While all eyes were on the state Senate in anticipation of a potentially momentous Democratic power shift, it was the House of Representatives that saw a big step away from Republican dominance.

The single-shot strategy did not pay off for Republicans in the Legislative District 10 House race this year.

This year is different, some Democrats say. And while they say that every year, their hope boils down to a handful of races that could decide which party controls the Senate, and perhaps increase Democrats’ share of representation in the House.

The 2018 Primary Election Guide, published July 27, incorrectly listed the parties of a few candidates. We greatly apologize for the error.

Newcomer Kirsten Engel is holding the top spot in southern Arizona’s Legislative District 10, while incumbent Democratic Rep. Stefanie Mach is barely hanging on to the second seat, fending off a challenge from a familiar foe.

Sen. Frank Antenori, a Republican from Tucson who is famous for being blunt, made a compelling case for his re-election at a park named after the late Morris K. Udall, southern Arizona’s beloved Democrat.

But nothing Antenori said on that nippy Oct. 13 afternoon was aimed at courting voters who hold moderate views.

It was all red meat to a crowd of adoring supporters, who view him as southern Arizona’s warrior-politician, the guy who’s holding back a horde of big spenders who are itching to raise people’s taxes at the first opportunity.

On a recent Thursday night at a barbeque restaurant on Tucson’s east side, Rep. Ted Vogt sat in the front row of a PowerPoint presentation about the dangers on the U.S.-Mexico border, watching as a former Border Patrol agent clicked through slides of headless bodies that have been dismembered by drug cartels.

Republicans Kimberly Yee and Rep. Jim Weiers were victorious in the House Legislative District 10 race, keeping both seats in GOP control.

Republican Kimberly Yee, a well known policy advisor, took her oath as the Legislature's newest member on Aug. 4. The Maricopa Board of Supervisors appointed Yee to the House two days before as a replacement to Doug Quelland, who was removed from office for violating campaign-finance laws.