>> GOOD EVENING, AND WELCOME TO THIS "AZ VOTES 2025" SPECIAL EDITION OF ARIZONA HORIZON.

I'M TED SIMONS.

TONIGHT WE FEATURE A DEBATE BETWEEN CANDIDATES RUNNING IN A SPECIAL REPUBLICAN PRIMARY ELECTION FOR ARIZONA'S 7TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT.

THE SEAT WAS HELD BY THE LATE RAUL GRIJALVA, A DEMOCRAT, WHO REPRESENTED THE SOUTHERN ARIZONA DISTRICT FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS.

CONGRESSMAN GRIJALVA DIED EARLIER THIS YEAR AFTER AFTER A BATTLE WITH LUNG CANCER.

WE HEARD FROM THE CANDIDATES IN THE DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY ON TUESDAY.

TONIGHT, IT'S THE REPUBLICANS' TURN.

CANDIDATES WILL BE GIVEN 60 SECONDS TO REPLY TO QUESTIONS AND THERE WILL BE OPPORTUNITIES FOR REBUTTALS.

LET'S INTRODUCE TONIGHT'S CANDIDATES, IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER: DANIEL BUTIEREZ, A SMALL BUSINESSMAN WHO RAN AGAINST CONGRESSMAN GRIJALVA IN THE 2024 ELECTION... AND JORGE RIVAS, A TUCSON RESTAURANT OWNER.

WE SHOULD NOTE WE INVITED CANDIDATE JIMMY RODRIGUEZ, HE INITIALLY AGREED TO PARTICIPATE BUT TODAY DECLINED.

LET'S GET UNDERWAY WITH OUR OPENING STATEMENTS.

AND, IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER, WE START WITH DANIEL BUTIEREZ.

>> HI, FRIENDS, I'M DANIEL BUTIEREZ.

I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR HAVING ME HERE.

CONGRATULATIONS, MR. JORGE, FOR MAKING THIS FAR.

THIS ELECTION IS ABOUT INTEGRITY, AND THIS DEBATE IS ABOUT ELIMINATING CANDIDATES THAT LACK SPEAKING WITH GOTTA LEAD -- THAT LACK INTEGRITY TO LEAD.

I'M THE ONLY TUCSON NATIVE RUNNING TO ENSURE THAT YOUR VOICE IS HEARD.

I WILL SET UP AN OFFICE SO THAT YOU WILL BE REPRESENTED IN SOUTHERN ARIZONA BETTER THAN YOU HAVE BEEN IN THE LAST 22 YEARS.

THE THING THAT MAKES ME DIFFERENT IS -- ANYWAYS, MY OFFICE WILL BEAT YOUR OFFICE.

>> VERY GOOD.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND NOW THE OPENING STATEMENT FROM JORGE RIVAS.

>> GOOD AFTERNOON.

MY NAME IS JORGE RIVAS.

I AM A PROUD UNITED STATES STUN.

I IMMIGRATED FROM THIS COUNTRY FROM EL SALVADOR AS A CHILD DURING THE 1980s ARE THE CIVIL WAR IN EL SALVADOR.

I KNOW THAT I CAME TO THE GREATEST COUNTRY ON EARTH, WHICH HAS GIVEN ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO LIVE THE AMERICAN DREAM.

I HAVE A GREAT WIFE, THREE YOUNG MEN, THREE SONS, THAT GOD BLESSED US WITH.

ALL THREE GRADUATED FROM COLLEGE.

WE THINK, AND I KNOW, THAT MY FAMILY AND I, WE REPRESENT AN EXAMPLE OF THE LIVING AMERICAN DREAM.

WE ARE THE LIVING EXAMPLE OF THE AMERICAN DREAM.

WHY?

BECAUSE WE CAME HERE, WE WORK HARD, WE STAY OUT OF TROUBLE, AND IT'S OUR OWN BUSINESS, AND MAKE SURE THAT WE HAVE DONE THE RIGHT THING, AND NOW I WANT TO USE SOME OF MY TIME TO HELP OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE SUFFERING AND THAT ARE IN TROUBLE.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

LET'S GET THINGS STARTED.

LET'S START WITH YOU, DANIEL, SIMPLE QUESTION, WHY ARE YOU RUNNING FOR CONGRESS IN A DISTRICT THAT IS ABOUT 80% REGISTERED DEMOCRAT?

>> WELL, LAST TIME I ACTUALLY GOT ALMOST 100,000 VOTES, I HAVE NAME RECOGNITION, AND I WAS BORN IN CITY CD7, OWN TWO SMALL BUSINESSES IN CD7, AND EMPLOY RESIDENTS IN CD7, AND SO I DECIDED TO RUN BECAUSE I CARE ABOUT MY COMMUNITY.

