Democrat David Schapira appears to have won a seat in the Arizona Senate after narrowly outdistancing Republican Wendy Rogers in the race to replace retiring Sen. Meg Burton Cahill.

Many Republicans in highly competitive Senate races are facing a financial disadvantage going into the general election.

A jailed Green Party nominee who withdrew from the Corporation Commission race and then revoked his withdrawal moments later was disqualified to run for office, a judge ruled Sept. 14.

Former lawmaker Steve May announced Sept. 13 he is terminating his campaign for the House in Legislative District 17. May got on the November ballot after winning a spot in the primary as a write-in candidate. His presence as a Republican in the swing district that spans Tempe and Scottsdale posed a threat to two Democratic challengers.

The openly gay former lawmaker gained recent headlines for his brazen acknowledgement that he helped four “street people” get on the ballot as Green Party candidates.

RELATED: May’s recruit drops out after arrest – then doubles back

Eleven write-in candidates won the Green Party nomination in August, including a handful of “street people” who exploited a little-known loophole that allowed them to win the primary with only one vote. Now, some of those candidates, whom Democrats allege were recruited by Republicans, threaten to take votes from Democrats in key races.

Less than a day after a federal judge said they had the right to stay on the ballot, three alleged “sham” Green Party candidates withdrew from their races.

Swing districts will play prominently in a handful of House races this year. And in most, Democrats will be on defense while Republicans will be trying to regain seats they traditionally held and lost in recent years.

Lopsided voter registration figures in many of Arizona’s legislative districts will weigh heavily against Senate candidates in the general election, but Republicans and Democrats are expecting a more level playing field in at least four Senate races.

A slate of Green Party write-in candidates, whom the Arizona Democratic Party accuses of being Republican plants, could siphon off Democratic votes and resources in some of the state’s most competitive legislative races.

Campaigning as a write-in candidate is much like starting a marathon a couple of hours after all of the other runners — you can win, but only if you’ve got strong legs, a solid support team and a whole lot of luck.