♪.

TED: COMING UP NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON," THE JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE.

THE UNSEALING OF RUBEN AND KATE GALLEGO'S DIVORCE RECORDS.

THOSE STORIES AND MORE NEXT ON "ARIZONA HORIZON."

.

TED: GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

IT'S FRIDAY, AND THAT MEANS IT'S TIME FOR THE JOURNALISTS' ROUNDTABLE, AND JOINING US TONIGHT, JEREMY DUDA OF AXIOS PHOENIX.

HOWIE FISCHER OF CAPITOL MEDIA SERVICES AND LAURIE ROBERTS OF AZCENTRAL.

LAURIE, START WITH YOU AND THE RELEASE OF THE -- THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A BIG DEAL.

LOTS OF RAMPUP AND THEN WHAT HAPPENED?

>> WELL, THE PLANE LANDED AND NOBODY NOTICED?

I DON'T KNOW.

WE'VE BEEN HEARING FOR ALL YEAR LONG THAT WE'VE ALL KNOWN FOR A LONG TIME THAT RUBEN GALLEGO LEFT HIS WIFE IN HER NINTH MONTH OF PREGNANCY, NOT A PARTICULARLY GOOD LOOK, WE'VE KNOWN FOR A LONG TIME AND FILED FOR DIVORCE.

THE KARI LAKE CAMPAIGN, AMONG OTHERS IN THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, HAVE SPENT ALL YEAR LONG TALKING ABOUT WHAT ARE IN HIS DIVORCE RECORDS.

HIS DIVORCE RECORDS ARE SEALED, THEREFORE SOMETHING VERY BAD IS IN THERE.

ALMOST LIKE EVERY DAY, WHAT IS RUBEN GALLEGO HIDING?

WELL, SO THIS WENT ON FOR TEN MONTHS.

"THE WASHINGTON FREE BEACON" FILED A PUBLIC RECORDS REQUEST AND ULTIMATELY SUED TO GET THE RECORDS.

THE GALLEGOS FOUGHT IT FOR MONTHS AND MONTHS CONTENDING IT WOULD VIOLATE THE PRIVACY AND SAFETY OF THEIR YOUNG SON WHO I BELIEVE IS SEVEN OR EIGHT YEARS OLD, AND FINALLY THIS WEEK, THE RECORDS WERE UNSEALED.

IT WAS A GIANT NOTHING BURGER.

THERE WAS NOTHING THERE.

ALL OF THE IMPLICATIONS THAT KARI LAKE MADE THAT THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE HAD MADE ABOUT THIS HORRENDOUS STUFF WE WERE GOING TO FIND OUT ABOUT HIM.

THERE WAS NOTHING THERE.

TED: THE JUDGE CALLED IT A GARDEN VARIETY DIVORCE.

>> THAT WAS THE INTERESTING THING, JUDGE NAPPER, THE JUDGE -- NOT THE JUDGE WHO SEALED IT, WHEN HE LOOKED AT THE REQUEST FROM BEACON AND HEARD FROM HIS ATTORNEY AND HER ATTORNEY WHY, IT SHOULDN'T BE RELEASED, I'VE LOOKED AT THE RECORDS, I HANDLE DIVORCES, NOTHING UNUSUAL HERE.

THE USUAL SPOUSAL MAINTENANCE, WHERE DO YOU EDUCATE THE CHILD?

THE USUAL QUESTIONS ABOUT WHERE DOES THE CHILD LIVE?

ALL OF THE REST OF IT.

HE SAID WHAT'S THE ISSUE HERE, AND HE SAID THAT THE FIRST JUDGE NEVER SEALED IT IN THE FIRST PLACE, SO HE SAID DON'T SEE A PROBLEM.

WENT TO THE COURT OF APPEALS.

COURT OF APPEALS SAID JUDGE NAPPER DIDN'T EXCEED HIS AUTHORITY.

WENT TO THE SUPREME COURT, THE SUPREME COURT IN LESS THAN 24 HOURS SAID THERE IS NOTHING TO KEEP SECRET.

BY THAT POINT I THINK RUBEN, AND WE TALKED ABOUT IT IN THE SHOW, WHY DIDN'T HE GET AHEAD OF IT?

ONE THING TO SAY IN THE EMOTIONS OF A 2016 DIVORCE, WE WANT IT SEALED.

WE RAN TO YAVAPAI COUNTY THOUGH WE ALL LIVE HERE IN THE VALLEY.

OKAY, HE'S BEEN RE-ELECTED TO CONGRESS SEVERAL TIMES.

SHE'S BEEN ELECTED MAYOR AND AT CERTAIN POINT, YOU SAY, OKAY, HERE'S THE RECORDS, WHY NOT JUST GET AHEAD OF IT.

TED: IS THERE JIU-JITSU GOING ON HERE?

