Arizona Capitol Times Election Coverage Your Inside Track to Arizona Elections
The national electoral climate has been portrayed as a battle by incumbents to keep their seats against a groundswell of anti-incumbency sentiment.
In Arizona’s legislative races, however, that’s not always the case.
Some of the hottest Senate races are contested by figures who have established footings at the Capitol and in their communities.
“One thing that surprised me a bit is you have all these open Senate seats and yet you haven’t seen a lot of non-legislative candidates running,” said political consultant Chris Baker.
In the House, open seats have attracted a flood of candidates, including a nine-way GOP primary in Legislative District 8.
“The crowded primaries on the GOP side are a local example of the national intensity Republicans are feeling. People are getting off their couch like never before wanting to make a difference,” said political consultant Jason Rose. “And while intensity is lower among Democrats nationally this cycle, what’s interesting is how strongly many of them feel in Arizona about a Republican Legislature they believe has gone way too far.”
The results of these primary elections Aug. 24 will be crucial since voter registration in many districts is so lopsided in favor of one party that whoever wins the primary race will likely cruise to victory in the general election.
Current, former lawmakers banking on experience in Senate races