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The AZ Political Podcast

The AZ Political Podcast

By: KTAR News 92.3
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Summary

The AZ Political Podcast takes a look at the latest news and state of politics in Arizona. KTAR News' Jim Sharpe, also host of Arizona's Morning News, speaks with newsmakers each week plus gives his insight.

Political Science Politics & Government
Episodes
  • Adrian Fontes, reelected Arizona Secretary of State

    Adrian Fontes, reelected Arizona Secretary of State
    6 Nov 2026

    Fresh off reelection, Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes dodges questions about his future with trademark candor and talks election funding, taxes and why Republicans got routed.
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    19 min
  • Adrian Fontes, Arizona Secretary of State

    Adrian Fontes, Arizona Secretary of State
    6 Nov 2026
    Yes, he just won another statewide election as part of the biggest winning year for Democrats in modern Arizona history. Sure, he beat his opponent, Alexander Kolodin, by more than 10 points and 255,000 votes. And, yes, he’s still two months away from even starting his next four-year term in office. But, still, I had to ask my guest on the AZ Political Podcast — recently reelected Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes — what’s next for him. Governor? Congress? No, really! I had to ask him because he’s now 3-for-4 in his electoral career and has a .1000 batting average when it comes to winning statewide elections. And I had to ask because these thoughts are always bouncing around the heads of politicians during heady times like these. His answer is surprising (which is not surprising because it’s Fontes) — but what’s not surprising is the honesty he delivers in explaining why he can’t be 100% forthcoming about his future. In other words, I got an entertaining and thoughtful non-answer to my question — served with a side of candor. His plain-spoken way of putting things (even when holding things close to his vest) is why a top Republican advisor told me recently that Fontes is the Democrat he fears the most. In typical Fontes fashion, he doesn’t hold back on other topics: like funding elections properly; funding all levels of government in Arizona’s (traditionally) tax-averse environment; how badly Republicans really got beat on Election Day; and, why he had such a big win. Is it because he’s Adrian Fontes? Or was it because of who his opponent is — or what he is: a Republican. Because most candidates with a “R” didn’t get a “W” on Election Day. You’ll have to watch the AZ Political Podcast to get the answer. But trust me, it’ll be worth it. Because… Fontes.
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    19 min
  • A Special Edition of the AZ Political Podcast

    A Special Edition of the AZ Political Podcast
    28 Oct 2026
    We’re calling this week’s show “A Special Edition of the AZ Political Podcast,” because I got especially lazy: repurposing some interviews that I did during an Arizona Votes Election Special. But it’s also a special edition because the folks I talked to are special people who are especially knowledgeable about Arizona elections, like Matt Salmon. I chatted with the former Arizona congressman about whether we could see one, two or even three Congressional seats in Arizona flip to the Democrats in this midterm election. Matt is the perfect guy to talk about this because he was swept into Congress in 1994’s Republican Revolution — "mid-term" in Bill Clinton's first term. I also asked Mike Noble, the CEO of Noble Predictive Insights, about what his polls are showing for Arizona’s statewide races (like the governor's race) — as well as whether polling shows there’s a likelihood that the Arizona Legislature would flip to Democratic control. That’s something that hasn’t happened in a looong time. But you have to hear what Mike told me about the amount of money being spent in this election season. Jaw-droppingly huge. And I talked with attorney Christine Jones, a Republican who ran for governor and for Congress in Arizona and has continued to be a big supporter of Republican candidates and causes in our state. We chatted about the possibility that the U.S. House and Senate could both end up with Democratic majorities. And we talked about the reason that could happen: President Trump has his worst approval numbers of any time during either of his two terms. Truly terrible timing for Republicans in Arizona that the bottom fell out of the President’s numbers mid-term during his last term: a time when many people in the GOP were hoping to get another — or even their first — term in office.
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    16 min
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