>> JORGE, SAME QUESTION TO YOU.

AGAIN, THIS IS A HEAVILY DEMOCRATIC DISTRICT, WHY ARE YOU RUNNING FOR THIS OFFICE?

>> I AM RUNNING FOR THIS OFFICE BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT THAT IT'S IN CRITICAL NEED OF GREAT LEADERSHIP, AND I THINK I BRING THAT TO THE TABLE.

NOT ONLY I WORK VERY HARD TO ACHIEVE WHAT I HAVE, BUT I ALSO HAVE -- GOD HAS BLESSED ME WITH KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS AND WIS WISDOM.

AND I WANTED TO USE THAT TO HELP MY FELLOW CITIZENS BECAUSE I THINK FOR SO MANY YEARS, WE HAVE SOMEONE REPRESENTING THIS DISTRICT THAT DIDN'T REALLY CARE OR HE WASN'T UP TO THE TASK TO DO WHAT WAS NECESSARY.

AND I WILL DO EVERYTHING NECESSARY TO MAKE SURE NOT ONLY I DO THE RIGHT THING FOR THE DISTRICT, BUT I ALSO WILL STAND UP, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID, I WILL NOT BE DESIRED DO WHAT IS RIGHT AND MAKE SURE THAT THE LIFE OF THE PEOPLE IN THE DISTRICT WILL BE BETTER IN THE FUTURE.

>> I NEED FOR YOU TO RESPOND TO HOW CONGRESSMAN GRIJALVA DIDN'T CARE OR DIDN'T DO RIGHT BY THE DISTRICT.

>> THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WE SEE NOW ON THE STREETS, HOMELESS PEOPLE, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE SUFFERING, THE GREAT NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT ARE DYING OVER FENTANYL AND DRUGS THAT IS COMING IN, NO ONE DID ANYTHING ABOUT IT, ESPECIALLY THE CONGRESSMEN.

THEY DIDN'T DO ANYTHING SIGNIFICANT TO MAKE THIS STOP.

AND I WILL MAKE THAT TO STOP.

>> DANIEL, DO YOU BLAME CONGRESSMAN GA GRIJALVA FOR ANY HOMELESS ISSUES, ANY FENTANYL ISSUES THAT HIT DISTRICT 7?

>> I BLAME THE HOMELESS ISSUES ON OUR CURRENT LEADERSHIP IN THE MAYOR'S OFFICE, THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS.

BUT GO HALL HAVE A, WHAT HE DID WAS HE FAILED TO ACT ON OUR BORDER, WHICH ALLOWED A LOT OF THE DRUGS TO COME IN, AND IT GOT WORSE WHILE HE HAS BEEN ILL, SO, YOU KNOW, I CUT HIM THAT YEAR BREAK, BUT THIS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR YEARS AND YEARS, SO I DO AGREE WITH THAT.

>> OKAY.

AND YOU TALKED ABOUT IMMIGRATION.

LET'S GET TO IMMIGRATION.

THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION CERTAINLY HAS A POLICY AND CERTAINLY HAS BEEN ENACTING THINGS THAT MANY COURTS ARE FINDING ILLEGAL.

THAT ASIDE, DO YOU GROW WITH THE WAY THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP AND REPUBLICANS ON CAPITOL HILL ARE HANDLING IMMIGRATION?

>> I BELIEVE THEY'RE DOING AN AMAZING JOB ON IT.

WE -- AS YOU AND I SPOKE ABOUT BEFORE, THEY WERE POURING IN ACROSS OUR SOUTHERN BORDER BY THE THOUSANDS, JUST BEING PICKED UP AT THE END OF THE WALL, BROUGHT OVER AND RELEASED INTO OUR COUNTRY EVERYWHERE.

SO I BELIEVE WE NEED TO REMOVE THEM FASTER THAN WE BROUGHT THEM IN.

>>> SO YOU AGREE WITH THE WAY THINGS ARE BEING HANDLED RIGHT NOW BY THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

>> JORGE, WHAT ABOUT YOU?

>> I THINK THAT THE LAST ADMINISTRATION DID NOT DO THEIR JOB.

AND PRESIDENT TRUMP -- THE ONLY THING THAT HE'S DOING DIFFERENTLY IS THAT HE'S ENFORCING THE LAWS THAT WE HAVE FOR SO MANY YEARS, THE SAME LAWS THAT APPLY BY PRESIDENT OBAMA AND MANY OTHER PRESIDENTS AFTER HIM.

SO PRESIDENT TRUMP IS NOT DOING ANYTHING DIFFERENT.

