The Gaggle: An Arizona politics podcast

It is crunch time for politicians and campaigns right now to try to win your vote for the Nov. 4 election.

Early voting ballots have been sent out, and with a few close races in the polls, candidates know that every vote matters.

Candidates down ballot have held rallies and aimed conversations at all different demographics in the last weeks leading up to the election. Both presidential candidates have visited border towns in Arizona, speaking to the importance of border security. 

But is that what it takes to win one of the key battleground states in the nation?

This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl are joined by two political strategists from both sides of the aisle to give insight on what it takes for a campaign to win in Arizona.

Constantin Querard, president of one of the state's most popular political consulting firms Grassroots Partners, has worked on Republican campaigns for almost two decades. Andy Barr is the managing director at Uplift, an agency focused on Democratic campaigns and fundraising. Barr has worked on more than 100 campaigns across the country. 

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From now until your ballot arrives, The Gaggle, a politics podcast by the Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, collaborated with our politics team to connect with candidates so you can hear them make their case in their own words.

This is part of a series of bonus episodes featuring Q&As on the state’s most important races.

In this episode, reporter Sasha Hupka ask both candidates to represent District 3 on the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors why voters should choose them.

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Some of this election cycle's biggest issues are what stirs the electorates here in Arizona. No debate or interview is complete without asking a candidate about abortion and immigration.

Political angst regarding the border could be a defining factor on who wins the White House, the state’s U.S. Senate race and other contests further down ballot. And unlike most of the country who choose candidates’ based on their views of immigration and the border, Arizonans have a ballot measure that will help shape policy, as well.

This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl are joined by The Republic's immigration issues reporter Rafael Carranza to explore the border security ballot proposition 314 and why the U.S.-Mexico border is still a pressing political issue. 

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This episode expresses the views of Arizona Republic opinion columnists, not the views of The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com news department or the Gaggle hosts.

Columnists Greg Moore and Phil Boas spoke virtually after the Senate debate between Republican Kari Lake and Democrat Ruben Gallego about who won and what stood out.

The conversation is moderated by editorial page editor, Elvia Diaz.

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The Gaggle, a politics podcast by the Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, collaborated with our politics team to connect with candidates so you can hear them make their case in their own words.

This is part of a series of bonus episodes featuring Q&As on the state’s most important races.

In this episode, reporter Laura Gersony talked with Democratic nominee for Congressional District 1 Dr. Amish Shah about key topics. Republican nominee David Schweikert did not respond to our request to participate.

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Taking up a lot of the ballot’s real estate are 13 propositions. From abortion rights to worker tips, arguments for and against the propositions fill up more than 300 pages in the state’s official Publicity Pamphlet.

And the language can get confusing. Plan to spend more time than usual in the voting booth, or around the kitchen table, as you work through this ballot.

This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl try to simplify the most high profile ballot propositions to make them easier to understand.

Republic reporter Stacey Barchenger joins The Gaggle to talk through Proposition 139, the Arizona Abortion Access initiative and Proposition 137, which would end term limits for judges − two topics she's been closely covering.

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From now until your ballot arrives, The Gaggle, a politics podcast by the Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, collaborated with our politics team to connect with candidates so you can hear them make their case in their own words.

This is part of a series of bonus episodes featuring Q&As on the state’s most important races.

In this episode, reporter Sasha Hupka ask both candidates to represent District 1 on the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors why voters should choose them.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From now until your ballot arrives, The Gaggle, a politics podcast by the Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, collaborated with our politics team to connect with candidates so you can hear them make their case in their own words.

This is part of a series of bonus episodes featuring Q&As on the state’s most important races.

In this episode, reporter Sasha Hupka ask Democratic nominee for Maricopa County Recorder Tim Stringham about key topics. Republican nominee Justin Heap did not respond to our request to participate.

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The future of control of the state house depends on eight competitive districts on your ballot this November.

Driven by redistricting, lots of donation money, and Gov. Katie Hobbs’ long-stated intention to flip the Legislature blue, Arizona's political future is again toeing the line.

This week on The Gaggle, a politics podcast by The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, hosts Ron Hansen and Mary Jo Pitzl are joined by Republic reporter Ray Stern to discuss observations about the complexion of the contests and how they are playing out in select districts across the state.

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Early ballots are being packaged up to be sent out to Arizona voters by October 9th. This year is the big one. From contentious mayoral races to electing a new Maricopa County recorder, the local elections will come to define how the state runs.

On the national scale, Arizona has one of the most watched Senate races in the country and both Presidential candidates know how crucial winning Arizona will be to putting them in the White House. 

From now until your ballot arrives, The Gaggle, a politics podcast by the Arizona Republic and azcentral.com, collaborated with our politics team to connect with candidates so you can hear them make their case in their own words.

This is part of a series of bonus episodes featuring Q&As on the state’s most important races.

In this episode, reporter Laura Gersony asks Incumbent Juan Ciscomani and Kirsten Engel about key topics and why they deserve your vote this November.

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