By Matthew Holloway |
Republican attorney general nominee and Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen is highlighting endorsements from seven law enforcement organizations as he challenges Democratic incumbent Attorney General Kris Mayes.
In a press release, Petersen’s campaign listed endorsements from the Arizona Police Association, Arizona Fraternal Order of Police, Arizona State Troopers Association, Arizona Conference of Police & Sheriffs, Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Arizona, Maricopa County Colleges Police Officers Association, and Phoenix Police Sergeants and Lieutenants Association.
“Law enforcement officers put their lives on the line every single day to protect our families, neighborhoods, and communities, and they deserve an Attorney General who will always have their backs,” Petersen said. “I am deeply honored to have earned the trust and support of the men and women who know firsthand what it takes to keep Arizona safe.”
The campaign emphasized the endorsements of Arizona’s six largest police organizations and called Petersen the first challenger to a sitting Arizona attorney general to receive all six endorsements in the same election cycle.
The announcement follows endorsements made earlier in the election cycle from the Arizona Conference of Police and Sheriffs (AZCOPS) and the Maricopa County Colleges Police Officers Association.
AZCOPS Executive Director David Stone said at the time that the organization considered candidates’ records, commitment to public safety, and willingness to work with the leadership of its member organizations when determining endorsements.
The Arizona State Troopers Association’s endorsed Petersen in June. Association President Jeff Hawkins cited Petersen’s relationship with troopers and other law enforcement personnel during his legislative service.
“Throughout his time in the Arizona Legislature, Warren Petersen has always been a friend to the Troopers and to law enforcement around the state,” Hawkins said.
Petersen has also received endorsements from Republican attorneys general in other states, including Nebraska Attorney General Mike Hilgers, Utah Attorney General Derek Brown, Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador, West Virginia Attorney General J.B. McCuskey, and Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita.
“Their endorsement sends an unmistakable message: It is time to restore integrity to the Attorney General’s Office, take politics out of law enforcement, and put the safety of Arizonans first,” Petersen said.
The campaign also pointed to recent polling that placed Petersen and Mayes at 45% each among likely voters. Those results came from an Equis Research survey conducted Sept. 1–9 and released in an Oct. 6 memo.
The survey interviewed 1,214 registered Arizona voters through live telephone interviews and text-to-web responses. Equis reported a margin of error of 3.2 percentage points for the full sample. Its candidate results were reported for likely voters, whose sample size and margin of error were not separately identified in the memo. The interviews preceded the campaign’s October advertising and its latest announcement highlighting the endorsements.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
