AZ Political Podcast: Rep. David Schweikert on budgets, math and his run for governor

If he was already governor, Republican Congressman David Schweikert says he might not have signed the Republican budget that Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs just vetoed.

But not because he agrees with Hobb’s veto. Instead, it’s because he believes this budget wouldn’t have ended up on his hypothetical desk in the first place. He would’ve worked with Republicans in the Legislature to craft an even slimmer budget. Not one that just slashes government willy-nilly but one that’d use math to make it better.

That’s because Schweikert, my guest on the AZ Political Podcast, is an admitted “numbers guy.”

With the exception of the 14 digits that represent the $39 trillion we are in debt, he loves numbers. But that doesn’t mean he sees people as numbers. Schweikert sees numbers as tools to help people. By using math and the innovation that math can bring, Schweikert believes he can create a more efficient government. So efficient that it saves money while also raising its responsiveness to meet the needs of the people.

He sees this application of numbers as a path to improving the health of Arizonans who are on the state’s Medicaid program (AHCCCS) while also stopping the theft of AHCCCS funds by scammers long before a check from the state is ever written.

He believes that within a few years, through math and science, we can cut the number of homeless individuals in the state by half. And that Arizona will play a big part in the science of curbing addiction.

David Schweikert wants his love of numbers to help our state’s government love its residents into a better way of life. He’ll have to wait to see, though, if the numbers on Election Day will love him back, something polling numbers aren’t doing at this moment.

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

Related

AZ Political Podcast: Could Republican infighting reshape key 2026 primary races in Arizona?AZ Political Podcast: Andy Biggs talks about running for governor, what he’ll do if he winsAZ Political Podcast: Bipartisan push produces 13 new AZ laws to fix broken child welfare systemAZ Political Podcast: Marlene Galán-Woods says she is Democrats’ best hope to flip CD1AZ Political Podcast: What to watch for at this week’s GOP gubernatorial debateAZ Political Podcast: What to look for in upcoming ballots