OF ALL THE EXPECTATION AND WHOA, WAIT UNTIL YOU SEE THIS, WE SEE A GARDEN VARIETY DIVORCE FILE, DOES IT NOT ACTUALLY HELP RUBEN GALLEGO?

>> WELL, ON THE ONE HAND, WE'RE SIT HERE 20 DAYS BEFORE THE ELECTION TALKING ABOUT RUBEN GALLEGO'S DIVORCE, IN NOT A VERY ATTRACTIVE TRAIT FOR WHATEVER REASON, THE MARRIAGE SPLITTING UP IN THE NINTH MONTH OF PREGNANCY.

THAT'S NOT PARTICULARLY HELPFUL TO THE MAN.

HOWEVER, YOU HAVE TO POINT OUT THAT KARI LAKE FOR A YEAR HAS BEEN BASICALLY ASSASSINATING HIS CHARACTER IMPLYING ALL SORTS OF THINGS.

WE WERE LED TO BELIEVE IT WAS EITHER INFIDELITY OR SOMETHING ELSE.

>> SURE.

>> OR SOMETHING MORE SINISTER, DOMESTIC ABUSE, WHATEVER.

TED: ALL THE THINGS THAT WEREN'T IN THERE.

>> I ALMOST WONDER IF HE THOUGHT I'M GOING TO LET IT GO, LET IT GO, AND LET IT BLOW UP IN HER FACE, TWO OR THREE WEEKS BEFORE THE ELECTION.

>> HERE'S THE OTHER PART, THERE WAS NEVER EXPECTATION THERE WOULD BE ALLEGATION SAID IN THERE.

ARIZONA IS A NO-FAULT DIVORCE STATE.

CHEATING DOES NOT COUNT AS GROUNDS FOR DIVORCE.

ANYTHING ELSE, EVEN ABUSE DOES NOT COUNT AS DIVORCE.

I APPRECIATE YOU SAYING LET IT BLOW UP IN HER FACE, BUT AGAIN, THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN END OF STORY TWO WEEKS AGO BEFORE EARLY VOTING STARTED, NOT HALFWAY INTO EARLY VOTING.

TED: BUT THAT'S TECHNICAL STUFF AND WE'RE TALKING POLITICS JEREMY, AND AS FAR AS THE IMPACT ON THIS PARTICULAR RACE, WHAT IS IT?

>> IT'S LIKE PRETTY MUCH NOTHING.

THIS IS AN AL CAPONE'S VAULT SITUATION, YOU OPEN IT UP AND ALL THESE EXPECTATIONS, NOTHING WAS IN THERE.

IT LOOKS LIKE THE STATE OF THE RACE IS PRETTY MUCH BAKED IN.

I'M NOT SURE WHAT'S GOING TO CHANGE AT THIS POINT.

EVERYONE KNOWS HOW THINGS HAVE BEEN LOOKING.

LOOKING LIKE THAT FOR A WHILE, AND I CAN'T IMAGINE ANYTHING IN THERE, IF YOU ARE AN UNDECIDED VOTER OR COMMITTED TO RUBEN GALLEGO, ANYTHING IN THERE, IT'S NOT GOING TO CHANGE YOUR MIND.

>> NOT GOING TO CHANGE YOUR MIND, BUT THERE ARE A FEW UNDECIDED VOTERS, WHICH IS DIFFICULT BELIEVE TO.

KARI LAKE HAS SHOWN SHE HAS A REALLY LIKABILITY PROBLEM IN THE POLLS.

PEOPLE DON'T LIKE HER.

I DON'T SEE HOW THIS HELPS HER THAT SHE'S TRYING TO CLIMB OVER THE CARCASS THAT IS RUBEN GALLEGO AND WORK HER WAY INTO THE SENATE OVER SOMETHING THAT TURNED OUT NOT TO BE TRUE.

I THINK IT DOES HURT HER WITH THE UNDECIDED VOTERS.

THEY'RE GOING TO GO EW, YOU'VE BEEN SAYING THIS FOR A YEAR AND THERE'S NOTHING THERE.

>> THE SAME THING HAPPENED DURING THE DEBATE.

SHE KEPT INTERRUPTING.

HER LIKABILITY FACTOR, WHY DO PEOPLE LIKE TRUMP MORE THAN HER?

HAVE YOU CATCHED DEBATE?

HAVE YOU WATCHED HER BE NASTY, CRANKY, WHAT OCCURRED TODAY AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE.

"ARIZONA REPUBLIC"'S RON HANSEN DARED TO ASK A QUESTION, WELL, ARE YOU SORRY?

DO YOU APOLOGIZE FOR HAVING MADE THIS AN ISSUE?

I SHOULDN'T, YOU WORK FOR A LOUSY PAPER, THAT PAPER SHOULDN'T BE USED FOR TRAINING PUPPIES.

