Local Politics
Democrats Poised to Win Arizona Legislature Control for First Time Since 1966
Democratic candidates held large leads in seven state Senate seats and nine House seats currently held by Republicans as of 10 p.m. Tuesday, with many contested races based in Maricopa County. Democratic leaders Oscar De Los Santos and Priya Sundareshan claimed victory at the Arizona Democratic Party's election night party in downtown Phoenix, projecting majorities of 20 Senate seats and 36 House seats. The projected shift would end Republican legislative control dating to 1966 and could ease governance conflicts between Gov. Katie Hobbs and the GOP-led chambers that have blocked her nominees and prompted record vetoes. Hundreds of thousands of ballots remained uncounted at the time of reporting.