Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen secured endorsements from four of the state’s largest law enforcement organizations in his campaign for Attorney General, an unusual development that raises questions about incumbent Attorney General Kris Mayes’ standing with Arizona’s law enforcement community.
Petersen earned endorsements from the Arizona Police Association (APA), the Phoenix Police Sergeants and Lieutenants Association (PPSLA), the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP), and most recently, the Arizona State Troopers Association (ASTA). The organizations collectively represent thousands of law enforcement officers, troopers, supervisors, and public safety professionals across Arizona.
Political endorsements are common, but it is rare for multiple major law enforcement organizations to line up behind a challenger while bypassing a sitting attorney general. The endorsements become even more notable given that other law enforcement groups have yet to weigh in on the race.
The Attorney General serves as Arizona’s chief law enforcement officer and regularly works alongside police departments, prosecutors, and public safety officials across the state. For many voters, support from rank-and-file officers and police leadership provides insight into how those closest to law enforcement view a candidate.
Petersen believes the endorsements send a broader message about the current state of the race.
“One of the clearest measures of an Attorney General’s effectiveness is whether the men and women on the front lines of public safety trust their leadership. After four years in office, Kris Mayes has failed to earn the endorsement of a single major law enforcement association. In contrast, our campaign has earned the support of every major law enforcement organization that has weighed in. My campaign is the only campaign that can say that. That should tell voters something important. The people who work every day to keep our communities safe have lost confidence in the current Attorney General’s leadership and are looking for a change,” Petersen said.
The addition of the Arizona State Troopers Association strengthens Petersen’s early coalition and makes it increasingly difficult to dismiss the endorsements as isolated support. Together, the APA, PPSLA, FOP, and ASTA represent virtually every major statewide law enforcement organization to publicly endorse in the race so far.
While endorsements alone do not determine election outcomes, they represent a notable political challenge for an incumbent attorney general whose office works closely with law enforcement every day. Four years into Mayes’ tenure, every major law enforcement organization that has weighed in has instead chosen to support her challenger.
As additional organizations announce endorsements in the months ahead, Petersen’s sweep of the APA, PPSLA, FOP, and ASTA is likely to remain one of the strongest early indicators of where Arizona’s law enforcement community stands heading into the 2026 election.
