Democrats swept Arizona on Tuesday, winning a second term for Gov. Katie Hobbs and taking control of the state House and Senate for the first time in 60 years, according to unofficial results.

In Southern Arizona, Democrat JoAnna Mendoza led Republican Rep. Juan Ciscomani 52.9% to 44.9% in Congressional District 6, a seat Republicans have held since 2023. Democrats also led every legislative race in Districts 17, 18, 20 and 21, while Republicans led in District 19.

Tucson voters also rejected the Tucson Electric Power franchise in Proposition 421, and Pima County’s Proposition 425 spending limit was too close to call.

Hobbs had 55.6% of the vote, with 1,193,939 votes, to Republican Andy Biggs’ 42.7%, with 916,236 votes, as of 5 a.m. Wednesday. Democrats led in 20 of 30 state Senate districts and for 37 of 60 House seats, up from 13 and 27.

Organized Power in Numbers, an organizing and advocacy group that works in Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, said in a statement Tuesday night that the results should not be read as a return to the Democratic Party.

“This election isn’t about the working class coming home to the Democrats. This is about them choosing themselves and their neighbors and demanding the government work for them, not the billionaire class. Neither party should take the multi-racial working class for granted,” said executive director Neidi Dominguez.

At Grijalva’s election night watch party at El Casino Ballroom in South Tucson, dozens of supporters cheered as results came in shortly after 8 p.m. showing her as the early winner in Congressional District 7.

Grijalva, a Democrat, had 71.5% of the vote, or 111,192 votes, to Republican Daniel Butierez Sr.’s 28.5%, or 44,298 votes, as of Wednesday morning.

“We hear you loud and clear by your votes. The turnout was staggering for a midterm,” Grijalva told attendees. “Tomorrow is the start of . . . getting ready for the presidential election. We have to register people to vote, we have to continue to have these conversations.”

Grijalva, whose district includes the Tohono O’odham Nation, said she plans to bring more members of Congress there so they can see the situation at the border firsthand.

“Don’t believe what is being spoon-fed to you. Come and see it yourself,” she said. “Talk to the Nation, understand that there are members on both sides and that the border crosses them. They didn’t cross the border.”

Tucson Mayor Regina Romero praised local residents for their work supporting Democratic candidates, especially in Congressional District 6.

“I can’t wait to see Trump’s head explode when he finds out that southern Arizona is run by Latinas,” Romero said, referring to Grijalva, Mendoza and herself.

Many supporters at the watch party said they were hopeful about what comes next.

“I’m feeling very excited and thankful that I’m able to vote for my side of the family, since they aren’t able to vote,” said attendee Stephanie Mercado. “I feel very happy and excited and I can’t wait . . . to see how this turns out.”

Others were less hopeful. Hubert Martin said he wasn’t sure the win would change much in Washington, given President Donald Trump’s veto power.

“I think Democrats ought to be able to cut back on the horrible things that the Trump administration is doing to immigrants by just not providing money to ICE, or to new prisons, or to the border wall,” Martin said. “They need to keep the pressure up to put more of our resources into taking care of people who need help and less resources into building up the war machine.”

Local results

Early results show Tucson voters rejecting Proposition 421, with 54.9% voting no and 45.1% voting yes. The measure would have renewed Tucson Electric Power’s 25-year franchise.

Opponents who protested outside TEP’s downtown office said a no vote would keep the city from committing to TEP for 25 years and open the door to public power.

“Community power beat corporate power in the Sonoran Desert," the group Public Power for Tucson said in a statement. "Despite TEP’s attempt to try to scare voters with over $4 million of propaganda, Tucsonans voted for a brighter future."

The group said Proposition 421 was about more than TEP’s infrastructure, calling it a referendum on how the utility operates in Tucson and saying voters rejected it.

"It’s time for the Tucson Mayor and Council to put a public power utility before voters,” the group said.

