The AZ Political Podcast

The Arizona Democratic Party could end up with a change at the top — prompted by top elected Democrats in Arizona — because they aren’t very fond of the way state chair Robert Branscomb has been running things. Democratic political consultant Tony Cani joined Jim Sharpe on this week's AZ Political Podcast to discuss the party's infighting. 

Political consultant Matt Kenney joined the podcast this week to discuss the already underway republican race for Governor in Arizona and who will run to be Arizona's first lieutenant governor. 

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes joined the AZ Political Podcast with Jim Sharpe and explained why she's already sued the Trump administration 13 different times. Mayes also discussed how she’s going about punishing people and reovering some of the $2.5 billion dollars lost in Arizona’s fake rehab/sober living scandal. Sharpe also asked Mayes what she still finds attractive about her old Republican party and its principles. 

On this episode of the AZ Political Podcast with Jim Sharpe, senate president Warren Petersen updates on progress to pass legislation that speeds up Arizona’s slow ballot counting process; tackle the state’s major water issues; increase education funding (including teacher pay); and find new funding for public safety.

Danny Seiden, the president and CEO of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, discusses whether the new tariffs from President Donald Trump will cause Arizona’s fortunes to rise or fall and whether they could lead to future fallout for candidates representing the party of the president who implemented them.

Rep. Stanton joined the AZ Political Podcast to discuss what worries him most about Trump’s cuts to government — in regards to both the federal workers here in, and the federal funds intended for, Arizona. They also discuss the water situation in Arizona and what the FAA needs to do going forward afte the recent air tragedies. 

Sean Nobel joined Jim Sharpe on the AZ Political Podcast to talk about his latest poll on the race for governor in Arizona, which has already begun. He believes that Republican who jumped into the gubernatorial ring first, East Valley Congressman Andy Biggs, stands a better chance of beating Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs than Karin Taylor Robson, who announced her official entry into the race this week. 

Maricopa Board of Supervisors Chairman Thomas Galvin joined The AZ Political Podcast with Jim Sharpe to discuss his background helping negotiating stadiums in the Valley, the board's role in the proposed bill that would help with Chase Field renovations, plus other issues Galvin helps to hope address in the coming months.

Matt Kenney joins Jim Sharpe and weighs in on how a lot of Republicans are, like him, pro-immigration. And how Arizonans have to walk a fine line between acknowledging that undocumented workers contribute to our economy — while also being a drain on our resources. And how unchecked immigration can be a national security threat.

As we approach the completion of the first week of the second Trump presidency, former Republican U.S. Congressman Matt Salmon joins Jim Sharpe on the AZ Political Podcast to assess how the 45th/47th president — and the 119th Congress — is doing so far.

Former Maricopa County Supervisor Bill Gates joined Jim Sharpe on this week's AZ Political Podcast to discuss his career in public service, election integrity and how he's giving back by preparing the next generation of politicians as a professor.

On this week’s AZ Political Podcast, Jim Sharpe asks Republican former Mesa Mayor John Giles if he regrets endorsing Kamala Harris, the Democrat, in the 2024 Presidential election over Republican Donald Trump (especially since Trump won by a large margin).

On this episode of the AZ Political Podcast, Congressman David Schweikert joins Jim Sharpe to recap the recent elections. Schweikert also talks about Social Security, Medicare and how to tackle the country's debt.

 Arizona has a rich history when it comes to presidential politics — both in terms of presidential candidates from Arizona and the choices our state makes in each election — so who better to talk with on the AZ Political Podcast than presidential historian Dr. Brooks D. Simpson, a professor of history at Arizona State University.

On this episode of the AZ Political Podcast, Jim Sharpe is joined by Howie Fischer, lead correspondent for Arizona's Capitol Media Services. Among the topics discussed are the craziness of the recent presidential election, how politics have gotten nasty and personal, the toughest and most enjoyable politicians Fischer has covered and what Fischer thinks about the future of Arizona.

This week’s AZ Political Podcast is not your typical episode. Just a couple days after the Nov. 5 general election, Arizona continues to tally votes and several races are yet to be called.

I hosted a special election results show to discuss the results of the election.

Who will be the next President of the United States? Will Arizonans vote with their party for both President and U.S. Senate? Political strategist Chuck Coughlin of HighGround Inc. joins Jim Sharpe in this week's episode of the AZ Political Podcast and offers his predictions of winners and losers of Tuesday's general election. 

This week on the AZ Political Podcast, Jim Sharpe talks to HighGround's Paul Bentz, who was named “best pollster” by the Arizona Capitol Times on three different occasions. He helps Jim make sense of the last-minute political polls we are seeing everywhere. Read watch and listen. 

This week on the AZ Political Podcast, I get to grill a man known for being a tough interview … actually, that’s just me trying to hype things up — because my guest this week is a guy I’m very comfortable conversing with because he’s been my friend and colleague for more than two decades: KTAR Senior News Reporter Jim Cross.

Jim and I spend a few minutes talking about how much things have changed in his almost three decades of covering Arizona politics — and surprisingly, how they’ve also stayed the same in some ways.

On this week’s AZ Political Podcast, Mike Noble, the head of polling firm Noble Predictive Insights, helps me figure out if either Lake, the Republican candidate, or Gallego, the Democrat, won Arizona's U.S. Senate debate.

On this week’s AZ Political Podcast, Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer talks with me about the registered voters affected by a Motor Vehicle Division coding error — an error that has created questions about whether those residents are U.S. citizens and thereby eligible to vote in state and local elections in Arizona.