Home>Local>Sen. Petersen Favored to Beat AG Kris Mayes in 2026 Election

State Senate President Warren Petersen at the 2025 Legislative Forecast Luncheon hosted by the Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry at the Phoenix Convention Center in Phoenix, Jan, 10, 2025. (Photo: Gage Skidmore)

Sen. Petersen Favored to Beat AG Kris Mayes in 2026 Election

The Gilbert Republican filed a statement of interest on January 27, 2025

By Christy Kelly, January 29, 2025 4:00 pm

Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen (R-LD14) has officially signaled his intention to run against incumbent Kris Mayes for state Attorney General in the 2026 election. The Gilbert Republican filed a statement of interest with the Arizona Secretary of State on January 27, 2025, marking the initial step toward a formal campaign.

Steve Twist, a prominent Scottsdale lawyer and former Assistant Attorney General, and Seith Leibsohn, a Phoenix radio host and Claremont Institute Fellow, penned an article entitled, “Senate President Warren Petersen Is The Right Choice For Attorney General In 2026.”

The article claims that Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen is emerging as the strongest Republican candidate for Attorney General in 2026, positioning himself as a defender of the rule of law against what conservatives see as the highly partisan leadership of current AG Kris Mayes. It argues that Mayes has displayed an “unprecedented abdication of the independence we need from our Attorney General” and that her leadership has been defined by “lawlessness, wokeness, and injustice.”

The authors assert that Petersen actively stepped in when Mayes refused to act, using his authority to defend Arizona laws in court. When Mayes “bowed to the radical left and refused to defend Arizona’s law ensuring biological boys and men could not compete on female-only sports teams,” Petersen intervened to protect the Save Women’s Sports Act. They continued that he also “checked Mayes in court and made sure Arizona laws were followed,” preventing Governor Katie Hobbs from avoiding legislative confirmation of agency directors. Additionally, they reminded that Petersen “fought back, won, and was awarded over $40,000 in attorneys’ fees against Mayes” when she attempted to seize control of $115 million in opioid settlement funds.

Beyond state-related matters, the authors highlighted that Petersen led legal battles against federal overreach, crediting him for fighting against “Covid vaccine mandates, forced-electric vehicle mandates, infringement of second-amendment rights, homeless encampments, immigration enforcement, and business-crushing federal regulations.” Meanwhile, the article accuses Mayes of being “AWOL, seemingly driven by a leftist ideology instead of objective law enforcement.”

Perhaps most notably, the lightly-veiled endorsement highlights Petersen’s role in pressuring Mayes to follow court-ordered executions, stating that “within a week of Petersen’s public statements, Mayes reversed course.” The authors argue that Petersen is already “the moral voice for justice in our legal affairs” and that “now is the right time for him to run to become the actual Attorney General.” They conclude that Arizona needs a leader who will put the law above partisan politics. Petersen has demonstrated “the ability, courage, and leadership to put Arizona first and fight for its interests.”

In addition to his “legal” diligence, Petersen is busy championing crucial state legislation. This legislative session, which began just over two weeks ago, has already seen three high-profile bills authored by Peterson. These initiatives reflect Petersen’s focus on election integrity, local governance, and immigration enforcement.

SB1011: This bill proposes changes to early voting procedures, notably setting a deadline for dropping off early ballots at voting locations to 7 p.m. on the Friday before Election Day. The aim is to expedite the processing of early ballots and provide more timely election results.

SB1013: This legislation seeks to amend existing laws regarding the authority of municipalities and counties in Arizona. While specific details are limited, the bill appears to address local governance issues.

SB1164: The Immigration Enforcement Bill mandates that county sheriff departments and state prisons collaborate with federal authorities on immigration matters. The proposed legislation would require local law enforcement to notify federal agencies when they have undocumented immigrants in custody and to comply with federal detainer requests.

Petersen, who has been hinting at a potential run for months, is serving his second term as Senate President and his seventh term in the Legislature. He is a real estate broker who obtained his law license in December 2023. Throughout his tenure, he has defended Arizona laws in cases where Mayes chose to abandon her responsibility.

Petersen will face fellow Rodney Glassman in the Republican primary, although others may join the fray later. Glassman has pursued several political offices over the years, beginning his political career as a Democrat serving on the Tucson City Council from 2007 to 2010. In 2010, he ran as the Democratic U.S. Senate nominee against incumbent John McCain but was unsuccessful. After switching to the Republican Party, Glassman ran in 2018 for the Arizona Corporation Commission but did not win. In 2020, he campaigned for Maricopa County Assessor, losing in the Republican primary to incumbent Eddie Cook. Glassman also entered the 2022 Republican primary for Arizona Attorney General, finishing second in a six-way race.

Senator Wendy Rogers (R-LD7) recently expressed complete confidence in Peterson’s ability to beat AG Kris Mayes in a matchup. She stated on X that Peterson “has my HIGHEST ENDORSEMENT. He is a visionary man of intellect, backbone, and truth. He stood with me on sound principle(s) when the chips were down. I remain ever loyal to him.”

The 2026 Arizona Attorney General election will occur on November 3, 2026.

Christy Kelly
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