Arizona’s Republican primary for attorney general went off the rails Thursday night when Warren Petersen, the state Senate president and GOP candidate for attorney general, flat-out called his Republican rival Rodney Glassman a “criminal” during a Clean Elections debate. Petersen urged reporters and voters to “listen to the audio” he claims backs him up, turning what was supposed to be a sober policy forum into a bare-knuckle brawl that eventually dragged Democratic incumbent Kris Mayes into the mess.
Pressed by the moderator on whether he would support Glassman if he lost the primary, Petersen answered that he “cannot support a criminal” and then repeatedly pointed to allegations that have circulated for months about Glassman’s family and associates. Glassman fired back, calling the charges “disgusting attacks” and blaming Petersen’s allies for elevating accusations from a disgruntled former business partner. As reported by Phoenix New Times, Petersen has also retweeted social media posts that suggest a personal scandal involving Mayes while urging voters to review a recording he says supports those claims.
What happened at the debate
The hourlong forum was staged by the Citizens Clean Elections Commission as part of its statewide debate series and carried by partner outlets across Arizona. Moderators tried to keep the focus on each candidate’s experience, approach to crime and prosecutorial priorities, but the conversation kept boomeranging back to the contested allegations Petersen brought onstage. For more on the debate format and where it aired, see the Citizens Clean Elections Commission and local coverage from ABC15.
The allegations at the center
The political firestorm traces back to allegations promoted by Michael von Gold, a former business associate who says that Jeremy Glassman confided years ago that he had been abused by his older brother decades earlier. Von Gold’s affidavit, an audio recording that has circulated in political circles, and reporting about a roughly $28,000 payment to von Gold have all been boosted by Petersen allies, according to prior coverage. Jeremy Glassman has strongly denied the accusations, and Phoenix New Times reports that he told reporters he filed a criminal complaint with the city of Tempe and characterized the outreach as an attempted extortion.
Campaign reaction and next steps
Glassman’s campaign has dismissed the allegations as politically motivated and accused Petersen and his supporters of weaponizing unproven claims. Petersen, for his part, has said he would treat any credible evidence of abuse seriously if he becomes attorney general. After the debate, he urged reporters to listen to the 54‑minute recording he referenced and said it is up to voters to decide what to make of it. The dust-up marks a clear escalation in a Republican primary where both sides were already trading shots over experience and judgment; for a broader look at the race and Petersen’s record, see the Arizona Capitol Times.
Legal implications
For now, the allegations remain unproven and rely heavily on second-hand accounts, the kind of material prosecutors typically want corroboration for before considering criminal charges. Tempe police have confirmed that a report was filed, and von Gold has published public statements disputing that he faces any criminal charges, but there has been no publicly reported prosecution tied to the claims. Any formal investigation or related civil case could collide with the campaign calendar and influence how voters weigh the competing narratives.
Why it matters
The blowup comes as Arizona’s primary, set for July 21, draws closer and both Republican contenders scramble for an edge before early voting and mail ballots go out. With the race already framed around law enforcement credentials and courtroom experience, the intensely personal nature of these attacks could reshape the contest in the final stretch. Voters looking to track the calendar and key deadlines can consult the Arizona Secretary of State.
