTAGE BUT OBVIOUSLY

DEPENDING ON HOW THINGS ARE

GOING ON A NATIONAL LEVEL.

PRESIDENT TRUMP ALREADY HAD AN

EFFECT IN TURNOUTS IN PLACES

LIKE VIRGINIA AND NEW JERSEY.

REPUBLICANS WILL NEED TO MAKE

SURE THEY NOMINATE A SOLID

CANDIDATE NOT NECESSARILY ON THE

FRINGE OF WHAT WE WOULD SAY THE

REPUBLICAN PARTY IS.

THEY NEED TO HAVE A CREDIBLE

CANDIDATE THAT CAN BUILD A

WINNING GENERAL ELECTION

COALITION.

>> JASON, DO DEMOCRATS SEE THIS

AS THE PERFECT OPPORTUNITY?

>> I THINK THEY DO.

YOU'RE DEALING WITH A FRACTURED

REPUBLICAN PARTY AND STARTING TO

TRICKLE ITS WAY DOWN, IT'S GOING

TO PRODUCE VERY INTERESTING

RESULTS AND COULD BE THE

OPPORTUNITY THE DEMOCRATS NEED

IN THIS PARTICULAR RACE.

>> FRACTURE, THAT SOUNDS LIKE A

TOUGH WORD TO USE BUT MIGHT BE

PRETTY ACCURATE.

>> THERE'S DEFINITELY BEEN A

SHIFT IDEOLOGUALLY IN WHAT THE

PRIORITIES ARE.

WE'VE GONE FROM A PARTY THAT'S

TYPICALLY BEEN ASSOCIATED WITH

THINGS LIKE FREE TRADE TO WHERE

WE'RE MORE CONCERNED ABOUT JUST

SOMEBODY A CANDIDATE THAT WILL

FIGHT FOR OUR BELIEFS, NOT

NECESSARILY BE OR HAVE

IDEALOGICAL PURITY.

I THINK THERE'S GOING TO

OBVIOUSLY BE A TOUGH REPUBLICAN

FIGHT IN THE SENATE, WHETHER

IT'S WITH FORMER STATE SENATOR

KELLY WARD IN SPECULATIVELY

CONGRESSMAN MARTHA McSALLY AND

JAY HOOILER WHO HAS THE BACKING

OF GOVERNOR BREWER, IT WILL BE A

TOUGH, NASTY PRIMARY BUT WE'VE

SEEN TRADITIONALLY THAT

REPUBLICANS HAVE HAD TOUGH

PRIMARIES BUT IT'S HELPED

CANDIDATES IN THE LONG RUN AND

MADE THEM BATTLE TESTED AND FINE

TUNE MESSAGING AND STILL HAVE A

LOT OF SUCCESS IN GENERAL

ELECTIONS.

>> JASON, WE HEAR CONGRESSWOMAN

DOING VERY WELL.

HOW LIKELY IS SHE TO LEAD THE

RACE?

>> HER CHALLENGE IS KEEPING HER

NAME OUT THERE AND STAYING

RELEVANT.

WITHOUT THE PRIMARY THAT BECOMES

A DIFFICULT THING TO DO WHICH

ALWAYS TENDS TO BENEFIT THOSE

CANDIDATES THAT HAVE THE

PRIMARY.

THEY ARE THE ONES BEING COVERED

IN THE MEDIA AND HAVING THEIR

TALKING POINTS COVERED.

IN THIS RACE IT ALL COMES DOWN

TO TRUMP AND HOW MUCH YOU'RE

GOING TO BE ASSOCIATED OR

UNASSOCIATED WITH HIM COMING OUT

OF THAT REPUBLICAN PRIMARY.

SO FOR HER AND IN THIS CASE, ALL

GOING TO BE ALL ABOUT TRYING TO

PORTRAY THE EVENTUAL CANDIDATE

THAT COMES OUT AS A TRUMPITE,

SOMEBODY ON THAT FRINGE AND

ISN'T THE MAINSTREAM CANDIDATE.

>> ARIZONA HAS LONG BEEN A

CONSERVATIVE STATE.

