Former astronaut Mark Kelly waded into the political arena Tuesday, making a bid for U.S. Senate and hoping to prove to Arizonans he about more than just gun control.

Arizona lawmakers get paid $24,000 annually. Most have full-time jobs beyond the business of sponsoring and voting on bills for four to five months out of the year.

David Garcia’s recent calls to overhaul the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency may have been a step too far, and the resistance he has received could be a sign that unapologetic progressivism won’t play well in Arizona this election cycle.

The outlook of Democrats in the state got rosier on April 24 when the special election results in Arizona’s 8th Congressional District put the Republican candidate in the bright red district ahead by only 5 percentage points.

The tone for this year’s legislative session was set when Senate President Andy Biggs and House Speaker David Gowan stood with Gov. Doug Ducey as he introduced his budget in January, observed political consultant Stan Barnes.

Now that Doug Ducey has secured the Republican nomination for governor, many politicos speak of his primary win as a forgone conclusion.<br.
The state treasurer and former Cold Stone Creamery CEO locked up support from a broad coalition of GOP supporters early, out-fundraised his opponents, put millions of dollars of his money into his campaign when it mattered most and was able to withstand a massive negative advertising campaign against him.

Gov. Jan Brewer’s agenda in her final regular legislative session lacked the blockbuster policies, drag-out fights and frayed nerves of 2013. Instead, the governor proposed a far more modest agenda in 2014. Relatively small spending increases in a few key areas, two low-profile economic development bills and legislation strengthening the state’s human trafficking laws were among the biggest policies she pursued.

While Brewer boasted of Arizona’s economic turnaround of the past few years and the attention the state has received nationally for its improved business climate, the governor said Arizona’s work is not done.

Lone Democrat outweighed by crowded Republican field for governor

Next year’s primary is shaping up to be the hottest contest for a Republican gubernatorial nomination in more than 20 years.

On the surface, all appeared well among Democrats in the Senate. The 13-member minority caucus had a common cause to unite around in Medicaid expansion during the 2013 legislative session and was able to form a new majority in the Senate chamber by joining forces with a few breakaway Republican lawmakers.