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TED: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "CANDIDATES IN CONVERSATION," A SPECIAL EDITION OF "ARIZONA HORIZON."

I'M TED SIMONS.

TONIGHT, WE CONTINUE OUR "CANDIDATES IN CONVERSATION" WITH A DISCUSSION BETWEEN CANDIDATES RUNNING IN A DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY FOR ARIZONA'S FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, WHICH COVERS NORTHEAST MARICOPA COUNTY AND COVERS PARTS OF SCOTTSDALE, PARADISE VALLEY AND FOUNTAIN HILLS.

IT'S NOT A FORMAL DEBATE, OPEN EXCHANGE OF IDEAS, AN OPPORTUNITY FOR GIVE AND TAKE WITH CANDIDATES FOR ONE OF ARIZONA'S MOST IMPORTANT OFFICES.

IT'S A DISCUSSION, AND OUR JOB TO ENSURE ALL SIDES GET A FAIR SHAKE.

JOINING US, MARLENE GALAN-WOODS, A FORMER BROADCAST JOURNALIST HERE IN THE VALLEY.

RICK McCARTNEY, A SMALL BUSINESS OWNER.

AMISH SHAH, ER PHYSICIAN AND FORMER VALLEY LAWMAKER AND JONATHAN TREBLE.

THIS IS A DEMOCRATIC PRIMARY, WHAT DO DEMOCRATIC VOTERS IN THIS DISTRICT WANT TO SEE FROM THEIR CANDIDATES?

>> FIRST OF ALL, THANKS FOR HAVING US FOR THIS DISCUSSION TODAY.

ECONOMY.

WE HAVE TO TALK ABOUT AFFORDABILITY AND HOW MUCH THINGS ARE COSTING.

I UNDERSTAND THE STRUGGLE THAT PEOPLE ARE HAVING.

I'M A PRODUCT OF IMMIGRANTS, THE DAUGHTER OF IMMIGRANTS THAT CAME TO THE COUNTRY FROM A COMMUNIST NATION AND ARRIVED IN THE UNITED STATES IN SEARCH OF THE AMERICAN DREAM, WHERE IF YOU WORK HARD, YOU CAN MAKE IT.

AND UNFORTUNATELY, THAT DREAM IS SLIPPING THROUGH OUR FINGERS IN JUST ONE GENERATION, SO WE NEED TO SOLVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS.

ONCE WE WIN BACK THE HOUSE, WE NEED TO REIN BACK IN TARIFFS.

THAT'S STEP NUMBER ONE.

REIN IN HEALTH CARE COSTS AND OTHER THINGS, BUT THE FIRST THING WE NEED TO DO IS WIN BACK THE HOUSE AND THE SEAT.

TED: AMISH, THIS PARTICULAR DISTRICT IS DIFFERENT THAN OTHER DISTRICTS IN THE STATE, AND DEMOCRATS IN THIS DISTRICT ARE DIFFERENT THAN OTHER DEMOCRATS IN THE STATE.

MAYBE, MAYBE NOT.

BUT THE QUESTION TO YOU IS WHAT DO THEY WANT TO SEE FROM THEIR CANDIDATE?

>> FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME HERE.

DR.

AMISH SHAH, EMERGENCY PHYSICIAN, PRACTICING MEDICINE IN THE HEART OF MAYO CLINIC AND OTHER HOSPITALS.

FORMER STATE LEGISLATOR, AND I'M GLAD WE ARE ALL HERE AND YOU SEE THE EXCHANGE OF IDEAS.

THE NUMBER ONE THING I HAVE HEARD AGAIN AND AGAIN IS DONALD TRUMP'S ASSAULT ON OUR DEMOCRACY AND THE RULE OF LAW.

I'VE RUN MY CANDIDACY, MY PRIOR CAMPAIGNS AND THIS ONE BY GOING DOOR-TO-DOOR, 27,000 DOORS PERSONALLY, AND CONNECTED WITH PEOPLE, AND THEY'RE TERRIFIED AND THE MORAL DIRECTION HE'S TAKING OUR COUNTRY.

IT'S NOT OKAY TO DESECRATE THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES AND TREAT THE BILL OF RIGHTS LIKE IT'S SOMETHING OPTIONAL, AND THAT IS THE NUMBER ONE THING I'M HEARING FROM PEOPLE.

LET'S PUT OUR COUNTRY BACK ON TRACK, AND AFFORDABILITY.

TOO MANY THINGS, THE PRIVACY GROCERIES, TARIFFS, HOUSING COSTS, AND, OF COURSE, HEALTH CARE PREMIUMS, WHICH I HOPE WE GET TO A LITTLE LATER.

TED: WE WILL.

RICK, NUMBER ONE ISSUE FOR DEMOCRATS IN THIS DISTRICT?

>> NUMBER ONE ISSUES FOR DEMOCRATS IN THE DISTRICT IS THEY WANT A WINNER, SOMEBODY THAT CAN WIN THIS RACE, FOR THE LAST SEVEN CYCLES WE LOST AGAINST ONE MAN.

NOW HE'S OUT OF THE RACE.

WE'VE GOT WHAT IS GOING TO BE PROBABLY THE MOST MAGA-TRUMP-ENDORSED POSSIBILITY THAT'S ON THE OTHER SIDE.

WE HAVE GOT TO LOOK WHO CAN WIN IN A GENERAL.

THE PEOPLE RIGHT NOW, AS HAS BEEN SAID ARE LOOKING AT AFFORDABILITY.

THEY WANT HEALTH CARE AND DON'T HAVE IT UNDER THIS PRESIDENT OR THIS ADMINISTRATION.

THEY WANT HOUSING, THEY WANT ENDS TO MEET.

YES, THEY WANT SHORT-TERM PLANS LIKE ABSOLUTELY REPEALING THE BIG UGLY BILL, BUT ALSO WANT LONG-TERM THINKING.

THEY WANT SOMEONE WITH VISION.

I'VE LIVED IN THIS DISTRICT FOR 30 YEARS.

BUILT MY BUSINESS IN THIS DISTRICT, RAISED MY FAMILY IN THIS DISTRICT.

THIS DISTRICT DESERVES BETTER, AND THAT'S WHY I WANT TO DEFEND IT.

TED: JONATHAN, NUMBER ONE ISSUE, AS FAR AS YOU SEE IT, AND AS FAR AS VOTERS IN THE -- THEY'RE VOTING FOR YOU, WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO TELL THEM AND WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO GIVE THEM?

>> JONATHAN TREBLE, ENTREPRENEUR AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNER IN THE DISTRICT.

WHEN I TALK TO FAMILIES IN THE DISTRICT, IT COMES BACK TO AFFORDABILITY, THE COST OF LIVING, AND I'M SEEING THAT IN MANY RESPECTS.

YES, THE TARIFFS HAVE SHOT UP COSTS BY 18% AT THE GROCERY STORE AND OTHER STORES, AND THEN THIS WAR IN THE MIDDLE EAST THAT NOBODY WANTS HAS DRIVEN GASOLINE TO 5 BUCKS, DIESEL TO 6.

FOOD PRICES ARE UP.

IT HAS TO END.

THAT'S THE NUMBER ONE THING I'M HEARING AND PEOPLE WANT SOMEBODY WITH A REAL TRACK RECORD OF ECONOMIC EXPERIENCE, BRINGING COSTS DOWN, AND I THINK THAT'S WHERE MY BACKGROUND COMES IN, WHERE I'VE LOWERED COSTS IN MY COMPANY.

TED: JONATHAN, STICK WITH YOU, AND I'M ASKING EVERYONE THIS, CAN YOU BE TOO PROGRESSIVE OF A DEMOCRAT FOR THIS DISTRICT?

>> I THINK RIGHT NOW DEMOCRATS AREN'T THINKING IN TERMS OF PROGRESSIVE, MODERATE, CENTRIST.

I THINK THEY'RE THINKING ABOUT WHO'S GOING TO STAND UP AND GET SOMETHING DONE FOR US HERE IN ARIZONA?

I'M NOT GOING TO THROW LABELS ON THINGS, BUT WHO HAS A TRACK RECORD OF ACTUALLY GETTING THINGS DONE AND WHO'S GOING TO FIGHT FOR US?

TED: RICK, THE REASON I ASK THE QUESTION, WE HAVE A LOT OF DEMOCRATS ON THE SHOW, AND THEY SAY THE MODERATE RING OF THE PARTY HAS NOT BEEN AGGRESSIVE ENOUGH AGAINST THIS PARTICULAR ADMINISTRATION.

DO THEY HAVE A POINT?

CAN YOU BE -- DO YOU NEED TO BE PROGRESSIVE?

CAN YOU BE TOO PROGRESSIVE?

>> WHAT YOU NEED TO BE IS A LEADER, YOU NEED TO BE ABLE TO COMPROMISE ON SOME OF THE ISSUES.

WE NEED TO LISTEN TO EVERYBODY.

I'VE BEEN DOING TOWN HALLS FOR TEN WEEKS.

WE'VE DONE OVER 20 TOWN HALLS, WHERE WE'RE LISTENING TO PEOPLE WITH MOW RESTRICTIONS.

WE'VE SEEN THOUSANDS AND THOUSANDS OF VOTERS AND THEY'RE SAYING OVER AND OVER THEY WANT SOLUTIONS TO THE PROBLEMS, THEY'RE NOT THINKING ABOUT HOW PROGRESSIVE THEY ARE OR HOW CONSERVATIVE THEY MIGHT BE, THEY'RE VERY MUCH FOCUSED ON SOLUTION, AND THERE WAS A TIME WHEN COMPROMISE WAS A FOUR-LETTER WORD AND IT NOT ANYMORE.

WE HAVE NOT BEEN SEEING THAT LEVEL OF LEADERSHIP.

THEY WANT SOMEONE WHO CAN COME IN AND DOES HAVE THE EXPERIENCE.

MY 30 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN BUSINESS IS FANTASTIC FOR A POSITION LIKE THIS, BUT MY EXPERIENCE IN LEADERSHIP, WORKING WITH NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, HAVING BEEN APPOINTED TO GOVERNMENT COUNCILS WHERE WE'VE HAD TO FIGHT GOVERNMENT, THAT'S THE KIND OF LEADERSHIP THEY WANT TO SEE.

TED: AMISH, THE DEMOCRATIC CONGRESSIONAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE IS NOT SUPPORTING YOU AND SAY YOU ARE TOO, QUOTE, NICE.

THIS GOES BACK TO THE QUESTION, WHAT DO YOU GOT TO BE IN THIS DISTRICT TO WIN DEMOCRATIC VOTERS?

