With a surge of new candidates seeking state and legislative offices this fall, the Secretary of State’s Office has seen a jump in the number of candidate challenges this year.

May 30 marked the deadline for candidates to submit petitions to run for legislative, statewide and congressional offices. Unlike in previous election cycles, few legislative races are uncontested.

In her last year as a senator, Minority Leader Katie Hobbs experienced the usual highs and lows of session. The Phoenix Democrat now leaves office to run for secretary of state.

The Arizona Legislature referred two measures to the ballot this year, more than lawmakers referred in 2016 when they instead focused their attention on trying to defeat several citizen initiatives.

A House bill that would require voters to have the same address on file with the Secretary of State and the Department of Transportation or face a civil penalty failed in committee.

Arizona’s voter registration forms don’t adequately tell people with a felony about their voting rights, potentially disenfranchising scores of people, an election-law, advocacy group claims.

The coffee shop in Arizona’s Old Capitol is now serving Starbucks drinks and may soon have televisions showing legislative hearings.

Gov. Doug Ducey raised more than $2 million more than his Democratic competitors for the 2018 Arizona governor’s race.

The race to be Arizona’s next treasurer hasn’t really begun yet, but a candidate and potential candidate are already butting heads and getting lawyers involved.

A top Arizona legislator said he would be open to making it easier for the state’s voters to circumvent the Legislature and pass laws by way of the ballot in exchange for easing restrictions that prevent the Legislature from tweaking those same laws.