HE'S JUST BEING RESPONSIBLE.

HE'S DOING THE JOB THAT WE HIRE HIM TO DO, SO FOR THAT REASON, I GIVE HIM CREDIT FOR STANDING UP AND BEING A MAN OF HIS WORD THAT HE WAS GOING TO TAKE CARE OF BUSINESS.

SO I FEEL THAT HE IS DOING THE RIGHT THING BY ENFORCING THE LAW AND THROWING AWAY EVERY SINGLE 19 HAS A CRIME, EVERY PERSON THAT BELONGS TO A GANG MEMBER ORGANIZATION, THAT THEY SHOULD BE THROWN OUT AS FAST AS POSSIBLE, JUST THE WAY HE'S DOING IT.

>> WHAT ABOUT THOSE WHO AREN'T PART OF ORGANIZED CRIME AND AREN'T A CRIMINAL?

FOR EXAMPLE, THOSE WHO APPEAR FOR ASYLUM HEARINGS AS REQUESTED, AS REQUIRED, AND WHEN THEY APPEAR, THEIR CASES ARE DROPPED AND THEY ARE IMMEDIATELY PUT IN CUSTODY, THEY ARE DETAINED AND DEPORTED?

>> THE FAILURE OF WHAT HAPPENED IS THAT THE PAST ADMINISTRATION, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION, THEY USE THE WRONG CODE OR THE WRONG SYSTEM TO LET SO MANY PEOPLE IN.

95% OF THE PEOPLE DO NOT QUALIFY UNDER AMNESTY BECAUSE THEY DON'T COME FROM A COUNTRY THAT HAD A CIVIL WAR OR A WAR BETWEEN TWO COUNTRIES.

THEY ARE HERE BECAUSE THEY'RE HUNGRY.

THEY HAVE NO JOB.

AND THAT'S A WHOLE DIFFERENT STORY.

WE CANNOT BE LEGISLATE THE PEOPLE STAY JUST BECAUSE THEY THINK THAT THEY CAN.

WE HAVE TO FOLLOW THE LAW.

>> OKAY.

BUT IF THEY FOLLOW THE LAW, IF THEY DO AS REQUIRED AND APPEAR FOR IMMIGRATION OR ASYLUM HEARINGS AND HAVE THEIR CASE IMMEDIATELY DISMISSED AND THUS THE MINUTE THEY WALK OUT, SOMETIMES GO DOWN THE STREET, THEY ARE APPREHENDED, IS THAT WHAT YOU WANT TO SEE?

>> WELL, I KIND OF WAS A LITTLE SHOCKED LISTENING TO JORGE OVER HERE BECAUSE I SAW HIM ON ANOTHER ARTICLE WHERE THEY DID AN INTERVIEW ON HIM, AND HE WAS AGAINST PRESIDENT TRUMP'S DEPORTATION.

SO NOW THAT HE'S SUPPORTING PRESIDENT TRUMP, I'M A LITTLE SHOCKED ON THAT.

AGAIN, WHERE I STAND ON THIS IS THE LAW MUST BE ENFORCED.

IT WAS IGNORED WHEN THEY CAME IN, AND WE NEED TO REMOVE ANYONE WHO CAME IN HERE ILLEGALLY, AND AT THE SOUTHERN BORDER, THEY ALL CAME ACROSS WHERE THERE WASN'T PORT OF ENTRY, SO THEY ENTERED ILLEGALLY, THEY NEED TO BE REMOVED.

>> SO IT'S OKAY -- THE PROCESS THAT WE'RE SEEING IN FEDERAL COURT RIGHT NOW, YOU'RE OKAY WITH THAT?

>> WITH WHAT THE FEDERAL COURT IS DOING?

>> YES.

>> I DON'T THINK THE FEDERAL COURT SHOULD BE GETTING INTO THIS.

THIS NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES HIS ADMINISTRATION.

>> JORGE, I WANT YOU TO RESPOND TO DANIEL BASICALLY SAYING THAT YOU CHANGED YOUR POSITION.

>> NO, SIR.

I'VE BEEN SUPPORTIVE OF PRESIDENT TRUMP AND THE POLICIES HE CAME INTO OFFICE.

HE PROBABLY MISUNDERSTOOD WHAT I SAID, BUT HE HAS THE RIGHT TO HIS OWN OPINION.

I KNOW WHO I AM, AND I KNOW WHAT I STAND FOR, AND I HAVE A RECORD OF PROVING THAT I'VE BEEN SUPPORTING THE REPUBLICAN PARTY AND PRESIDENT TRUMP ALL ALONG.