IS DONALD TRUMP REPUBLICAN,

KELLY WARD REPUBLICAN, A

REPUBLICAN STATE OR IS THIS A

NEW BREED OF CONSERVATIVES?

>> IN OUR SURVEY RESEARCH AT

HIGH GROUND WE PUT OUT A POLL IN

MID AUGUST AND FOUND THREE OF

FOUR LIKELY REPUBLICAN PRIMARY

VOTERS STILL SUPPORT PRESIDENT

TRUMP.

HE DOES HAVE IMPORTANCE.

HIS ENDORSEMENT WILL BE A BIG

DEAL WITHIN THE REPUBLICAN

PRIMARY.

WHETHER THAT IMPACTS THE GENERAL

ELECTION IN A POSITIVE LIGHT, I

THINK THAT'S STILL UP FOR

QUESTION.

I THINK ONE OF THE INTERESTING

DYNAMICS OF A POTENTIAL McSALLY

CINEMA RACE, WE'VE SEEN

REPUBLICANS THAT WIN THE

NOMINATION WHETHER IT'S FOR

GOVERNOR OR SENATE, TYPICALLY

THEY COME FROM MARICOPA COUNTY

AND PIMA IS BEEN A STRONG HOLD.

McSALLY REPRESENTS A BIG PART OF

TUCSON.

SHE'S GOING TO BE ABLE TO HANG

TOUGH IN PIMA AND THAT MAKES FOR

AN INTERESTING DYNAMIC WITH

CONGRESSWOMAN CINEMA, HER BASE

IS TEMPE AND CHANDLEER.

THAT WILL BE AN INTERESTING

THING TO KEEP AN EYE ON IF

SHE'LL BE ABLE TO TAKE HER

MESSAGE TO RURAL COUNTIES LIKE

MOJAVE AND YUMA.

>> WHO DO WE SEE JUMP IN THAT

RACE?

>> WE HAVE A COUPLE OF

CANDIDATES CIRCLING THEIR NAMES

OUT THERE.

MATT HINES, HE HAS NAME I.D.

LOCALLY AND ANN KIRK PATRICK, IT

COULD BE A VERY POTENT ADVERSARY

FOR ANY REPUBLICANS TO STEP

FORWARD IN THAT RACE.

>> CD 2 HAS BEEN WATCHED FROM A

NATIONAL PERSPECTIVE, WHAT IS IT

THAT'S SO FASCINATING?

JASON, WE'LL START WITH YOU.

>> WHEN YOU GO TO THE VERY BASE

SICKS, LOOKING AT REGISTRATION,

IT'S ONE OF THOSE DISTRICTS THAT

IS CLOSE IN REGISTRATION FOR

EITHER SIDE TO MAKE A PLAY FOR

IT JUST BASED ON SOLID

REGISTRATION NUMBERS.

BUT THEN YOU BRING IN OUTSIDE

FACTORS WHERE YOU HAVE A

MILITARY BASE TENDS TO PLAY

TOWARDS MORE REPUBLICAN

CANDIDATES AND VERY STRONG

ENVIRONMENTAL PRESENCE DOWN IN

SOUTHERN ARIZONA, WHICH TENDS TO

GO TOWARDS MORE A DEMOCRATIC

CANDIDATE.

IF YOU'RE DEALING WITH A

DISTRICT THAT HAS ISSUES THAT

ARE IMPORTANT OR PRESENCE THERE

FOR ITS CONSTITUENTS THAT CAN

PLAY TO EITHER SIDE OF THE AISLE

AND VERY CLOSE REGISTRATION

BASE.

IT MAKES IT APPEALING TO EITHER

SIDE.

>> I THINK IT'S KIND OF A

FASCINATING DISTRICT.

IT WAS ONE OF ONLY 23 DISTRICTS

IN THE COUNTRY THAT VOTED FOR

SECRETARY CLINTON, BUT ALSO

REPUBLICAN CONGRESSIONAL

CANDIDATE.

IN THIS INSTANCE, McSALLY.

I THINK THE DYNAMIC OF HAVING A

LARGE CHUNK OF THAT URBAN TUCSON

COMMUNITY BUT ALSO THAT

STRETCHES ALL THE WAY TO THE

BORDER, YOU'RE GOING TO SEE ERA

VISTA, IT IS A VERY UNIQUE

DYNAMIC IN TERMS OF THAT MIX OF

URBAN AND RURAL.

