Glassman Kicks Off 2026 AG Race Early Following a Streak of Campaign Struggles

Phoenix attorney Rodney Glassman is entering the race for Arizona Attorney General in 2026, eager for another chance at public office after a series of unsuccessful campaigns.

Glassman, who has run for various positions including U.S. Senate and Maricopa County Assessor, believes the political landscape may favor him this time, targeting incumbent Democrat Kris Mayes. Mayes narrowly won her position in 2022, securing just 280 votes against Republican Abe Hamadeh, who previously defeated Glassman in a primary.

Unlike the last election, Mayes now carries a record that Glassman plans to scrutinize. He argues that her actions, particularly concerning rental policies in Arizona, are problematic. “I believe that private property owners should be able to charge the rent that they want to charge,” he stated, criticizing Mayes for pursuing lawsuits against landlords that allege collusion to raise rents illegally.

Glassman has positioned himself as a champion for property rights, contending that the attorney general should prioritize economic development over litigation against businesses. He expressed concern over Mayes’s stance on the proposed merger between Albertsons and Kroger, in which her office partnered with the Federal Trade Commission to block the deal on competition grounds.

While he acknowledges the need for consumer protection, he accuses Mayes of using predatory tactics. He has not publicly commented on the current indictment of 11 “fake electors” who falsely claimed Trump won Arizona in the 2020 election, but he has criticized Mayes for what he sees as overly politicized inquiries from her office.

Moreover, Glassman is ready to challenge Mayes on her handling of contentious issues such as transgender participation in sports and abortion laws. He criticized her refusal to defend the Save Women’s Sports Act, asserting that she failed to uphold the law protecting girls’ sports from transgender competitors.

Mayes has also expressed intentions not to enforce an 1864 abortion ban, arguing that privacy rights in the Arizona Constitution protect a woman’s right to choose. Following the state’s legislative changes creating a constitutional right to abortion, her stance on the matter has become a topic of debate.

Despite his previous electoral setbacks, including losses in the 2018 Corporation Commission race and a recent primacy challenge, Glassman remains undeterred. He switched from Democrat to Republican in 2015, coinciding with Trump’s presidential campaign launch.

Mayes has not offered any response to Glassman’s assertions nor to requests for comment on his campaign. With the political landscape shifting and her record under scrutiny, the race for attorney general is shaping up to be competitive.