Arizona Republicans and Democrats are lining up as candidates as the 2024 state election draws closer.
Republicans have a one-seat majority in the State House and State Senate, and some early candidates are vying for seats to determine which party has control of the legislature.
State Representative Judy Schweibert (D-Phoenix) is looking to move chambers and take the seat of former State Senator Steve Kaiser (R-Phoenix) representing Legislative District (LD) 2 after he resigned from the legislature in June.
Republican Josh Barnett, former candidate for the U.S. House to represent Arizona’s 1st Congressional District, filed a statement of interest to run for LD 2’s Senate seat in 2024.
Two other Republicans, Jeff Nelson and former candidate for the Arizona House of Representatives Neil Desanti, have also filed statements of interest for House seats in LD 2.
“We need to put a strong, patriotic 2A, constitutional Real Republican representing us in LD 2 on the ballot,” Desanti said.
LD 4’s House members Matt Gress (R-Phoenix) and Laura Terech (D-Scottsdale) have filed statements of interest in continuing to serve in their seats.
State Senator Christine Marsh (D-Phoenix) has also stated she will seek re-election.
Two additional Republicans, former candidate for the Arizona House of Representatives and Senate Kenneth Bowers Jr. and former candidate for Scottsdale City Council Pamela Carter have said they are interested in seeking LD4’s Senate Seat.
“As your Senator, I will: Protect children and their safety in our schools, promote small business and our Arizona economy, keep taxes low for working families for gas, groceries, and housing, keep our Constitutional rights secure, back our law enforcement officers to keep our neighborhoods free from crime,” Carter said.
State Representatives Seth Blattman (D-Mesa) and Lorena Austin (D-Mesa) have filed statements of interest to retain their seats in 2024.
State Senator Eva Burch (D-Mesa) is also interested in seeking re-election.
Three Republicans, former candidate for Arizona Senate Robert Scantlebury, Edwin Gonzales, and Kylie Barber, are all seeking LD 9 House seats.
Former Republican State Representative Jeff Weninger and Democrat Shante Saulsberry stated interest in running for LD 13.
“I think my district knows that I’m effective and have a very conservative voting record,” Weninger said.
Senator J.D. Mesnard (R-Chandler) is the only person who has filed a statement of interest for the Senate in the district.
Arizona Republicans Senate President Warren Petersen (R-Gilbert), State Representative Laurin Hendrix (R-Gilbert), and longtime Gilbert resident Andrew Jackson have announced they are running on a slate to represent LD 14 in 2024.
All three lawmakers in LD 16 State Representatives Teresa Martinez (R-Casa Grande) and Keith Seaman (D-Casa Grande) and Senator T.J. Shope (R-Coolidge) are the only candidates so far to file statements of interest to seek re-election officially.
Former Democratic State Representative Morgan Abram has announced candidacy for the LD 17 House Race in 2024. All three incumbent candidates, State Representatives Rachel Jones (R-Tucson) and Cory McGarr (R-Tucson), and State Senator Justine Wadsack (R-Tucson), are all seeking re-election.
“I am running for the Arizona House because I want to live in an Arizona that upholds the values my parents taught me, where our children strive for a better life than we have,” Abram said.
Incumbent Representatives Mariana Sandoval (D-Goodyear) and Michele Pena (R-Yuma), along with Senator Brian Fernandez (D-Yuma), are all seeking re-election.
Republican Gary Garcia Snyder is seeking Fernandez’s seat.
Democratic chair and San Luis City Council member Matias Rosales filed a statement of interest to run for an LD 23 House seat.
Arizona Republican businessman Steven Hines declared candidacy for the position of Maricopa County Recorder in 2024.
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Hannah Poling is a lead reporter at The Ohio Star, The Star News Network, and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Hannah on Twitter @HannahPoling1. Email tips to [email protected]
Photo “People Voting” by Lorie Shaull. CC BY 2.0.
