Petersen Pushes AZ Agenda During Trump Admin Summit

Warren Petersen, Republican President of the Arizona State Senate, returned this week from Washington, D.C., following a series of high-level meetings with senior officials of the Trump administration. According to a press release from the Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus, his agenda in the nation’s capital focused on four major policy areas: border security, Colorado River negotiations, land management, and election integrity.

🚨FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Senate President @votewarren Advances Arizona's Priorities in Washington Despite Federal Government Shutdown

Full press release: https://t.co/LazSznpiGu pic.twitter.com/peUikBi0zu

— AZSenateRepublicans (@AZSenateGOP) October 29, 2025

Details regarding the Meetings and priorities are as follows:

Border security: Petersen met with senior administration officials on Tuesday and emphasized the “hundreds of millions of dollars the state was forced to spend” during the prior administration’s border policies. He cited the federal legislation referred to as “HR 1, also known as the ‘One Big Beautiful Bill’ signed by President Trump earlier this year,” which he said “sets aside dedicated funding to pay states back for border security costs.”

He stated that “Arizona’s taxpayers should not shoulder the burden of Washington’s failures.”

Colorado River negotiations: The Senate President reiterated that any new agreement between the seven Upper and Lower Basin states must be “fair” and must “safeguard Arizona’s families, farmers, and businesses — without ceding state authority to federal agencies.”

Land management: He discussed with officials from the United States Department of the Interior what his press release describes as the “unlawful land grab of nearly a million acres in northern Arizona” under the prior administration’s monument designation. He said the designation “effectively blocks access to critical uranium reserves needed for national security and energy independence” and limits Arizona’s ability to manage its natural resources and support local economies.

Election integrity: Petersen met with senior officials at the United States Department of Justice regarding the litigation in Mi Familia Vota v. Fontes, which challenges Arizona’s proof-of-citizenship requirement to register to vote. He requested federal support in ensuring that Arizona’s election laws “are respected and faithfully enforced as written.”

Petersen said, “While Senators Kelly and Gallego join other Washington Democrats in dragging out an unnecessary and harmful government shutdown, Arizona’s conservative leadership is moving forward,” said President Petersen. “We’re fighting for our taxpayers, for our water supply, and for our right to secure our elections. The Trump Administration understands what’s at stake for Arizona, and they’re working with us to get results where Washington gridlock has failed.”