[LAUGHTER] >> I'M GOING TO ECHO THE COMMENTS YOU HEARD FROM JONATHAN TREBLE HERE.

I THINK IT'S ABOUT SOLUTIONS.

I DON'T THINK I'M HERE TO PUT LABELS ON MYSELF OR ANYBODY ELSE.

PRACTICAL LEADERSHIP IS WHAT PEOPLE WANT.

I POINT BACK TO MY RECORD IN THE LEGISLATURE.

OVER 5 1/2 YEARS, I HAD MORE BILLED SIGNED INTO LAW THAN ANY DEMOCRAT IN A DECADE, THIS IS THROUGH A REPUBLICAN TRIFECTA.

IT'S HARD TO GET ONE BILL THROUGH, BUT THOSE BILLS CAME DIRECTLY FROM THE VOTERS THAT I HEARD FROM, AND WE PUT THEM IN THE POLICY ACTION, AND THAT'S THE KIND OF THING.

WE'RE AUDITIONING FOR THE NATIONAL LEGISLATURE AND I'M THE ONLY ONE WHO'S LEGISLATED AND DONE IT RATHER SUCCESSFULLY.

TED: I'M HEARING A LOT OF GETTING THINGS DONE, BUT DEMOCRATS SAY THEY NEED FIGHTERS OUT THERE.

HOW MUCH OF THAT DO YOU THINK IS IN THAT ELECTORATE IN CORRECTIONAL DISTRICT 1?

>> PEOPLE WANT A FIGHTER.

PEOPLE WANT A FIGHTER, THEY WANT A FIGHTER RIGHT NOW WHO IS GOING TO WIN, WHO'S GOING TO TAKE ON THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE AND POINT OUT HOW THEY ARE ATTACHED TO EVERY SINGLE THING THAT DONALD TRUMP IS ABOUT.

WHOEVER GETS OUT OF THAT PRIMARY WILL DO EXACTLY WHAT DONALD TRUMP TELLS HIM TO DO, SO YES, THEY WANT A FIGHTER, THEY WANT A FIGHTER WHO'S GOING TO WIN IN NOVEMBER, AND THEN TAKE THIS FIGHT TO WASHINGTON, D.C., TO MAKE SURE WHAT WE ARE DOING IS COMING UP WITH SOLUTIONS FOR WORKING FAMILIES, FOR WORKING FAMILIES.

THAT'S WHY I'M THRILLED AND HONORED TO HAVE THE SUPPORT OF 13 DIFFERENT LABOR ORGANIZATIONS.

THE ORGANIZATIONS WHO SUPPORT FIREFIGHTERS AND TEACHERS AND THE PEOPLE WHO STOCK THE GROCERY STORE SHELVES, THEY'RE SUPPORTING ME BECAUSE THEY KNOW I'M THE FIGHTER WE NEED IN THE NATION'S CAPITAL.

TED: IF YOU'RE ELECTED AND DEMOCRATS TAKE THE HOUSE, WOULD YOU SUPPORT ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT AGAINST PRESIDENT TRUMP?

>> I TELL YOU THIS: WHAT I'D LIKE TO SAY IS THAT I SUPPORT HOLDING PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE, AND WE NEED TO DO THAT FROM THE TOP ON DOWN.

YOU KNOW, RFK JR.

IS WHERE I'D LIKE TO START.

THE GUY IS A MENACE, AND THANKS TO HIM WE HAVE A MEASLES OUTBREAK.

WE NEED TO HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE, AS A FORMER JOURNALIST, I WANT TO BE ON THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE AND START DRAGGING PEOPLE IN, HOLDING THEM ACCOUNTABLE FOR WHAT WE CAN SEE IS THE MOST CORRUPT PRESIDENCY IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY, AND WE NEED TO DO THAT.

TED: UP TO AND INCLUDING IMPEACHMENT?

>> IT'S NOT OFF THE TABLE.

TED: WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?

>> RESOUNDING YES.

HE HAS VIOLATED THE CONSTITUTION AGAIN AND AGAIN.

WE CAN GO THROUGH THE EMOLUMENTS CLAUSE, TRYING TO DEMOTE CAPTAIN MARK KELLY.

FIRST AMENDMENT WITH JIMMY KIMMEL AND GO ON AND ON AND FIND ALL THE VIOLATIONS OF THE CONSTITUTION ITSELF.

IF HE VIOLATES THE CONSTITUTION OR THE BILL OF RIGHTS WHILE I'M IN OFFICE, THE ANSWER IS YES, WE HAVE TO VOTE TO IMPEACH.

NO MAN IS ABOVE THE LAW.

TED: DO YOU THINK HE HAS ALREADY VIOLATED THE CONSTITUTION?

>> YES, SIMPLY.

TED: SO YOU WOULD SUPPORT, THEN, ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT AGAINST THINGS THAT OCCURRED BEFORE YOU GET IN OFFICE?

>> AS I SAID, HOLDING PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE IS NO LONGER OPTION.

PEOPLE HAVE MADE THIS VERY CLEAR.

NO MAN IS ABOVE THE LAW, AND WE HAVE TO HOLD PEOPLE ACCOUNTABLE.

THAT'S WHAT WE'RE GOING TO DO.

TED: RICK, HAS PRESIDENT TRUMP COMMITTED IMPEACHABLE OFFENSES?

>> YES, ABSOLUTELY.

ON DAY ONE, IT IS TIME TO IMPEACH THIS PERSON.

IN THE TOWN HALLS, PEOPLE SAID WHY DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD BE DOING THAT?

HOW ARE WE GOING TO DO IT?

WE TRIED BEFORE AND IT DOESN'T WORK.

WE'VE GOT TO HOLD PEOPLE IN POWER TO ACCOUNT.

THAT IS PART OF OUR JOB, WHEN WE'RE ELECTED TO GO TO CONGRESS, AND WE NEED A VERY STRONG FIGHTER, TO YOUR QUESTION EARLIER.

SOMEBODY THAT HAS EXPERIENCE.

IT'S NOT LOOKING AT WHAT PEOPLE CAN SAY, IT'S LOOKING AT THEIR BACKGROUND AND WHAT THEY'VE DONE TO DEMONSTRATE THAT FIGHT, AND THIS IS ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS THAT WE NEED TO BE FOCUSED ON.

THIS MAN NEEDS TO BE PUT OUT OF OFFICE, THAT CAN HAPPEN WITH THIS ELECTION.

TED: GENTLEMEN, WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT?

>> HE VIOLATES THE CONSTITUTION, THE EMOLUMENTS CLAUSE.

I THINK HE SHOULD BE IMPEACHED AND I THINK I WILL LOOK AT LEADERSHIP IN THE PARTY FOR WHEN WE WOULD PROCEED WITH THAT.

TED: DO YOU THINK THAT'S WHAT DEMOCRATIC VOTERS IN CD-1 WANT TO SEE?

>> THEY WANT TO SEE DONALD TRUMP REMOVED, AND I WILL BE SUPPORTIVE OF WHATEVER FASTEST WAY WE CAN DO THAT.

>> I DON'T THINK THEY'RE LOOKING AT LEADERSHIP IN THIS PARTY.

I THINK THEY WANT TO SEE MORE ACTION FROM THE PARTY.

THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY IS DOING BACKROOM DEALS, SUPPORTING CERTAIN CANDIDATES.

VOTERS OF THIS DISTRICT DESERVE THEIR VOTE.

THEY ABSOLUTELY DESERVE THEIR VOICE, AND I THINK THAT'S WHAT THE PEOPLE OF THIS DISTRICT WANT.

>> WE HAVEN'T BEEN SPEAKING WITH A LOT OF MORAL CLARITY ON THIS ISSUE.

WHAT'S RIGHT IS RIGHT AND WHAT'S WRONG IS WRONG.

WHAT HE'S DONE IS SO WRONG.

WE'RE USED TO THIS GUY'S TWO WATERGATES A WEEK.

THAT ISN'T RIGHT.

WE'RE GOING TO PUT THIS COUNTRY BACK INTO A PLACE WHERE WE'RE ON A MORAL TRAJECTORY, CARING FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE UNITED STATES.

TED: I WANT TO CONTINUE WITH NATIONAL ISSUES HERE, AND DR.

SHAH, I'LL START WITH YOU.

IS THE U.S.

COMPLICIT IN GENOCIDE IN GAZA?

>> I HAVE NOT USED THE WORD GENOCIDE, I WOULD NOT CHARACTERIZE IT AS A GENOCIDE, I'LL TELL YOU WHY.

I FEEL AS THOUGH THERE ARE TWO ARMED ENTITIES THAT ARE THE CONTROLLING POLITICAL ENTITIES IN THAT CONFLICT.

IT'S HEART BREAKING.

THIS IS THE WORLD'S THORNIEST CONFLICT, AND I HAVE SPOKEN TO VOTERS DIRECTLY WHO HAVE TIES TO ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER.

THE UNITED STATES HAS TO BE A LEADER IN THE WORLD TO TRY TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ON A PATH TO PEACE.

I BELIEVE STRONGLY IN A TWO-STATE SOLUTION.

I BELIEVE STRONGLY THAT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE NONCOMBATANTS IN THE PALESTINIAN AREAS HAVE A PLACE OF REFUGE.

I DO THINK THE WEST BANK SETTLEMENTS ARE ILLEGAL, AND I THINK HAMAS NEEDS TO GO, NEEDS TO BE DESTROYED BECAUSE THEY ARE A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION THAT ARE NOT GOOD FOR EVEN THE PEOPLE OF THE PALESTINIAN TERRITORY.

TED: AND MARLENE, I ASK THE QUESTION BECAUSE IT DIVIDES THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY STEEPLY HERE.

AGAIN, THE WORD GENOCIDE HAS BEEN USED BY THE PROGRESSIVE WING OF THE PARTY AND OTHERS, DO YOU THINK THAT'S ACCURATE?

>> I DO NOT USE THAT WORD.

I'M A STRONG SUPPORTER OF ISRAEL.

ISRAEL HAS A RIGHT AND DUTY TO DEFEND ITSELF SURROUNDED BY ENEMIES ALL THE WAY AROUND.

ENEMIES THAT WANT TO ANNIHILATE ISRAEL AND THE UNITED STATES BOTH.

I AM FOR A TWO-STATE SOLUTION.

THE UNITED STATES NEEDS TO PLAY A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN THAT, AND WE NEED TO PLAY A LEADERSHIP ROLE IN BRINGING HUMANITARIAN AID TO PALESTINIANS.