IT'S TYPICAL KARI LAKE.

TED: IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS I ASKED ABOUT JUDGMENT AND CHARACTER, AND IF THIS IS THE KIND OF PERSON THAT ARIZONA VOTERS WANT TO REPRESENT.

IT'S NOT JUST THE HOUSE HERE.

WE'RE TALKING THE U.S. SENATE, THE MOST DELIBERATIVE BODY IN THE WORLD AS THEY LIKE TO CALL THEMSELVES.

IS IT A FACTOR THAT THAT PERSONALITY KEEPS ROARING OUT?

>> I CAN ONLY ASSUME THIS IS INDEED HER PERSONALITY BECAUSE IT WAS THE SAME PROBLEM SHE HAD IN 2022, WHEN SHE RAN AN UNSUCCESSFUL CAMPAIGN FOR GOVERNOR.

A LOT OF POLITICAL TYPES TOLD HER, YOU NEED TO CHANGE THE WAY YOU ARE DOING THIS, APPEAL TO THE MIDDLE, AND THROW BOMBS, THROW BOMBS, THROW BOMBS.

HER MAGA BASE LOVES IT.

MODERATE VOTERS NOT SO MUCH.

TED: THE MAGA BASE, IS THERE ENOUGH THERE FOR HER TO GET PAST RUBEN GALLEGO IN A STATEWIDE RACE?

>> AT THIS POINT, IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT.

YOU'VE GOT TO TRY TO EXPAND THAT BASE.

WE SAW THAT IN 2022, THE MAGA BASE WAS NOT ENOUGH, AND WITH ANY CAMPAIGN, YOU WANT TO REACH OUT, GALLEGO REACHING THAT, KAMALA HARRIS TRYING TO REACH OUT, YOU SEE TRUMP DOING THAT.

YOU CAN'T GO WITH THE BASE.

TRUMP WHO LOVES HIS BASE AND RALLY AS MUCH AS HE CAN, YOU SEE ATTEMPTS TO REACH OUT TO OTHER FOLKS.

YOU CAN'T JUST SIT THERE WITH THE BASE, AND FOR LAKE, THE BASE ALONE IS NOT ENOUGH TO WIN A STATEWIDE RACE HERE.

>> SHE'S TRYING TO GET EARNED MEDIA.

RUBEN HAS MORE MONEY THAN GOD.

OTHER GROUPS SPENDING BIG.

WE SAW HOW MUCH IS BEING SPENT ON HIS BEHALF, AND YET HE'S ONLY AHEAD THREE, FOUR, FIVE, SIX POINTS.

SHE FIGURES, LOOK, I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY, TWO MILLION IN THE BANK AS OF LAST REPORT, I'VE GOT TO FIND A WAY OF GETTING ON THE AIR.

THE FACT IS THAT THE MEDIA IS SUCH, PLEAD GUILTY TO SOME OF THIS MYSELF.

SHE MAKES A STATEMENT, AND WE HEARD HER ON THE RADIO THIS AFTERNOON ABOUT PROPOSAL, NONE OF WHICH HAS TO DO WITH BEING A SENATOR, BUT SHE'S GETTING ON THE AIR.

TED: JEREMY, REGARDING THIS BUSINESS OF VOTERS THAT HAVEN'T PROVEN CITIZENSHIP.

SECRETARY OF STATE DOES NOT WANT THE NAMES MADE PUBLIC.

THIS IS CHURNING THROUGH.

WHAT'S THE LATEST ON THIS, AND WHAT DOES IT ALL INVOLVE?

>> JUDGE SATAT MADE A DECISION TO RELEASE THE 218,000 NAMES, THEREABOUTS.

HE WANTS TO HEAR AN EXPLANATION FROM ADRIAN FONTES WHY THEY SHOULDN'T BE.

THE ARGUMENT IS OCTOBER 28.

NOT GOING TO BE MUCH OF ANY TIME, NO MATTER WHAT GETS DECIDED TO RELEASE ANY OF THESE BEFORE THE ELECTION, WHICH IS WHAT THE CONSERVATIVE GROUP IS ASKING WANTS.

THEY WANT TO KNOW IF IT GOES BACK TO THE GLITCH, THIS 20-YEAR-OLD GLITCH THAT WAS DISCOVERED AT THE MVD WHERE THEY ARE ACCIDENTALLY SHOWING FOLKS WHO HAD PRE-1996 DRIVER'S LICENSE BEFORE DRIVER'S LICENSE SHOWED PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP AND REGISTERED TO VOTE AFTER THAT.

ALL OF THE FOLKS, USED TO BE THE ONLY STATE WHERE YOU HAD TO SHOW PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP TO REGISTER TO VOTE.

IT IS RECENTLY DISCOVERED.