>> ANOTHER ASPECT OF IMMIGRATION HAS CHANGED WITH THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS THAT ENFORCEMENT IS OKAY IN SCHOOLS, CHURCHES, CIVIC PLACES, PUBLIC, CIVIC PLACES.

YOU OKAY WITH THAT?

>> IF IT'S WITHIN THE UNITED STATES AND THE LAWS OF THE UNITED STATES APPLY TO IT, SO BE IT.

WE CANNOT AND PICK CHOOSE WHERE WE ENFORCE THE LAW.

WE CANNOT PICK AND CHOOSE WHEN WE ENFORCE THE LAW.

IF WE DO, THAT THEN WE BECOME A BANANA REPUBLIC AND MANY THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE LIKE MYSELF, OR MILLIONS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME TO THE UNITED STATES FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS, THEY COME HERE BECAUSE IT'S A COUNTRY OF LAW, AND THAT'S HOW WE'RE GOING TO KEEP IT, AND THAT'S WHAT I'M GOING TO WORK ON.

>> DANIEL, CHURCHES, SCHOOLS OKAY BY YOU?

>> CHURCHS AND SCHOOLS, ARRESTING THEM IN CHURCHES OR SCHOOLS?

>> DETAINING AND DEPORTING, FINDING PEOPLE IN CHURCHES, SCHOOLS, PUBLIC PLACES WHERE THEY WERE PROTECTED IN THE PAST?

>> I DON'T THINK WE SHOULD BE GOING INTO THE CHURCHES OR THE SCHOOLS AT ALL.

I DON'T THINK LAW ENFORCEMENT SHOULD BE GOING INTO OUR SCHOOLS OR OUR CHURCHES.

I BELIEVE THEY SHOULD BE SANCTUARY AREAS.

>> INTERESTING.

LAST POINT ON THIS.

DEPORTING VENEZUELANS, THERE'S A TEMPORARY PROTECTIVE STATUS PROGRAM THAT THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION CERTAINLY USED.

DEPORTING THE VENEZUELANS, THOUGH, THAT ARE UNDER THAT PROGRAM.

WHAT IF THESE PEOPLE ARE BEING DEPORTED BACK TO OPPRESSIVE GOVERNS AND SOCIETIES, AND MANY SEE VENEZUELA AS THAT KIND OF A SYSTEM.

HOW DO YOU FEEL ABOUT THAT?

>> WELL, WITH UNS THAT ARE BEING SENT BACK TO VENEZUELA THAT I'VE SEEN AND I UNDERSTAND AND MY KNOWLEDGE OF IS THEY'RE CRIMINALS THAT SHOULD HAVE NEVER COME HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

I DON'T BLAME THE ADMINISTRATION THAT'S DOING THIS AND SENDING THEM BACK.

I BLAME THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION THAT LET THEM COME HERE.

>> BUT AS FAR AS THE IDEA OF NON-VIOLENT CRIMINALS BEING SENT BACK, WHO CAME HERE TO ESCAPE OPPRESSION, BEING SENT BACK TO THAT OPPRESSION, YOU'RE SAYING... >> AGAIN, I DON'T HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION ON THAT.

I DON'T KNOW WHETHER THEY WERE DANGEROUS OR NOT.

I HAVEN'T FLOOD ANY OF THEIR RECORDS.

IT'S NOT MY JOB TO LOOK INTO THEIR RECORDS.

IT'S UP TO THE BORDERS AND THE COURT SYSTEM -- OR THE ADMINISTRATION LOOK IN THEIR RECORDS.

I TRUST WHAT OUR ADMINISTRATION IS DOING RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THEY ARE TRYING TO DO WHAT'S BEST FOR WE, THE PEOPLE.

>> I SAW A SIGN, JORGE, THAT READ "DEPORTING GOOD I GRANTS BACK TO DICTATORSHIPS IS CRUEL."

YOU AGREE?

>> THERE ARE MANY THINGS THAT ARE CRUEL IN THIS COUNTRY OR IN THIS WORLD.

THE UNITED STATES DOES NOT HAVE THE RESPONSIBILITY TO GO AROUND MAKING SURE THAT EVERY COUNTRY IN THE WORLD IS PEACEFUL AND AS SMOOTH AS IT SHOULD BE.

I THINK THE UNITED STATES HAS A RESPONSIBILITY TO TAKE CARE OF THE CITIZENS OF THIS COUNTRY AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS COUNTRY DOES NOT BECOME CRUEL OR DICTATORSHIP OR WHATEVER THEY MIGHT WANT TO CALL IT.

SO WE HAVE TO WORK ON OUR CITIZENS.

WE HAVE TO WORK ON OUR LAWS TO MAKE SURE THAT WE PROTECT OUR CITIZENS BEFORE WE ARE GOING AROUND CRITICIZING OTHER GOVERNMENTS.

