Astead Herndon

It's not the foreground of necessarily how they interact with neighbors.

But, I mean, I do want to ask about Arizona's political transition because it's been one that's been sort of drastic.

Democrats now hold both Senate seats, the governor's seat.

And there's two Republican held House seats in Arizona that are going to be a big target for Democrats come 2026 midterms.

But at the same time, Republicans have been fairly successful in presidential elections, even Donald Trump in 2024.

So, like, should we think of this as a red to blue state or a blue emerging state?

Yeah, I mean, just because, you know, you mentioned it.

I remember being in Arizona for an event called Trump Stock.

It was the Woodstock for Trump fans.

And I had kind of got my firsthand experience with that libertarian streak.

Fair, fair.

I want to ask about the last piece of big data we got about Arizona politics, which is the 2024 election.

I mean, Donald Trump's win there seemed to confirm the sign that immigration or security kind of trumped everything else or came above concerns that even the ones we mentioned.

Is that the right read of that win?

And how much of a role did something like immigration, do you think, played in his ability to succeed there?

But a drop off from Democrats in the left, too.

Okay, well, let's put immigration to the side.

That's something we know we want to ask Senator Gallego about.

What are the other issues that have come up in your reporting since 2024 that you think are worth bringing up?

just because the issue has been uniting in people's opposition to it?