IT IS HEART BREAKING WHAT HAS HAPPENED THERE, AND REBUILDING FOR PALESTINIANS.

TED: AS FAR AS THE U.S.

RESPONSE TO ISRAELI ATTACKS THERE AND AGAINST IRAN, DID WE DO THE RIGHT THING?

ARE WE DOING THE RIGHT THING?

UP TO AND INCLUDING TODAY, WHEN WE'RE SEEING FIGHTS BACK AND FORTH WITH THE HELICOPTER AND ATTACKS, ARE WE DOING THE RIGHT THING?

>> LOOK, AS FAR AS THIS WAR, THIS IS THE MOST INCOMPETENT SHOW WE HAVE SEEN.

THIS ADMINISTRATION HAD ABSOLUTELY NO PLAN IN, NO PLAN OUT.

I'M PRETTY CONVINCED THAT DONALD TRUMP IS JUST FIGURING OUT WHAT THE STRAIT OF HORMUZ IS AND WHAT IT DOES.

THAT'S HOW BAD THIS IS.

INCLUDING TODAY AND, OF COURSE, THOSE TROOPS ARE OKAY, AND THEY HAVE BEEN RESCUED, BUT WE'VE LOST 13.

13 MILITARY HUMAN BEINGS, AND THAT CANNOT GO UNNOTICED AND UNFORGOTTEN.

TED: THE COUNTRY'S RELATIONSHIP WITH ISRAEL, A DIVIDING POINT WITHIN THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY, JOHN?

>> I THINK WE NEED TO HAVE MEASURED RESPONSE HERE.

WHAT HAPPENED ON OCTOBER 7, BREAKS MY HEART AS A FATHER, AND ALL THE WARFARE SINCE THEN IS ALSO HEART BREAKING.

MY NORTH STAR IS A TWO-STATE SOLUTION EVENTUALLY, WHEN WE HAVE A LEADERSHIP OF GAZA THAT HAS THE RESPONSIBILITY TO ACTUALLY GOVERN ITS PEOPLE.

RIGHT NOW HAMAS IS A TERRORIST ORGANIZATION.

SO I BELIEVE WE NEED TO HAVE -- WE NEED TO BE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT OUR MIDDLE EAST POLICY.

I DON'T THINK YOU CAN THROW IN BLACK OR WHITE TERMS HERE.

I THINK IT'S A VERY TOUGH ISSUE.

TED: WHAT DO YOU THINK, RICK?

>> I AGREE WITH A LOT OF WHAT THEY SAID.

I BELIEVE THE NETANYAHU-ERA POLICIES, I'VE BEEN VERY CRITICAL OF THOSE.

IT IS ABOUT CONTROL.

ABOUT THEM OVERSTEPPING, VARIOUS PIECES OF THIS.

THAT'S ABSOLUTELY SOMETHING WE NEED TO STOP.

THE SAME THING WE NEED TO DO WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE IRANIAN WAR.

THERE ARE MOVES IN UNDERSTANDING THAT I DON'T BELIEVE HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE OUTCOME OF THIS, FOR AMERICANS.

TED: SHOULD U.S.

POLICY TOWARD ISRAEL CHANGE?

>> I THINK IT DOES NEED TO CHANGE.

I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK ABOUT BEING MUCH ABOUT HUMANITARIAN AID AND FOCUSED ON PEOPLE.

I, TOO, AM FOR A TWO-STATE SOLUTION.

THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE WHO SAID THAT LANE HAS PASSED AND WE'RE NOT GOING TO GET THERE.

I DON'T AGREE.

I THINK WE CAN FIGHT HARD FOR THAT, IT'S THE RIGHT THING TO DO IN THAT REGION.

TED: RICK, STICKING WITH YOU, CURRENT BORDER SECURITY WITH WHAT WE SAW UNDER THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION.

>> LOOK, THE BORDER SECURITY WE NEED TO BE VERY TOUGH ON OUR BORDERS.

ABSOLUTELY.

THERE ARE LAWS THAT EXIST THAT WE NEED ADHERE TO.

THE CRUELTY, THE SPLITTING UP OF FAMILIES IS ABSOLUTELY INSANE AND NEEDS TO STOP IMMEDIATELY.

I AM VERY MUCH FOR STRONG BORDERS.

A LOT OF US ARE.

THAT'S GOOD FOR OUR COUNTRY.

WHAT'S NOT IS THE REPUBLICANS CALLING PEOPLE RAPISTS AND CRIMINALS.

THOSE ARE LIES.

THAT'S NOT OVERALL WHO IMMIGRANTS ARE.

I HAVE TALKED OVER AND OVER ABOUT OUR IMMIGRANT POPULATION BEING VERY MUCH A SERVICE SECTOR IN MEDICINE, IN SERVICE, HOSPITALITY, AGRICULTURE.

THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE WORKING IN THIS COUNTRY THEY THINK DESERVE TO BE IN THIS COUNTRY, AND I THINK WE NEED A VERY STRONG PATHWAY TO GETTING THEM TO CITIZENSHIP, SOMETHING THEY CAN ADHERE TO COLLECTIVELY SO THEY CAN STAY HERE AND UPLIFT.

THERE ARE JOBS INVOLVED IN THIS, FOR AMERICA, AND CERTAINLY FOR THIS DISTRICT.

TED: REAL QUICKLY HERE.

INCREASE OF AGENTS AT THE BORDER.

GOOD THING?

BAD THING?

>> I THINK INCREASE OF AGENTS AT THE BORDER IS A GOOD THING.

TED: JONATHAN, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> I THINK WE NEED AGENTS STOPPING OF FLOW OF DRUGS, FENTANYL IS KILLING TOO MANY AMERICANS AND AS RICK SAID, ABSOLUTELY NEED TO REFORM I.C.E., IT'S RIPPING FAMILIES APART AND PUTTING PEACEFUL PEOPLE INTO DETENTION CENTERS THAT ARE PRIVATELY RUN, THEY'RE FOR PROFIT ENTERPRISES AND THE CONDITIONS ARE HORRIBLE.

THIS NEEDS TO STOMP IT'S CRUEL, UN-AMERICAN AND I WILL NOT FUND AN AGENCY THAT BREAKS THE LAW.

TED: UNDER THE LAST DEMOCRATIC ADMINISTRATION, THINGS WERE MUCH DIFFERENT AT THE BORDER.

WAS THAT A MISSTEP?

>> LOOK, I AGREE WITH EVERYBODY HERE.

WE SHOULD HAVE STRONG BORDERS BUT NEED TO REFORM IMMIGRATION SYSTEM SO THERE ARE LEGAL PATHWAYS TO IMMIGRATION.

SHOULDN'T TAKE 20 YEARS TO BECOME AN AMERICAN CITIZEN WHEN THEY ARE HARD WORKING, MEMBERS OF OUR SOCIETY.

WE ARE A COUNTRY OF IMMIGRANTS AFTER ALL.

TED: WE HAVE MORE AGENTS AT THE BORDER, TECHNOLOGICAL INFRASTRUCTURE, PEOPLE ARE SAYING THE BORDER IS VERY DIFFERENT THAN THE LAST TIME A DEMOCRATIC ADMINISTRATION WAS AT THE WHITE HOUSE AND IN CONTROL OF CONGRESS, WHAT SAY YOU?

>> LET'S REMEMBER WHAT DONALD TRUMP PROMISED.

DONALD TRUMP PROMISED TO DEPORT THE WORST OF THE WORST.

THAT WAS A LIE.

A LIE HE CONTINUES TO TELL DAILY AND IT IS A LIE THAT REPUBLICANS ALLOW HIM TO TELL DAILY.

I TAKE THIS QUITE PERSONALLY.

GRANT AND I ADOPTED A BABY FROM GUATEMALA 22 YEARS AGO.

SHE'S A STUDENT AT THE U OF A, AND IN TUCSON, SHE USED TO CARRY A COPY OF HER PASSPORT IN HER BAG BECAUSE IT'S OKAY TO RACIALLY PROFILE PEOPLE IN THIS COUNTRY.

IT'S SICK WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH I.C.E.

AND THE DETENTION CENTERS.

WE HAD A MAN DIE HERE IN ARIZONA BECAUSE OF AN UNATTENDED TOOTH INFECTION.

WE NEED COMPREHENSIVE IMMIGRATION REFORM, OF COURSE.

WE NEED SECURE BORDERS.

WE NEED DREAMERS HAVING A PATHWAY TO CITIZENSHIP.

WE NEED MORE JUDGES FOR QUICKER ASYLUM.

NEED MORE INVESTMENTS IN PORTS OF ENTRY, TO KEEP DRUGS OUT OF OUR STATES, BUT WE NEED HUMANE, CONSTITUTIONAL IMMIGRATION POLICY.

TED: DO WE NEED MORE ENFORCEMENT AT THE BORDER?

REPUBLICANS SAY YES, AND I'M SURE FOLKS IN CD-1 WOULD AGREE WITH THEM, WHAT DO YOU SAY?

>> I DO NOT AGREE WITH ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION.

WHAT WE WANT IS AN IMMIGRATION SYSTEM THAT IS HUMANE, THAT IS FAIR, THAT IS ORDERLY.

MY PARENTS ARE ACTUALLY IMMIGRANTS AND A LONG TIME AGO, TED KENNEDY GAVE A FAMOUS SPEECH HE TALKED ABOUT OPENING IT UP TO OPPORTUNITIES.

THAT'S WHY I'M SITTING HERE WITH ALL OF YOU TODAY, AND IT ALL STARTED, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, WITH AN ACT OF GENEROSITY WHERE, MY FAMILY EXTENDED SOMETHING TO A RETIRED JUDGE IN MICHIGAN IN BOMBAY IN THE 1950s AND ENDED UP SPONSORING MY MOTHER TO COME HERE TO THE UNITED STATES.

IMMIGRANT STORIES ARE WHAT WE LOVE HERE IN AMERICA.

HOWEVER, WHAT YOU HAVE NOW UNDER DONALD TRUMP IS A TERROR STATE, AND THEY'RE TAKING FOLKS WHO ARE NOT WELL TRAINED.

SIX WEEKS OF TRAINING AND A GUN, AND UNLEASHING THEM ON THE STREETS AND YOU HAVE THE RENEE GOOD AND THE ALEX PREDY SITUATION.

TED: I.C.E., IS IT A ROGUE SITUATION.

SHOULD I.C.E.

