Joseph KavetskyThe results of last Tuesday’s election are in. Republicans expanded their majorities at the Arizona state Capitol, the business community chalked up important ballot measure wins, two newcomers are poised to join the Corporation Commission, and Maricopa County’s pro-business county attorney was reelected. Here is a look at the results.
The state House
Some races remain close, but Republicans are poised to hold 33 seats next year, a two-seat gain from the previous Legislature.
The state Senate
Republicans are on pace to hold 17 seats beginning in January, having defended seats in north Phoenix and northeast Tucson and having flipped a seat in north-central Phoenix.
Caucuses will gather today to choose their legislative leaders, including the speaker of the House.
Endorsements
Several candidates endorsed by the Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry won their races.
“We are thrilled that so many pro-business lawmakers will be at the Capitol next year,” said Courtney Coolidge, Chamber Vice President of Government Affairs. “We look forward to working with members of both parties to pursue policies that will strengthen the Arizona economy and attract jobs.”
Judicial retention
State Supreme Court Justices Clint Bolick and Kathryn King, who were up for retention, hung on to their seats even in the face of fierce partisan efforts to remove them.
“The retention of Justices Bolick and King along with all of the judges who appeared on the ballot is a positive development for maintaining the independence of the judiciary,” Coolidge said.
Ballot measures
The Chamber cheered passage of Proposition 312, which holds cities accountable for their failure to enforce public nuisances, and Maricopa County Propositions 479 and 486, which extends a critical transportation funding stream and raises the aggregate expenditure limit for the Maricopa Community College District, respectively.
The Chamber was also pleased that Glendale Proposition 499, a sweeping wage and productivity measure targeting the hospitality sector, was soundly defeated.
“Voters chose to make their neighborhoods safer and hold city governments more accountable, ensure we have the infrastructure to maintain our position as an economic leader, and to protect the jobs created by one of the state’s leading industries,” Chamber President and CEO Danny Seiden said.
County attorney
Republican Rachel Mitchell was easily reelected. Mitchell had strong business community backing thanks in part to her efforts to crack down on organized retail theft rings.
Corporation Commission
Newcomers Rachel Walden and Rene Lopez, both Republicans, will join the returning Lea Marquez Peterson on the five-member panel next year.
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