Incumbent Kris Mayes (D) defeated Warren Petersen (R) in the general election for attorney general of Arizona on November 3, 2026.

Mayes was elected in 2022 49.9%–49.9%. That year, Katie Hobbs (D) won the gubernatorial election 50.3%–49.6% and Mark Kelly (D) won the senatorial election 51.4%–46.5%. In 2024, President Donald Trump (R) defeated Kamala Harris (D) 52.2%–46.7% in the presidential election and Ruben Gallego (D) won the senatorial election 50.1%–47.7%.

Before her election as attorney general, Mayes was an attorney, journalist, and law professor. She served as a Republican member of the Arizona Corporation Commission from 2003 to 2010. In a post on X.com, Mayes said, "From day one, I’ve stayed focused on the work at hand — protecting Arizona families from drug smugglers and scammers, holding greedy corporations accountable, defending our water, and keeping our communities safe. That work isn’t done."

Petersen had, as of the 2026 election, been a member of the Arizona Legislature since 2013, alternating between the House and Senate. He had, as of the 2026 election, represented the 12th District in the Arizona Senate since 2021. He represented the 12th District in the Arizona House of Representatives from 2019 to 2021. From 2017 to 2019, he represented the 12th District in the Arizona Senate. From 2013 to 2017, he represented the 12th District in the Arizona House of Representatives. Petersen's campaign website said, "As Senate President, I stood up for Arizona families by defending state laws when others refused, like ensuring fairness in women’s sports. I’ve led the charge against unconstitutional mandates, fought for our Second Amendment rights, and worked to keep government in check."

The Arizona Republic's Stacey Barchenger wrote, "Mayes has branded herself as an aggressive advocate for Arizonans in her first term, though some of her novel legal arguments and forays into policy advocacy have irked the business community and Republican critics, who say she's overstepped her foremost duty to enforce Arizona law. ... Petersen has said his favorite accomplishments at the Capitol are laws that reduced regulations for businesses or made it easier for professionals licensed in other states to work in Arizona. He and House Republican leadership have also intervened in over 30 cases since 2023, according to Senate records, to advocate for state laws that Mayes declined to defend."

This election, along with the elections for governor and secretary of state, determined Arizona's triplex status. Heading into the 2026 election, Democrats held all three triplex offices, making Arizona a Democratic triplex. Because Democrats won all three elections, they maintained their triplex in Arizona. If Republicans had won at least one of the three, they would have broken the Democratic triplex. If Republicans had won all three, they would have gained a triplex in Arizona.

The Arizona attorney general is the state's chief law enforcement officer, responsible for providing legal advice to the state government and both filing and defending lawsuits on behalf of the state. This was one of 30 attorney general elections that took place in 2026. Forty-three of 50 states hold elections for attorney general.