In her role as the chief law enforcement officer in the state of Arizona, Attorney General Kris Mayes has challenged mobile home landlords, stood with communities organizing against polluting industries and joined numerous national lawsuits against the Trump administration.
Now she is up for reelection, and the Republican challengers running in the primary this summer are offering a markedly different approach to the position.
Rodney Glassman and Warren Petersen are promising to play nice with the Trump administration, and waging a campaign against what they say is Mayes’ politically progressive approach to governing.
But before they can go up against her, voters must choose one of the two candidates in this summer’s primary election.
What’s at stake
The attorney general is the chief legal and law enforcement officer in the state overseeing what is effectively Arizona’s largest law firm. Attorneys with the office bring and defend lawsuits on behalf of the state, and prepare formal opinions requested by legislators and county attorneys on legal issues.
In addition, the attorney general is the primary statewide official who can investigate and prosecute election fraud through the office’s Election Integrity Unit.
All felony conviction appeals statewide are also handled by the AG’s office.
Early voting for the July primary begins June 24.
Who are the candidates?
Glassman is a reserve Air Force prosecutor, private attorney and former Tucson City Council member.
He is endorsed by the Nogales Police Officer’s Association, Maricopa County Sheriff Jerry Sheridan, former Arizona Senate President Karen Fann and Superintendent of Public Education Tom Horne.
“I’m running to protect our cops, to protect our kids and to protect Arizona’s prosperity,” Glassman said in his opening statement of a debate on May 28.
The candidate committee Glassman for Attorney General has raised over $3 million, according to the Arizona Secretary of State’s campaign finance data website.
Formerly running for office as a Democrat, Glassman is also under investigation for possible violations of campaign finance contribution limits. Contributors to Glassman’s campaign who gave $5,500 include venture capitalist Peter Ianello, Steve Martori, head of Martori Farms, and realtor Emanuel Junc.
A longtime real estate agent and broker, Petersen is the state Senate president. In that role he manages about 200 people, he said during the AG debate. He was elected in 2012 and currently represents District 14, in Maricopa County.
He was subpoenaed in his role as Senate president this spring by the Trump administration as part of its effort to investigate the 2020 election.
“I’m running to keep Arizona safe, free and prosperous. I do not want to allow Arizona to turn into California,” he said in his opening statement of the debate.
The candidate committee, Friends of Warren Petersen, has raised $1.4 million dollars, according to the Arizona Secretary of State’s campaign finance data website.
Petersen has been endorsed by U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs, the Arizona Police Association, a small business political action group, a political action group funded by private prison company GEO Group. He has also received donations from BoaVida, a manufactured home owner being sued by current Attorney General Kris Mayes.
Where they stand
To help Pima County voters differentiate between the candidates in a crowded race, Arizona Luminaria asked each of them key questions. Candidates responded to three questions from Luminaria by email through a spokesperson.
Their responses have been edited for length and clarity.
What do you think is the most pressing issue that the attorney general could impact, and how would you address it?
Rodney Glassman — Protecting Arizona’s cops and kids, which means addressing violent crime. While we have seen a nationwide decrease in violent crime, Arizona is one of the few states that has seen an increase in the last year, due in large part to our Attorney General’s refusal to back our police, instead focusing on building her resistance resume for out-of-state liberal donors.
[According to the Crime Index, a website visualizing crime trend data, Arizona saw a sizable decline in violent crime in 2025 after a slight increase in 2024.]
Warren Petersen — Kris Mayes has filed over 40 lawsuits against President Trump, wasting taxpayer dollars on political vendettas instead of protecting Arizonans. The AG’s job is to enforce the law, not go after political opponents. As your next AG, I will end the lawfare and refocus this office on fighting crime, defending our constitution, and eliminating fraud and corruption.
Attorney General Mayes has used consumer protection laws on issues from housing to the environment. How would you use this tool as attorney general?
Rodney Glassman — Protecting Arizona means protecting our prosperity, which means protecting seniors and consumers, not going after successful companies for frivolous complaints to earn headlines. We should relentlessly prosecute fraud and other criminal acts while working with Arizona businesses to grow our economy and provide the good-paying jobs that underpin affordable, family-friendly communities. We will narrow our focus to the real criminals.
Warren Petersen — Consumer protection is a powerful tool and I intend to use it to actually protect consumers and not advance a political agenda. I have already laid the groundwork on this. Some of the things I will be targeting are AI driven deception, robocalls, romance scams, and predatory schemes.
The AG’s office represents communities all across the state. How would you make sure to use the office to also represent the interests of communities with different political views from yours?
Rodney Glassman — As Attorney General, I look forward to working with President Trump and the federal government on issues of national importance, such as illegal drugs and cartels. I hope to work with a Republican governor to tackle crime, grow our economy, and protect Arizonans’ rights.
No matter who is in office, I will focus on protecting Arizona’s cops, Arizona’s kids, and Arizona’s prosperity. I will be happy to work with anyone who shares those goals and work against anyone who doesn’t, because I answer only to the people of Arizona.
Warren Petersen — My job as Attorney General is to enforce the law, and the law applies equally to every Arizonan regardless of their zip code or their politics. I have spent 14 years working alongside county attorneys, sheriffs, police departments, and federal partners all across this state. Rural communities, urban communities, communities that voted differently than I did, they all deserve equal access to justice and equal protection under the law.
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