Arizona Morning Briefing, 8-21: Petersen Calls For Skydance Hearing, Hobbs Way Ahead In New Poll, No One Wants To Debate, and More

The dog days drag on, the Halloween decorations are already in the store, but November still feels like a faraway dream. Here are the stories we’re following as we hide in our air-conditioned bunker.

•Late Thursday, Senate President Warren Petersen called for a public legislative hearing over Attorney General Kris Mayes’ decision to join the multistate antitrust suit blocking the Paramount Skydance–Warner Bros. Discovery merger. Paramount is asking the federal judge for a $1.88 billion bond to cover losses if the injunction ultimately proves wrongful; Arizona is one of the plaintiff states. Petersen says Mayes has given lawmakers no fiscal/legal analysis of Arizona’s potential exposure and wants Mayes and Treasurer Kimberly Yee to explain whether state money could be at risk and whether such spending would require legislative approval. Petersen is campaigning for Mayes’ seat. Maybe this is the issue that he hopes will turn the tide. Or maybe he’s just upset about Strange New Worlds’ bizarre puppet episode. 

•Non-partisan Noble Predictive Insights produced a governor’s race poll yesterday that only one party will like. Governor Katie Hobbs leads Rep. Andy Biggs 48-35 percent with a 3.2% margin for error, and 12 percent undecided. NPI says Hobbs has gained five points since May among registered voters while Biggs has fallen five. That gap is wide enough that it has us wondering if the Hobbs campaign is considering putting in a backup quarterback for the stretch run to save Hobbs for the next election cycle. They bulldozed Big Surf and Lake Mead is at historic lows, but the blue wave appears to be seriously cresting in Arizona.

•The League of Arizona Cities and Towns adopted its legislative priorities this week, and half of its eight priorities concern short-term rentals, including seeking legislation that would let cities send tougher STR rules to their own voters. Senate Majority Leader John Kavanagh described the broader Legislature-city zoning relationship as “adversarial.” That’s putting it mildly. The proposals still need legislative sponsors after November. If the cities have their way, Spring Training visitors and Hannah’s bachelorette weekend may have to seek out hotel rooms.

•The Navajo Times reported Thursday that the two  Navajo Nation November presidential candidates spent a combined $96,367.27 in the primary, but the underlying payment records are unusual. In roughly 60 pages behind Justin Jones’ filing, the paper says no campaign bank account appears; expenses were paid principally on a supporter’s Mastercard, Jones’ debit card and seven unidentified cards/accounts. Crystalyne Curley did have a campaign account and campaign debit cards, but about $6,400 in reported spending nevertheless went through supporters’ or staffers’ personal cards, money orders and a cashier’s check. No word as to whether they’re taking Venmo, PayPal, or Zelle, and we’d make a traveller’s check joke here but that would reveal our true age.