ANY CANDIDATES THAT RUNS IN CD 2

WILL HAVE TO FIND THE RIGHT MIX

BETWEEN REPRESENTING THOSE IN

URBAN COMMUNITIES AND THOSE IN

RURAL BECAUSE AS WE SEE

ELECTORAL RESULTS, THAT'S

BECOMING THE BIGGEST DIVIDE AND

INDICATOR OF PARTISAN VOTER,

WHETHER YOU LIVE IN AN URBAN

COMMUNITY OR RURAL COMMUNITY.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT MAKE CD2

UNIQUE, ONE OF THE FEW DISTRICTS

THAT BRINGS BOTH OF THOSE

FACTORS TOGETHER.

>> ARE THESE DEMOCRATS THAT

CONNECTED THEMSELVES TO THE

HILLARY CLINTON CAMP THAT WE SAW

MORE THAN A YEAR AGO?

ARE DEMOCRATS LIKELY TO SEE

FRACTURING WHAT THEIR PARTY ONCE

WAS?

>> TALK ABOUT FRACTURING IN THE

REPUBLICAN PARTY, I DON'T THINK

DEMOCRATS HAVE COME ACROSS WHO

THEY ARE AND DEFINED THEMSELVES

EITHER.

THAT'S SOMETHING WE NEED TO SEE

IN THE NEXT YEAR OR SO DEVELOP

OUT OF DEMOCRATS DEFINING WHO

THEY ARE AND COMING FORWARD WITH

THEIR MESSAGE.

IF THEY DON'T DO THAT, THEY

WON'T BE ABLE TO TAKE A BENEFIT

OFF OF THE OPPORTUNITIES

PRESENTED.

>> TWO PARTIES IDENTIFYING

THEMSELVES IN A STATE THAT HAS

LONG BEEN A CONSERVATIVE PLACE,

DOES THAT MEAN WE ARE THE PURPLE

THAT JASON THINKS HE WANTS US TO

BE.

>> BOTH ARE LOOKING IN THE

MIRROR AND SAYING WHO ARE WE?

WHAT DO WE WANT TO BE?

WHAT VALUE DO WE REPRESENT.

ARE WE COMMITTED TO IDEALOGICAL

PURSUITS, COMMITTED TO GETTING

THINGS DONE OR MOSTLY JUST

COMMITTED TO ANGERING THE OTHER

SIDE?

I THINK WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF THAT

ON THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

IT'S NOT NECESSARILY GETTING

THINGS DONE, IT'S MOSTLY BEING

AGAINST THINGS.

ANY CANDIDATE THAT MANAGES TO

GET YOU A GENERAL ELECTION, THEY

HAVE THEIR -- THEY HAVE AN

ADVANTAGE BUT I THINK THEY NEED

TO BE ABLE TO PAINT A PICTURE OF

GETTING THINGS DONE AND BEING

ABLE TO STAND UP AND FIGHT FOR

ARIZONA, NOT NECESSARILY ONE

PARTY OR THE OTHER BUT BEING

ABLE TO PUSH FOR POLICIES LIKE

DEFENDING AIR FORCE BASE, MAKING

SURE WE'RE STAYING SAFE AND

FINDING A SOLUTION TO

IMMIGRATION.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT WE'VE

BEEN TALKING ABOUT AS A STATE

SINCE 2006.

THERE STILL HAS NOT BEEN A

SOLUTION TO IMMIGRATION REFORM

HERE.

SO THAT'S REALLY I THINK

ULTIMATELY WHAT REPUBLICANS IF

THEY WANT TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN

THIS CYCLE IN MOVING FORWARD FOR

THE NEXT DECADE, THEY NEED TO BE

ABLE TO SHOW SOME RESULTS.

>> WHAT OUGHT THE DEMOCRATS BE

DOING?

>> A LOT OF THE SAME THING.

I'VE SAID THAT STOP ATTACKING

YOUR OPPONENTS BECAUSE NOBODY

WANTS A NEGATIVE MESSAGE.

