Your guide to Arizona’s 2026 primary debates: Candidates faced off in top races

Arizona’s 2026 primary debates gave voters one of their clearest looks yet at the candidates competing for some of the state’s most powerful offices.

In a battleground state where fights over budgets, schools and election administration have defined recent politics, the debates could help shape the direction of Arizona government in 2027 and beyond.

The Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission, a voter education resource, hosted a slate of debates for candidates in contested federal, statewide and legislative races ahead of the July 21 primaries. Early voting began June 24.

High-profile debates

KTAR News 92.3 FM broadcast select debates for some of the biggest races over the air, at KTAR.com and on our YouTube channel.

Additionally, all debates were streamed at the Clean Elections YouTube page.

KTAR News livestreamed the following debates:

• May 13: Democratic superintendent of public instruction with Brett Newby and Teresa Leyba Ruiz. (Debate recap here.)
• May 14: Republican superintendent of public instruction with Tom Horne and Kimberly Yee. (Debate recap here.)
• May 19: Republican Arizona Corporation Commission with Nick Myers and Kevin Thompson (Debate recap here.)
• May 28: Republican attorney general with Rodney Glassman and Warren Petersen. (Debate recap here.)
• June 4: Democratic 5th Congressional District with Brian Hualde, Chris James and Elizabeth Lee. (Debate recap here.)
• June 15: Democratic Congressional District 8 with Bernadette Greene-Placentia and Raymond “Ray” Keeler. (Debate recap here.)
• June 17: Republican governor with Andy Biggs, David Schweikert, Ken Miceli and Scott Neely (Debate recap here.)
• June 23: Democratic 1st Congressional District 1 with Marlene Galan-Woods, Rick McCartney, Amish Shah and Jonathan Treble. (Debate recap here.)
• June 24: Republican 1st Congressional District 1 with John Trobough, Joseph Chaplik and Jay Feely. (Debate recap here.)

The full primary debate schedule can be found on the Clean Elections website.

This is an updated version of a story originally posted May 11, 2026.

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