Welcome to the sixth episode of Prickly, a podcast from KJZZ’s Politics Desk. Subscribe here or wherever you get your podcasts, and don’t forget to subscribe to the Prickly newsletter.
It took over a week for some counties to count all ballots after Election Day, same as it always had. But some lawmakers have ideas for how to speed up that process. Republicans say it’s an effort to get results faster. Democrats warn the changes they propose would disenfranchise voters.
Political correspondents Camryn Sanchez and Wayne Schutsky dig into both sides’ perspective on the issue and the politics that could motivate lawmakers in the upcoming legislative session next month.
More Prickly podcast episodes
With Schweikert out of Arizona's CD1 race, what Republican could take his place — and win?
U.S. Rep. David Schweikert is out of the picture in Congressional District 1. But it's unclear who will step into the picture and run for the GOP nomination in what could be one of the most competitive congressional races in 2026.
Mayes is averaging about a lawsuit per week against Trump since he took office. She shares why
KJZZ’s Prickly podcast recently sat down with Arizona AG Kris Mayes to discuss the merits of filing so many cases; the criticism from Republicans who say Arizonans want the president’s agenda enacted; and what precedent the Democrat is setting for future attorneys general.
After 2024 election, Arizona Democrats picked a new chair in surprise move
Democrats elected Robert Branscomb as the Arizona party’s new leader earlier this year. It was a bit of a surprise – despite Democratic candidates’ poor performances up and down the ballot in 2024, former chair Yolanda Bejarano had the support of key Democratic officials.
Arizona GOP chair's reelection showed divide among the party faithful over Trump
Every two years in January, after voters statewide cast ballots in November, members of the Republican and Democratic parties hold their own elections for their party leaders. Those party chairs will set the tone for their respective parties for the next two years.
These issues will likely dominate debate in the Arizona Legislature in 2025
A new year means a new legislative session for Arizona lawmakers returning to the Capitol in Phoenix. Political editor Ben Giles catches up with field correspondents Camryn Sanchez and Wayne Schutsky for a debrief on the topics and issues — some prickly — that will likely dominate debate this year.
A look ahead at the most consequential legislative and Maricopa County races on the November ballot
The Arizona secretary of state officially certified the results of July's primary elections, meaning Arizonans now know the candidates who will be running in the handful of competitive legislative races that will determine which party controls the Arizona House and Senate next year.