CANDIDATES THAT SEEM TO BE

SUCCESSFUL, TIME AND TIME AGAIN,

ARE THOSE THAT CAN PORTRAY A

POSITIVE VISION FOR WHAT THE

FUTURE HOLDS.

PEOPLE WANT TO BE ABLE TO FOLLOW

SOMEBODY FORWARD.

IF YOU DON'T DO THAT, YOU'RE NOT

GOING TO BE ABLE TO GAIN THE

SUPPORT THAT YOU NEED AND PEOPLE

WILL OFTEN FOLLOW STATUS QUO AND

GO BACK TO WHAT THEY KNOW AND

MANY TIMES IN ARIZONA THAT MEANS

THAT THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE IS

GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

>> AS WE LOOK INTO THE NEXT

ELECTION CYCLE, WHERE DOES

ARIZONA FIT ON A NATIONAL MAP

WHEN IT COMES TO POLITICS.

>> SPECIFICALLY ON SENATE SIDE

YOU HAVE REPUBLICANS HOLDING

ONLY A TWO SEAT ADVANTAGE.

THE MAP AS A WHOLE NATIONALLY

BUT MOSTLY DEMOCRATS ARE GOING

TO BE DEFENDING.

THEY ARE ABOUT 23 DEMOCRATS UP

FOR RE-ELECTION, ONLY EIGHT

REPUBLICANS LOOKING FOR TO BE

RE-ELECTED.

BUT WE'VE ALREADY SEEN SENATOR

FLAKE STEPPED AWAY.

THIS IS AN OPEN SEAT.

THE DEMOCRATS ARE TRYING TO

CLOSE THAT MARGIN IN THE SENATE.

THIS IS GOING TO BE A HUGE

POLITICAL RACE.

YOU'RE GOING TO SEE MILLIONS AND

MILLIONS OF OUTSIDE DOLLARS

BEING SPENT BY DARK MONEY

GROUPS, BY CANDIDATE PACS,

THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOT OF

MONEY AND ATTENTION ON THIS

RACE.

DO THEY WANT TO MAKE THIS A

DIVISIVE NASTY RACE WHERE WE SO

THAT DEVOLVE WHEN YOU GET A RACE

AT THE BOTTOM OR PRESENT A

VISION FOR NOT ONLY THEIR PARTY

BUT THE STATE WHERE THEY CAN

LEAD AND SAY I'M GOING TO GO TO

THE SENATE AND I'M GOING TO

REPRESENT ARIZONA, I'M GOING TO

FIGHT FOR US ON IMMIGRATION

REFORM AND FIGHT ON DEFENDING

OUR MILITARY BASES AND FIGHT TO

MAKE SURE THE MIDDLE CLASS

AMERICANS GET TAX REFORM DONE

AND PAY LESS IN TAXES.

I THINK REALLY THAT'S GOING TO

BE THE KEY FOR REPUBLICANS.

>> JASON?

>> IT'S GOING TO BE A THIGH

HIGH

DOLLAR SPENDING AND MORE

COMMERCIALS AND MAILERS THAN ANY

TIME IN RECENT HISTORY.

I THINK IT'S GOING TO GET

NEGATIVE QUICKLY.

WITHOUT CANDIDATES BEING ABLE TO

CONTROL WHAT MESSAGES ARE BEING

PUT OUT THERE, THEY'LL COME

SWINGING AS MUCH MUD AS THEY

CAN.

WE'LL SEE HOW THE ELECTORATE

DEALS WITH THAT AND HOW THEY

REACT.

>> WE'VE HAD 11 OR 12 MEN TAKE

STATE SENATE RACES AND FOUR

WOMEN AS GOVERNOR.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ARIZONANS SPECIFICALLY HAVE

ALWAYS TAKEN GREAT PRIDE IN THE

INDEPENDENT SPIRIT, THAT DATES

BACK TO BARRY GOLDWATER AND JOHN

McCAIN AND JAN BREWER, SOMEBODY

THAT WILL STICK UP AND FIGHT FOR

THOSE OR THEY HAVEN'T BEEN

FOUGHT FOR AND ESPECIALLY THOSE

WILLING TO BUCK THE

ESTABLISHMENT, BUCK TRADITIONAL

PARTY BELIEFS.

