(Photo by Howard Fischer - Capitol Media Services)

Gov. Doug Ducey delivering inaugural address in January 2015.

National Review recently published a cover story that had high praise for Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey.

 Matthew Benson was communications director for Gov. Jan Brewer and is currently a director with Phoenix-based firm Veridus. He said Ducey is "absolutely" deserving of the accolades.

"I think Gov. Ducey is viewed more and more as kind of the next wave of upcoming conservative Republican leaders in this country," Benson said.

Former Arizona Democratic Party Chair Andrei Cherny ran for State Treasurer against Ducey in 2010.

"Unsurprisingly, I think his choices as governor have been ones that have really put Arizona on a trajectory to be a kind of state that is not going to be leading the country or being equal to the promise we should have for our own people," Cherny said.