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The anticipated “Blue Wave” hit the 2026 midterm elections as some polling predicted. The Press Room’s panel of journalists reflects on Latino representation, and the impact of Latino voters, particularly in the borderlands.

What issues are influencing Gen Z voters at the polls this election season? What challenges are young reporters facing as they enter the ever-evolving world of journalism? The Press Room welcomes four University of Arizona student journalists to the table to share their experience reporting on the 2026 midterm election. STUDENT PANEL: Arilynn Hyatt; Rachel Kietzman; McKenna Manzo; Madeleine Slawny

Campaign advertising is picking up pace ahead of next week's midterm elections, with a high-profile donor pouring money into one of Arizona's most competitive races. Our panel of journalists sits down before the midterm elections one final time before ballots are counted to look at polling, the balance of power in the Arizona Legislature and more.

In this special bonus edition of The Press Room, AZPM News brings you an in-depth look at key Arizona races during this midterm cycle. Our reporters travel across Southern Arizona to talk to voters, and special political contributors John Washington and Samara Klar, Ph.D. join host Tony Perkins in studio for deeper analysis.

On the ballot this November, voters decide on public school funding, education leadership and more. Three education beat reporters join The Press Room to make sense of it all. Plus, TUSD is planning upcoming school closures. In addition, we welcome student journalists to the table to share their reporting on the youth vote. PANEL: Noor Haghighi, AZPM News; Shannon Conner, Arizona Luminaria; Sierra Blaser, Arizona Daily Star

As Election Day rapidly approaches, what key issues are driving rural voters to cast their ballots? And our Press Room contributors discuss heated rhetoric and threats of political violence, as well as the latest activism at the border as wall construction continues. Plus, we welcome student journalists to the table to share their reporting on the youth vote. PANEL: L.M. Boyd, AZPM News; John Washington, Lookout; Susan Barnett, Independent Journalist

The final installment of The Press Room's in-depth sessions with the candidates running to represent Southern Arizona in Congress: Eyes across the country are on the tight race in CD 6 between incumbent Republican Juan Ciscomani and his Democrat challenger JoAnna Mendoza. As she seeks to unseat the two-term congressman, JoAnna Mendoza joins us in studio to share her positions on immigration, healthcare, the war in Iran and more.

As the November midterm elections approach, The Press Room is featuring in-depth interviews with the candidates running to represent Southern Arizona in Congress. Eyes across the country are on the tight race in CD 6 between incumbent Republican Juan Ciscomani and his Democrat challenger JoAnna Mendoza. As he seeks to retain his seat for a third term, Rep. Ciscomani joins us in studio to share his position on immigration, healthcare, the war in Iran and more.

As the November midterm elections approach, The Press Room is featuring in-depth interviews with the candidates running to represent Southern Arizona's two Congressional Districts. This week Daniel Butierez, the Republican challenger in CD7, discusses issues surrounding immigration enforcement, healthcare, affordability and more. GUEST: CD 7 Republican Congressional Candidate Daniel Butierez

As the November midterm elections approach, The Press Room sits down with the four candidates running to represent Southern Arizona's two Congressional Districts. This week, Rep. Adelita Grijalva (D-CD7) discusses her approach to issues surrounding affordability, immigration enforcement, water scarcity, education and more, as she seeks her first full term since winning the seat in a special election in 2025. GUEST: Rep. Adelita Grijalva

Tucson Mayor Regina Romero joins The Press Room this week to discuss public safety in the wake of two high-profile acts of gun violence: July's downtown mass shooting and the targeted killing of members of the LGBTQ community. Plus, we examine how the city is addressing issues surrounding homelessness and affordability. GUESTS: Tucson Mayor Regina Romero; Yana Kunichoff, Arizona Luminaria; Mia Kortright, Tucson Sentinel; Laura Holanszky, AZPM News

Pima County Recorder Gabriella Cázares-Kelly joins us on The Press Room to share need-to-know voter information, just as vote-by-mail is once again making national headlines. Plus, issues of tribal sovereignty emerge as Border Patrol and the Tohono O'odham Nation exchange barbs over border wall construction. And Tucson Police are investigating a deadly shooting at a midtown gay bar as a hate crime. GUESTS: Pima County Recorder Gabriella Cázares-Kelly; Angela Gervasi, AZPM News; Jim Nintzel, Tucson Sentinel; Susan Barnett, Independent Journalist

This week, join us for an exclusive interview with Governor Katie Hobbs. She sits down one-on-one with host Tony Perkins to discuss affordability, water security, data centers and more. Join us for the first in a series of candidate interviews leading up to the midterm elections this November, all part of AZPM Vote 2026. Plus, University of Arizona Government and Public Policy Professor Samara Klar joins us to break down the latest polling in the Arizona governor's race. GUESTS: Gov. Katie Hobbs; Arizona; Samara Klar, Ph.D.; University of Arizona Government and Public Policy professor

Arizona is asking the federal government for reimbursement funds of about $900 million that it spent border security. And the race for Congressional District 6 is heating up, starting with plenty of mudslinging attack ads by both incumbent rebublican Rep. Juan Ciscomani and his democrat challenger JoAnna Mendoza. Plus, we sit down one-on-one with frequent Press Room contributor John Washington to talk about his new book on immigrant detention camps in the US. GUESTS: Joe Ferguson, Tucson Agenda; Eric Fink, KVOA News 4 Tucson; Tim Steller, Arizona Daily Star

No Trespassing: That's the message from the Tohono O'odham Nation to border wall contractors, as they await a court decision on wall construction across tribal lands. Plus, the US is deporting detained immigrants, but not all are being sent back to their home countries. Where are they being sent, and under what circumstances? GUESTS: Alisa Reznick, KJZZ; Emily Bregel, Arizona Daily Star; Paul Ingram, Tucson Sentinel; Rafael Carranza, Arizona Luminaria