ARIZONA SUPREME COURT SAID HEY THEY CAN VOTE THE FULL BALLOT INSTEAD OF THE FEDERAL BALLOT BEFORE THEY GET THE PROOF.

THERE'S A LOT OF ISSUES AND NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS, SOMETHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN BEFORE THE ELECTION.

>> THEY ARE PUBLIC RECORD, AND WHAT SECRETARY OF STATE FONTES HAS TO DO IS SAY, YOU KNOW, I'M GOING RELEASE THEM EVENTUALLY BUT THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO WAIT ON THIS OVERRIDE NEEDS TO SEE YOUR NAME.

IF I HAND YOU AND YOU ARE MERISSA HAMILTON OR STEVEN MILLER, THIS LIST OF NAMES, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?

KNOCK ON THE DOOR OF 218,000 PEOPLE AND DEMAND TO KNOW ARE YOU A CITIZEN?

THE POTENTIAL THERE FOR HARASSMENT AND INTIMIDATION OF VOTERS SEEMS HIGH.

TED: THAT'S WHAT THE SECRETARY OF STATE SAID.

>> PUBLIC RECORDS LAWS, YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE A MOTIVE.

I WANT THIS RECORD.

THEREFORE, I DON'T HAVE TO EXPLAIN GOING DOOR-TO-DOOR, GIVE IT TO THE COUNTY RECORDERS TO DO THE LIST MAINTENANCE OR ANYTHING ELSE.

THE OTHER THING FONTES SAID THIS IS A LIST THAT IS IN FLUX, THERE MAY BE PEOPLE WHO ARE CITIZENS HERE AND SHOULDN'T GIVE THE LIST.

JUDGE DID NOT LIKE THAT ANSWER, SAID HOW DID YOU COME UP WITH 218,000 NAMES?

YOU HAVE A NUMBER.

IT WAS 217,000 AND SOME ACTUALLY A SPECIFIC NUMBER.

THE JUDGE SAID WHY CAN'T YOU GIVE OUT WHAT YOU HAD?

I THINK THE JUDGE RAN OUT OF PATIENCE, RATHER THAN SIMPLY DENY, AS JEREMY POINTED OUT, NO, I WANT YOUR TUSH IN COURT ON OCTOBER 29 AND YOU TELL ME WHY YOU CAN'T GIVE ME WHAT YOU HAVE.

>> TO PLAY DEVIL'S ADVOCATE, IF THE RECORD IS PUBLIC TO MERISSA HAMILTON, THAT MEANS THE RECORD IS PUBLIC TO ANYBODY.

I GET NAMES OF THESE PEOPLE, MAYBE I'M IN A MILITIA AND HOUND SOMEONE ON THEIR WAY TO THE BALLOT, AND MAYBE THEY DON'T DO IT.

THERE IS A PUBLIC REASON TO SAY, WE'RE GOING TO GO SLOW ON HANDING OUT OTHER PEOPLE'S NAMES VOTING FOR YEARS, AND THEY ARE -- THERE'S NO EVIDENCE THEY ARE ANYTHING OTHER THAN U.S. CITIZENS.

>> EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT THE ENTIRE LIST IS PUBLIC.

YOU AND I CAN GO IN AND GET OUT OF THE NUMBER OF 4.1 MILLION REGISTERED VOTERS OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, AND WE CAN DO THAT.

AND WE WILL CALL AND SAY HEY, THIS IS HOWIE FISCHER.

>> 4.1 MILLION NAMES.

THESE ARE 218,000 OLDER INDIVIDUALS, I MIGHT ADD.

TED: AND SO CLOSE TO THE ELECTION, WHICH IS KEY, IS IT NOT?

>> WHAT MIGHT BE DONE BEFORE THE ELECTION, YOU WANT TO LOOK AT AFTER THE ELECTION, IF WE HAVE A CLOSE RACE WHERE KAMALA HARRIS WINS AND WE'RE GOING TO SEE THE SAME THING WE SAW FOUR YEARS AGO OF THE GROUPS THAT SELF-DEPUTIZE THEMSELVES TO LOOK FOR DEAD VOTERS OR NONCITIZEN VOTERS OR WHOEVER AND PORE THROUGH THE LISTS, CONTACTING PEOPLE, COMING UP WITH ALLEGATIONS OF DEAD VOTERS, FALSE POSITIVES, PERHAPS WITH THE AUDIT IN 202, 1 SELF-APPOINTED GROUPS GOING DOOR-TO-DOOR, ASKING PEOPLE ABOUT BALLOTS.

ONCE THE LIST GOES PUBLIC WE'LL SEE MORE OF IT IF HARRIS AND OTHER DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES WIN CLOSE RACES STATEWIDE.

