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How Complex Is Arizona's Political Landscape?

Arizona has been famously — or infamously — called "the meth lab of American democracy."

But, though our state is known nationally as a hard-line conservative bastion, in a new piece for Politico, Arizona political writers Hank Stephenson and Jim Nintzel make the argument that our political landscape is actually much more complicated.

We are a state where 35 percent of voters are registered Republicans and 31 percent are Democrats, but a full 33 percent of voters here reject both parties and are registered as Independents. We are also a state where Latinos are the fastest growing demographic, and a Democrat may be poised to win the first statewide election since Janet Napolitano left office nearly a decade ago.

So, what does it take to win in Arizona? That’s the question Stephenson and Nintzel tackle in this piece for Politico. Stephenson is the editor of the Yellow Sheet report and Nintzel is the editor of Tucson Weekly.

The Show spoke with them both more about the piece, and we started with that Arizona paradox they say is making this election especially interesting.

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Lauren Gilger, host of KJZZ's The Show, is an award-winning journalist whose work has impacted communities large and small, exposing injustices and giving a voice to the voiceless and marginalized.