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Sen. Richard Miranda, a Democrat from Tolleson, and Steve Farley, a Democrat from Tucson, are seeking the House assistant minority leader position.
Miranda, who cannot seek reelection to the Senate because of term-limits, is running for the House. The senator is assured of election in November since he and Rep. Anna Tovar are running unopposed for the House in Legislative District 13.
Farley is in a three-way race for two House seats in the general election. But Legislative District 28 is a heavily Democratic district, and Farley is expected to win his race.
Miranda said he offers years of legislative experience and a good working relationship with colleagues from both sides of the political aisle.
The Democrats’ biggest challenge will be to try to minimize cuts to education and human services funds, he said.
“I’d like to see Republicans and Democrats sit down and try to see what we can do and agree on… how we can produce more revenue,” he said.
Farley, meanwhile, said he’s seeking the post because he wants to help fellow Democrats be more effective and successful.
He’s in a good position to serve as assistant minority leader since he knows many of the people who are coming back next year, Farley said.
Additionally, he has served as his caucus’ policy leader for the last two years and he knows his colleagues’ interests and priorities, he said.
The policy leader position was created because the three current House leaders are all from Maricopa County. As policy leader, Farley represented the interests of the Tucson area and southern Arizona in leadership meetings.
The House and the Senate Democratic caucuses were largely relegated to the sidelines the last two years as Republicans grew in number and Gov. Jan Brewer succeeded Janet Napolitano, who left Arizona to become President Barack Obama’s Homeland Security secretary.
The minority party’s influence next year will depend on several factors, chief of them the result of the November elections but also whether Republicans choose to negotiate with Democrats on, among others, the budget.
Meanwhile, Rep. Chad Campbell, the current minority whip, is expected to become the House minority leader next session. Several other House members are interested in becoming minority whip.