I THINK THAT ARIZONA AGAIN HAS

AN OPPORTUNITY TO BE IN THE

CENTER OF THE NATIONAL

SPOTLIGHT.

RIGHT NOW IT'S LIKELY WE'LL HAVE

TWO FEMALE CANDIDATES.

I THINK THERE'S GOING TO BE A

LOT -- THAT WILL BE A HUGE

IMPACT FOR LETTING FUTURE

ARIZONANS KNOW ANYTHING IS

POSSIBLE IN THE STATE.

>> ARIZONA HAS ALWAYS BEEN AHEAD

OF ITS TIMES WHEN YOU LOOK BACK

TO STARTING WITH THE INITIATIVE

AND REFERENDUM PROCESS WE

ADOPTED AND WE'VE ALWAYS BEEN

LOOKING FOR NEW WAYS OR NEW

THINGS TO BE ABLE TO CONDUCT

GOVERNMENT HERE IN ARIZONA.

WE'VE BEEN OPEN TO DIFFERENT

IDEALS.

HAVING A TIME WHERE YOU'VE HAD

FOUR EXECUTIVES BE WOMEN,

RECENTLY AND THERE HAS BEEN IN

RECENT HISTORY FIVE OF THE TOP

STATEWIDE OFFICES HAVE BEEN HELD

BY WOMEN AT THE SAME TIME.

THAT'S A RARITY AND SOMETHING

THAT PEOPLE DON'T NECESSARILY

CONNECT WITH ARIZONA BUT ARIZONA

IS UNIQUE.

WE ARE SPECIAL AND I THINK -- I

AGREE THAT I THINK WE'LL LOOK AT

TWO FEMALE CANDIDATES RUNNING

FOR SENATE HERE AND IT WILL BE A

HISTORICAL ELECTION FOR THAT

FACT.

>> THAT PROGRESSIVENESS IS WHAT

DEMOCRATS SAY WILL SHINE IN

2018.

THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE

ARIZONA DEMOCRATIC PARTY

PREDICTS ARIZONA'S POLITICAL

LANDSCAPE IS ABOUT TO CHANGE.

>> IT IS DEFINITELY AN EXCITING

TIME TO BE A DEMOCRAT IN

ARIZONA.

WE'VE HAD SINCE THE ELECTION OUR

PARTICIPATION HAS BEEN THROUGH

THE ROOF.

I MEAN, WE'VE COUNTY MEETINGS,

STANDING ROOM ONLY, USED TO HAVE

10 OR 15, NOW HAVE 40 AND 40 OR

50 NOW HAVE 300.

IT'S BEEN IMPRESSIVE AND

EXCITING TO SEE THE

PARTICIPATION ON OUR SIDE AND

PEOPLE THAT WANT TO BE ENGAGED

AND PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN

ENGAGED AND ALSO THE PEOPLE THAT

WERE NOT NECESSARILY ENGAGED

PREVIOUSLY WHO REALIZE THAT THEY

HAVE TO BE AND THERE'S NO LONGER

AN OPTION FOR THEM TO SIT ON THE

SIDELINES AND HOPE THINGS WORK

OUT LIKE THEY EXPECT THEM TOO.

HAVING DONALD TRUMP ELECTED

SHOOK PEOPLE TO THE CORE.

>> HISTORICALLY ARIZONA HAS BEEN

A REPUBLICAN STRONGHOLD.

IS THAT A TRUE STATEMENT TO YOU

REPRESENTING THE DEMOCRATIC

PARTY?

>> YES, IN A LOT OF WAYS, WE

OBVIOUSLY HAVE WON HERE.

REPUBLICANS ARE IN CONTROL

CURRENTLY, HAVE BEEN RECENTLY

AND I THINK IN A LOT OF WAYS

THEY'VE DONE A BAD JOB WHEN IT

COMES TO EDUCATION, WE'RE AT THE

BOTTOM OF THE COUNTRY AND

QUALITY OF LIFE.

