An unparalleled understanding of Arizona government & public affairs. J Charles Coughlin, President.
Phoenix, AZ
Joined July 2009
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“You have to give people a reason to vote for you, not simply against your opponent," @prbentz joined @KJZZphoenix to break down Arizona’s latest polling, Republican defections, and why negative campaigning could keep key voters home.
🔗kjzz.org/the-show/2026-10-20…
💧 Can Arizona’s water supply keep pace with its growth? Voters are worried.
HG's recent survey with @arizonafuture found water outranked inflation, education, and housing costs as Arizona’s top issue, with concern crossing party lines and demographics.
“There’s panic,” Coughlin tells @washingtonpost. Many Arizonans question whether the state has enough water to sustain its economic growth.
Water is shaping Arizona’s future, and this election. 🔗 Read the full story: washingtonpost.com/nation/20…
“Complete your ballot all the way through.”
That includes the judges. On Beyond the Ballot AZ, HighGround’s Doug Cole explains why judicial retention elections matter and encourages voters to do their research.
His reminder: “You don’t participate, others will, and you may not agree with them.” 🎧 👇
New episode of Beyond the Ballot AZ is LIVE! 🗳️
How do you know if a judge meets performance standards? Doug Cole of Judicial Performance Review joins Tom and Gina to explain judicial retention elections.
🎧 Listen: azcleanelections.gov/podcast
Coughlin tells @dailykos “We all should keep this in mind come Election Day when the President fires up his totally unproven narrative about election fraud, the only fraud going on here appears to be the President’s promises to end foreign wars and bring prices down.” ⚠️Warning ahead of Election Day 👇dailykos.com/stories/2026/10…
HighGround, Inc. retweeted
Arizona's longtime political pundits are all saying the same thing: @andybiggs4az is running the worst campaign in Arizona history. #azgov
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Are Republicans doomed to lose in Arizona this November?
HighGround pollster Paul Bentz joins Gaydos and Joe Huizenga to break down the latest numbers.
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The @EVPartnership #EVCCA #APS Statespersons’ Event featured 34 elected officials, 17 candidates, @apsFYI moderating discussions with @johngiles4AZ, @MarkStewart_AZ, @azhighground ChuckCoughlin,#Prop413 @ThomasGalvin & @arizonafuture @SybilFrancisCFA sharing “What AZvoters want.”
Trump’s coming to Arizona. Two Republican congressional candidates are keeping their distance. 👀
“It would be political suicide for either of them to show up in Bullhead City,” HighGround’s Doug Cole told @azcentral's @lauragersony.
With races still tightening, Cole says a key question remains: How far down the ballot will voter frustration with Trump reach?
🔗azcentral.com/story/news/pol…
🎙️ @prbentz tells @KTAR923, “There’s a built-in Republican advantage in the state, and right now those candidates are not taking advantage of it.”
ktar.com/arizona-politics-ne…
HighGround, Inc. retweeted
Hobbs leads Biggs 50.5% to 33.7%, while Republican candidates draw only 68%-75% of GOP voters’ support.
HighGround’s Chuck Coughlin breaks down Democrats’ leads in all five Arizona statewide races surveyed, three weeks before Election Day for @OutspokenKTAR.
🌊 Early ballots are out, and storm clouds are gathering for Arizona Republicans.
HighGround’s latest poll shows the entire GOP ticket significantly underwater and losing ground with independent voters.
“If this storm hits Arizona as currently forecasted, the results would be a devastating statewide wipeout for the GOP.”
How rough could it get? See the numbers behind the forecast. 👇 @prbentz
azhighground.com/hurricane-s…
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Chief pollster for Highground @prbentz calls it "Hurricane season for Arizona Republicans."
🔴 A “red undertow” pulling Arizona Republicans down? Coughlin says Trump’s drag on the GOP and the party’s increasingly extreme direction could deepen its losing streak, even with a substantial voter registration advantage. @cronkitenews cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2026/…
🪄📬What do Harry Potter and early ballots have in common?
On @kjzzphoenix, @prbentz recalls working at Best Buy, where Harry Potter books stayed locked up until release day. So how did ballots go out early?
No wand required. Just a little release-date discipline. 🎙️ Listen to his take. tinyurl.com/bestbuypotter
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Republicans are losing independent voters 70-30, says Chuck Coughlin, who calls this "a non-recoverable margin."
Joining the Faceoff, the weekly debate show hosted by @OutspokenKTAR, Coughlin said winning Maricopa County requires holding onto "95% of your own party" while winning over independent voters.
Could things change in the next four weeks? Coughlin said an end to the war with Iran could shift the outlook, and "gas prices could go back to $3.35 a gallon."
WATCH MORE: youtube.com/watch?v=B7bI37pw…
Andy Biggs would “need a miracle” to win, HighGround’s pollster @prbentz tells @cronkitenews. Republicans are expected to rally behind Biggs and narrow Katie Hobbs’ lead, but closing the gap is a long way from a comeback.
cronkitenews.azpbs.org/2026/…
“What are we giving people to vote for these days? I would argue very little, other than objections to the other guy,” said Chuck Coughlin. “And I just don’t think that fuels the kind of political economy we want.” @AzCapitolTimes
azcapitoltimes.com/news/2026…
“Independents seem to be rejecting Republicans right now and leaning more towards the Democrats. That doesn’t mean that they’re going to vote similarly as Democrats on the ballot issues,” @prbentz said.
🔗 @arizonaagenda
arizonaagenda.com/p/the-girl…
As Arizona Republicans weigh whether to embrace or distance themselves from President Trump, Coughlin says the political calculation is clear: “Trump’s negatives are significantly outweighing the positives for people to come to him.” Full story via @azfamily azfamily.com/2026/09/08/ariz…
