Highlights
- Rodney Glassman and Warren Petersen debate Thursday at 6 p.m. in an Arizona Clean Elections Commission-hosted event livestreamed on KTAR's YouTube channel.
- Glassman reports approximately $4 million cash on hand versus Petersen's $1.52 million, with both candidates relying partly on personal loans to their campaigns.
- The GOP primary winner faces Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes in the November general election after the July 21 primary.
- Glassman runs on prosecutorial and law-enforcement credentials; Petersen centers his campaign on state sovereignty and legislative wins.
Two Republicans competing to challenge Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes will share a debate stage Thursday at 6 p.m. in the first side-by-side matchup of the primary. The debate, hosted by the Arizona Clean Elections Commission, will be livestreamed on KTAR's YouTube channel, with a replay at 7 p.m. on KTAR News 92.3 FM.
Rodney Glassman is a Phoenix attorney and Lt. Col. in the U.S. Air Force JAG Corps Reserve who spent nearly two decades as a military prosecutor, most recently assigned to the 56th Fighter Wing at Luke Air Force Base. He holds a law degree and a doctorate from the University of Arizona and argues he is the only practicing attorney in the race. His platform centers on supporting law enforcement, expanding the National Guard and Arizona Rangers at the border, creating an election fraud hotline, and targeting government fraud.
Warren Petersen is the sitting Arizona Senate president, having served in the Legislature since 2012. He points to his legislative record, including his role in defending proof-of-citizenship voter registration laws and the Secure the Border Act. His campaign is built around state sovereignty and pushing back against what he describes as federal overreach, with his team highlighting court briefs filed in federal cases arguing against stricter environmental and vaccine rules.
Both candidates have aligned themselves with President Donald Trump and pledged cooperation on border security, fentanyl trafficking, and cartel prosecutions. Both have also criticized Mayes' approach to election law enforcement.
On fundraising, Glassman holds a commanding lead. He reports roughly $4 million cash on hand, including a $1 million personal loan to his own committee. Petersen has $1.52 million on hand, $123,500 of which came from personal loans to his campaign, according to the most recent campaign finance filings.
The winner of the July 21 GOP primary faces Mayes in November. The Arizona Clean Elections Commission has weekly debates scheduled through the end of June.
Sources
Every factual claim in this article traces to one of the sources below. See how we work for the editorial process.
- ktar.com retrieved 28/05/2026 21:36
Authored by The Scottsdale Signal. Drafted by AI from primary-source material under our beat-specific editorial guides; reviewed by humans before publish under our five-gate process. Sources retrieved at 28/05/2026 21:36. Every claim traces to a source.