THESE ARE THINGS THAT THE

REPUBLICAN ADMINISTRATION

WHETHER IT'S JUST FOCUSING ON

TAX CUTS OR WHATEVER IT IS,

THEY'VE -- IT'S BECOME A CULTURE

OF CORRUPTION AND THE REST OF

THE REPUBLICANS IN OFFICE HERE

AND WE NEED TO MAKE CHANGES.

DEMOCRATS CAN DO BETTER.

WE KNOW IT.

WE JUST NEED TO PROVE IT TO THE

VOTERS.

WE CAN BE DO BETTER ONCE WE GET

ELECTED.

WE JUST NEED TO GET ELECTED TO

SHOW IT.

>> AN OPEN SEAT COMING UP, WE

ALREADY KNOW OF ONE VERY WELL

KNOWN CONGRESSWOMAN WHO WILL

THROW HER NAME IN THE HAT.

ARIZONA THOUGH HAS ALWAYS HAD

REPUBLICAN MEN LEAD ARIZONA

SENATE.

WHAT'S LIKELY TO HAPPEN THIS

TIME AROUND?

>> I THINK WE'RE GOING TO WIN

THE SENATE SEAT.

I MEAN, BECAUSE OF THAT HGT CARE

VOTE AND WHAT'S GOING ON IN

WASHINGTON, REPUBLICANS ARE

FOCUSED ON THE WRONG THINGS,

THINGS NOT IMPORTANT TO PEOPLE

IN ARIZONA.

THEY WANT TO TAKE AWAY HEALTH

CARE FROM 400,000 PEOPLE AND

PASS THE TAX CUT PROBABLY THIS

WEEK OR TAX REFORM THIS WEEK

THAT WILL HARM MIDDLE CLASS

FAMILIES AND THAT'S NOT WHY

PEOPLE SEND REPRESENTATIVES TO

WASHINGTON.

THERE'S A REPUBLICAN CIVIL WAR

GOING ON AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL

AND IT'S HAPPENING HERE.

STEVE BANNON VERSUS MITCH

McCONNELL WINGS OF THE

REPUBLICAN PARTY.

THAT'S THE REASON JEFF FLAKE HAD

TO GET OUT OF THE RACE.

HE JUST SAW THERE WAS NOT A PATH

FOR HIM TO BE VICTORIOUS IN THIS

REPUBLICAN CULTURE.

>> BEEN A FEW YEARS SINCE A

DEMOCRAT HAD SECOND

CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

YOU LIKELY SEE IT PERHAPS

RETURNING TO A DEMOCRAT.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> WE HAVE REALLY STRONG

CANDIDATES, WE HAVE A VERY

VIBRANT PRIMARY.

THAT'S A GOOD THING.

WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A LOT OF

PEOPLE PAYING ATTENTION TO

WHAT'S GOING ON THERE AND

WHOEVER REPLACES MARTHA McSALLY

ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, ASSUMING

SHE IS GOING TO DO WHAT SHE TOLD

HER FRIENDS IN WASHINGTON, RUN

FOR SENATE, IT'S A CLOWN CAR OF

CANDIDATES THERE.

THERE'S NOBODY THERE THAT IS

REALLY GOING TO SPEAK FOR THE

VOTERS OF SOUTHERN ARIZONA.

>> DEMOCRATS LOST THE WHITE

HOUSE.

DOES THAT MEAN THE PARTY IS ALSO

LOOKING TO REIDENTIFY ITSELF OR

COME TOGETHER?

>> IN A LOT OF WAYS YES.

WE ON THE NATIONAL LEVEL FOR

SURE, WE'RE -- WHAT WE IN

ARIZONA WERE ABLE TO DO, WE DID

NOT WIN OBVIOUSLY BUT GOT WITHIN

THREE POINTS OF WINNING ARIZONA

FOR HILLARY CLINTON OVER DONALD

TRUMP AND WE'VE WORKED PRETTY

WELL WITH OUR DIFFERENT WINGS OF

THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

I KNOW THAT'S BEEN A STORY

NATIONALLY IN SOME OF THOSE

FIGHTS.

DEMOCRATS FROM THE DNC ON DOWN

ARE WORKING TO COME TOGETHER

BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH AT RISK

HERE THAT WE CAN'T HAVE

INTERPARTY SQUABBLES.