GET OFF THE STREETS AS WITH CANDIDATE TREBLE HERE.

WHAT DO YOU DO WITH I.C.E.?

>> GOT TO TAKE THE AGENCY, AND QUITE FRANKLY START OVER.

WHAT HAS TO HAPPEN IS THEY NEED TO UNDERSTAND HOW TO DO THEIR JOB AND ENFORCE THE LAWS, BUT DO IT IN A WAY THAT DOESN'T TERRORIZE COMMUNITIES, VIOLATE AMERICANS' RIGHTS AND RIDE AROUND LIKE A PARAMILITARY FORCE.

WE CAN DO THINGS A LOT BETTER AND I BELIEVE WE WILL DO BETTER WHEN WE ARE IN CONGRESS.

TED: JONATHAN, YOU SAID YOU WANT I.C.E.

OFF THE STREETS.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

>> THEY HAVE NO BUSINESS IN OUR DISTRICT WHERE WE HAVE PEACEFUL PEOPLE.

AS MARLENE SAID, WE WERE TOLD THEY'RE GOING AFTER THE WORST OF THE WORST.

THEY'RE CLEARLY NOT DOING THAT.

IN PHOENIX RIPPING FAMILIES APART, PUTTING THEM IN DETENTION CENTERS ACROSS THE STATE.

IT HAS TO STOP.

TED: RICK, WHAT DO YOU DO WITH I.C.E.?

>> WE REFORM I.C.E., WE HAVE TO.

THEY PASSED ANOTHER $70 BILLION.

THAT'S $250 BILLION TO THIS AGENCY.

THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE.

I WAS IN A HEARING WITH THE DEMOCRATIC DELEGATION WHERE WE LISTENED TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE INCARCERATED IN UP TO THREE DIFFERENT DETENTION CENTERS THAT WE HAVE IN THE STATE.

I'VE LISTENED TO ATTORNEYS TALK ABOUT HOW THEY CAN'T GET TO THEIR CLIENTS.

THIS IS THE MOST UNJUST THING WE'VE SEEN IN THIS COUNTRY.

>> THE LAKEN RILEY ACT, AND RICK, I'LL START WITH YOU.

WOULD YOU HAVE SUPPORTED THIS?

AN UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANT ARRESTED WITH VIOLENT CRIMES AND NOT CONVICTED, CHARGED.

THE QUESTION IS DUE PROCESS.

AGAIN, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT SPLIT THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY A LITTLE BIT HERE, WOULD YOU HAVE SUPPORTED THAT?

>> I WOULD NOT HAVE.

I FOCUS STRONGLY ON THE DUE PROCESS OF LAW AND WHAT WE NEED TO BE DOING FOR THE IMMIGRANTS TO UNDERSTAND THEIR PLIGHT AND WHERE THEY ARE.

WE'VE GOT TO START PAYING ATTENTION TO THAT.

THIS IS AN INDUSTRY AND THIS IS A SECTOR OF A HUMAN BEING THAT WE NEED IN THIS COUNTRY.

TED: WHAT DO YOU THINK, MARLENE?

>> I REPORT IS VOTED NOW.

HOW YOU EXPLAINED IT, THAT HAS OPENED THE DOOR TO WHAT WE'RE SEEING IN THIS COUNTRY NOW, WHERE I WOULD HAVE BEEN PICKED UP OFF THE STREET WITH MY MOTHER AND GRANDMOTHER SPEAKING SPANISH ON OUR WAY TO SCHOOL.

THAT'S CAUSE FOR PICKING SOMEBODY UP.

IT'S RACIALLY PROFILING AND IT'S WRONG, AND I WOULD HAVE VOTED NO.

TED: THIS IS FOR PEOPLE CONVICTED OR ARRESTED FOR PROPERTY CRIMES, VIOLENT CRIMES, SUSPECTED OF -- >> I WOULD NOT HAVE VOTED FOR LAKEN RILEY AT ALL.

WE NEED DUE PROCESS, ANYBODY CAN CHARGE SOMEBODY.

IN THIS ADMINISTRATION, THEY CHARGE AND IMMEDIATELY DEPORT SOMEBODY.

TED: WHAT DO YOU THINK, DR.

SHAH?

>> I AGREE.

THE FIFTH AMENDMENT HAS BEEN VIOLATED AGAIN AND AGAIN BY THIS ADMINISTRATION.

WE LOST COUNT HOW MANY VIOLATIONS WE'VE HAD.

>> THERE SEEMS TO BE NOTHING WE CAN DO ABOUT IT.

WE DON'T HAVE IMMIGRATION COURT.

THERE IS NO DUE PROCESS OF LAW.

TED: BACK TO THE LAKEN RILEY ACT, IS THERE ANYTHING DEMOCRATS IN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 1, DO YOU THINK THEY MIGHT HAVE SUPPORTED MORE THAN YOU?

>> ALL I CAN TELL YOU IS I THINK FROM A MORAL PERSPECTIVE, WE KNOW THAT THIS ISN'T SOMETHING WE CAN SUPPORT.

YOU HAVE TO BE CLEAR MORALLY.

I GET BACK TO THE IDEA THAT WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE COURT'S ORDERS NOT BEING FOLLOWED BY THE ADMINISTRATION, THAT'S DIRECTLY BREAKING OUR SYSTEM OF GOVERNMENT WITH THREE EQUAL BRANCHES, AND THAT IS, AGAIN, NOT FOLLOWING THE COURT ORDERS IS AN IMPEACHABLE OFFENSE.

TED: ALL RIGHT.

JONATHAN, I'M GOING TO START WITH YOU ON THE ECONOMY.

HOW DO YOU IMPROVE THE ECONOMY?

HOW DO YOU IMPROVE AFFORDABILITY?

AND I'LL HAVE A FOLLOW-UP FOR EACH OF YOU ON THIS?

>> THANKS FOR ASKING.

I HAVE A LOT OF CREDENTIALS HERE.

I STARTED A COMPANY FROM SCRATCH THAT NOW HAS 100 EMPLOYEES, 100 GOOD-PAYING JOBS, BENEFITS, EVERY EMPLOYEE HAS OWNERSHIP.

WHEN COVID DECIMATED MY BUSINESS, I TOOK OUT A PERSONAL GUARANTEED LOAN.

OUR COMPANY DIRECTLY LOWERS COSTS FOR PRINTING AND COPY.

I HAVE A THREE PART AREA I'M GOING TO FOCUS ON.

REVERSE TRUMP'S TERRIBLE HANDLING OF OUR ECONOMY, THAT'S TARIFFS AND THIS WAR ON IRAN.

IF YOU ELIMINATE THOSE, YOU AUTOMATICALLY GET SAVINGS EVERYWHERE.

TWO, HEALTH CARE.

I'M PASSIONATE ABOUT HEALTH CARE FOR REASONS I'M SURE YOU'VE HEARD, AND WE'LL GET TO HEALTH CARE.

WE NEED A FEDERAL PROGRAM AND THE THIRD AREA IS HOUSING.

WE NEED TO BUILD MORE HOUSING TO LOWER THE COST OF HOUSING.

TED: RICK, HOW DO YOU IMPROVE AFFORDABILITY HERE AND IMPROVE THE ECONOMY, AND I'VE GOT A FOLLOW-UP FOR YOU.

>> DAY ONE, REPEAL THE BIG UGLY BILL.

THERE ARE FAMILIES I'M TALKING TO.

I SPOKE TO A WOMAN NAMED SARAH, 29 YEARS OLD.

SPOKE TO HER ON THE PHONE.

SHE LITERALLY IN DECEMBER OF 2025 WAS PAYING $512 A MONTH FOR INSURANCE FOR HER, HER HUSBAND AND TWO-YEAR-OLD.

SHE LOOKED IN 2026, THE MARKETPLACE, THE BEST SHE COULD FIND WAS $2733.

SHE IS UNINSURED.

THAT IS WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THIS COUNTRY.

THAT, NOT TO MENTION S.N.A.P.

BENEFITS WHICH ABSOLUTELY AFFECTED ARIZONA IN BIG WAYS AND REPEALING THAT BILL IMMEDIATELY IS THE FIRST THING WE NEED TO DO AND HOPEFULLY THE ROAD TO HOUSING ACT WILL PASS, AND WE CAN GET THAT WHICH I THINK WILL GROW, CHANGE ZONING FOR HOUSING IN THE COMMUNITY.

TED: MARLENE, SOLID GROWTH, THE ECONOMY IS GROWING AND WAGE GAINS BUT SEEMS LIKE IT'S KNOCKED DOWN BY INFLATION AND HIGH PRICES, WHAT DO YOU DO IN CONGRESS ABOUT THAT?

>> I'M GOING TO PIGGYBACK WHAT RICK SAID ON HOUSING TO START THERE.

MY PARENTS, 14 YEARS AFTER THEY ARRIVED IN THIS COUNTRY FROM CUBA, WERE ABLE TO BUILD A LITTLE HOME IN TAMPA, FLORIDA, WHERE MY MOTHER STILL LIVES.

THAT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO THINK OF NOW.

THE AVERAGE AGE OF A FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYER IS 40.

HOUSING, WE ABSOLUTELY MUST TACKLE.

WE NEED TO REIN IN THE TARIFFS, THAT'S ON DAY ONE AND WE CAN DO THAT THE SECOND WE WIN BACK THE HOUSE.

NEED TO LOWER HEALTH CARE COSTS AND THE PRICE OF DRUGS, AND I WILL TELL YOU SOMETHING, THE SYSTEM IS RIGGED FOR THE VERY TOP.

IT IS RIGGED IN THIS COUNTRY.

WE'VE GOT TO BREAK UP MONOPOLIES, HAVE REAL ANTITRUST LAWS WITH TEETH AND ENFORCEMENT TO GET BEHIND WHETHER IT'S FOOD PROCESSING OR PHARMACEUTICAL INDUSTRY AND TACKLE THOSE MONOPOLIES THAT ARE RIGGING THE SYSTEM FOR REGULAR WORKING PEOPLE.

TED: IS THAT SOMETHING DEMOCRATS IN YOUR CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT WANT TO HEAR?

IT'S A PRETTY AFFLUENT DISTRICT?

>> WHAT, TO BREAK UP MONOPOLIES IN THE GROCERY STORE, YES!

EVERYBODY GOES TO THE GROCERY STORE, WE DON'T WANT TO BE RIPPED OFF AT THE GROCERY STORE.

WE TACKLE THE MONOPOLIES IN EVERY INDUSTRY.

TED: DR.

SHAH?

