Warren Petersen

As of November 2025, Petersen lives in Gilbert, Arizona. Petersen graduated from Gilbert High School. He earned a bachelor's degree and a juris doctor from Arizona State University. Petersen's career experience includes owning a real estate brokerage.[2]

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

I’m a lifelong Arizonan and a third-generation resident of Gilbert, as well as an attorney, small business owner, and the current President of the Arizona Senate. I earned both my bachelor’s degree and my law degree from ASU. For more than a decade I’ve been involved in writing Arizona’s laws at the Capitol and I began defending those laws when they were challenged. That experience gives me a practical understanding of how the law works in the real world including the intent behind many of the statutes because I was part of the process when they were written. My combination of being an attorney, legislator, and business owner gives me a unique view of how the law impacts both the courtroom and everyday life. As Senate President, I also oversee the operations of a large legislative body, managing budgets, staff, and the daily responsibilities that come with running a major public institution which is the kind of leadership required to run the Attorney General’s Office. I am already handling core duties of the Attorney General. When the current administration has declined to defend state laws, I’ve stepped in help ensure the rule of law is upheld, including multiple wins at the United States Supreme Court while leading landmark litigation there. I’m running for Attorney General to bring that experience and commitment to the rule of law to an office that should always put Arizonans first by enforcing Arizona’s laws and protecting the rights of its citizens.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

I will fight crime. I am committed to making Arizona communities safer by taking a no-nonsense approach to public safety and justice. I will be known as a tough-on-crime AG. My office will aggressively prosecute violent offenders, crack down on the drug cartels fueling our fentanyl crisis, and combat human trafficking to ensure our streets are secure. I will serve as a relentless watchdog for Arizona taxpayers by actively investigating and prosecuting both government and consumer fraud. I am determined to ensure that criminals are held accountable, that our marketplace is protected from deceptive practices, and that public resources are used solely to serve the people of Arizona.I will defend the Constitution and the laws. My mission as Attorney General is to return the rule of law to an office used for too long as a political tool to ignore the will of the people. I will enforce the law as it is written, not as some wish it to be interpreted for political gain. While we finally have a partner in Washington willing to secure our border and roll back bureaucracy, we still have an executive in Arizona that picks and chooses which laws to follow. Defending the Constitution means ensuring our statutes are fully enforced, from protecting elections to securing Second Amendment rights. I have stepped into the courtroom to defend laws our current AG refused to touch, and will continue working to keep our communities safe.I will eliminate corruption. Eliminating corruption starts with transparency and accountability at the highest levels of our state agencies. For too long, we have seen unelected bureaucrats and career politicians use their positions to reward friends and punish those they disagree with. As your Attorney General, I will treat the law as a shield for the citizens and not a weapon for the well-connected. My office will conduct a review of state contracts and regulatory decisions to ensure that every dollar of your tax money is spent legally and ethically. We are going to root out the backroom deals and partisan bias that have stalled our progress, ensuring that the government finally answers to the people once again.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I’m passionate about supporting law enforcement, keeping our communities safe, cutting red tape, and securing the border through measures like the Border Security Act, and promoting fairness and personal responsibility, including protecting the integrity of women’s sports.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Our campaign has been incredibly fortunate to receive endorsements from current Attorneys General. These include Raul Labrador of Idaho, JB McCuskey of West Virginia, Derek Brown of Utah, and Todd Rokita of Indiana. I am honored to be able to say I have the endorsement of former prosecutor and current Congressman Andy Biggs. I am endorsed by multiple county attorneys and multiple sheriffs. I have many more endorsements that can be found on my campaign website.

Campaign websitePetersen's campaign website stated the following:Defending the Rule of LawArizona needs an Attorney General who will enforce the law as written—not based on politics or personal opinion. I will uphold our state’s laws with integrity and fight against any attempts to undermine them.Protecting Arizona's SovereigntyThe federal government continues to overreach into our state’s affairs. I’ve fought against unconstitutional mandates, burdensome regulations, and attacks on our rights—and I’ll continue that fight as Attorney General.Keeping Our Communities SafePublic safety must always come first. I will ensure our laws are enforced, hold criminals accountable, protect the rights of crime victims, and support law enforcement officers who put their lives on the line to keep Arizonans safe.Defending Women's SportsWhen the current Attorney General refused to stand up for fairness in women’s sports, I took action. I will continue fighting to protect opportunities for female athletes and ensure the law is upheld.Protecting Constitutional RightsFrom the Second Amendment to free speech, our rights are under attack. I will use every legal tool available to defend the freedoms that make Arizona and America strong.Restoring TrustArizonans deserve an Attorney General who applies the law without bias. I will bring fairness, accountability, and principled leadership to the office—ensuring justice is served, not politicized.— Warren Petersen's campaign website (August 27, 2026)Note: This text is quoted verbatim from the original source. Any inconsistencies are attributable to the original source.