>> TELL ME ABOUT THE VALUES THAT

THE DEMOCRATS HOLD SO DEARLY.

HOW DO YOU DESCRIBE A DEMOCRAT

IN ARIZONA TODAY?

>> BASICALLY WE CARE ABOUT

TODAY.

WE WANT TO HELP PEOPLE.

WE WANT TO HAVE A GOVERNMENT

THAT WILL TAKE CARE OF OUR MOST

VULNERABLE.

OBVIOUSLY WE CARE ABOUT OUR

NATIONAL SECURITY AND THINGS

THAT EVERYBODY CARES ABOUT BUT

WE REALLY FEEL LIKE IT'S THE

GOVERNMENT'S JOB TO MAKE SURE

THAT OUR MOST VULNERABLE IN

SOCIETY ARE NOT LEVEL BEHIND.

>> ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE

AISLE, REPUBLICANS SAY ARIZONA

IS A CONSERVATIVE STRONGHOLD AND

IT WILL STAY THAT WAY COME NEXT

NOVEMBER.

HERE'S TORE RENS SINCLAIR OF THE

ARIZONA REPUBLICAN PARTY.

>> TELL ME WHERE THE PARTY IS

WHEN WE'RE LOOKING TO THE NEXT

CYCLE.

>> THE PARTY IS IN A GREAT

PLACE, LOOK AT VOTER

REGISTRATION NUMBERS,

INCREASING.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE BEATING

DEMOCRATS 55-1 MARGIN IN VOTER

REGISTRATION.

SINCE JANUARY YOU'VE SEEN US

9,000 VOTERS, WE'VE REGISTERED

8,792 COMPARED TO THE DEMOCRATS

161.

THEY'VE NETTED 161 NEW VOTER

REGISTRATIONS SINCE JANUARY.

>> WHAT DO YOU ATTRIBUTE THAT,

PRESIDENT TRUMP?

>> IT'S THE MOMENTUM.

YOU EE THE MOMENTUM FROM THE

REPUBLICAN PARTY, DONE ADD TRUMP

IS WELL LIKED ARIZONA AND SEE

PEOPLE WANTING A CHANGE.

THEY SEE THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AS

BEING THE CATALYST FOR THAT

CHANGE.

>> JEFF FLAKE HAS ANNOUNCED THAT

HE'S FINISHED WITH THE SENATE.

NOW WE HEAR THAT CONGRESSWOMAN

MARTHA McSALLY MAY BE INTERESTED

IN THAT SPOT.

I THINK IT CREATES A DOMINO

SITUATION.

WAS IN LINE FOR REPUBLICANS HERE

IN ARIZONA?

>> SO, I MEAN, REPRESENTATIVE

McSALLY HASN'T ANNOUNCED YET SO

WE'RE NOT GOING TO SPECULATE ON

THAT.

YOU LOOK AT CD 2 AND MARTHA

McSALLY AND CD2, LOOK AT THE

LAST ELECTION IN 2016 AND SHE

WON THAT ELECTION BY 14 POINTS.

YOU ALSO SAW THAT JOHN McCAIN

BEAT ANN KIRKPATRICK AS WELL

WHEN YOU LOOK AT THOSE NUMBERS

AND ANN KIRKPATRICK IS CURRENTLY

RUNNING FOR CONGRESS IN THAT

DISTRICT.

I THINK NO MATTER WHAT

REPUBLICAN RUNS IN A CD2 RACE,

YOU'RE GOING TO SEE THAT PERSON

WIN.

>> ALWAYS HAD REPUBLICAN MEN

SERVE IN THE SENATE TO REPRESENT

ARIZONA.

IS THAT LIKELY TO CONTINUE?

>> YOU KNOW, I THINK RIGHT NOW

THERE'S A LOT OF FEMALES IN THE

RACE.

NO MATTER -- DOESN'T MATTER IF

YOU'RE REPUBLICAN OR DEMOCRAT,

THAT'S REALLY EXCITING.

I WOULD BET YOU SEE A FEMALE IN

THE SENATE IN 2018.

>> YOU SAID THE REPUBLICANS HAVE

MOMENTUM.