>> SO BASICALLY, IF YOU ESCAPE A DICTATORSHIP AND YOU COME HERE NOT BY THE PROPER METHODS, BACK INTO THE DICTATORSHIP YOU GO?

>> WELL, PEOPLE CAN APPLY, AND THEY CAN FOLLOW THE PROPER STEPS.

BUT WE CANNOT JUST AUTOMATICALLY ASSUME BECAUSE SOMEONE SAYS THAT A COUNTRY IS DICTATORSHIP ORO PRESSER, EVERYBODY WILL BE ABLE TO COME IN BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT THE WAY IT IS.

>> YEAH.

DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT, DANIEL?

>> YEAH.

>> DO YOU AGREE.

OKAY.

THE TAXES SPENDING BILL, THE HOUSE PASSED IT, THE HOUSE HOW WOULD YOU HAVE VOTED ESPECIALLY CONSIDERING SOME OF THE CRITICISM INVOLVED?

NOT ALL REPUBLICANS WERE BEHIND IT, BUT IN THE SENATE IT'S GOING TO GET A WHOLE DIFFERENT MAKE-UP.

HOW WOULD YOU HAVE VOTED ON THIS?

>> I WOULD HAVE VOTED FOR THE BILL.

THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD THINGS IN THAT BILL.

FOR EXAMPLE, IN 2017, TRUMP PUT IN A TAX BREAK FOR SMALL BUSINESS SO THAT WE COULD START.

PRIOR TO THAT I WAS WORKING FOR SOMEBODY ELSE.

TRUMP -- PRESIDENT TRUMP PUT THAT TAX BREAK IN THERE, AND I STARTED BUTIEREZ PAINTING.

AND THEN I BOUGHT THE OLD COMPANY I USED TO WORK FOR.

THAT TAX PROGRAM IS THAT THING.

THERE'S A LOT OF OTHER GOOD PROGRAMS IN THAT BILL JUST LIKE THAT.

AND I THINK THERE'S A LOT OF FEAR-MONGERING GOING ON WITH THAT BILL.

>> WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE BILL, JORGE?

DO YOU THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA?

WOULD YOU HAVE VOTED FOR IT IF YOU HAD BEEN IN CONGRESS?

>> I WOULD.

AND I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT MEDICAID AND MEDICAID BEING -- HAVING SO MANY PEOPLE LEFT OUT OF THE SOUTHLAND.

BUT I THINK IT IS NOT SO MUCH ABOUT THAT.

IT'S MORE OF BEING STREAMLINED, BECAUSE YOU KNOW THERE'S A LOT OF FRAUD ORGANIZATIONS OR INDIVIDUAL FEELINGS FOR MEDICARE AND MEDICAID, SO I THINK THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION IS JUST MAKING SURE THAT THE MONEY IS BEING USED PROPERLY FOR THE PEOPLE THAT NEED HELP AND NOT NECESSARILY HE SO ANYONE CAN TAKE IT AND JUST USE IT LIKE THEY HAVE BEEN FOR SO MANY YEARS, SO THEY'RE GOING TO RUN OUT OF MONEY AND NO ONE'S GOING TO GET THE BENEFIT.

>> AND IT COULD MEAN THOUSANDS OF ARIZONANS COULD LOSE THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE.

>> WELL, WHEN I GET THERE, I WILL DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT.

>> WHAT WOULD YOU DO ABOUT IT?

>> I WILL MAKE SURE THAT THE PEOPLE THAT NEED IT, THAT WILL GET THE BENEFIT THAT THEY DO DESERVE.

>> CAN THAT BE DONE AND ALSO ADDRESS WASTE, FRAUD, AND ABUSE?

>> ANYTHING CAN BE DONE WHEN YOU HAVE THE WILL AND THE POWER TO DO IT.

ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.

>> ALL RIGHT, IS IT POSSIBLE TO KEEP THESE PEOPLE IN ARIZONA -- IF THESE PEOPLE IN ARIZONA LOSE THEIR HEALTH INSURANCE, THE RIPPLE EFFECT WILL BE SIGNIFICANT, AND EVERYONE FROM REPUBLICANS TO DEMOCRATS IN THE STATE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT IT.

ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT IT.

>> IT HASN'T HAPPENED YET.

I DON'T BELIEVE IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.

WHAT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT IS WHAT SOME PEOPLE BELIEVE IS GOING TO HAPPEN IF THE BILL PASSES.