Tucson voters approved Proposition 422, extending the 0.1% Reid Park Zoo sales tax through 2047, 71.9% to 28.1%.

Pima County’s Proposition 425, which would raise the county spending limit by about $610 million, was too close to call. Yes had 50.2% and no had 49.8%, a difference of 1,173 votes.

In the Pima County Board of Supervisors District 5 race, Democrat Andrés Cano had 79.4% of the vote, or 36,686 votes, to Republican Jeff Rhodes’ 20.6%, or 9,492 votes.

All 10 Pima County Superior Court judges up for retention were retained, with support ranging from 55.7% for Catherine Woods to 73.4% for Kathleen Quigley.

In Pima County Justice of the Peace races, Democrat Kristel Foster led Republican William Parven 28,623 votes to 16,280 in Justice Precinct 8. In Justice Precinct 3, Democrat Sara Mae Williams led independent Rodney Hopkins 1,370 votes to 516. Victoria Steele in Precinct 1, Morgan Miholich in Precinct 6 and Raymond Carroll in Precinct 7 were unopposed.

In Oro Valley, voters approved Proposition 431, a 10-year growth and water plan, 79.3% to 20.7%.

In South Tucson, incumbent Cesar Aguirre (279 votes) and challenger Eduardo Baca (249) led for the two City Council seats. Challenger Debbie Federico was three votes behind Baca with 246, and incumbent Brian Flagg had 209.

In Sierra Vista, Vice Mayor Carolyn Flowers led the mayor’s race with 40.1% of the vote, or 5,122 votes. Councilman Mark Rodriguez had 33.7% and Brandon Martin had 25.9%. Voters also backed the city’s general plan, Question 408, with 79.3% yes.

In the Sierra Vista City Council race, Edward Wozniak had 8,534 votes and Brian Miers had 8,433. Write-in candidates Wesley Hewitt, Chris Holston and Marvin Kouza had 365, 343 and 294 votes.

Northwest Fire District’s Proposition 424 bonds had 71.0% yes. In the district’s board race, Roger Wright had 21,581 votes, Paul Hestand had 19,487 and David Talas had 14,995.

School boards and bonds

In the Tucson Unified School District, Jennifer Eckstrom (58,664 votes) and Pilar Acosta Ruiz (36,664) led for the two governing board seats. Incumbent Val Romero was 1,191 votes behind Acosta Ruiz with 35,473. Tre’Davon Rhodes had 33,377 and Skye Fernandez had 29,016.

Eckstrom, who attended Grijalva’s watch party, said she wants to be “a voice for the community, students, teachers and parents” over the next four years if the results hold.

Community members have pushed back on the district’s reconfiguration proposals, and Eckstrom said she plans to hear from all district voices before making a decision.

“I’m going to listen to every voice, every concern,” Eckstrom said. “I don’t have my mind made up yet, so I’m going to take whatever they tell me and take it to heart and make a good decision.”

Tre’Davon Rhodes, another candidate for the Tucson Unified School District governing board, said values should guide how the district supports its students.

“I think . . . bringing in the morals, the values, the principles that we hold, not only as Democrats but as . . . people of the community, you know, making sure that we’re looking out for the underserved students in our district and doing what we can to increase the resources that we have for our students,” he said.

In the Amphitheater Unified School District governing board race, Elizabeth Slater had 24,019 votes, Nina Godlewski had 22,321 and John Fife had 19,205. In a second Amphitheater race, Michael Gemma had 18,556 votes and Kimberly Outlaw Ryan had 17,127.

In the Tanque Verde Unified School District governing board race, Beth Peterson had 3,355 votes, Thomas Trask had 2,630 and Piper Jordan had 2,467.

In the Sahuarita Unified School District governing board race, John Sparks had 5,360 votes and Raul Rodriguez had 5,327.

In the Pima JTED governing board race, Beth Lehr had 14,871 votes and Cindy Rankin Elliott had 14,529.

