Dem momentum≠
Arizona Democratic Party Chairman David Waid speaks to backers gathered election night in downtown Phoenix. The GOP is “taking home major defeats, diminished numbers and the surefire knowledge that voters want to move Arizona forward with Governor Napolitano firmly at the helm,” he told Arizona Capitol Times of the Nov. 7 legislative results.

With all of the votes counted, Democratic candidates for the legislature picked up six seats in the House and gained one in the Senate.
“This was an incredible year for the Arizona Democratic Party,” State Democratic Party Chairman David Waid said. “The Republican Party set out with the stated purpose of winning a veto-proof majority to use against the Governor and her agenda.
“Instead, they are taking home major defeats, diminished numbers and the surefire knowledge that voters want to move Arizona forward with Governor Napolitano firmly at the helm.”
The six-seat swing in the House thinned the Republican advantage in the chamber to 33-27, while Democrats shifted the Republican lead to 17-13 in the Senate.
House Minority Phil Lopes, D-27, said the sheer increase in numbers should give the Democrats more influence over legislation.
“We’re going to be able to do some things that we weren’t able to do before,” he said.
Specifically, Mr. Lopes is counting on the ability of his caucus to strip votes away from the Republicans on divisive issues and the budget, an act he feels will be much easier this year than the past two years.
“Getting from 21 to 30 is one thing, getting from 27 to 30 is a totally different kettle of fish,” he said.
GOP: Still in driver’s seat
But House Speaker Pro Tem Bob Robson, R-20, says the Republicans are still in the driver’s seat at the Legislature and the election’s primary impact will be a galvanizing of the majority caucuses, especially in the House, where Republicans were hit hardest.
“I think it may create a more unified Republican caucus,” he said. “It’s going to be different, but it’s definitely manageable because it’s a smaller group that’s going to work together.”
Republicans are under no requirement to treat the Democrats any differently than they have in the past, Mr. Lopes says, though he suggests that it will benefit the entire body if both sides work together and dispel the public perception that the Legislature gets bogged down in partisan bickering.
He said the key indicator of how his caucus will be treated will be whether or not Republican leaders continue to require 31 Republican votes on the budget and other major decisions. In the past, Mr. Lopes has been critical of the informal policy, saying it effectively tells a large segment of the state their opinion and votes don’t matter.
House Republican leaders have not discussed the status of the 31-Republican-vote mandate, House Majority Leader Tom Boone, R-4, said.
Mr. Robson says Republican leadership in the House will show consideration for the will of the voters, but will still push for legislation supported by the majority caucus.
“We have to respect what [voters] have chosen,” he said. “I think we have to be mindful that the voters want us to do the business of the state.”
Democrats swept all three legislative seats in one southwestern Arizona district that has a history of sending both Republicans and Democrats to the Legislature.
Rep. Amanda Aguirre will be the new senator from District 24, replacing the retiring Bob Cannell, also a Democrat. In the House, Theresa Ulmer and Lynne Pancrazi both won, marking the first time since 1992 that the district has elected two representatives from the same party.
Other Dem gains
Other Democrat gains in the House include Jackie Thrasher’s defeat of Rep. Doug Quelland in District 10; Barbara McGuire winning the seat currently held by Republican Cheryl Chase in District 23; David Schapira’s victory over Laura Knaperek in District 17; Mark Anthony DeSimone’s upset win in District 11; and Lena Saradnik defeating David Jorgenson in District 26.
In the Senate, Charlene Pesquiera upset Republican Al Melvin in the District 26 race.