>> WE CALL IT STOPPING THE HEMORRHAGE.

STOPPING THE POLICIES THAT CAUSE THE PRICE PROBLEMS WE'RE SEEING TODAY.

NUMBER ONE, IT IS THE TARIFFS THAT ARE ON-AGAIN/OFF-AGAIN AND CHAOTIC THAT DON'T ALLOW BUSINESSES TO MAKE INVESTMENTS.

TOO MANY SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS TELLING ME THAT PERSONALLY.

SECOND, THE BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL, WHICH WILL KICK MILLIONS OFF MEDICAID AND WE'LL BEAR THE BRUNT OF THE PRICE RISES.

TED: FOLLOW-UP ON THIS, BECAUSE I HEARD YOU MENTION 123, BUT DID NOT HEAR ABOUT THE TAX CUTS.

DO YOU BELIEVE THAT LARGE TAX CUTS ARE NOT GOOD FOR THE ECONOMY?

>> LOOK, I THINK IT'S HOW YOU DESIGN THOSE TAX CUTS.

RIGHT NOW, THESE DONALD TRUMP TAX CUTS FROM 2017 THAT WERE JUST MADE PERMANENT, THEY FAVORITE WEALTHY AND CORPORATIONS, LOWEST CORPORATE TAX RATE SINCE 1930.

WHY NOT GIVE TAX CUTS TO THE MIDDLE CLASS OR BALANCE IT OUT SO THERE'S A PRO RATA DOLLARS BACK.

THE MIDDLE CLASS IS GOING TO SPEND THE MONEY, CIRCULATE THE MONEY IN THE ECONOMY.

THE RICH AND CORPORATIONS DON'T DO MUCH TO THE MONEY.

THEY RETURN IT TO SHAREHOLDERS AND REINVEST IT.

IF IT'S TAX CUTS, FAIR TAX CUTS AND THE DOLLARS NEED TO HIT WORKING FAMILIES.

>> CAN I ADD TO THAT?

TED: PLEASE.

>> THE TAX CUTS FOR THE RICH WERE MADE PERMANENT, WHEREAS THE NO TAX ON TIPS AND OVERTIME WERE TEMPORARY, AND I THINK THE WORKING FAMILIES OF AMERICA NEED TO UNDERSTAND THIS, THEY DIDN'T DO YOU A LOT OF FAVORS AS MUCH AS THEY DID THE VERY WEALTHY.

TED: EXPANDING THE TAX CUTS, REPUBLICANS WILL TELL YOU THAT THAT WILL SPUR ECONOMIC GROWTH.

DO YOU DISAGREE WITH THAT?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WE HAVE ALL KINDS OF EVIDENCE THAT IS NOT WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE LOOK AT POLICIES LIKE THAT.

WE NEED TO ABSOLUTELY REFORM THE TAX CODE.

WE MUST.

I REMEMBER IN THE PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION TWO YEARS AGO, THEY TALKED ALL THE TIME HOW BILLIONAIRES NEED TO PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE.

THAT'S THE WRONG MESSAGING.

WE NEED TO LOOK AT LOOPHOLES AND WHAT WE'RE DOING AS A GOVERNMENT BASED ON POLICIES TO EXPAND AND EMPOWER THE MIDDLE CLASS.

THAT ABSOLUTELY IS WHAT WILL HELP GROW OUR ECONOMY, AND THEN BE FOCUSED ON THE POOR.

PROGRAMS FOR THE POOR.

TED: AND LAST QUESTION, BECAUSE I WANT TO GO BACK TO YOU BECAUSE I NOTICED A RISE WHEN I ASKED THIS.

DEMOCRATS IN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 1, I WOULD IMAGINE QUITE A FEW ENJOY THEIR TAX CUTS.

WOULD THEY BE WILLING TO SACRIFICE THOSE FOR IMPROVED ECONOMY?

>> I'M GOING TO GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF SOMETHING I THINK PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW.

IN 2021, WE HAD A TAX CUT, A $2,000 TAX CUT PER CHILD THAT PROVED AND BROUGHT DOWN, IN HALF, THE POVERTY RATE IN THIS COUNTRY.

REPUBLICANS WATCHED THAT DIE, AND PREDICTABLY, THE CHILD POVERTY RATE IN THIS COUNTRY DOUBLED.

THEY WATCHED IT DIE.

THEIR PRIORITY IS WITH BILLIONAIRES AND BILLION THERE CORPORATIONS.

THAT'S WHAT I'M INTERESTED IN PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE, ARE BILLIONAIRES AND BILLION DOLLAR AND TRILLION DOLLAR CORPORATIONS BECAUSE THEY'RE NOT PAYING THEIR FAIR SHARE NOW.

>> QUICKLY, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, EMPOWERING THE MIDDLE CLASS, WHAT IT MEANS FOR THE DISTRICT NOT TO SIMPLY BE FOCUSED ON WHAT'S IN IT JUST FOR THEM.

I'M TALKING TO REPUBLICANS, INDEPENDENTS AND, OF COURSE, DEMOCRATS BECAUSE THAT'S THE ONLY WAY TO WIN THE GENERAL IS FOCUSED ON ALL OF THEM WITH 28% DEMOCRAT, 33% INDEPENDENT AND 38% REPUBLICAN.

WE'VE GOT TO TALK TO EVERYBODY, AND SO WE ARE, AND YES, TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, I THINK THEY SEE THIS IS NOT RIGHT FOR ANYONE.

OUT THERE SPENDING MORE MONEY ON GAS.

>> YOU SEE THE WEALTHY, JEFF BEZOS SAYING PEOPLE WHO EARN UNDER $75,000 SHOULDN'T PAY FEDERAL TAX.

IT'S NOT HELPFUL TO THE REVENUE WHEN THEY'RE NOT PAYING AS MUCH, BUT HURTING THOSE FAMILIES.

WE NEED A COMPLETE OVERHAUL OF THE TAX CODE.

NEEDS TO BE MORE FAIR.

AND IF THERE ARE TAX CUTS, IT'S FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS.

TED: AMISH?

>> THE BIG THING THE VOTERS HAVE TOLD ME DIRECTLY IS THAT THE UNITED STATES IS NOT ON A GREAT FISCAL COURSE.

OUR DEBT AND DEFICIT IS A PROBLEM AND THE CURRENT INCUMBENT MADE A BIG DEAL OF IT EXCEPT THAT LAST YEAR WHEN THE ONE BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL CAME UP WHICH EXPLODED THE DEBT AND THE DEFICIT, HE VOTED FOR IT.

THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE FOR THE DEMOCRATS IN THE DISTRICT.

CD-1 DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS.

WATCH THE TRAGEDY UNFOLDING WITH THE MEDICAID CUTS.

WORKING IN A HOSPITAL WHERE IT'S OVER 50% MEDICAID, I'M TAKING CARE OF THESE PEOPLE DIRECTLY AS A PHYSICIAN, I'M SEEING THE PEOPLE KICKED OFF AND WHERE ARE THEY GOING TO GET HEALTH CARE.

TED: I'M GOING TO GET BACK TO YOU ON THAT.

HEALTH CARE, AFFORDABILITY, ACCESSIBILITY?

THE IDEAL ANSWER IS BOTH.

WHAT WOULD YOU PUT EMPHASIS ON?

>> THE FIRST THING WE HAVE TO DO IS FIX WHAT THEY BROKE BY RESTORING THE CUTS TO MEDICAID BEFORE MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ARE OFF HEALTH CARE.

WE NEED TO RESTORE THE CUTS TO THE SUBSIDIES FOR THE PREMIUMS FOR THE ACA.

WE NEED TO RESTORE THE CAP ON INSULIN AND THE CAP ON THE OUT-OF-POCKET DRUG COSTS FOR MEDICARE, AND THEN NEED TO BUILD SOMETHING BETTER BECAUSE IT WASN'T GREAT BEFORE.

WE NEED TO EXPAND MEDICARE SO IT INCLUDES HEARING AND VISION AND DENTAL.

THAT WE ALLOW MEDICARE TO NEGOTIATE ALL DRUG PRICES, AND THEN, AGAIN, AND THIS IS THE FORMER JOURNALIST IN ME COMING OUT, I WANT TO BE ON THE OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE AND HAUL IN THESE PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES AND HOSPITALS AND BIG CONGLOMERATES OF HOSPITALS AND BREAK UP THE MONOPOLIES THAT ARE STRANGLEHOLDING OUR ENTIRE HEALTH INDUSTRY.

TED: JONATHAN, I KNOW THE ANSWER IS OBVIOUSLY BOTH, IF YOU HAVE TO EMPHASIZE ONE ASPECT BE IT AFFORDABILITY OR ACCESSIBILITY TO HEALTH CARE, WHICH WOULD YOU CHOOSE TO FOCUS ON?

>> I THINK AFFORDABILITY, BUT THE ANSWER IS TRULY BOTH BECAUSE IT'S BOLD LEADERSHIP.

WE NEED MEDICARE FOR ALL.

WE NEED A FEDERAL PROGRAM THAT EVERYBODY IS ENROLLED INTO AS A BASELINE, THAT WILL HELP BRING DOWN AFFORDABILITY AND WILL OBVIOUSLY BE ACCESSIBLE BY ALL.

TED: RICK, WHAT DO YOU THINK?

>> UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE PLAN ABSOLUTELY.

WE NEED BOTH AND WE HAVE TO STRIVE TO GET BOTH, BUT THE FIRST THING WE NEED TO DO, AND I'M TALKING TO VOTERS EVERY DAY THAT DO NOT HAVE ACCESS TO HEALTH CARE BECAUSE OF THIS BILL.

THIS IS A PRESIDENT IN A PARTY THAT PUSHED THE RED BUTTON AND DETERMINED THAT HEALTH CARE WAS NO LONGER SOMETHING THAT IS ACCESSIBLE FOR MILLIONS OF AMERICANS AND HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN THIS DISTRICT.

THAT'S UNACCEPTABLE.

WE NEED TO GET THAT SOLVED IMMEDIATELY AND GO TO WORK ON A PLAN WE'VE SEEN IN OTHER COUNTRIES, THAT WE KNOW WORKS.

IN COUNTRIES ALL OVER THIS WORLD THAT WILL INSURE EVERYBODY.

TED: DR.

SHAH, MEDICARE FOR ALL?

>> FOR EIGHT YEARS IN POLITICS, I'VE TALKED ABOUT UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE IT.

TAKES MANY FORMS.

THERE ARE SINGLE-PAYER SYSTEMS, MULTI-PAYER SYSTEMS, WE HAVE TO PICK ONE THAT WORKS FOR AMERICA.

