Keep an eye on these primary fights in Arizona's legislative races
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While most eyes are on statewide and congressional elections in the July 21 primary, the races for Arizona's legislative seats will largely determine who controls the state next year.
Why it matters: The Legislature votes on policies that deeply affect millions of Arizonans, including education spending, social services, taxes and criminal statutes.
The big picture: Most of Arizona's 30 legislative districts are solidly Democratic or Republican, so the primary essentially decides the eventual winners.
- In the handful of competitive districts, the strength of the nominees determines their chances in November as Democrats strive for the elusive goal of winning control of one or both chambers.
👀 There are a lot of contested primaries, but these are the ones you'll want to keep your eyes on.
🫏 LD2 Senate (D): Democrats hope to oust incumbent Republican Sen. Shawnna Bolick in the north Phoenix district — one of Arizona's most competitive — but must first sort out a messy primary fight between Amelia Gallitano and Daniel Toporek.
- Toporek cried foul after Democratic Party organizations backed his opponent.
🐘 LD7 House (R): Former Rep. David Cook seeks a return to the Legislature, while Rep. Walt Blackman runs for reelection in this heavily Republican, largely rural district that runs from Flagstaff and the White Mountains to Apache Junction.
- Andrew Costanzo and Barby Ingle are also running in the crowded primary.
🐘 LD17 Senate (R): Incumbent Vince Leach isn't seeking reelection, opening up the Senate in his northern Tucson area district.
- Leach is backing Vail Unified School District board member Chris King, while former federal corrections officer Anthony Dunham runs with Turning Point Action's endorsement.
- The district is conservative but moderately competitive — Democrat Kevin Volk holds one of the House seats, and his party has its eye on the Senate seat as well.
🫏 LD20 Senate (D): Rep. Alma Hernandez is termed out of the House and seeking her heavily Democratic Tucson district's Senate seat, but she faces a primary challenge from former Tucson City Council member and education advocate Rocque Perez.
- Hernandez has faced criticism from the left over her penchant for breaking with her party at the Legislature. Perez also criticized her for making "unwavering support for the Israeli government" a core part of her political identity.
- Meanwhile, Perez is under scrutiny for his history of violent social media posts.
🐘 LD27 Senate (R): Incumbent Sen. Kevin Payne fights for reelection against Anthony Kern, a two-time former lawmaker and 2020 fake elector who's backed by Turning Point Action.
- The heavily Republican West Valley district includes parts of Glendale, Peoria and Phoenix.
- The pair had planned to switch seats in 2024 — the termed-out Payne running for the Senate and Kern, then a senator, for the House — but Kern opted instead to run for the open 8th Congressional District.
🐘 LD28 House (R): Incumbents David Livingston and Beverly Pingerelli seek reelection against challenger Heather Rooks, a member of the Peoria Unified School District governing board who was recently ousted as board president over her handling of an investigation into sexual misconduct allegations against two former teachers.
What's next: Early voting is underway.
- If you're voting by mail, be sure to mail your ballot by July 14.