Journalists’ Roundtable: Adrian Fontes 2026 challenge to Hobbs

Nov. 22

This week’s Journalists’ Roundtable topics included:

Fontes considering 2026 Hobbs challenge
Petersen aiming for Attorney General run
Lake/Richer settles a defamation lawsuit
Maricopa County Canvass
Delays in ESA reimbursements
Feds release outline for Colorado River plan

Fontes considering 2026 Hobbs challenge:

Mark Brodie: “You know there are Democrats who are concerned that Governor Hobbs is maybe not the strongest candidate going into 2026 and are actively looking maybe fir somebody else to step forward in a primary. And Fontes didn’t say yes, but he also certainly didn’t say no.”

Wayne Schutsky: “Basically, what I had been hearing until he made it official in talking to Stacey over at the Republic, was that, he’s being wooed. He’s listening to these folks who are concerned that after these election results, the governor put a lot of eggs in the basket of flipping the legislature and ultimately lost ground. And so that, really, if she had won those seats, I don’t think we’d be hearing these conversation right now.”

Petersen aiming for Attorney General run:

Mark Brodie: “I mean we’ve heard a couple other people, you know. Warren Petersen said he is considering running for AG (Attorney General). Rodney Glassman, who has been on this stage, said he is going to run for AG (Attorney General). So I think to Mary Jo’s point, though, about the Democratic primary. The point has been made to me a few times this week that Democrats in this state traditionally have avoided messy primaries.”

Mark Brodie: “Democrats have been kind of careful to have primaries, but usually there’s some sort of one candidate that’s well known, like a Governor Hobbs, and then others who are not as competitive when all is said and done, but Democrats tried to avoid those kids of messy primaries.”