About Legislative District 12

Luke Air Force Base lies within the district, and its presence impacts the development of large areas around the base. The Air Force has threatened to close Luke if nearby development continues unabated. This means much of the surrounding area will remain agricultural. Developers would like to nibble away at the vacant land close to Luke, but the surrounding cities prefer to ensure that Luke survives, with its regional economic impact estimated in 2002 to be in excess of $1.3 billion per year. Also in the district are Goodyear Auxiliary Airfield #6, the Wigwam Resort, and large areas of commercial development that have followed Loop 303, whose western leg lies almost entirely within this district.

District Voters

Democrats have lost their second-place status in voter registration to those not aligned with either major party. Nevertheless, the district seems to have become more competitive since 2002 rather than less. The voter registration differential between Republicans and Democrats stands at 2.5 percent, half of what it was seven years ago. This district has the third-highest number of registered voters; with 155,540 it trails only districts 4 (165,576) and 22 (157,225). Among districts whose majority is classified as white, this district has the second-highest percentage of Hispanic residents and third-highest percentage of blacks.