Arizona Capitol Times Election Coverage Your Inside Track to Arizona Elections
State Election Director Amy Bjelland checks one of the hundreds of candidate information files the Secretary of State’s Office must maintain through each election cycle. The files shown are for this year’s elections only. (Photo by Josh Coddington)
The election season was heating up just as the sun was setting on May 26.
Political challengers and incumbents hoping to lead Arizona next year rushed to submit their signatures to the Secretary of State to qualify for the ballot.
The cutoff time was 5 p.m.
Some deliberately waited until the last minute to file their nominating petitions.
Many others who had opened campaign committees this election cycle failed to file signatures.
Of about two dozen gubernatorial hopefuls, for example, only half will be on the primary ballot August 24. Whoever wins the Republican nomination will clash with Attorney General Terry Goddard, the lone Democratic nominee.
Other candidates won’t have any primary challenge after all, such as Republican Sen. Ron Gould of Lake Havasu City and Republican Rep. Rick Murphy of Glendale.
Same goes for incumbent Rep. Ed Ableser and former Tempe City Councilman Ben Arredondo, both Democrats, who will sail through unopposed in the primary. GOP incumbents Reps. Cecil Ash and Steve Court, both of Mesa, also have no challengers.
A number of other races won’t have any challengers in either the primary or general elections.
In a few cases, the list of challengers grew. Late candidate filings in northeast Phoenix’s District 7 makes it a seven-way race in the GOP primary.
By law, a person who wishes to challenge a candidate’s nomination has 10 days after the last day of the filing of nominating papers and petitions.
That means June 10 is the deadline to file a legal challenge.
Consequently, some candidates hold off on submitting signatures as a strategy, even if they’ve had enough for a while.
For instance, Gould filed his nominating petitions on May 25, a day before the deadline. Gould, who started gathering signatures early, said he actually had enough to file by September.
“If you file before (the deadline), all you’re doing is giving an opponent an opportunity to pick your signatures apart,” Gould said.
Submitting them near the deadline “shortens up the period of time for those kinds of shenanigans,” he said.
Here’s the full list of candidates who, pending any challenge to their nomination, will appear on the primary ballot this August. The information is from the Secretary of State’s website:
Governor
Jan Brewer (R), incumbent
Terry Goddard (D)
Dean Martin (R)
John Munger (R)
Buz Mills (R)
Matthew Jette (R)
Alvin Yount (L)
Bruce Olsen (L)
Barry Hess (L)
Ron Cavanaugh (L)
Tom Gordon (R)
Larry Gist (G)
Secretary of State
Ken Bennett (R), incumbent
Sam Wercinski (D)
Chris Deschene (D)
Attorney General
Tom Horne (R)
David Lujan (D)
Andy Thomas (R)
Felecia Rotellini (D)
Vince Rabago (D)
Treasurer
Andrei Cherny (D)
Thayer Verschoor (R)
Ted Carpenter (R)
Barbara Leff (R)
Doug Ducey (R)
Superintendent of Public Instruction
Jason Williams (D)
John Huppenthal (R)
Margaret Dugan (R)
Penny Kotterman (D)
Beth Price (R)
Mine Inspector
Joe Hart (R), incumbent
Manuel Cruz (D)
Corporation Commissioner
Gary Pierce (R), incumbent
Brenda Burns (R)
Barry Wong (R)
Jorge Garcia (D)
David Bradley (D)
Renz Jennings (D)
LEGISLATURE
Senate District 1
Steve Pierce, Republican, incumbent
Robert Donahue, Democrat
Senate District 2
Sylvia Laughter, Democrat
Jack Jackson Jr., Democrat
Kee Allen Begay, Jr., Democrat
Gloria Hale-Showalter, Democrat
Senate District 3
Ron Gould, Republican, incumbent
Beth Weisser, Democrat
Senate District 4