>> HERE'S THE PRACTICAL PROBLEM, THE MOMENT YOU TURN IN THE EARLY BALLOT, THEY MATCH THE SIGNATURE ENVELOPE HERE, BALLOT THERE.

IF HOWIE IS NOT REGISTERED AND I'M FROM MARS, YOU CANNOT FIND MY BALLOT.

WHAT WOULD YOU DO?

BRING ME IN FOR AFFIDAVIT OF HOW I VOTID AND TELL YOU WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH THAT REQUEST.

I'M NOT SURE IT HELPS AFTERWARDS EITHER.

TED: JEREMY, AS FAR AS THIS SUIT REGARDING OVERSEAS VOTING, MILITARY VOTING, REGISTRATION OF VOTERS, WHAT IS THAT ALL ABOUT?

>> SPEAKING OF POTENTIAL -- PEOPLE WHO POTENTIALLY DON'T HAVE PROOF OF DOCUMENTED CITIZENSHIP.

WE'VE SEEN THIS HAPPEN IN A FEW OTHER STATES WHERE REPUBLICANS ARE TAKING AIM AT REGISTRATION PROCESSES FOR MILITARY AND OVERSEAS VOTERS AND THE FOLKS REGISTER ONLINE, FEDERAL FORMS, DIFFERENT THAN THE FEDERAL FORMS MOST FOLKS USE YOU GET THE FEDERAL BALLOT.

WE HAVE A LAW THAT GOVERNOR DUCEY SIGNED, JUST WENT INTO EFFECT A MONTH AND A HALF AGO, IF YOU DON'T HAVE PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP, YOU CAN BE A FEDERAL-ONLY VOTER BUT ONLY IF YOU HAVE A FORM FROM THE SPECIAL ELECTION ASSISTANCE COMMISSION.

HOW MANY PEOPLE REGISTERED TO VOTE WHICH IS A DIFFERENT FORM, THE CHAIRMAN AND RNC SAID WE WANT TO KNOW YOUR PROCESSES, IF YOU ARE FOLLOWING THIS LAW, REJECTING, THREATENING LITIGATION, AND THE NEXT DAY AFTER I WROTE ABOUT THIS, GINA SVOBODA SAYS WE'RE NOT GOING TO SUE AFTER ALL.

IT WAS TOO LATE TO DO ANYTHING WHEN THEY SENT THE LETTER IN THE FIRST PLACE.

>> NOT ONLY THAT, AND YOU TALKED TO THE COUNTY RECORDERS AND THEY SAID, LOOK, IF WE GET THE FEDERAL POST CARDS FROM OVERSEAS VOTER, IF YOU ARE IN THE MILITARY, YOU HAVE DOCUMENTATION, MAYBE EVEN A PASSPORT, IF YOU ARE AN OVERSEAS VOTER, IF YOU SEND THEM BACK JUST THIS FORM, THEY WILL MAKE YOU A FEDERAL ONLY VOTER, WHICH IS THE LAW.

NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT ARIZONA LAW ALLOWS, IF YOU PROVIDE PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP, WE'LL LET YOU VOTE THE FULL BALLOT.

TALK ABOUT NOTHING BURGERS, THIS IS A CONSPIRACY THEORY THING THAT FOREIGNERS ARE GOING TO BE VOTING IN OUR ELECTIONS, THOUSANDS OF POST CARDS FROM FRANCE.

>> THEY HAVE FILED SUITS IN PENNSYLVANIA, NORTH CAROLINA AND MICHIGAN, ALL BATTLEGROUND STATES, WHICH IS WHAT WE ARE.

IN RECENT YEARS, THEY'RE TARGETING THE OVERSEAS VOTERS THAN MILITARY, YOU ARE RIGHT ABOUT THAT, BUT THE POINT THEY WOULD POINT TO IS IN RECENT YEARS, THOSE BALLOTS ARE TRENDING MORE TOWARD DEMOCRATS, AND SO IN A BATTLEGROUND STATE WHERE EVERY SINGLE BALLOT COUNTS, IF THEY CAN GET THE BALLOTS SET ASIDE AND POSSIBLY THROWN OUT AFTER THE ELECTION, IF, IN FACT, TRUMP DOESN'T WIN, IT MAKES SENSE WHY THEY'RE GOING AFTER THEM.

>> THIS BRINGS UP AN INTERESTING UNTESTED LEGAL ISSUE, YOU HAVE A STATE LAW THAT SAYS IF YOU DON'T HAVE PROOF OF CITIZENSHIP, EXCEPT ON THE ONE FORM FROM THE EAC, ELECTION OFFICIALS OF ARIZONA REQUIRED TO THROW IT OUT.

YOU USE THIS FORM BUT WE HAVE SUPREME COURT PRECEDENT SAYING AND BASED ON A 1993 FEDERAL LAW THAT SAYS IF IT'S A UNIFORM FEDERAL FORM, THE STATE HAS TO ACCEPT IT.