Campaign ads

"Warren Petersen Has The Experience We Need For AZ Attorney General" – July 10, 2026

"Warren Petersen is the Only Conservative for AZ Attorney General" – June 30, 2026

"Warren Petersen is Andy Biggs' Choice for AZ Attorney General" – June 10, 2026

"President Trump Knows Warren Petersen is a Proven Conservative" – May 25, 2026

"Warren Petersen for Attorney General" – May 11, 2026

View more ads here:

YouTube

Warren Petersen did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2024 Candidate Connection survey.

Warren Petersen did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2022 Candidate Connection survey.

Warren Petersen did not complete [the profile publisher]'s 2020 Candidate Connection survey.

Petersen's campaign website highlighted the following issues:

Job Growth

Industrious states are prosperous states. I have been a leader that promotes hard work, innovation and ingenuity. I have supported legislation that provides certainty to businesses so that they have the confidence to invest in Arizona. As a top regulatory reformer, I have removed barriers that dampen the entrepreneurial spirit. Government should not take the credit for our economic gains. Our businesses merit that praise. However, as government we can get out of the way, so businesses can grow and thrive.

Protecting Families and Small Businesses

I have worked tirelessly to protect families. The family is the thread of our society. Strong families make strong communities. I am a proven Pro-Life candidate that believes our first inalienable right is that to life. Legislation should be supportive of the family unit and not discourage the union of husband and wife. Children are entitled to good parents. I do not support legislation that encourages broken homes. Most families are so busy dealing with life that they do not have time to watch every bill that is passed by the state. I have been a voice for the people to protect their interests and their rights.

Small businesses are the lifeblood of our economy. I have worked hard and passed legislation to remove arbitrary paperwork, permits and licenses that do not promote the general welfare or serve a meaningful purpose. I have had the opportunity to work with many business and government leaders. A common concern shared by all involved has been over-regulation by the state. The state of Arizona has more than 140 agencies. I am familiar with many of them. I will continue to work with heads of these agencies and business leaders to remove the shackles that are restricting small business growth. Some of these agencies and departments need to be eliminated. I sponsored and passed legislation to eliminate a state department. This has made government more efficient and saved the taxpayer money.

Fiscal Discipline

We need to run the State the same way a good business or home is run. We must spend less than we bring in. We need to understand the difference between needs and wants. I have always pushed and worked hard for structurally balanced budgets. I'm proud to say that Arizona recently passed its first structurally balanced budget in a decade. I ran legislation to implement zero based budgeting at the state level. Paying down debt should be a top priority when we have surpluses. I will continue to push for obsolete and inefficient government programs to be eliminated.[26]

—Warren Petersen, [27]

Medicaid expansion lawsuit

Warren Petersen was one of the 36 Republican members of the Arizona State Legislature who signed onto a lawsuit brought by the Goldwater Institute in September 2013 against Arizona Governor Jan Brewer (R) over the expansion of Medicaid in Arizona under provisions of the Affordable Care Act.[28] Brewer announced her support for Medicaid expansion in Arizona in 2013, and by June of that year the legislature passed a bill expanding Medicaid in the state .[29] In September 2013, the Goldwater Institute, a conservative think tank, filed a lawsuit seeking to block the law's implementation. They argued that the law contained a tax, and its implementation under the control of the executive branch violated state laws enforcing the separation of powers.[28] In 2015, a Maricopa County Superior Court judge ruled against the 36 Republican lawmakers and the Goldwater Institute, saying that the law contained an assessment, not a tax. The Arizona Court of Appeals upheld the Superior Court's 2015 ruling on March 16, 2017.[30]