Arizona Attorney General

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has joined the Federal Trade Commission and 11 other states in a bipartisan lawsuit seeking to block PlayPower's proposed acquisition of rival BCI Burke, two of the largest manufacturers of commercial playground equipment. Five companies currently control 85-90% of the U.S. market, and officials argue the deal would eliminate one of PlayPower's strongest competitors, raising prices and reducing quality and innovation for schools, parks, churches and recreation departments nationwide. PlayPower already owns brands including Miracle Recreation Equipment, Little Tikes Commercial and Playworld Systems. Other states joining the suit include California, Colorado, Illinois, Nevada, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and Washington.

An Arizona Attorney General's Office investigation found no wrongdoing by Maricopa County election workers after a viral social media post falsely suggested tampering with election equipment. The Oct. 9 post, from a group called "We the People USA Alliance" linked to election conspiracy figure Shelby Bush, showed county workers inside the secure vote tabulation center late at night and alleged misconduct.

County Recorder Justin Heap's staff contacted the FBI, which referred the matter to the state attorney general's office. Investigators concluded the employees were authorized to be present and were acting within their official duties. Maricopa County Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Kate Brophy McGee criticized Heap for escalating the matter to federal authorities rather than resolving it internally, citing safety concerns for election staff amid the attention. Heap defended his office's response, saying referral to investigators was appropriate, though he maintains he has unanswered questions. The episode underscores ongoing tensions around election administration credibility in Maricopa County, a perennial flashpoint in disputes over U.S. election integrity.

Federal drug seizures in Arizona have fallen sharply, from roughly 27,000 in fiscal year 2023 to just over 10,000 this year, according to Customs and Border Protection data. Critics, including Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, argue the decline reflects the Trump administration's shift of law enforcement resources away from narcotics interdiction toward immigration enforcement. A Department of Homeland Security Office of Inspector General audit found that as ICE redirected staff to civil immigration enforcement, counter-fentanyl investigations dropped 24% and overall fentanyl seizures fell nearly 40%, citing faulty technology and poor coordination between CBP and Homeland Security Investigations. ICE agreed with the findings and pledged improvements by June 2027.

Former Border Patrol officials, including retired Yuma Sector Chief Chris Clem, counter that falling seizures reflect progress rather than neglect, noting record migrant crossings under the previous administration required a fentanyl-focused response, and that diplomatic pressure on China and Mexico over precursor chemicals is now easing supply. The debate underscores ongoing tension over federal enforcement priorities amid the fentanyl crisis.

Arizona's attorney general race is heating up as Democratic incumbent Kris Mayes and Republican challenger Warren Petersen, the state Senate president, faced off in their first televised debate. Mayes, who narrowly defeated Abe Hamadeh by 280 votes in 2022 in a recount-triggering finish, is seeking a second term against Petersen, who won the GOP nomination in July over Rodney Glassman.

The debate turned combative over law enforcement, with Petersen citing Mayes' past comments about masked immigration agents, which drew criticism from police groups and Gov. Katie Hobbs, while Mayes countered by pointing to Petersen's legislative voting record on police-related bills. The candidates also clashed over immigration detention facilities, including a $1.2 billion federally funded expansion in Florence, ICE's role in Arizona, and how to handle young migrants brought to the country as children. They split over data centers, with Petersen favoring expansion under local control and Mayes urging caution. Their sharpest divide remains relations with Washington: Mayes has filed more than 50 lawsuits against the Trump administration over mail-in ballot restrictions, tariffs, and vaccine rules, while Petersen, a strong Trump supporter, has pledged to drop those challenges if elected. Polling from AARP and Noble Predictive Insights shows Mayes with a modest lead, with about one in five voters still undecided.

Arizona's attorney general race pits Democratic incumbent Kris Mayes, who won the seat by just 280 votes in 2022, against Republican Warren Petersen, the state Senate president since 2021. Mayes points to actions against scams, fentanyl trafficking, corporate mergers and rising rents, while Petersen has campaigned on restoring the office's focus on crime, fraud and corruption, backed by endorsements from major law enforcement organizations.

Donald Trump looms large over the contest. Mayes has joined multiple lawsuits against Trump administration policies, including mail-in voting restrictions, tariffs and vaccine rules, and has defended abortion access after Arizona's near-total abortion ban was upheld. Petersen, a strong Trump ally who helped launch the 2020 election audit in Maricopa County, supports the abortion ban, backs restrictions on transgender athletes, and has pledged to support mass deportations. Polling shows Mayes with a modest lead, but with a large share of undecided voters, the race is expected to be one of Arizona's closest statewide contests this cycle.

Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes has opened an investigation into whether major fire truck manufacturers engaged in anticompetitive practices amid a nationwide firefighting equipment crisis. Arizona fire departments have reported soaring costs and years-long wait times for new ladder trucks and pumper engines, leaving crews reliant on equipment past its service life. The office noted that price increases coincided with industry consolidation, as three companies—REV Group, Oshkosh (which owns Pierce Manufacturing), and Rosenbauer America—now control most of the market, alongside unexplained manufacturing slowdowns despite high demand.

The average price of a pumper truck has more than doubled since 2015, from under $500,000 to over $1 million, while ladder trucks now exceed $2 million. Phoenix reports three- to four-year wait times for new trucks. Texas launched a similar probe in February, and several cities have filed a class action lawsuit alleging price fixing and supply suppression. The International Association of Fire Fighters has pushed for federal action; manufacturers have denied wrongdoing.

Jakob Blodgett, a 9-year-old with Type 1 diabetes, died in 2022 after staff at an Arizona group home run by Sunshine Residential Homes missed two doses of his long-lasting insulin and told an employee to give him water instead of medication. He developed brain swelling and died on a ventilator. Despite a licensing violation from the Department of Child Safety, the state imposed no fines, suspension, or license revocation, and no criminal charges have been filed, though a sheriff's investigation continues.

The case has become entangled in Arizona politics ahead of Gov. Katie Hobbs' reelection bid. Sunshine, the state's largest group home provider, made $550,000 in political contributions benefiting Hobbs, including gifts to her inaugural and legal defense funds, before receiving a 30% rate increase. Attorney General Kris Mayes found no evidence of bribery, attributing the increase to Sunshine's leverage as a dominant provider. Republican challenger Andy Biggs has seized on the scandal, while a state auditor general investigation and a county attorney probe remain ongoing. A separate diabetic teen died at another Arizona group home in 2024.