MIGHT BE A SITUATION WHERE STATE LAW SAYS YOU HAVE TO REJECT IT BUT THE SUPREME COURT WOULD SAY YEAH, BUT THE FEDERAL LAW SAYS THAT IS UNCONSTITUTIONAL OR NOT ALLOWED TO DO THAT.

TED: HOWIE AS FAR AS REPUBLICAN PARTY CONCERNS ARE GOING HERE, EACH COUNTY HAS A DIFFERENT PROTOCOL AND A DIFFERENT WAY TO COUNT THESE AND ADDRESS THE SITUATION, DO THEY NOT?

ARE THEY NOT RIGHT TO WONDER WHAT'S GOING ON?

>> IT'S A FAIR QUESTION AND, IN FACT, SHOULD HAVE BEEN PLACED IN ELECTIONS PROCEDURES MANUAL, EXCEPT FOR THE FACT THAT BECAUSE THIS IS NEW, IT'S NOT IN THE ELECTION PROCEDURES MANUAL, AND SO EACH COUNTY SAID, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO ABOUT IT?

YOU SHOULD HAVE UNIFORM PROCEDURES AND QUESTIONS TO BE RAISED.

MY CONCERN IS THIS IS PART OF THE VAST CONSPIRACY FOLKS GOING BACK TO THE 2020 ELECTION WHO WILL LOOK AT ANYTHING AND SAY THIS PROVES IT, THIS IS WHAT DOES IT.

NEVER MIND WHAT THE AUDIT SAID OF THE 2020 ELECTION.

NEVER MIND THE FACT THAT KARI LAKE IS STILL INSISTING SHE'S REALLY THE GOVERNOR.

NEVER MIND THE 17,117 VOTES, BUT IT'S THE STUFF, YOU SEE POLLS OF PEOPLE SAY, WELL, PEOPLE ARE NOT CONFIDENT THAT WE'LL HAVE ACCURATE ELECTIONS.

I KNOW WHY, BECAUSE THEY'RE TOLD OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

RASMUSSEN, A POLLSTER, SAYS THE ELECTIONS ARE NOT ACCURATE.

>> ELON MUSK WAXED ON ABOUT MARICOPA COUNTY AND DOMINION VOTING MACHINES, WHICH WE DON'T HAVE, WE HAVE TABULATORS, AND ON AND ON AND ON, THERE IS A REASON PEOPLE HAVE NO TRUST IN OUR ELECTIONS IS BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN TOLD INFORMATION THAT IS NOT TRUE.

TED: DEMOCRATIC PARTY ANNOUNCED 1.5 MILLION IN DOWNBALLOT RACES, TALK ABOUT THE GOVERNOR AND WHERE SHE'S BEEN APPEARING OR NOT APPEARING AS FAR AS DOWNBALLOT RACES AND WHAT'S AT THE TOP OF THE BALLOT IT.

SOUNDS LIKE SHE'S SERIOUS ABOUT THE LEGISLATURE.

>> SURE, THERE'S BEEN NO GREATER FRUSTRATION FOR HER OVER THE PAST TWO YEARS, THAN HAVING COMBATIVE REPUBLICAN LEGISLATURE THAT LOVES TO THWART HER PLANS ON CABINET AGENCY HEAD NOMINEES, LEGISLATION, ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

IF THERE'S A REASON SHE SHATTERED THE VETO RECORD, SO YEAH, FLIPPING THE LEGISLATURE TO DEMOCRATIC CONTROLLED, A TOP PRIORITY FOR HER.

GOING TO EVENTS, SENDING OUT DOOR KNOCKERS, I DON'T KNOW WHY THAT MEANS YOU CAN'T APPEAR WITH KAMALA HARRIS OR TIM WALZ WHEN THEY COME TO DOWN, APPARENTLY IT'S AN EITHER OR SITUATION.

TED: DOES IT MAKE SENSE NOT TO APPEAR WITH THE CANDIDATE OF THE PRESIDENTIAL PARTY?

>> THE ACTIVE VICE PRESIDENT COMES TO TOWN, THE GOVERNOR GOES THE AIRPORT TO MEET THE PERSON.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO GO TO THE MAGICAL MYSTERY TOUR BUT IT'S WHAT YOU DO.

AS JEREMY POINTED OUT, HER PRIORITY IS THE LEGISLATURE, IF SHE DOESN'T GET A FRIENDLY LEGISLATURE, SHE MAYBE A ONE TERM GOVERNOR AND FIGURE THIS IS WHAT I NEED TO BE DOING.

SHE MAY NOT WANT TO BE ATTACHED TO KAMALA BECAUSE KAMALA HAS OCCASION TO BLATHER ON AND OCCASIONALLY SAY THINGS THAT KATIE DOES NOT WANT TO BE ASKED, DO YOU AGREE WITH THE VICE PRESIDENT YOU?

