Republicans still hold a commanding lead in the numbers game at the House of Representatives, but Democratic victories in two districts closed the gap somewhat.

The 47th House will consist of 38 Republicans and 22 Democrats. The current House features 39 Republicans, 20 Democrats and one Independent.

Democrats picked up their seats in District 2, where Independent Sylvia Laughter was defeated by Democrat Albert Tom, and District 5, where Democrat Jack Brown, moving over from the Senate, defeated Republican Sylvia Allen in a race to replace Republican Jake Flake, who moved to the Senate.

Ms. Laughter and Rep. Mark Thompson, R-17, were the only incumbent legislators to lose their seats in the general election.

2 More Dems

Rep. Linda Lopez, D-29, said she was encouraged by the addition of the two Democratic seats.

“It makes it more of an appealing place to come back to in January,” she said.

Ms. Lopez said the increase of the Democratic caucus to 22 members, coupled with the remaining moderate Republicans gives hope that the Democrats can have a voice. Of the 16 Republicans who crossed caucus leadership last May to vote for the budget, eight were reelected.

“It appears we’re going to have at least 30 or more that we can block some bad things from happening to the state,” she said.

Rep.-elect Pete Rios, D-23, a termed-out senator who ran for the House, said he hopes the moderate Republicans will vote their conscience but thinks they may fear party retribution. Six of the 16 House members who voted for the budget their leaders opposed were defeated at the polls.

“I hope they’re still strong enough to look out for the best interest of Arizona,” Mr. Rios said. “Having witnessed what happened to six of them, they may not be willing to do it again.”

However, Rep. Jennifer Burns, R-25, one of the budget rebels, said her constituents support her voting record and she votes in the best interest of the state, not party leadership.

“For me, personally…it was about a vote that was right for Arizona,” she said. “That’s what I’m going to continue doing and I hope others will do.”

Rep. Ray Barnes, R-7, voted with the leadership against the budget. He said he was amazed at the way districts around the state “resented” the moderates’ vote in favor of the budget and hopes the moderates will take it as a lesson. He said he wants the caucus to be unified but that “I would be concerned, if I were a moderate, about getting too moderate, because the history is not too good about being a moderate and going against the Republican budget.”

District 17

The only incumbent to lose besides Ms. Laughter was GOP Rep. Mark Thompson in Dist. 17. He lost his bid for reelection to Laura Knaperek, a Tempe Republican who served in the House from 1995-2002. He was one of the 16 Republicans who voted for the budget. This has been one of the few split districts in the state, and it remains so: Democratic Rep. Meg Burton Cahill retained her seat.

Ms. Knaperek said she attributed her victory over Mr. Thompson and Democrat Edward Ableser to her prior service. Voters, she said, knew her and remembered how she served. Mr. Thompson, she said, was a victim of lack of name recognition and a concerted effort by national Democratic organizations to mobilize Democrats.

“Obviously, we did the best we could do,” she said. “Easily, we could have lost both seats to the Democrats.”

Ms. Burton Cahill, who garnered the most votes in the race despite a small registration advantage for the Republicans, said she was “gratified that the voters in my district gave me such a strong vote of confidence.”

She said she is disappointed Mr. Thompson lost, but said her Democratic caucus needs to continue to work with the remaining moderate Republicans to build relationships.

“That’s where, I believe, our strength comes from as Democrats,” she said.

Weiers Is Speaker

At their Nov. 3 organizational caucus meeting, House Republicans elected Jim Weiers, R-10, to replace the departed Jake Flake as House speaker, returning him to the chamber’s most powerful post, which he held in 2001 and 2002 before reaching his term limit and serving in the Senate for one term before returning to the House.

“My goal is to bring the caucus back together again…that members be heard and that we unify the group that we have,” Mr. Weiers said.

Earlier that day, both Governor Napolitano and Senate President Ken Bennett had talked with reporters about the need to establish better communication between the Legislature and the Governor’s Office and the importance of bipartisanship. Asked for his view, Mr. Weiers flashed the dry wit he is known for. “I’m glad they were listening when I talked to them yesterday,” he said.

Ms. Lopez, the Tucson Democrat, said she was pleased to learn Mr. Weiers had been elected speaker. During his first term as speaker, she said, he was always fair.

“He always had the Democrats at the table,” she said. “I think he will help to shape how the Republican caucus works with the Democrats.”

Republicans also elected Rep. Steve Tully, R-11, and Rep. Gary Pierce, R-19, as their majority leader and whip, respectively. Mr. Tully defeated Reps. Bill Konopnicki, R-5, and Chuck Gray, R-19. Mr. Pierce defeated Mr. Barnes.

The House Democratic caucus elected Phil Lopes leader, Linda Lopez assistant leader and Mr. Rios whip. —