THAT'S MORE IMPORTANT THAN PICKING ONE THAT COVERS EVERYBODY.

I PERSONALLY LIVE THAT ON A DAILY BASIS.

FEW MONTHS AGO, A WOMAN COMES INTO THE ER, HAS ALLERGIC REACTION, WE TAKE CARE OF HER, SHE WAS TERRIFIED ABOUT HER MEDICAL CONDITION BUT MORE TERRIFIED ABOUT THE FINANCIAL COSTS AND THE TWIST IN THIS STORY WAS THIS WOMAN WORKED IN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT.

SHE WAS SOMEBODY WHO SAT AND TRIED TO HELP OTHERS AND WAS SOMEBODY WHO WAS LEFT OUT IN THE SYSTEM.

THIS IS AN AMERICAN TRAGEDY.

I'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT UNIVERSAL HEALTH CARE FOR ALL MY TIME IN POLITICS, BUT IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE AT ODDS WITH AFFORDABILITY.

YOU CAN ACTUALLY TALK ABOUT GETTING PEOPLE ONTO A MEDICARE BUY-IN PLAN AND REDUCE COSTS FOR EVERYBODY.

IT'S A WIN-WIN FOR EVERYBODY EXCEPT PERHAPS THE INSURANCE PEOPLE.

>> TED, I HEAR PEOPLE SAYING WE NEED TO REPEAL THE BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL.

WE HAVE TO GO FURTHER IN HEALTH CARE.

COSTS WERE OUT OF CONTROL, GROWING DOUBLE DIGIT PERCENTAGE AND AS SOMEBODY WHO SPONSORS HEALTH PLANS FOR OVER 100 EMPLOYEES I SAW THE COSTS ON THE PREMIUM SIDE.

TWO YEARS AGO I STRUGGLED WITH MY HEALTH INSURANCE TO GET LIFE SAVING CARE.

THEY WOULDN'T LET ME SEE A SPECIALIST.

THERE ARE TOO MANY LOOPHOLES AND GAMES THAT CAN BE PLAYED.

WE NEED A BOLD PLAN LIKE MEDICARE FOR ALL.

IT WILL DO BOTH OF THOSE THINGS, ACCESSIBILITY AND AFFORDABILITY AT THE SAME TIME.

>> YOU THINK BY US NOT HAVING THIS INSURANCE RIGHT NOW, HOW DAMAGING IT IS, I THINK THIS IS THE PERFECT TIME FOR SOMEBODY LIKE ME TO GET INTO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND CONNECT WITH THESE PEOPLE TO COME UP WITH A NEW INNOVATIVE POLICY ON HEALTH CARE.

PEOPLE ARE DEFINITELY FRUSTRATED THEY KNOW THEY CAN'T AFFORD IT.

THEY ARE ONE DOLLAR AWAY FROM BANKRUPTCY.

>> IT'S APPALLING THAT, IN THIS COUNTRY, THE MOST WEALTHY COUNTRY ON THE PLANET, THAT PEOPLE ARE LOSING THEIR HOMES BECAUSE OF A CANCER DIAGNOSIS, THAT THERE ARE FOLKS WHO ARE CHOOSING BETWEEN FILLING A PRESCRIPTION AND PUTTING FOOD ON THE TABLE.

IT'S APPALLING.

WE NEED TO GET TO A PLACE IT'S VIABLE THROUGH A PUBLIC OPTION.

>> ONE LAST POINT TO PIGGYBACK ON HIM, PEOPLE HAVE TOLD ME DIRECTLY HOW MUCH IT HURTS TO FIGHT THE INSURANCE COMPANIES WHILE YOU ARE SICK.

WHILE I WAS IN THE LEGISLATURE, I ACTUALLY DID SOMETHING ABOUT IT, I PASSED A BILL THAT STREAM LINED PRIOR AUTHORIZATION.

THAT'S THE TERM THAT MEANS WHEN YOU WANT AN MRI OF YOUR KNEE, THE INSURANCE COMPANY PUTS THAT IN REVIEW AND YOU ARE DELAYED AND DELAYED AND DELAYED, AND PEOPLE ARE SICK OF THIS.

MY BILL STREAMLINED PRIOR AUTHORIZATION AND GOT ON THEM FOR TIMELINESS OF PAYMENT, WHICH IS DENYING PEOPLE CARE WHO HAVE INSURANCE.

TED: NEXT QUESTION FOR YOU, DR.

SHAH, IS MEDICARE SOLVENT?

WHAT DO YOU TELL YOUNG PEOPLE WHO HAVE NO CONFIDENCE IT'S GOING TO BE THERE FOR THEM?

>> THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION, THANK YOU FOR ASKING IT.

YES, WE ARE IN A SITUATION IF WE DON'T SOLVE THIS PROBLEM, IT MAY NOT BE SOLVENT GOING FORWARD.

I THINK THE ESTIMATES ARE 2033, SOMEWHERE IN THAT RANGE.

WHAT I TALKED ABOUT EARLIER IS THE BUY-IN OPTION.

IF YOU ALLOW PEOPLE TO GET INTO THE WEEDS A LITTLE BIT, IF YOU ALLOW PEOPLE TO BUY IN BUT CHARGE A LITTLE MORE THAN WHAT THE ACTUARIAL COST IS, GUESS WHAT HAPPENS?

YOU MAKE A BUCK AND CREATING PRICE PRESSURE FOR THE INSURANCE COMPANIES TO BRING PRICES DOWN.

THAT'S HOW WE COVER MORE PEOPLE AND MAKE THINGS MORE AFFORDABLE.

TED: DOES THAT MAKE SENSE TO YOU?

WHAT DO YOU TELL SOMEONE, SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICARE, THEY THINK IT'S ALL OUT THE WINDOW?

>> THERE ARE EASY ADJUSTMENTS WE CAN MAKE IN THE TAX CODE, RAISING THE PAYROLL TAX CAP, PEOPLE WHO MAKE ABOVE 150K, 170K, THEY PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE AND CONTINUE TO PAY THE PAYROLL CAP WHICH FUNDS MEDICARE AND SOCIAL SECURITY.

I REFUSE TO BELIEVE IN A COUNTRY THAT CAN AFFORD AS MUCH AS WE CAN AND PAYING $200 BILLION FOR A WAR IN IRAN WE DIDN'T WANT THAT WE CAN'T AFFORD MEDICARE FOR EVERYBODY.

>> I THINK IT COMES DOWN TO PRIORITIES AND PARTY AND LEADERSHIP, AND WE'RE NOT SEEING ANYBODY TAKE A HORSE BY THE REINS HERE.

WE'VE GOT TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO THESE PROBLEMS WITH NEW INNOVATIONS AND STOP THINKING IT'S ABOUT THE HEALTH CARE COMPANIES PROFITING, BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT THE SYSTEM HAS BEEN.

TED: OKAY, BUT AGAIN, IS THAT WHAT YOU TELL SOMEONE WHO IS 21, 22, 23 YEARS OLD AND THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT MEDICARE AND GETTING OLDER?

>> I THINK IT COMES DOWN TO REFORMS AND PUTTING TOGETHER A PROCESS AND PROGRAM THAT CAN ABSOLUTELY SUSTAIN SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICARE, MEDICAID, ABSOLUTELY.

>> I REFUSE TO GIVE UP ON SOCIAL SECURITY, MEDICARE, MEDICAID, ON ANY OF IT, AND THE BOTTOM LINE HERE, AGAIN, IS THAT THE WEALTHIEST PEOPLE, THE BILLIONAIRES IN THIS COUNTRY AND THE CORPORATIONS NEED TO PAY THEIR FAIR SHARE AND WE'LL SOLVE A LOT OF PROBLEMS IN THE COUNTRY.

TED: INDIVIDUAL QUESTIONS FOR EACH ONE OF YOU.

RICK, I'LL START WITH YOU, A QUOTE.

TOO MANY DEMOCRATS ARE PLAYING BY THE SAME LOSING PLAYBOOK.

EXPLAIN, PLEASE.

>> YES.

ABSOLUTELY.

PLAYING BY A PLAYBOOK DOING BACK ROOM DEALS, THEY HAVE BEEN FOCUSED ON LEVERAGING THROUGH MONEY AND OTHER POWERFUL PIECES TO THIS KIND OF ELECTION THAT IS ALLOWING US TO STOP FOCUSING ON WHAT MATTERS TO THE PEOPLE OF THIS DISTRICT, AND SO WE HAVE GOT TO BE FOCUSED ON NOT WHO IS ENDORSING US BUT FOCUSED ON LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE OF A DISTRICT LIKE THIS.

THEY KNOW WHAT WE NEED.

WE CAN ABSOLUTELY THROUGH STRONG LEADERSHIP, FIGHT FOR THOSE PROGRAMS.

TED: DR.

SHAH, YOU LOST THE GENERAL A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO.

WHY SHOULD DEMOCRATIC VOTERS CHOOSE YOU AGAIN?

>> I'M GOING TO PUT FORWARD THAT I'M THE ONLY CANDIDATE ON THE STAGE WHO HAS LEGISLATIVE.

I'M THE ONLY CANDIDATE ON THE STAGE WHO HAS RUN A GRASSROOTS CAMPAIGN FOR EIGHT YEARS, 27,000 DOORS AND BEEN ON COMMITTEES LIKE WAYS AND MEANS AND APPROPRIATIONS AND RANKING MEMBER ON HEALTH AND HAS THE POLICY EXPERTISE.

2024 WAS A TOUGH YEAR FOR DEMOCRATS, AND WE HAD HEARD AGAIN AND AGAIN FROM INS AND REPUBLICANS I SPOKE TO DIRECTLY, THEY WERE UNHAPPY WITH THE TOPICS, 700 BELOVED DEMOCRATS THAT DID NOT MAKE IT.

WE'RE MAKING THE CASE CLEARLY, THIS TIME TO THE VOTERS, THAT I'M STILL HERE, AT YOUR DOORS, SPEAKING TO YOU DIRECTLY, BUT THIS TIME WHAT WE'RE SEEING IS THE EFFECTS OF THE DONALD TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ARE SOMETHING THAT IS GOING TO MAKE YOUR LIFE WORSE.

TED: AND MARLENE, MY QUESTION FOR YOU, YOU LOST THE PRIMARY A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO, WHY SHOULD DEMOCRATIC VOTERS CHANGE THEIR MINDS?