WERE STANDING NEXT TO HER.

TED: WELL, THAT'S PART OF BEING THE GOVERNOR, IS IT NOT?

>> YEAH, BUT SHE'S ALWAYS EITHER OUT OF TOWN OR OUT OF THE STATE.

I'M LIKE JEREMY, I DON'T BUY THE FACT THAT I'M SO BUSINESS WITH LEGISLATIVE RACES, WHICH ARE IMPORTANT AND THE MOST IMPORTANT THING IF YOU HAPPEN TO BE THE GOVERNOR, I DON'T BUY THAT DOESN'T GIVE YOU AN HOUR OUT OF YOUR TIME THAT YOU CAN GO TO SKY HARBOR AND SHAKE HANDS FOR THE PICTURE.

>> SHE WAS DOING HER HAIR, DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND?

TED: SHE WASN'T POINTING HER FINGER AT ANYONE.

WE HAVE THAT TO GO ON.

FROM WHAT YOU'RE SEEING AND HEARING AND FEELING OUT THERE, IS ALL THE EMPHASIS ON DOWNBALLOT RACES, IS IT MAKING A DIFFERENCE?

WHAT ARE THE ODDS THINGS COULD FLIP IN ONE WAY OR ANOTHER?

>> HARD TO SAY.

THEY DEFINITELY HAVE A SHOT.

WE'VE BEEN SITTING ON THE STAGE SAYING THAT FOR THE LAST THREE OR FOUR ELECTION CYCLES THAT DEMOCRATS HAVE A SHOT OF TAKING ONE OR BOTH CHAMBERS.

DEFINITELY IN PLAY.

PEOPLE SEE THAT RIGHT NOW.

HOW THINGS PLAY OUT.

DO WE HAVE A SPLIT LEGISLATURE, DO YOU HAVE A SPLIT CHAMBER, IT'S 15-15 OR 30-30, ANY MOVEMENT IN THAT DIRECTION IS A POSITIVE FOR HOBBS.

YOU HAVE A SPLIT CHAMBER, IT'S SOMETHING.

>> WHAT'S ASTOUNDING IS THE AMOUNT OF MONEY SPENT ON THE JOBS.

THESE ARE $24,000 A YEAR JOBS PER DIEM, AND SOME OF THE MONEY BEING SPENT OVER A MILLION DOLLARS IN SOME OF THESE RACES IN THE COMPETITIVE DISTRICTS, AND THE WORRY, OF COURSE, THERE IS THIS IS GOING TO JACK IT UP FOR ALL TIME AND THERE'S THAT MUCH MORE SPECIAL INTEREST, MONEY GOING INTO THE RACES, IT'S WORRISOME.

I DON'T KNOW HOW AN AVERAGE ARIZONAN CAN TRY TO RUN FOR THE LEGISLATURE.

>> I'M NOT SURE THAT THE MONEY IS GOING ANYWHERE.

THE AIRWAVES ARE FILLED FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES WITH THE SENATE, THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE, FEW CONGRESSIONAL RACES, WHAT THAT LEAVES IS HOW MUCH CAN YOU SPEND ON DOOR HANGERS.

TED: OR SIGNS AT EVERY INTERSECTION CAN YOU FIND.

>> HOW MANY MAILERS CAN YOU GET IN A SINGLE DAY?

TED: GOT IT.

YOU GO TO AN INTERSECTION, YOU SEE 47 DIFFERENT SIGNS, 47 DIFFERENT MAILERS, ARE YOU GOING TO READ THEM?

>> IF YOU ARE A LEGISLATIVE CANDIDATE OR SCHOOL BOARD CANDIDATE, THAT'S HOW YOU GET IT.

OR IF YOU CAN AFFORD TO BE ON TV.

>> GO ON THE RADIO, ONLINE, THERE ARE SO MANY AVENUES WHEN TRUMP AND HARRIS AND GALLEGO AND LAKE ARE SUCKING UP THE AIRWAVES.

>> IT IS NAME ID AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

THERE ARE RACES, I LIVE IN LAVEEN SCHOOL DISTRICT, NOBODY IS COMING TO KNOCK ON MY DOOR, I SKIP THAT RACE.

I DON'T KNOW WHERE I FIND MORE INFORMATION, SO THE QUESTION IS, IS THIS CROWDING OUT EVERYTHING ELSE TOO?

BUT IF YOU ARE AN LV17 CANDIDATE, VINCE LEACH VERSUS THE CANDIDATE WHO WANTS TO REPLACE JUSTINE WADSACK, HAVING A NAME IS IMPORTANT, THE MONEY MAKES A DIFFERENCE IN TERMS OF HAVING VOLUNTEERS GO DOOR-TO-DOOR AND HEAR WHO YOU ARE.

