AZ Political Podcast: Analyst breaks down Arizona’s post-primary general election map

Even though Arizona’s statewide offices were 100% ruby-red Republican at the end of the 2010 election cycle, could 2026 bring a complete change to through-and-through blue?

That’s a possibility laid out by political consultant Chuck Coughlin, my guest this week on the AZ Political Podcast. The fact that Chuck — who oversaw Republican Gov. Jan Brewer’s 2010 win, the start of that four-year run of Republican rule — raises the prospect of a bounty of blue makes it all the more intriguing.

It all boils down to whether Democratic disdain for President Donald Trump drives voters to the polls — and whether enough independents come along for a ride in their blue car.

On the “Primary Postmortem/Preview and Pivot to the General Election” edition of the AZ Political Podcast, Chuck makes a prediction: Incumbent Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs will refuse to debate her Republican opponent, Andy Biggs, this fall — a repeat nonperformance of 2022, when she refused to debate Republican Kari Lake.

We also look at Arizona’s high-profile congressional races for 2026, wondering how the national Democratic Party failed so miserably with its backing of losing primary candidate Marlene Galán-Woods in the 1st Congressional District and asking whether Democratic nominee Amish Shah can rise to the occasion this time and beat Republican Jay Feely. That’s something he failed to do against Republican David Schweikert in 2024.

In the southeast Valley’s 5th Congressional District, we ponder whether Republican nominee and former Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb will continue to “give the Heisman” to the press when asked about sexual misconduct allegations against him. Is the district so red that Democrat Elizabeth Lee doesn’t stand a snowball’s chance in a Gilbert summer — meaning Lamb may never have to address his alleged history of dirty talk?

Get caught up on the big races on the AZ Political Podcast. Then buckle up and, please, keep your hands inside the ride at all times — because Arizona’s 2026 midterm elections will be a wild ride.

The AZ Political Podcast is available at KTAR.com, the KTAR News app and everywhere you get your podcasts.

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