Scott Bundgaard, Republican
Shawn Kohner, Republican
Sue Dolphin, Democrat
Tony Bouie, Republican
Senate District 5
Sylvia Allen, Republican, incumbent
Bill Konopnicki, Republican
Elaine Bohlmeyer, Democrat
Senate District 6
David Braswell, Republican, incumbent
Patricia Flickner, Democrat
Lori Klein, Republican
Senate District 7
Ray Barnes, Republican
Nancy Barto, Republican
Brad Neil Buch, Republican
Robert Green, Republican
Eric Shelley, Democrat
Senate District 8
Michele Reagan, Republican
Stuart Turnansky, Democrat
Senate District 9
Ricky Murphy, Republican
Sheri Van Horsen, Democrat
Michael John Patti, Libertarian
Senate District 10
Linda Gray, Republican, incumbent
Justin Johnson, Democrat
Senate District 11
Rich Davis, Republican
Adam Driggs, Republican
Rita Dickinson, Democrat
Anna Maria Brennan, Republican
Andrew Smigielsky, Republican
Senate District 12
John Nelson, Republican, incumbent
Tyler Kissell, Democrat
Clark Silver, Republican
Evangeline Nunez, Republican
Michael White, Libertarian
Senate District 13
Martha Garcia, Democrat
Steve Gallardo, Democrat
Senate District 14
Robert Meza, Democrat
Senate District 15
Kyrsten Sinema, Democrat
Bob Thomas, Republican
Senate District 16
Leah Landrum Taylor, Democrat, incumbent
Victor Jett Contreras, Democrat
Senate District 17
David Schapira, Democrat
Wendy Rogers, Republican
Garret Chartier-Dickie, Libertarian
Senate District 18
Russell Pearce, Republican, incumbent
Robert McDonald, Jr., Democrat
Andrea Garcia, Libertarian
Andrew Sherwood, Democrat
Senate District 19
Rich Crandall, Republican
James Molina, Republican
Senate District 20
John McComish, Republican
Senate District 21
Steve Yarbrough, Republican
Senate District 22
Andy Biggs, Republican
Senate District 23
Rebecca Rios, Democrat, incumbent
Steve Smith, Republican
Matthew Byers, Republican
Senate District 24
Amanda Aguirre, Democrat, incumbent
Jack Kretzer, Libertarian
Senate District 25
Manny Alvarez, Democrat, incumbent
Craig Smith, Republican
Gail Griffin, Republican
Senate District 26
Al Melvin, Republican incumbent
Cheryl Cage, Democrat
Senate District 27
Olivia Cajero Bedford, Democrat
Senate District 28
Paula Aboud, Democrat, incumbent
Ted Downing, Independent
Dave Ewoldt, Independent
Senate District 29
Linda Lopez, Democrat, incumbent
Senate District 30
Todd Camenisch, Democrat
Marian McClure, Republican
Frank Antenori, Republican
House District 1
Noel Campbell, Republican
Andy Tobin, Republican, incumbent
Karen Fann, Republican
Lindsay Bell, Democrat
House District 2
Albert Tom, Democrat
Tom Chabin, Democrat, incumbent
Albert Hale, Democrat
Pat Carr, Democrat
Frank Mulligan, Libertarian
House District 3
Nancy McLain, Republican, incumbent
Doris Goodale, Republican, incumbent
Ray Cullison, Republican
Wyatt Brooks, Republican
House District 4
Judy Burges, Republican, incumbent
Jack Harper, Republican
Karina Guerrero, Democrat
Tim Zobel, Republican
Eric Sheats, Republican
House District 5
Brenda Barton, Republican
Prescott Winslow, Democrat
Bill Shumway, Democrat
Chester Crandell, Republican
Keith Alexander, Republican
House District 6
Carl Seel, Republican, incumbent
Amanda Reeve, Republican, incumbent
Steven Kaiser, Republican
John Adam Kowalski, Republican
Teri Conrad, Democrat
David Fitzgerald, Republican
Clint Van Wuffen, Republican
Rick Robinson, Republican
House District 7
Craig Barton, Republican
Peter Royers, Democrat
Michael Coskun, Republican
David Burnell Smith, Republican
Kristen Burroughs, Republican
Howard Sprague, Republican
Donald Chilton, Democrat
Heather Carter, Republican
Michael Farrar, Republican
Jim Iannuzo, Libertarian
House District 8
John Kavanagh, Republican, incumbent
Ray Mahoubi, Republican