SO FIRST OFF, IT HASN'T PASSED, SO NO ONE CAN SAY IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

THEY BELIEVE IT'S GOING TO HAPPEN, AND THAT'S PART OF THE FEAR-MONGERING THAT I HEAR ABOUT FROM PEOPLE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF THINGS THAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ARE PART THAT BILL THAT ARE NOT PART THAT BILL.

HE'S NOT TAKING AWAY THE MEDICAID.

HE'S NOT TAKING AWAY THE HEALTH CARE.

I HAD A FRIEND COME OVER TO MY HOUSE, WORK AT THE V.A., SHE THOUGHT SHE WAS GOING TO LOSE HER JOB.

THIS WAS WEEKS AGO.

SHE SHOWS UP ABOUT FIVE DAYS AGO, ALL EXCITED, SHE DIDN'T LOSE HER JOB.

THEY ONLY GOT RID OF THE PEOPLE THAT WERE AWOL, THAT WEREN'T COMING INTO WORK, AND THE INTERIOR DESIGNERS AT THE V.A., BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE TELLING THEM HOW TO SET UP THEIR OFFICE.

THAT'S WHO THEY GOT RID OF.

>> BACK TO MEDICAID, STEVE BANNON, WHO IS NO SHRINKING LIBERAL HERE, THIS IS A CONSERVATIVE IS A CONSERVATIVE, DEFINITELY ON THE RIGHT SIDE, TONS OF WORKING-CLASS FOLKS ARE ON MEDICAID, HE SAYS, THEY ARE WORKING AND NOT ASKING FOR A HAND-OUT.

FORMER GOVERNOR BREWER, REPUBLICAN, IF FEDERAL DOLLARS DISAPPEAR THE STATE IS LEFT WITH HANDFUL OF BAD CHOICES, CUTTING ELIGIBILITY, CUTTING SERVICES, CUTTING PAINTS TO PROVIDERS OR RAISING TACKS.

ARE THEY BOTH WRONG?

>> AGAIN, WE GOTTA SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

NONE OF THIS HAS HAPPENED YET.

THESE ARE PEOPLE'S OPINIONS, AND EVERYBODY'S INTIELGED TO AN OPINION.

I WOULD RATHER NOT BUY INTO THE FEAR-MONGERING AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS, BECAUSE WE'RE HEARING A LOT OF STUFF, AND IT'S -- A LOT A LOT OF IT IS FEAR-MONGERING.

>> DO YOU THINK IT'S ALL FEAR-MONGERING, JORGE?

>> I WILL GO BACK A LITTLE BIT, I WILL GO BACK TO THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION, WHEN THEY WASTED SO MUCH MONEY, EXTENT TO SO MANY COUNTRIES, THAT, FOR EXAMPLE, THEY SENT $20 MILLION TO IRAQ FOR SESAME STREET SHOW.

AND SO MANY OTHER EXAMPLES THAT I CAN GIVE YOU.

ALSO, THEY SEND $400 BILLION TO UKRAINE TO KILL PEOPLE.

WHY DIDN'T WE SAVE THAT $400 BILLION AND SAY, OKAY, HALF OF THIS WILL GO TO THE MEDICARE AND MEDICAID?

I MEAN, LET'S HOLD PEOPLE RESPONSIBLE AND ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS.

I THINK THAT'S WHY I'M RUNNING, BECAUSE I'M TIRED OF THOSE PEOPLE IN WASHINGTON DOING WHATEVER THEY WANT, LEFT AND RIGHT, AND NOBODY HOLD THEM ACCOUNTABLE.

>> WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THE PRESIDENT'S TARIFF PROGRAM?

>> PRESIDENT TRUMP IS A DEAL-MAKER.

AND HE'S MAKING THE BEST DEAL FOR THIS COUNTRY.

AND I FEEL THAT IN ABOUT FIVE, 10 YEARS FROM NOW, HE'S GONNA BE TELL A WISE MAN FOR HAVING DONE SO MANY THINGS THAT HE'S DOING RIGHT NOW.

I KNOW HE'S BEING CRITICIZED, BUT AT THE END, ALL OF US ARE GOING TO BE WINNERS.

>> ARE YOU CONCERNED THAT USING TARIFFS TO MAKE DEALS AND YET NOT GETTING THOSE DEALS THROUGH IS A POSSIBILITY?

AND WHAT IT WOULD MEAN TO BUSINESS, INCLUDING YOUR BUSINESS?

>> YEAH.

I MEAN, THERE MIGHT BE A LITTLE PAINFUL HERE AND THERE FOR A FEW MONTHS, BUT AT THE END, I'M ALMOST CERTAIN, I'M ALMOST 100% THAT PRESIDENT TRUMP WILL COME OUT ON TOP.

>> WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF TARIFFS, DANIEL?

