Mayes, Petersen clash over Trump, ICE in attorney general’s debate

Key points:

• Attorney General Mayes and Petersen, Arizona Senate president, met on the debate stage Wednesday night. 
• The candidates discussed the Trump administration, ICE and other issues.
• The hour-long debate also featured frequent personal attacks. 

SCOTTSDALE – Attorney General Kris Mayes and her Republican challenger, Warren Petersen, clashed and traded personal attacks in a debate Wednesday night, arguing over issues including how they would interact with the Trump administration. 

Mayes, a Democrat elected to the post in 2022, and Petersen, the current Arizona Senate president, differed on issues including the proliferation of data centers, how they would approach prosecuting members of their own parties and election integrity.

But the candidates frequently interrupted each other with criticism and tried to talk over one another during the hour-long debate hosted by the Arizona Media Association and the Citizens Clean Elections Commission. 

In one exchange, Petersen accused Mayes of pounding her fists on a table and using profanity in meetings. 

“I’m going to restore professionalism,” Petersen said. “Kris Mayes is known for having meltdowns, yelling, screaming, pounding her fists on the table.” 

“This is outrageous,” Mayes countered. “I can’t believe you’re allowing this to be aired. You’re flat out lying to the people of Arizona.” 

As attorney general, Mayes has brought dozens of lawsuits against the Trump administration — suits she said have saved the state $2.3 billion. But she said the president’s party doesn’t matter when she considers whether to bring a suit. 

“Whether it’s a Republican president or a Democratic president, our criteria is the same,” Mayes said. “Has the Constitution been violated? Has the state been harmed? And that has happened all too often over the last two years.” 

Petersen said he has a good relationship with the Trump administration but would also litigate unconstitutional actions by a president from either party. 

“If it’s unconstitutional action made by –- I don’t care if it’s a Republican or Democrat –- we will litigate,” he said. 

Responding to a question about how he would work with U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement as attorney general, Petersen said he supports legal immigration, and that law enforcement can count on him to help secure the southern border. 

Mayes, meanwhile, said ICE needs to refocus its efforts on controlling the flow of drugs over the border rather than sending agents “into the interior of the country to chase around hardworking landscapers and gardeners.” 

Regarding data centers, Petersen said location, electricity and water need to be considered, but he doesn’t believe in “just shutting down” the idea of a data center. 

Mayes has called for a temporary moratorium on new data centers and said the centers are driving rising utility costs. “The vast majority of Arizonans want to see us take a step back and think about a plan,” she said. 

She said she is proud of efforts under her leadership to stand up to the federal government’s efforts to access Arizona voter data and attempt to “take over and destroy” mail-in voting, while Petersen called for improvements in speeding up the delivery of election results. 

“My opponent has frustrated many of our citizens with her dismissive attitude towards election integrity,” Petersen said. “I think it’s important we listen to everybody and do everything we can to address their concerns.”

Wednesday’s debate follows Mayes’ decision last month not to bring criminal charges against Gov. Katie Hobbs, also a Democrat, in connection with an alleged pay-to-play scheme involving a state contractor. 

Mayes said she has no problem investigating or prosecuting a member of her own party. 

“I don’t care whether you have an R or a D behind your name,” she said. “I am dead serious about prosecutorial ethics.” 

She said the state needs legislation to prevent contractors from giving campaign contributions. “Pay-to-play is a serious issue,” she said. 

Petersen, meanwhile, called Mayes’ review a “sham investigation.” He said he has supported legislation to prevent “pay-to-play,” but the governor did not approve it.