1. News
 / Modified jun 6, 2016 10:43 a.m.

How Does the Presidential Election Affect Local Politics?

We ask political party leaders and journalists about trickle-down politics.
by Andrea Kelly

Any voter in Pima County could have a dozen political races to sort through on her August primary ballot.

There are races for U.S. Senate and House, Arizona Legislature, Pima County Board of Supervisors, countywide offices, local school boards and more.

If you follow politics, you'll hear a lot more about the presidential race than anything else. This week was the deadline for candidates in Arizona to file nominating petitions to get their names on the primary ballot.

On this episode of Metro Week, we ask how candidates for local political offices can use or divert from the national political conversation and earn your vote amid a loud presidential campaign cycle.

Guests:

  • Bill Beard, chairman, Pima County Republican Party, discusses the "roller coaster" of politics, why local races should be printed higher on the ballot, and how his party analyzes independent voters.
  • Jo Holt, chairwoman, Pima County Democratic Party, talks about the relationship of local and state politics to national politics, what the average voter can learn about local races and why she wants to stop trying to figure out how independents will vote.

On the journalists roundtable:

  • AZPM's Christopher Conover on the U.S. Senate race and Donald Trump's role in the Republican primary.
  • Dylan Smith of TucsonSentinel.com on Pima County law enforcement races and the potential for reduced hours on the Tucson SunLink streetcar.
  • Becky Pallack of the Arizona Daily Star on downtown redevelopment changes.
MORE: Arizona, Pima County, Downtown Tucson, Elections - Pima County, Government, Metro Week, News, Tucson
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