>> I CAN TELL YOU, BECAUSE I'VE SPOKEN TO THE -- I I HAVE BEEN DOWN TO THE BORDER.

I'VE BEEN DOWN TO THE PORTS.

I'VE SPOKEN WITH THE PORT AUTHORITY, I'VE SPOKE WITH BUSINESSES IN NOGALES, INDUSTRIAL BUSINESS THAT BRING IN PRODUCE AND SHIP OUT PRODUCE.

THEY TOLD ME THAT AMERICA DID $40 BILLION LAST YEAR.

SO THIS IS A BIG INDUSTRY, AND OUR PORTS ARE VERY IMPORTANT.

THIS -- THESE INDIVIDUALS -- I DID A ROUND TABLE WITH THEM -- SAID THIS IS GOING TO COST THEM A LOT OF MONEY.

BUT IT NEEDS TO BE DONE.

THEY'RE JUST GRATEFUL IT'S PRESIDENT TRUMP DOING IT AND NOT HARRIS, BECAUSE HE HE IS A NEGOTIATOR, BUT PRESIDENT TRUMP'S NOT THE FIRST ONE TO SAY, HEY, WE NEED TARIFFS.

ALL OF THE OTHER PRESIDENTS HAVE SAID WE NEED TARIFFS.

TRUMP'S JUST THE ONE THAT WAS BRAVE ENOUGH TO DO IT.

>> SO WERE YOU FOR TARIFFS BEFORE PRESIDENT TRUMP GOT INTO OFFICE?

>> OH, YEAH.

>> YOU WERE FOR TARIFFS?

>> YEAH.

>> TO THIS EXTENT?

>> I TALKED TO SOME PEOPLE BEFORE.

WELL, WE KNEW IT WAS GOING TO BE AN EXTENT BECAUSE WE'VE GOT -- IT'S A NEGOTIATION.

THAT'S ALL TARIFFS ARE, THEY'RE A NEGOTIATION.

SO THAT IT'S FAIR ACROSS THE BOARD.

AND SOMEONE HAD TO DO IT.

SOMEONE NEEDED TO NEGOTIATE BECAUSE WE ARE BEING RIPPED OFF.

>> IS THERE CONCERN -- AND AGAIN, A LOT OF THE TRUMP ECONOMIC POLICY IS TO GET JOBS BACK TO AMERICA, GET MANUFACTURING BACK TO AMERICA, QUIT SENDING IT OVERSEAS.

IS THERE CONCERN THAT THOSE JOBS NEVER WILL APPEAR IN AMERICA IF, FOR NO OTHER REASON, AUTOMATION AND THESE SORTS OF THINGS THAT HAVE MOVED THE JOB MARKET AND EMPLOYMENT IN CERTAIN AREAS BEYOND WHAT WE USED TO KNOW?

IS THAT A CONCERN FOR NEW.

>> A LITTLE BIT.

BUT THEN AGAIN, WE KNOW THAT IN THE UNITED STATES, WE ARE SO BLESSED THAT WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE THAT ARE VERY CREATIVE.

AND A LOT OF THE NEW THINGS THAT ARE COMING OUT INTO THE WORLD ARE CREATED RIGHT HERE IN THE UNITED STATES.

SO LET'S MAKE SURE THE NEW JOBS ARE BEING CREATED IN DIFFERENT SECTORS, DO NOT LEAVE THE COUNTRY, YOU KNOW, THAT WE PROTECT THOSE JOBS AND MAKE SURE THAT THEY DON'T LEAVE, THIS HE STAY HERE AND THEY HELP PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING OFF OF SCHOOL, YOU KNOW, COLLEGE GRADUATES, MAYBE THE ONCE THAT HAVE ALREADY LEFT, IT WILL BE HARD FOR THOSE JOBS TO COME BACK, BUT I AM VERY HOPEFUL THAT WITH THE CREATIVITY OF THE AMERICAN CITIZEN, WE'LL BE OKAY IN THE FUTURE.

>> BUT WHAT JORGE DESCRIBES COULD VERY POSSIBLY MEAN HIGHER PRICES, COULD POSSIBLY MEAN AN INCREASE IN INFLATION.

DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT?

DO YOU THINK IT'S A VALID POINT OR DISAGREE?

>> I ACTUALLY, JUST DID A -- I JUST HAD A PHONE CALL WITH A GENTLEMAN THAT GETS HIS STEEL FROM MEXICO.

HE BRINGS IT IN, IT'S A CHEAPER, FOR AFFORDABLE PRODUCT.