Two $250 million education bonds were leading narrowly. Pima Community College’s Proposition 430 had 51.1% yes, and Pima JTED’s Proposition 427 had 51.2% yes. The college bond would pay for maintenance, first responder training and campus upgrades, and the JTED bond would pay for career and technical education.

Other Southern Arizona school districts had mixed results on ballot measures. The Amphitheater Unified School District’s Proposition 426, which would allow the sale or lease of district property, had 74.5% yes. The Vail Unified School District’s Proposition 423, a budget override, had 63.8% yes, and the Tanque Verde Unified School District’s Proposition 429, also a budget override, had 56.0% yes.

The Sahuarita Unified School District’s Proposition 428, a budget increase, was failing by 233 votes, with 51.3% voting no.

Statewide and Congress

In District 17, Democrat Edgar Soto led Republican Christopher King 58,006 votes to 48,359 in the Senate race. Democrats Kevin Volk (54,249) and Holly Lyon (54,002) led Republicans John Winchester (46,384) and Rachel “Jones” Keshel (44,308) for the two House seats.

In District 18, Democrat Priya Sundareshan led Republican Douglas Everett 56,694 to 29,134 in the Senate race. Democrats Nancy Gutierrez (53,780) and Chris Mathis (50,510) led Republican Bob Dohse (28,832) for the House.

In District 19, Republican Gail Griffin led Democrat Bob Karp 45,931 to 34,267 in the Senate race. Republicans David Gowan (42,797) and Lupe Diaz (39,261) led Democrats Jackie O’Donnell Anderson (32,048) and Aiden Nicholette Swallow (30,349) for the House.

In District 20, Democrats Alma Hernandez in the Senate race and Sally Ann Gonzales and Betty Villegas in the House race had no Republican opponents.

In District 21, Democrat Rosanna Gabaldón led Republican Esteban Flores 36,036 to 16,370 in the Senate race. Democrats Miranda Lopez (31,413) and Consuelo Hernandez (30,238) led Republican Christopher Kibbey (16,527) for the House.

Democrats also led every other statewide race on the ballot:

• Attorney general: Kris Mayes had 55.4% to Warren Petersen’s 44.6%.
• Secretary of state: Adrian Fontes had 54.8% to Alexander Kolodin’s 43.8%. Green Party candidate Duwayne Collier had 1.4%.
• Treasurer: Nick Mansour had 53.7% to Elijah Norton’s 46.3%.
• Superintendent of public instruction: Teresa Leyba Ruiz had 53.1% to Kimberly Yee’s 46.9%.
• Mine inspector: Brian Matlock had 52.7% to Walter “Les” Presmyk’s 47.3%.
• Corporation Commission: Democrats Clara Pratte (1,060,521 votes) and Jonathon Hill (1,020,300) led Republicans Kevin Thompson (915,175) and Ralph Heap (856,988) for the two seats.

Statewide propositions

Arizona voters also considered eight statewide propositions. Voters were rejecting Proposition 142, a ban on DEI programs and affirmative action (59.9% no), Proposition 144, an election reform package (53.2% no), and Proposition 320, a classroom spending requirement (51.4% no).

They were approving Proposition 316, voter approval for city grocery tax increases (61.4% yes), Proposition 319, a photo radar ban (61.1% yes), Proposition 318, sports and bathroom restrictions by biological sex (58.9% yes), and Proposition 317, designating drug cartels as terrorist organizations (57.0% yes). Proposition 141, a ban on vehicle miles traveled taxes, was ahead with 50.7% yes, a difference of 28,602 votes.

What’s next

These are early results, and several Southern Arizona races could still change as more ballots are counted.

Results are unofficial until counties canvass, which must happen by Nov. 19. The state canvass is due Nov. 23.

Spotlight team members Nya Belcastro, Ian Stash and Caitlin Schmidt contributed to this story.

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