TED: ABE HAMADEH THINKS HE WON THE ELECTION IN 2022.

HE'S GOING TO GO TO CONGRESS.

WHAT'S THIS ALL ABOUT?

>> I'D BE SHOCKED IF HE'S NOT ELECTED TO CONGRESS AT THIS POINT, BUT NOT GOING TO GIVE UP HIS PUSH TO BE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN BE BOTH AT THE SAME TIME, BUT HE'S CONTINUING ON.

I THINK HIS SUSPICION NOW AT THE SUPREME COURT, I'VE LOST TRACK.

HE'S BASICALLY SUGGESTING THAT THE WHOLE THING NEEDS TO BE REOPENED TO LOOK AT THE CAST VOTER RECORD, WHICH IS A COMPUTERIZED RECORD, HERE'S ALL THE VOTERS, HOW THEY VOTED.

IF HE CAN FIND SOME PLACES WHERE PEOPLE VOTED FOR KARI LAKE FOR GOVERNOR, BUT DIDN'T VOTE FOR HIM FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL, HE WANTS TO GRAB THAT BALLOT AND SEE DID THEY REALLY NOT VOTE FOR ME?

LEAVE THAT BLANK OR VOTE FOR SOMEBODY ELSE?

HE WANTS TO CLAIM THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PROVISIONAL BALLOTS THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN COUNTED AND HAD THEY BEEN COUNTED THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN FOR HIM.

FIRST THE PROVISIONAL BALLOTS SHOULD HAVE COUNTED, YOU FILE A PROVISIONAL BALLOT AND AFTERWARDS YOU ARE CHECKED OUT TO MAKE SURE YOU ARE QUALIFIED AND IF YOU'RE NOT, IT'S NOT COUNTED.

TED: RIGHT.

>> HE NOT ONLY SAYS THOSE VOTES SHOULD HAVE COUNTED BUT HE'S POSITIVE THEY WOULD HAVE ALL BEEN COUNTED FOR ME.

>> IMPOSSIBLE TO PROVE.

HE'S NOT THE ONLY ONE.

KARI LAKE HAS A CASE ALSO AT SUPREME COURT WHERE SHE SAYS, LOOK, IF YOU LET ME RERUN THE ELECTION IN MARICOPA COUNTY, LITERALLY THAT'S WHAT SHE'S ASKING FOR, I CAN DO THAT.

AGAIN, MAYBE IF SHE WERE TO GET ELECTED TO THE SENATE, MAYBE SHE WILL DROP IT.

I HAVE A FEELING RIGHT UP TO THE 26 ELECTION, SHE'S GOING TO INSIST I'M THE REAL GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA.

TED: BACK TO ABE HAMADEH, HE'S ARGUE I SHOULD BE ABLE TO GET MORE EVIDENCE, APPLY THE EVIDENCE TO A TRIAL.

WASN'T ALLOWED THE FIRST TIME.

SHOULD BE ALLOWED, LET ME IN.

>> YEAH, IT'S SORT OF FISHING EXPEDITION IS WHAT HE WANTS.

HE'S PRESENTED EVIDENCE THAT THERE'S SOMETHING IN THE CAST VOTE RECORD THAT'S GOING TO CHANGE ANYTHING, HE WANTS TO BE ABLE TO LOOK AND CHECK, THERE'S GOING TO BE SOME, AS WE'VE SEEN OVER AND OVER AND OVER WITH HIS OTHER LITIGATION WITH KARI LAKE'S LITIGATION, WITH THE AUDIT, PEOPLE SEARCHING FOR DEAD VOTES, GOD KNOWS WHAT WE'LL BE TALKING ABOUT NEXT.

>> PRETTY SOON WE'RE TALKING ABOUT THE 2024 ELECTION, TOO.

2022 IS GOING TO LAPSE 2024.

2026 GETS HERE AND WE'RE GOING TO BE TALKING ABOUT 2022.

>> TALKING ABOUT 2020.

HERE'S THE PROBLEM WITH WHAT ABE WANTS.

HE HAD A TRIAL BEFORE MOHAVE COUNTY JUDGE LEE JANZEN, ATTORNEY WENT INTO COURT AND TOOK A HALF A DAY, AND THE JUDGE SAID I DON'T SEE ANYTHING HERE.

HE'S ARGUING, WELL, IF YOU LET ME REOPEN BECAUSE IT'S LATE ACQUIRED INFORMATION, YOU CAN'T DO THAT IN ELECTION CASES, OTHERWISE WE WILL NEVER END THEM.

TED: IT'S BASICALLY LET ME TRY AGAIN.

WE HAVE TO STOP RIGHT THERE.

PANEL, GREAT DISCUSSION.

GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE.

THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT WEEKEND.