Despite incumbents largely dominating their primary election races, both the state House and Senate will see some turnover with several current lawmakers departing for various reasons. 

With just a few competitive districts in the state, most primary winners will likely go on to win their general election races in heavy red and blue districts. 

Only four incumbents or current members of the Legislature lost their primary races in a statewide primary election that saw less voter turnout than the 2022 and 2020 primary elections. 

Sen. Ken Bennett, R-Prescott, lost to former state Rep. Mark Finchem, who himself lost his bid for secretary of state two years ago. Bennett was running for re-election in Legislative District 1. 

Appointed Rep. Charles Lucking, D-Phoenix, also lost in the Legislative District 5 House Democratic primary to Aaron Marquez, a member of the Phoenix Union School Board. Marquez and Lucking both sought appointment to the district’s vacant House seats this session after former Reps. Jennifer Longdon and Amish Shah resigned. 

Sen. Juan Mendez, D-Tempe, lost to his running mate, Brian Garcia, and Janeen Connolly in his attempted switch from the state Senate to the House in the Democratic controlled Legislative District 8. Mendez is termed out of the Senate after he completes his term. 

Days before the election, Mendez shared posts on X from a user accusing Connolly’s campaign of being funded by “special interest money” from utility companies Salt River Project, Arizona Public Service and Southwest Gas. 

Lauren Kuby, the district’s Democratic Senate candidate, shared a document from the Secretary of State’s Office showing Connolly was registered as a lobbyist with Salt River Project from 2007 to 2021 under the name Janeen Rohovit. Kuby ran on the same slate with Mendez and Garcia.

Connolly addresses her connection to Salt River Project on her campaign website and states she was a community advocate for the company and the document Kuby posted doesn’t provide any report of her lobbying. Connolly states on her website that she was listed as an authorized lobbyist likely on the side of caution and that she never worked on legislation. 

“My sister democrat in Tempe has been working hard to find fault, odd as she is not my opponent,” Connolly wrote.

Another incumbent who lost their primary race was Sen. Justine Wadsack, R-Tucson. Wadsack lost in a rematch from 2022 to former state Sen. Vince Leach – his lead over Wadsack is greater than 5%.

Democrats are targeting Leach’s district, Legislative District 17, and he will face John McLean in the general election. 

“Vince Leach is exactly the type of politician Arizona voters have rejected time and time again. Leach has a sordid history of working on behalf of special interests – not his constituents,” Arizona Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee Chair Priya Sundareshan said in a statement.

Other familiar faces 

Some of the lawmakers like Finchem set to enter office have previously served, although they weren’t part of the recent legislative group. 

Former state Rep. Walt Blackman served in the House from 2019 to 2023 and will likely return to the House after advancing to the general election in Legislative District 7 with Rep. David Marshall, R-Snowflake. 

Blackman and Marshall defeated Steve Slaton, a Republican candidate backed by Sen. Wendy Rogers, R-Flagstaff, accused of lying about serving in Vietnam. Former state Rep. John Fillmore was also a candidate in that race. 

Republican Justin Olson will likely make a return to the state House after advancing to the general election in Legislative District 10, in which both Reps. Justin Heap, R-Mesa; and Barbara Parker, R-Mesa, did not run for re-election. 

Olson previously served in the House from 2011 to 2017. He also was a member of the Arizona Corporation Commission from 2017 to 2023. 

Heap won the Maricopa County recorder GOP nomination and his father, Ralph Heap, advanced with Olson in the LD10’s House race. 

Former state Rep. Jeff Weninger advanced with Rep. Julie Willoughby, R-Chandler, in the competitive Legislative District 13. Weninger served in the House from 2015 to 2023 but Democrats Brandy Reese and Nicholas Gonzales will challenge the Republicans for House seats in the district.

LD13 is represented by Willoughby and Rep. Jennifer Pawlik, D-Chandler, who decided not to run for re-election.

Legislative District 27 also has no incumbents running for their current seats, although Rep. Kevin Payne, R-Peoria, is running unopposed for state Senate. Former Republican state Rep. Tony Rivero from 2015 to 2021 advanced to the general election with Republican Lisa Fink, and the two will see Democrat Deborah Howard challenging them as a single shot candidate. 

New soon-to-be lawmakers

Senate Majority Sonny Borrelli, R-Lake Havasu City, is running for a seat on the Mohave County Board of Supervisors while Mohave County Supervisor Hildy Anguis is running for Borrelli’s seat in the Senate. 

Both Borrelli and Anguis won their primary races. Borrelli represents Legislative District 30, which leans red and Anguis will likely be elected to the Senate in November.

Other new GOP lawmakers will likely serve in the House in districts 14, 15, 25 and 29. 

Republican Khyl Powell advanced in the LD14 GOP House primary with his running mates Rep. Laurin Hendrix, R-Gilbert; and Senate President Warren Petersen, R-Gilbert. 

Michael Way won the LD15 GOP House primary with Rep. Neal Carter, R-San Tan Valley. Rep. Jacqueline Parker, R-Mesa, didn’t run for re-election. 

Former American Ninja Warrior contestant Nick Kupper advanced in the LD25 GOP primary with Rep. Michael Carbone, R-Buckeye. Kupper is running for a seat held by Rep. Tim Dunn, R-Yuma, who will switch chambers to the Senate. 

Rep. Austin Smith, R-Wittmann, withdrew his candidacy in LD29 and Republican James Taylor is now running in his place. 

Democrats have one other likely new member who advanced in the safe blue district of LD24. Cartwright Elementary School District Governing Board President Anna Abeytia is seeking the seat currently held by Rep. Analise Ortiz, R-Phoenix, since Ortiz will switch chambers.