Representing LD25 at the Capitol

Serving as Majority Leader comes with a great deal of responsibility, but one thing I never want to lose sight of is who I represent.

LD25 (blue on the Yuma County map and inside blue outline in Maricopa County map) stretches across portions of Yuma and southwestern Maricopa counties, and the needs of our rural and agricultural communities deserve a strong voice at the State Capitol.

That means making sure issues like water, infrastructure, energy, economic opportunity, education, and the cost of living aren't viewed only through the lens of Phoenix.

Protecting Our Water Future

We also talked about one of the most important issues facing our region: Colorado River water.

For Yuma and the surrounding agricultural communities, water isn't an abstract policy discussion. It's our economy, our food supply, our livelihoods, and the future of communities that have been here for generations.

As Arizona continues to negotiate its water future, I believe we must protect our state's interests while making sure the people who have responsibly put Colorado River water to beneficial use for generations have a strong seat at the table.

These decisions will affect Arizona for decades, and we have to get them right.

School Choice and Parental Rights

Education was another important part of our conversation.

I've spent years working on education issues, and I continue to believe that parents should be empowered to make decisions about what educational environment works best for their children.

Arizona has become a national leader in school choice. We've fought hard to protect that freedom, and as we saw again this year, there are powerful interests determined to roll it back.

I'm committed to protecting school choice and parental rights while also making sure our programs maintain the accountability and integrity necessary to remain strong for generations to come.

Governing Means Getting Things Done

We also talked about something that doesn't always make the headlines: working with people you don't always agree with.

Republicans and Democrats are going to disagree. Governor Hobbs and our Republican Legislature have certainly disagreed... sometimes significantly.

But my responsibility as Majority Leader isn't simply to point out those disagreements. It's to advance our Republican priorities, negotiate when there is an opportunity to deliver something worthwhile for Arizona, and find a path forward whenever we can without abandoning our principles.

That's governing.

I've learned that relationships matter, communication matters, and sometimes getting 80 or 90 percent of what you're fighting for is better than accomplishing nothing at all.

At the same time, there are principles worth standing firm on... and I will.

HELP KEEP ARIZONA STATE HOUSE RED

The Work Continues That's really what this interview was about. The work we do at the Capitol ultimately comes back home to the people we represent.