AZ Political Podcast: What will state Republicans try to accomplish next legislative session?

It’s a new year, which means a new legislative session, so who better to fill us in on the 2026 agenda of the state Senate’s (Republican) majority than Senate President Warren Petersen?

Petersen pulls back the curtain on the 1,500 bills he expects to be introduced this year, covering everything from immigration and border issues to education (including teacher pay) and even a tax cut of over $1 billion he wants to see passed.

I ask him if he thinks he’ll find a compromise with Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, who also has expressed interest in a tax cut (albeit a much smaller one).

We also talk about his run for state attorney general and whether he will eventually have to step back from the Senate presidency because it will be just one too many balls to keep in the air.

Thanks for checking out this week’s AZ Political Podcast. Here’s to a 2026 filled with all sorts of great political stories — but not too many crazy politicians.

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

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