Warren Petersen claims victory in GOP primary for Arizona attorney general

Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen is the likely winner in the Republican primary for Arizona attorney general on Tuesday, although the race has not yet been called.

If he wins, he will emerge from one of the most bitter primary contests of the 2026 cycle, setting up a November challenge to Democratic incumbent Kris Mayes.

With 68% of the vote tallied, Petersen is leading Air Force Reserve JAG officer and private attorney Rodney Glassman in a race defined by personal attacks and competing claims of legal credentials.

Petersen has 55.9% points of the tallied votes against Glassman’s 44.1% points.

Speaking at gubernatorial candidate Andy Biggs’ election night watch party, where he declared an early victory, Petersen cast the result as a rebuke of big-money opposition.

“Money talks in politics, but we beat the money,” Petersen told supporters, noting that roughly $4 million in outside spending had been directed against him in what he called the most expensive race in Arizona.

“This is not about me,” Petersen said. “This is about thousands of Arizonans who deserve a better state. They deserve an attorney general who will keep this state safe and free, and who serves the majority of the people.”

The rivalry between the two Republicans burst into public view during a May 28 debate sponsored by Arizona Clean Elections, where moderator Steve Goldstein struggled to keep order. Glassman hammered Petersen’s legal experience throughout the campaign.

“He’ll be 50 in September, but he got his law license just 28 months ago,” Glassman told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s The Mike Broomhead Show. “He’s never filed a lawsuit as a lawyer. He’s never prosecuted a criminal as a lawyer. He’s never even worked in a law firm as a lawyer.”

Petersen countered that the office demands a leader, not a litigator.

“My opponent is running to be an attorney, apparently,” Petersen said during the May 28 debate. “I’m running to be the attorney general. This is a management and policy office.”

At a rally for Biggs last week, Petersen found reinforcement for that argument.

“I don’t need to see an attorney general going in there trying cases, sorry to say,” Biggs told the crowd. “I need an attorney general who will hire the best lawyers to defend this state and be aggressive in protecting our rights and our liberties.”

Petersen dismissed Glassman as a charlatan, trust fund baby and failed political candidate.

Both candidates pledged to work with federal immigration authorities and rescind lawsuits Mayes filed against the Trump administration. Petersen promised to enter a 287(g) agreement with federal immigration officers, citing his work on the Arizona ICE Contact bill.

The winner will face Mayes, who won the office in 2022 by just 280 votes after a statewide recount. She is running unopposed in the Democratic primary.

Subscribe to the KTAR Political Brief newsletter to get our top political stories, exclusive guest interviews and more to your email inbox.

Related

Kimberly Yee leading Tom Horne in bitter GOP primary for Arizona schools chiefAlex Kolodin tops former state party chair in secretary of state primary raceJay Feely projected winner in CD-1; Dem race still too close to callMark Lamb wins AZ-5 Republican primary, will face newcomer Elizabeth LeeAndy Biggs projected winner in Arizona governor primary, will face Katie HobbsMaricopa County Recorder Justin Heap expects signature verification done by midday Wednesday