2026 Election: Arizona Attorney General debate features Kris Mayes, Warren Petersen

PHOENIX - Two people who are vying to become Arizona's Attorney General are took part in a debate on Sept. 23 at 6 p.m. MST, and here's what we know.

What is the Attorney General's role?

According to the Citizens Clean Elections Commission, the Attorney General gives advice to state agencies and enforces consumer protection, civil rights, environmental, criminal, and other laws for Arizona.

Who took part in the debate?

Arizona's current AG, Democrat Kris Mayes, debated Republican candidate Warren Petersen. 

Kris Mayes (Democrat)

Mayes, who is seeking reelection, emphasizes her work fighting for working families, public safety, affordability, and rural Arizona. On her campaign website, Mayes also required utilities to produce more clean and efficient energy, while working to preserve the state's water resources.

• Consumer Protection and Affordability: Intervened against utility rate hikes, blocked the Kroger-Albertsons merger to protect grocery prices, and sued to overturn illegal tariffs, saving families $1,500 annually."The primary objective of this office is to protect the people of Arizona, and to make sure that corporations don't take advantage of our state," Mayes said. "That means enforcing the Arizona Consumer Fraud Act. It means enforcing the state's antitrust laws. It means going after bad actors who are polluting our environment."
• "The primary objective of this office is to protect the people of Arizona, and to make sure that corporations don't take advantage of our state," Mayes said. "That means enforcing the Arizona Consumer Fraud Act. It means enforcing the state's antitrust laws. It means going after bad actors who are polluting our environment."
• Public Safety and Anti-Fraud: Partnered with law enforcement to seize 27 million fentanyl pills and reduced fraudulent Medicaid billing by 92%."I have seized more, fentanyl, car, fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine than any other attorney general in the history of the state of Arizona," Mayes said.
• "I have seized more, fentanyl, car, fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine than any other attorney general in the history of the state of Arizona," Mayes said.
• Rural and Resource Defense: Sued foreign mega-farms to protect local groundwater and hosted over 50 town halls across all 15 counties.
• Taxpayer Savings: Won federal lawsuits that saved $1.5 billion in funding for programs like Head Start and Meals on Wheels, with a 2–0 record at the U.S. Supreme Court.

In her opening statement she said:

"It has been the honor of my lifetime to be the 27th Attorney General of the State of Arizona. And when I ran four years ago, I promised that I would be a lawyer for all of the people of Arizona. No matter who you are, no matter where you live, whether you're in rural Arizona, urban Arizona, no matter how you worship, no matter what your political party is. And we have followed through on that. But being a lawyer for all of the people of Arizona means taking on big fights, and that is what I have done. We have sued the Saudis in far western Arizona for over pumping our aquifers. We have sued major corporations for colluding on rent. We
have gone after meta, and we have won time and time on behalf of the people of this state, and I want to continue to do that for you as your attorney general."

Mayes touched on utility rates, emphasizing saving Arizonans $2 billion with the policies she passed, and fighting the APS rate increase of 14%.

Growing up in Prescott, Mayes began her career as a journalist before being elected to the Arizona Corporation Commission, where she created thousands of jobs and helped consumers save billions. 

"It’s critical to reelect me as your Attorney General, so I can keep protecting Arizona families and making life more affordable in Arizona," Mayes said.

Warren Petersen (Republican)

Senate President Warren Petersen, who is looking to unseat Mayes, points to over a decade of legislative and legal experience. His run for Attorney General is to refocus the office on fighting crime, rooting out fraud, upholding the Constitution, and protecting Arizonans' rights, according to his campaign website.