Eric Ulis, Republican
W. John Williamson, Democrat
John Kriekard, Democrat
Michael Blaire, Republican
Paula Anne Pennypacker, Republican
Michelle Ugenti, Republican
House District 9
Debbie Lesko, Republican, incumbent
Diane Douglas, Republican
Rick Gray, Republican
Shirley McAllister, Democrat
House District 10
Aaron Jahneke, Democrat
Jim Weiers, Republican, incumbent
Doug Quelland, Republican, incumbent
Bill Adams, Republican
Jackie Thrasher, Democrat
Kimberly Yee, Republican
House District 11
Eric Meyer, Democrat, incumbent
Beverly Kraft, Republican
Dusti Morris, Republican
Kate Brophy McGee, Republican
Shawnna Bolick, Republican
Eric West, Republican
House District 12
Jerry Weiers, Republican, incumbent
Steve Montenegro, Republican, incumbent
Angela Cotera, Democrat
Justin Dahl, Green
House District 13
Anna Tovar, Democrat, incumbent
Martin Quezada, Democrat
Lydia Hernandez, Democrat
Richard Miranda, Democrat
House District 14
Chad Campbell, Democrat, incumbent
Debbie McCune Davis, Democrat
House District 15
Katie Hobbs, Democrat
Lela Alston, Democrat
Ken Clark, Democrat
Caroline Condit, Republican
Dean Yoder, Republican
Luisa Valdez, Green
Les White, Independent
House District 16
Catherine Miranda, Democrat
Cloves Campbell Jr., Democrat, incumbent
Jimmie Munoz Jr., Democrat
Cristy Lopez, Democrat
Robert Gular, Republican
Ruben Gallego, Democrat
Sandra Gonzalez, Democrat
Angel Torres, Green
House District 17
Ed Ableser, Democrat, incumbent
Augustus Shaw IV, Republican
Ben Arredondo, Democrat
Donald Hawker, Republican
Gregor Knauer, Green
Anthony Goshorn, Green
House District 18
Cecil Ash, Republican, incumbent
Steve Court, Republican, incumbent
Michael Conway, Democrat
Chris Will, Libertarian
House District 19
Kirk Adams, Republican, incumbent
Scott Perkinson, Republican
Kit Filbey, Democrat
Justin Olson, Republican
House District 20
Rae Waters, Democrat, incumbent
Christopher Tolino, Republican
Bob Robson, Republican
Jeff Dial, Republican
House District 21
Tom Forese, Republican
Scott Bergren, undeclared
Venessa Whitener, Republican
J.D. Mesnard, Republican
Sharon Spane, Democrat
Linda Macias, Green
House District 22
Laurin Hendrix, Republican, incumbent
Steve Urie, Republican
Kelly Townsend, Republican
Paul Howell, Republican
Brett Petillo, Republican
Eddie Farnsworth, Republican
House District 23
Ernest Bustamante, Democrat
Frank Pratt, Republican, incumbent
Barbara McGuire, Democrat, incumbent
John Fillmore, Republican
Ralph Varela, Democrat
House District 24
Lynne Pancrazi, Democrat, incumbent
Russ Jones, Republican, incumbent
John Weil, Democrat
House District 25
Ken Davis, Democrat
David Stevens, Republican, incumbent
Pat Fleming, Democrat, incumbent
Ruben Ortega, Democrat
House District 26
Nancy Young Wright, Democrat, incumbent
Vic Williams, Republican, incumbent
Terri Proud, Republican
Wade McLean, Republican
William Wallace, Democrat
House District 27
John Bernal, Democrat
Bob Gilby, Democrat
Sami Hamed, Democrat
Dustin Cox, Democrat
Robert Compton, Republican
Sally Ann Gonzales, Democrat
Eric Carbajal Bustamante, Democrat
Marcario Saldate, Democrat
John Kromko, Democrat
Kent Solberg, Green
Gene Chewing, Independent
House District 28
Steve Farley, Democrat, incumbent
Ted Prezelski, Democrat
Mohur Sidhwa, Democrat
Tim Sultan, Democrat
Ken Smalley, Republican
Bruce Wheeler, Democrat
Greg Krino, Republican
House District 29
Pat Kilburn, Republican
Matt Heinz, Democrat, incumbent
Daniel Patterson, Democrat, incumbent
House District 30
David Gowan, Republican, incumbent
Andrea Dalessandro, Democrat
Doug Sposito, Republican
Kurt Knurr, Republican
Brian Robert Abbott, Republican
Parralee Schneider, Republican
Ted Vogt, Republican