Arizona’s two newest members of Congress joined more than 80 other newly elected House members for freshmen orientation November 13, as Democrats prepare to seize control of the lower chamber for the first time in eight years.

Spending on campaign ads in Arizona reached a record $129 million this year, part of a national trend that saw cable and broadcast election ad spending top $3 billion for the first time in a midterm election cycle.

Despite a record number of women running for office this year, Arizona will actually lose one female elected official when congressional and legislative delegations take office in January.

Republican leads in close races on November 6 vanished as county recorders counted ballots in the days after, and Republicans turned to attacking Arizona’s electoral process, making unfounded claims of vote rigging.

Katie Hobbs is going to be Arizona’s next secretary of state – and a heartbeat away from governor – absent a sudden and unlikely last-minute burst of votes from Maricopa County favoring Steve Gaynor, her Republican opponent.

The latest batch of votes counted Monday put the U.S. Senate out of the reach of Republican Martha McSally and into the hands of an Arizona Democrat for the first time since 1994.

Any losing candidate in the general election who is counting on an automatic recount needs to come close to winning. Really close.

Last Tuesday was supposed to conclude this election season, but in true Arizona fashion, the counting continues.

New election returns Sunday put Democrat Katie Hobbs in striking distance in the race for secretary of state.

New figures Saturday evening show Democrat U.S. Rep. Kyrsten Sinema has amassed 1,048,655 votes. That gives her a lead over Republican U.S. Rep. Martha McSally that now approaches 30,000.