• Law Enforcement Endorsements: The only candidate backed by Arizona’s largest police organizations, citing a commitment to public safety and tough-on-crime policies."My opponent supports illegal immigration. I support legal immigration. This is personal for me," Petersen said. "My wife is an immigrant. She was born in Sonora, Mexico. I'm a fluent Spanish speaker, and I spent a lot of time in Mexico with family. We welcome legal immigration. We know this nation was built and strengthened by people who came here the right way. When someone enters into the country, when someone enters into the country illegally, they become vulnerable to human traffickers and criminal organizations. They can be extorted, abused or kidnaped. The illegal crossing puts their lives at risk, and once they arrive, they may find themselves trapped in situations that are very hard to escape. That is not what we want for anyone. We want to secure border and we want orderly and fair immigration."
• "My opponent supports illegal immigration. I support legal immigration. This is personal for me," Petersen said. "My wife is an immigrant. She was born in Sonora, Mexico. I'm a fluent Spanish speaker, and I spent a lot of time in Mexico with family. We welcome legal immigration. We know this nation was built and strengthened by people who came here the right way. When someone enters into the country, when someone enters into the country illegally, they become vulnerable to human traffickers and criminal organizations. They can be extorted, abused or kidnaped. The illegal crossing puts their lives at risk, and once they arrive, they may find themselves trapped in situations that are very hard to escape. That is not what we want for anyone. We want to secure border and we want orderly and fair immigration."
• Legal and Legislative Leadership: Over a decade of experience as Senate President and Judiciary Chairman, stepping in to manage over 130 cases and amicus briefs to defend state laws.
• Constitutional and Judicial Wins: Successfully advocated for the Save Women’s Sports Act up to the U.S. Supreme Court and led legal actions to protect borders and curb sex offenders.
• Government Accountability: Vows to restore nonpartisan integrity to the office, arguing against political decision-making and environmental policies that raise consumer costs."We need to get rid of government corruption. And we need to start by getting rid of Kris Mayes. She gave a $250,000 no bid contract to her close friend, Stacey Champion. She's wasting taxpayer dollars. She's now spent millions suing her political opponent that is pressuring opponents. That is precious taxpayer money that can be used to keep Arizona safe because of frivolous lawsuits," he said.
• "We need to get rid of government corruption. And we need to start by getting rid of Kris Mayes. She gave a $250,000 no bid contract to her close friend, Stacey Champion. She's wasting taxpayer dollars. She's now spent millions suing her political opponent that is pressuring opponents. That is precious taxpayer money that can be used to keep Arizona safe because of frivolous lawsuits," he said.

In his opening statement, he said:

"For 14 years, I've worked at the legislature to lower cost and keep Arizona safe, even in divided government across the aisle, and deliver tax cuts every year. Tonight, you will learn that my opponent voted to raise your utility bills and has made Arizona less safe. She's so extreme that even Governor Hobbs called on her to retract her dangerous statements. You'll also come to understand why she is a pariah in the legal community and in the law enforcement community. That is why I have the overwhelming support from law enforcement, why I've been endorsed by Republicans like Maricopa County Attorney Rachel Mitchell, who said, I'll keep communities safe. Independents like Ben Pack, who just wants government to work, and Democrats like state Representative Lidia Hernandez, who said, I am the only person who will keep our school children safe."

Petersen touched on the primary concerns surrounding power, water and site location for data centers.

"There are very valid concerns about data centers, but there's three big issues with data centers. first of all, location. The community again should decide a location. Maybe it's a heavy industrial location or someplace where the community says this is we're okay with this," he said. "Data centers need to generate their own power. And there's a water concern. And data centers again need to be responsible for their water, whether that means recycling it, or making sure that they have, brought their own water supplies."

Petersen is a third-generation Gilbert resident, serving in the Arizona Legislature since 2012. He has served as House Majority Leader, Rules Chair, Judiciary Chair, and an Ethics Committee member. Petersen has fought for fiscally conservative policies, religious freedom, Second Amendment protections, and crime victims’ rights.

"Already leading a major branch of government, I have the legal experience, leadership, and judgment to be Attorney General on day one. I respectfully ask for your vote," Petersen said.

Who is organizing the debate?

The Citizens Clean Elections Commission is the official debate sponsor.

When is the general election?

Per the Arizona Secretary of State's Office website, the general election will take place on Nov. 3, 2026, and the deadline to register to vote in that election is Oct. 5.

What you can do:

To register as a voter, you can visit the Secretary of State's website. For additional voter information, click here. 

2026 ElectionsArizona PoliticsPhoenixPolitical DebatesNewsKris Mayes