AND RIGHT NOW WHAT JUST HAPPENS HAPPENED WITH THE TARIFFS AND STUFF, HE'S REALLY CONCERNED BECAUSE HE'S TRYING TO BUILD AFFORDABLE HOUSING UP BY DOUGLAS, AND HE'S TRYING TO GET PEOPLE -- THE GOVERNMENT TO GET INVOLVED AND TO BUY THESE HOUSES, AND HE'S CONCERNED.

I TOLD HIM, LIKE I TOLD YOU BEFORE, LET'S -- YOU KNOW, WE GOTTA WAIT AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS.

>> OKAY.

ALL RIGHT.

LAST QUESTION, GENTLEMEN, AND YOU'RE RUNNING IN THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY HERE, AND SO REPUBLICAN VOTERS ARE WHO YOU'RE AFTER IN THIS FIRST GO-AROUND.

I'M GONNA ASK YOUR OPINION OF WERE YOU EVER'S JOB PERFORMANCE AND IS THERE ANYTHING HE HAS DONE?

JORGE, WE'LL START WITH YOU.

IS THERE ANYTHING ME DONE THAT YOU OPPOSE?

>> ANYTHING THAT HE HAS DONE THAT I OPPOSE?

I DO NOT OPPOSE OF ANYTHING THAT ME DONE SO FAR.

MANY THINGS THAT HE HAS BEEN DOING SO FAR ARE THE THINGS THAT HE WAS CAMPAIGNING ON.

HE SAY, WELL, I WILL FIX THE BORDER, I WILL LOWER THE AMOUNT OF DRUGS COMING IN, SO HE'S WORKING ALL THE THINGS THAT HE SAID HE WAS GOING TO WORK ON.

AND I KNOW HE'S NOT PERFECT.

HE IS A HUMAN BEING LIKE ANYBODY ELSE.

HE MIGHT MAKE MISTAKES HERE AND THERE, BUT WE CANNOT HOLD HIM ACCOUNTABLE FOR EVERY LITTLE THING, SO I DO SUPPORT HIM.

>> LAST WORD ON, THAT ANYTHING THAT HE'S DONE THAT YOU OPPOSE?

>> EVERYTHING HE'S DONE, PROMISES MADE, PROMISE ITS KEPT.

I HAVEN'T SEEN HIM DO ANYTHING THAT I OPPOSE OF YET, AS FAR AS THIS -- YOU KNOW, WHAT HE'S DONE.

RIGHT NOW HE'S JUST TRYING TO KEEP HIS PROPOSES THAT HE MADE, AND I THINK HE'S DOING AN AMAZING JOB ON THAT.

>> ALL RIGHT.

GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

GOOD CONVERSATION.

THANK YOU, CANDIDATES.

IT IS NOW TIME FOR CLOSING STATEMENTS.

AND GOING IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER, WE BEGIN WITH DANIEL BUTIEREZ.

AND NOW THE CLOSING STATEMENT >> I AM THE ONLY CANDIDATE IN THIS RACE THIS ACTUALLY LIVES IN CD7, GREW UP IN CD7 AND HAS EMPLOYED HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE FROM CD7.

I UNDERSTAND THIS DISTRICT FROM ONE END TO THE OTHER.

I HAVE SPENT MUCH OF MY TIME IN DOUGLAS, YUMA, UP IN NOGALES, NONE OF MY -- NONE OF THE OTHER CANDIDATES IN THIS RACE HAVE GONE AND MET ANYONE IN THESE AREAS.

SO I ASK YOU FOR YOUR VOTE.

THANK YOU.

>> ALL RIGHT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND NOW THE CLOSING STATEMENT FROM JORGE RIVAS.

>> I DO ASK YOU FOR YOUR VOTE, AND THE GENTLEMAN HERE SITTING RIGHT NEXT TO ME, HE RAN LAST TIME AGAINST A GENTLEMAN, AN EXCONGRESSMAN, WHO COULDN'T WALK, WHO COULDN'T BREATHE, WHO COULDN'T TALK, AND FINALLY HE PASSED AWAY.

AND EVEN THOUGH THIS GENTLEMAN RUN UNOPPOSED, HE ONLY GOT A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE VOTE.

SO I PLEASE ASK YOU NOT TO WASTE YOUR VOTE ANYMORE AND GIVE ME A CHANCE.

I AM A FIGHTER.

I WILL DO WHAT I AM SUPPOSED TO DO.

I WILL TAKE CARE OF EVERYTHING, THE PROBLEMS THAT COMES ACROSS, AND WITH YOUR HELP, WITH YOUR VOTE, AND GOD'S BLESSING, I WILL DO WHAT IS NECESSARY.

THANK YOU.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

CANDIDATES, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR PARTICIPATING IN TONIGHT'S DEBATE.

WE APPRECIATE IT.

THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.