Arizona — Where Water, Power, and AI Collide

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In Episode 6 of AI on the Ballot, hosts Bennett Iorio and Sanjay Puri break down why Arizona — the most water-stressed state in the country, in its driest year in 126 years — is also becoming the largest AI data center hub in the western US. They’re joined by former Congressman Matt Salmon, a founding member of the House Freedom Caucus for a wide-ranging conversation on data centers, national security, and states’ rights.

In this episode:

Why Arizona’s data center boom creates a “damned if you do, damned if you don’t” choice between water and electricity.

The AI-on-AI secretary of state race: Adrian Fontes’ “BallotBot” vs. Alexander Kolodin’s ChatGPT-assisted deepfake law

Where Katie Hobbs and Andy Biggs actually agree — and where they diverge — on the AI economy

Why Arizona’s competitive House races could hinge on data centers in voters’ backyards

Tribal water rights, changing demographics, and the issues beneath the AI headlines

This is Episode 6 of AI on the Ballot, a weekly series exploring the 2026 US midterms through the lens of AI policy.

🎙️ Hosted by Bennett Iorio and Sanjay Puri

New episodes every week. Watch the full episode on the RegulatingAI YouTube channel and listen on all major podcast platforms.

AI on the Ballot is a non-partisan program of Regulating AI, a 501(c)(3) organization. Appearances do not constitute an endorsement. All candidates in featured races are offered identical format and identical terms. This program is produced in association with the GIE Foundation.

00:00 Episode Starts
01:37 The Ballot Breakdown
20:08 In Conversation with Matt Salmon
36:14 Know Before You Vote

#AIOnTheBallot #Arizona #DataCenters #KatieHobbs #AndyBiggs #AIPolicy #Midterms2026 #RegulatingAI

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