WHAT DOES THE PARTY NEED TO DO

TO KEEP THAT MOMENTUM AS -- THIS

STARTS THE ELECTION CYCLE PRETTY

EARLY.

>> WE'RE DOING WHAT WE ALWAYS

DO.

WE'RE GOING TO REGISTER VOTERS

AND TURN PEOPLE OUT AND KEEP

TALKING TO NEW REPUBLICANS.

THAT'S WHAT YOU SEE US DO AND

WHAT YOU SEE US DO UNTIL THERE

IS A GOP NOMINEE IN 2018.

>> YOU'LL SEE US REALLY START TO

ENGAGE WITH THOSE CANDIDATES IN

AUGUST OF 2018.

>> HEARD A LOT OF POLITICAL

PUNDITS SAY THERE'S FRACTURING

IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY.

DO YOU SEE THAT HERE IN ARIZONA?

>> I THINK YOU LOOK AT OUR

STATEWIDE ELECTIONS AND YOU GO

BACK TO AT LEAST 2010, DEMOCRATS

IN ARIZONA HAVEN'T HELD A

STATEWIDE OFFICE SINCE 20 -- I

BELIEVE 2010.

AND YOU LOOK AT THAT AND YOU

LOOK AT THE REALLY TOUGH GOP

PRIMARIES THAT WE HAVE AND I

THINK YOU KNOW, YOU CAN

ATTRIBUTE OUR TOUGH GOP

PRIMARIES TO US WINNING IN THE

GENERALS.

YOU LOOK AT 2010 AND JAN BREWER

HAD A PRIMARY CHALLENGE AND LOOK

AT 2012 AND OPEN SENATE SEAT AND

JEFF FLAKE WON IN A GENERAL.

AND 2014 AND 2014 HAD A PRETTY

TOUGH GOVERNOR'S RACE.

INCUMBENT GOVERNOR JAN BREWER

ENDORSED IN THE PRIMARY AND DID

NOT SEE A TOUGH DEMOCRAT PRIMARY

ON THAT SIDE AND WE WON IN THE

GENERAL.

YOU LOOK AT THAT FOR SECRETARY

OF STATE AND FOR ATTORNEY

GENERAL, YOU LOOK AT THAT FOR

THE TREASURER'S RACE AS WELL.

WE ALWAYS WIN.

YOU SEE THAT IN 2016 AS WELL.

I THINK THAT WE'RE GOING TO TURN

OUT AND GOING TO TURN OUT OUR

PEOPLE AND TURN OUT REPUBLICANS

AND IT DOESN'T MATTER IF IT'S A

TOUGH PRIMARY RACE IN 2018,

YOU'LL SEE US WIN.

>> TELL ME ABOUT THE REPUBLICAN

PARTY.

SENATOR FLAKE HIMSELF SAID THAT

I CAN'T CONTINUE THIS WAY WITH

THIS PRESIDENT.

SO WHAT DO REPUBLICANS STAND

FOR?

>> YOU KNOW, I CAN'T REALLY

SPEAK TO SENATOR FLAKE AND

HIS -- THE WAY HE VIEWS HIS

CAMPAIGN MOVING FORWARD BUT I

THINK OF COURSE THERE'S ROOM FOR

EVERY SINGLE PERSON THAT

CONSIDERS THEMSELVES A

REPUBLICAN IN THE REPUBLICAN

PARTY.

WE ARE VERY BIG -- OFTEN TIMES

YOU SEE REPUBLICANS THAT DON'T

AGREE WITH EACH OTHER BUT AT

LEAST IN ARIZONA, WE WIN.

>> OTHER NEWS NOW, A NATIONAL

STORY HITTING CLOSE TO HOME.

AN ARIZONA LAWMAKER SUSPENDED

FROM HIS LEADERSHIP POSITION

AFTER MULTIPLE ALLEGATIONS OF

SEXUAL HARASSMENT,

REPRESENTATIVE DON SHUTER, IS

TEMPORARILY SUSPENDED FROM

POSITION OF CHAIRMAN OF THE

HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE,

THE COMMITTEE THAT DRAFTS THE

BUDGET.

THE EDITOR AND PUBLISHER OF THE

ARIZONA CAPITAL TIMES NOW WITH