Legislative District 4 Voting History

Current Legislators
Senate
Jack Harper (R)
Glendale;
former fleet sales consultant, former restaurant manager.
Termed out in 2010.

House
Tom Boone (R)
Glendale;
Director ofValley Schools Insurance Trust.
Termed out in 2010.

Judy Burges (R)
Skull Valley;
retired Yavapai County finance officer.
Termed out in 2012.

VOTING HISTORY

When the Independent Redistricting Commission drew boundaries of LD-4 in 2002, the historical partisan voting pattern in this district was 63 percent Republican and 37 percent Democrat. Bush performed slightly better than this in the 2004 presidential election, beating Kerry 64 percent to 36 per-cent. McCain also defeated Obama in the district 64 percent to 35 percent, delivering to McCain the fourth-largest margin of victory of any district in the state.

In 2006, Napolitano defeated Munsil in this district, as she did in all 30 districts. However, her margin of victory (14 points) was sixth-smallest of any district.

In all other measures of Democrats vs. Republicans, this district is among the most conservative. The 2006 marriage amendment (which prohibited the state from recognizing any domestic-partnership arrangement) was approved by 53.6 percent of the voters. In 2008, with 50 percent more votes being cast, the more restrictive version of the amendment was passed by more than 63 percent of voters. The 2006 constitutional amendment prohibiting illegal immigrants from suing for punitive damages in state court was approved by the third-largest margin (64 points) in the state.

The union-sponsored initiative in 2006 to impose a minimum wage higher than the federal level passed in the district but by one of the smallest margins (20.5 points) in the state.

FINAL ANALYSIS

This district has the second-highest percentage of Republicans (46 per-cent) among registered voters in the state; only District 19 has more at 46.3 percent. Likewise, the gap between registered Republicans and Democrats (21 percentage points) is the second-widest in the state.

Since lines were drawn in 2002, the district has sent only Republicans to the Legislature. Until 2006 Democrats rarely fielded candidates. In the past two elections, Democrats have not come within 18 percentage points in Senate elections or 10 points in House races.

Open seats usually yield a scramble among Republicans in a primary. In 2010, Harper and Boone are both term-limited. Harper has indicated a desire to run for the House, but Boone has said he will not for the Senate, leaving former legislator Scott Bundgaard and Shawn Kohner as the only Republicans thus far interested in the Senate. Among Democrats, Sue Dolphin has filed for the Senate and Karina Guerrero has filed for the House.