>> WELL, I'LL REMIND EVERYONE AND REMIND THE VIEWERS AT HOME, THAT IN THE LAST PRIMARY ELECTION, I WAS THE ONLY ONE REPUBLICANS STOOD AGAINST.

TENS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TO BOUNCE ME OFF THE BALLOT, TO ATTACK ME ON TELEVISION, PAID FOR BY REPUBLICAN SUPER PAC.

THEY DIDN'T SPEND MONEY ATTACKING AMISH.

IT WAS ME.

WHY?

BECAUSE THEY KNEW I WOULD WIN, AND THEY WOULD RATHER HAVE TAKEN ON ANYONE WHO I WAS RUNNING AGAINST.

NOT ME.

IT IS A BATTLE ABOUT ELECTABILITY, IT'S A BATTLE ABOUT WHO IS THE STRONGEST PERSON TO TAKE ON WHOEVER COMES OUT OF THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION COME NOVEMBER.

TED: JONATHAN, PROFITS AND PEOPLE CAN COEXIST.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> YEAH, WELL LOOK, WHEN I GO BACK TO MY STORY GROWING A COMPANY FROM SCRATCH, THAT SAY MISSION DRIVEN COMPANY.

WE TRIED TO REDUCE SINGLE USE WASTE IN PRINTING AND COFFEE AND SAVED TONS OF LANDFILL WASTE AND CARBON DIOXIDE BY SHARING COMMUNITY PLACES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THIS IS PURPOSE DRIVEN AND THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE COMPANY ARE AMAZING, 100 WONDERFUL EMPLOYEES.

THEY ALL HAVE GREAT BENEFITS, AND YES, PROFITS ARE IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE LIVE IN A WORLD, A SOCIETY WHERE IT'S SELF-DIRECTED COMPANIES AND YOU NEED TO HAVE FUNDS TO MAKE MONEY AND TO CREATE MORE JOBS BUT ALWAYS REINVESTED THE PROFITS INTO PEOPLE AND NEVER TAKEN ANY DIVIDEND OR ANYTHING OUT OF A COMPANY LIKE THAT.

I BELIEVE PEOPLE AND PROFITS CAN ABSOLUTELY COEXIST, SMALL BUSINESSES AND I'M NOT THE ONLY SMALL BUSINESS OWNER HERE, WE ARE THE FABRIC AND THE BACK BONE OF OUR ECONOMY.

WE CREATE WAY MORE JOBS THAN LARGE CORPORATIONS DO.

WE ARE IN THE COMMUNITIES AND THAT'S SOMETHING I WANT TO STAND BY.

TED: AMISH, YOU SAID THE TOP OF THE TICKET.

DEMOCRATS DIDN'T PERFORM ALL THAT WELL, AND THAT'S THE REASON.

IS THAT THE REASON DEMOCRATS TOOK SUCH A HIT IN 2024?

WHY DO YOU THINK THAT HAPPENED?

POSTMORTEMS AND CONSULTANTS AND PEOPLE THAT LOOK AT THIS THING, THEY SAY THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY MOVED TOO FAR TO THE LEFT, DO THEY HAVE A POINT?

>> I THINK WHAT I HEARD CLEARLY IS THERE WERE A COUPLE ISSUES THAT THE ELECTORATE AT LARGE WAS NOT HAPPY WITH.

WE HEARD AGAIN AND AGAIN IT WAS IMMIGRATION AND INFLATION, AND PEOPLE WANTED TO SEE SOLUTIONS AND WEREN'T GETTING A SENSE FROM US WE WOULD BE THE ONES TO SOLVE THE PROBLEMS IN 2024.

CLEARLY, YOU SEE WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU VOTE THE OTHER DIRECTION AND YOU GET THIS ADMINISTRATION IN HERE, WHICH HAS MADE THAT SO MUCH MORE WORSE FOR THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

ONCE AGAIN, WE WILL BE THE LEVELHEADED ONES WHO GO IN THERE AND CREATE A SYSTEM THAT IS HUMANE, THAT IS LOGICAL AND FAIR, BUT MOST IMPORTANT, LEGAL, AND FOLLOWS THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED STATES.

TED: RICK, EVERYTHING FROM IDENTITY POLITICS, SOCIAL AFFAIRS, SOCIAL SECURITY AND THAT SORT OF BUSINESS, LOT OF CONSULTANTS, POLITICAL TALKING HEADS SAID THE DEMOCRATS PUSHED TOO FAR, MOVED TOO FAR LEFT.

THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED IN 2024.

DO YOU AGREE WITH THAT?

>> I BELIEVE THEY WERE TOO WEAK.

I BELIEVE THEY DID NOT FOCUS ON THE ECONOMY AND THE ISSUES AT THE KITCHEN TABLE.

I TALK ALL THE TIME WHAT HAPPENS AT THE KITCHEN TABLE, PEOPLE ARE WRITING CHECKS FOR BILLS, FILLING OUT LOAN APPLICATIONS, APPLYING FOR SCHOOL.

THESE ARE THE ISSUES THAT THE PEOPLE WANT TO HEAR ABOUT.

THAT'S NOT WHAT HAPPENED LAST TIME.

THEY WERE FOCUSED ON FIGHTING THIS ALL-POWERFUL PERSON THEY DIDN'T THINK WAS GOING TO GET INTO OFFICE.

HE DID.

WE'VE GOT TO BE FOCUSED.

THE DEFINITION OF INSANITY IS DOING THE SAME THING OVER AND OVER AGAIN.

I KEEP SAYING THAT, LISTENING TO HOW WE RAN IN 2024 COMPARED TO NOW.

WE CAN'T HAVE RECYCLED CANDIDATES.

WE NEED A FRESH FACE, SOMEBODY WHO HAS THE EXPERIENCE TO GET THE JOB DONE.

TED: YOU JUST SAID FIGHTING AGAINST DONALD TRUMP BACK THEN WAS A LOSING STRATEGY, AND I HEARD YOU SAY NUMEROUS TIMES TONIGHT THAT'S THE WAY TO WIN AND YOU GOT TO BE STRONG AND FIGHT, WHAT IS IT?

>> THAT WAS IN 2024 WHEN WE DIDN'T THINK DONALD TRUMP WAS GOING TO GET INTO OFFICE AT ALL.

THERE WERE OTHER ISSUES WE ABSOLUTELY NEEDED TO BRING OUT.

I DON'T BELIEVE OUR PARTY DID THAT.

I DON'T THEY'VE BEEN FIGHTING DONALD TRUMP STRONGLY RIGHT NOW.

I TALK ABOUT POINTING THE FINGER AT THE DEMOCRATIC LEADERSHIP AND SAYING YOU ARE NOT TAKING ACTION AGAINST THE ATROCITIES.

WE TALKED ABOUT THE KINDS OF THINGS HAPPENING.

I.C.E.

IS MURDERING PEOPLE IN THE UNITED STATES, IN CITIES IN AMERICA, AND WE HAVE NOW NORMALIZED THAT, WHERE IT HAPPENED A SECOND TIME, AND STILL THERE ARE NO CASES, NO INVESTIGATION, NO ONE IS DOING THAT JOB.

TED: ALL RIGHT.

YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENED IN 2024, YOU WERE THERE.

>> I REMEMBER.

TED: WAS IT BECAUSE, I DON'T KNOW IF SENATOR GALLEGO IS ONE WHO SAID YOU LOST TOUCH WITH A COMMON MAN, THE COMMON WOMAN, A LOT OF FOLKS, DRIFTING TOO FAR LEFT, DO YOU THINK?

>> I AGREE WITH SENATOR GALLEGO, WHAT WE DIDN'T DO IS LISTEN.

WE DIDN'T LISTEN TO PEOPLE, WHAT WAS REALLY ON THEIR MINDS, WHAT THEY WERE REALLY ANXIOUS.

WE WERE TALKING ABOUT OTHER THINGS.

MAKING A CASE THE ECONOMY WAS GREAT WHEN, IN FACT, PEOPLE WERE STRUGGLING AND WE DIDN'T LISTEN.

IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE LISTEN.

WE'RE LISTENING NOW.

WE KNOW THAT THE ECONOMY AND AFFORDABILITY IS HUGE, THAT THE PRICE OF HEALTH CARE HAS TO COME DOWN, AND I AM PRETTY CONVINCED THAT MOST PEOPLE ARE HAVING BUYERS REMORSE, WHOEVER MAY HAVE VOTED ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THIS THING.

TED: WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT IDEA, WHAT HAPPENS IN 2024 AND HOW THAT APPLIES NOW?

>> LOOK, WE NEEDED TO RUN A BETTER CAMPAIGN IN 2024.

I WAS DISAPPOINTED WE LOST BOTH THE PRESIDENTIAL TICKET BUT ALSO LOST THE CONGRESSIONAL RACE, AND I DO THINK WE NEED STRONG CANDIDATES IN THIS RACE.

I'M GLAD WE HAVE FOUR GREAT CHOICES HERE TO CHOOSE, FROM BUT I THINK NUANCES MATTER AND WE'LL GET MORE NUANCES ABOUT POLICY.

TED: WE'RE KIND OF RUNNING OUT OF TIME, BUT THIS WAS A VERY COLLEGIAL DEBATE, A LOT OF AGREEMENT IN A LOT OF WAYS.

IF I'M A DEMOCRATIC VOTER IN CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT 1, I SAY WHY YOU AND NOT THEM?

WE'LL START WITH YOU.

WHY YOU AND NOT THEM?

>> GREAT QUESTION.

A COUPLE DISTINCTIONS I HAVE, I AM A LIFELONG DEMOCRAT, AND AT THIS POINT IN THE RACE, I'M THE ONLY LIFE LONG DEMOCRAT, AND I THINK THAT MATTERS BECAUSE I'VE LIVED MY ENTIRE LIFE GROWING UP IN A UNION FAMILY, A BLUE FAMILY, AND REALLY BELIEVING IN THE PRINCIPLES OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY.

THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY FIGHTS FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS MORE THAN ANY OTHER PARTY, AND I'M BRINGING THAT INTO MY CAMPAIGN, AND BRINGING IT INTO WASHINGTON WHEN I WIN THIS ELECTION.

TED: MARLENE, WHY YOU AND NOT THEM, I THINK THAT WAS A SHOT ABOUT BEING A LIFELONG DEMOCRAT, RESPOND PLEASE?

>> I HEAR THE IT.

LISTEN, I HAVE NEVER HIDDEN THE FACT I'M A FORMER REPUBLICAN.

I GREW UP IN A REPUBLICAN HOUSEHOLD.

MY PARENTS CAME TO THE COUNTRY FROM A COMMUNIST NATION, THE REPUBLICAN PARTY SPOKE TO THEM, FREEDOM AND WORK HARD AND YOU CAN MAKE IT.

THOSE ARE THE VALUES OF THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY AND I'M DAMN PROUD TO BE A DEMOCRAT.

DAMN PROUD TO BE A DEMOCRAT IN THIS FIGHT, IN THIS MOMENT IN TIME IN OUR NATION'S HISTORY.

WHY ME AND NOT THEM?

WE NEED TO WIN.

WE CAN'T SOLVE THE PROBLEMS UNLESS WE WIN.

REPUBLICANS ONLY SPENT AGAINST ME, THEY WERE AFRAID OF ME IN THAT RACE, AND SO DON'T TAKE MY WORD FOR IT.

TAKE THE WORD OF REPUBLICANS AND WHO THEY THOUGHT WAS THE BEST CANDIDATE.

TED: THAT WAS LAST CYCLE.

>> THE STAKES ARE HIGHER NOW.

>> THEY ARE.

>> AND I'M PRETTY CERTAIN THANG THE SAME THING.

TED: ALL RIGHT, AMISH?

>> FROM THE BEGINNING OF MY TIME IN POLITICS, ONE THING FOR ME, AS MARLENE MENTIONED, LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE.

I HAVE GONE OUT AND PERSONALLY KNOCKED ON CLOSE TO 27,000 DOORS.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS, YOU WILL SEE OUR SIGNS ARE UP BECAUSE I HAVE TOUCHED THOSE HOUSEHOLDS PERSONALLY AND SHAKEN THEIR HANDS.

IT'S ABOUT ENGAGING DEMOCRATIC VOTERS IN THIS CONVERSATION.

THEY CONTINUALLY FEEL LEFT OUT BY ALL THE DARK MONEY IN POLITICS, AND QUITE FRANKLY D.C.

INSIDERS COMING INTO TRY TO PICK CANDIDATES AND THE FORCES THAT ARE SHAPING.

IT'S TAKEN THE TRUST OUT OF THE SYSTEM.

SO MY ENTIRE PHILOSOPHY THE ENTIRE TIME HAS BEEN TO DO THAT, AND WE TURNED THAT INTO POLICY ACTION IN THE LEGISLATURE.

>> I'D LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING REALLY QUICKLY.

TED: SURE.

>> THERE IS NOTHING INSIDER ABOUT DEMOCRAT ATTORNEY GENERAL KRIS MAYES, NOTHING INSIDER ABOUT SECRETARY OF STATE ADRIAN FONTES WHO ALSO ENDORSED ME, AND THE 13 DIFFERENT LABEL ORGANIZATIONS WHO ENDORSED OUR CAMPAIGN.

>> ONE OF THE DIFFERENTIATEORS, WE'VE GOT TO WIN THIS RACE ONCE AND FOR ALL.

I HAVE 30 YEARS EXPERIENCE IN THIS DISTRICT, AND WE'VE BEEN LISTENING TO THE PEOPLE OF THIS DISTRICT, WHICH I THINK FEARLESSLY WE'VE GOT TO DEMONSTRATE WE'RE CAPABLE OF TO DO THIS JOB.

TED: TIME FOR A YEA OR NAY, THAT'S IT.

RICK, WILL YOU SUPPORT WHOMEVER WINS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

TED: MARLENE?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

TED: AMISH?

>> AS LONG AS WE KEEP THIS ON BOARD, WE CANNOT BE MORALLY LIKE THE OTHER SIDE.

TED: THAT'S NOT A YEA OR NAY, YOU GOT A CLOSING STATEMENT.

>> WE'VE GOT TO BE THE PARTY THAT IS BETTER THAN THE OTHER SIDE, AND THAT HAS TO BE CLEAR.

>> THERE IS TOO MUCH QUIBBLING, WE NEED TO FIGHT AGAINST THE REPUBLICANS.

>> THAT'S THE ONLY ANSWER.

>> CAN I DISAGREE?

>> YOU WOULD RATHER HAVE A REPUBLICAN THAN SUPPORT ONE OF US?

>> WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT IN THIS DISTRICT IS WE'VE GOT TO EARN THE TRUST OF THE PEOPLE BACK.

THE PEOPLE ARE NOT HAPPY.

>> THE QUESTION WAS -- >> THAT SHOULD NOT BE HAPPENING.

TED: WE GOT TO STOP IT RIGHT THERE BECAUSE IT'S TELEVISION, AND WE WORK ON TIME, AND TIME SAYS TO STOP.

CANDIDATES, THANK YOU SO MUCH, AND WE HAVE A LOT OF TIME FOR CLOSING STATEMENTS AND GOING IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER, WE START WITH MARLENE GALAN-WOODS.

>> THANK YOU.

WELL, YOU'VE HEARD A LOT OF THINGS TONIGHT.

A LOT OF ISSUES WE NEED TO COVER, AND SO I'M GOING TO SAY SOMETHING THAT MIGHT SOUND A LITTLE CRAZY.

I'M OPTIMISTIC, I AM OPTIMISTIC ABOUT THE FUTURE, I'M OPTIMISTIC AND I HAVE FAITH AND TRUST AND HOPE THAT WE CAN BUILD SOMETHING BETTER FROM THE MESS THAT THEY ARE LEAVING US, THAT WE CAN PROTECT SOCIAL SECURITY AND MEDICARE AND MEDICAID AND MAKE SURE THAT EVERY GIRL AND WOMAN IN THIS COUNTRY HAS POWER OVER HER OWN BODY, THAT WE BUILD AN ECONOMY FOR ALL, NOT JUST FOR A FEW.

I WOULD BE HONORED TO SERVE YOU IN OUR NATION'S CAPITOL, AND IN THE COMING DAYS I HOPE TO EARN YOUR VOTE.

THANK YOU.

TED: THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

NOW THE CLOSING STATEMENT FROM RICK McCARTNEY.

>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH, TED.

I APPRECIATE IT.

THIS IS THE KIND OF THING WE NEED TO DO MORE OF.

LOOK, THIS IS FOR ALL THE MARBLES.

ABSOLUTELY IS.

WE'RE IN A TIME WHERE THIS ELECTION IS ALL ABOUT WHO CAN WIN AND HOW THEY CAN WIN, AND THIS PRIMARY IS CRITICAL WHEN IT COMES TO CHANGING THE POWER DYNAMIC IN WASHINGTON, D.C.

THAT'S WHY I LEFT MY COMPANY A YEAR AGO AND DECIDED TO RUN FOR THIS OFFICE BECAUSE MY BACKGROUND IN THIS DISTRICT HAS BEEN GETTING THINGS DONE, IMPACTING THE GOOD PEOPLE OF A DISTRICT LIKE THIS.

WHEN WE UPLIFT A DISTRICT LIKE THIS DISTRICT, WE CAN CHANGE WHAT HAPPENS NOT JUST FOR THE PEOPLE OF THIS DISTRICT, BUT THE PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY, AND I'M VERY HOPEFUL THAT WE HAVE AN INCREDIBLE FUTURE AHEAD OF US, AND I THANK YOU FOR ALL OF THE SUPPORT THAT I'VE HAD THROUGH THIS COMMUNITY, AND I WANT VERY BADLY, HUMBLY TO ASK YOU TO VOTE FOR RICK McCARTNEY FOR CONGRESS IN THIS DISTRICT.

TED: ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.

AND FOR OUR NEXT CLOSING STATEMENT, WE TURN TO AMISH SHAH.

>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.

I APPRECIATE YOU HAVING ME AND SHARING THE STAGE WITH SUCH WONDERFUL CANDIDATES SUCH AS THESE.

I'VE BEEN IN POLITICS ABOUT EIGHT YEARS AND STARTED WITH THE PHILOSOPHY, WE'VE GOT TO GET OUT THERE AND ACTUALLY ENGAGE YOU, THE VOTER.

YOU ARE THE ONES WHO MAKE THIS DECISION, AND THE CHOICE IS YOURS.

I HOPE YOU FIND A CANDIDATE HERE THAT INSPIRES YOU.

I HOPE IT'S ME.

I'VE SPENT MY TIME IN THE LEGISLATURE TRYING TO WORK FOR YOU, ACTUALLY PASSING BILLS AND GETTING THINGS DONE.

SOME OF MY HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE THE MOST BILLS PASSED, COMPARED TO ANY DEMOCRAT IN THE LAST DECADE.

I SINGLE HANDEDLY STOPPED THE BILL THAT WOULD HAVE BAND MIFEPRISTONE, THE ABORTION PILL, FOR THE WOMEN OF ARIZONA.

WOMEN OF ARIZONA HAVE THAT BECAUSE OF YOURS TRULY.

I HOPE TO MEET YOU AT YOUR DOOR, IF NOT, I HOPE TO MEET YOU, THANK YOU.

TED: AND LAST IS JONATHAN TREBLE.

>> THERE'S A TIME OF OPTIMISM AND REALISM.

OUR COUNTRY IS UNDER ATTACK RIGHT NOW.

WE HAVE A PRESIDENT WHO WANTS TO CANCEL ELECTIONS, WE HAVE A REPUBLICAN CONGRESS NOT STANDING UP TO HIM AND COURTS LOOKING THE OTHER WAY.

WE NEED BOLD ACTION.

WHILE ALL THIS IS HAPPENING, ARIZONA FAMILIES ARE STRUGGLING AND WHAT DOES THE REPUBLICAN CONGRESS DO?

THEY PASS A BILL THAT CUTS HEALTH CARE, CUT FOOD STAMPS FOR KIDS AND DO THAT TO PASS TAX CUTS FOR BILLIONAIRES AND CORPORATIONS.

I'M RUNNING BECAUSE I STRUGGLED WITH HEALTH INSURANCE TO PAY FOR MY LIFE-SAVING CARE TWO YEARS AGO AND NO ONE SHOULD HAVE TO FIGHT FOR COVERAGE WHILE FIGHTING FOR THEIR LIFE.

WE NEED BOLD LEADERSHIP, I LOOK FORWARD TO HUMBLY ASKING FOR YOUR SUPPORT IN THE PRIME AND SERVING YOU AS YOUR NEXT REPRESENTATIVE.

TED: CANDIDATES, GREAT CONVERSATION, GREAT TO HAVE YOU ALL HERE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

THAT'S IT FOR NOW.

I'M TED SIMONS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

YOU HAVE A GREAT EVENING.