Tucson Spotlight election coverage and updates

Tucson Spotlight is covering the 2026 elections from the ground up: candidates, ballot measures, and what's at stake for Southern Arizona. Find all of our election coverage here.

Tucson Spotlight election coverage and updates
Elections shape everything from your water bill to your kid's classroom. We're covering the races that matter most to Tucson and Southern Arizona. All of it, in one place. Photo by Susan Barnett.

Primary results

Southern AZ incumbents lead in tight primary night
Southern Arizona incumbents fend off primary challengers as Biggs wins the GOP governor nod; LD20, LD21, Marana, Oro Valley and South Tucson results, still unofficial.

Legislative District 17 Senate

Republican Anthony Dunham runs for open LD17 Senate seat
Republican Anthony Dunham is running for Legislative District 17’s open Arizona Senate seat, facing Christopher King in the primary, with a platform on taxes, border security and school choice.
Democrat Edgar Soto runs for open LD17 Senate seat
Marine veteran and educator Edgar Soto is the only Democrat running for Legislative District 17’s open Arizona Senate seat, campaigning on public education, affordable housing and groundwater protection.

Legislative District 17 House

Lyon seeks Arizona House seat in LD17 race
Democrat Holly Lyon, a retired Air Force colonel, is running for the Arizona House in LD17 alongside Rep. Kevin Volk, with priorities including groundwater regulation, affordable housing and public school funding.
Volk seeks reelection in Arizona House District 17
Democratic Rep. Kevin Volk discusses his reelection campaign for Arizona House District 17, outlining his positions on groundwater regulation, affordable housing and public school funding.

Legislative District 20 Senate

Hernandez on water, ESAs and housing in LD20
State Rep. Alma Hernandez is running for the Arizona Senate in Legislative District 20, facing a Democratic primary challenge from Rocque Perez ahead of the July 21 primary.
Perez on schools, water and housing in LD20
Former Tucson City Council member Rocque Perez is facing off against state Rep. Alma Hernandez for the open LD20 Senate seat, arguing that Southern Arizona needs leaders willing to say no to corporate interests and yes to public education.
Perez’s deleted posts threaten LD20 primary bid
Aggressive 2020 social media posts by Arizona Senate candidate Rocque Perez have resurfaced ahead of the July 21 Democratic primary in Legislative District 20, drawing responses from both Perez and his opponent, state Rep. Alma Hernandez.
LD20 Democrats issue statement against Rep. Alma Hernandez
The Legislative District 20 Democratic Committee voted to issue a formal statement of concern against state Rep. Alma Hernandez, citing more than 150 votes she cast with Republicans ahead of a July primary against former Tucson council member Rocque Perez.
Alma Hernandez faces ballot challenge over unpaid fines
State Rep. Alma Hernandez could be removed from the 2026 Arizona ballot after fellow Democrats sued over more than $20,000 in alleged unpaid campaign finance fines. A judge is expected to rule by Thursday.
Arizona Rep. Alma Hernandez clashes with UA Democrats
The University of Arizona College Democrats are facing threatening messages after state Rep. Alma Hernandez accused the student group of using Israel and Palestine as a political litmus test.

Legislative District 20 House

Republican write-in Weasel runs in LD20 House race
Katherine Weasel is running as a Republican write-in candidate in Arizona’s Legislative District 20 House race, where she will face two Democratic primary winners in November on issues including school vouchers, water and housing.
Villegas seeks reelection in Arizona House LD20 race
State Rep. Betty Villegas is running for reelection to the Arizona House in Legislative District 20, facing primary challengers as she campaigns on water accountability, housing affordability and opposition to ESA voucher expansion.

Congressional District 6

Marine vet JoAnna Mendoza challenges Ciscomani in AZ-6
Democrat JoAnna Mendoza, a Marine veteran endorsed by Gabrielle Giffords, is running to unseat Republican incumbent Juan Ciscomani in the 2026 midterms.

Treasurer

Mansour first to qualify for ballot in Arizona treasurer’s race
Tucson native Nick Mansour became the first candidate to qualify for the ballot in the Arizona state treasurer’s race, submitting more than 10,000 nominating petition signatures.
Tucson native Nick Mansour enters race for state treasurer
Tucson native Nick Mansour has announced his democratic candidacy for Arizona state treasurer, aiming to bring a business-minded approach to managing the state’s finances.

Marana Mayor and Council

Marana council candidates on data centers, detention
Four Marana Town Council candidates weigh in on data center regulations, PFAS contamination and a former prison contracted as an ICE detention center ahead of the July 21 primary.

Oro Valley Mayor and Council

Oro Valley voters to pick new mayor, council members
Oro Valley voters will choose a new mayor, three council members and the fate of a 10-year community plan, with candidates weighing in on surveillance cameras, growth and the Vistoso Trails pond restoration.

South Tucson Mayor and Council

8 candidates vie for 3 South Tucson Council seats
Eight candidates are competing for three seats on the South Tucson City Council in a July 21 primary, with public safety, a budget deficit and surveillance cameras among the central issues in the race.

Sierra Vista Mayor

Sierra Vista Vice Mayor Flowers eyes top job
Sierra Vista Vice Mayor Carolyn Flowers is running for mayor, citing eight years of council experience and a platform focused on veterans, small businesses, water resources and public safety.
Rodriguez runs for Sierra Vista mayor on safety platform
Sierra Vista City Council member Mark Rodriguez is running for mayor in the Nov. 3 election, campaigning on public safety, government transparency and support for the city’s veterans, small businesses and youth.

Misc.

LD17, LD20 voters meet candidates face-to-face in Tucson
Voters in Legislative Districts 17 and 20 got a rare chance to speak one-on-one with candidates at an informal forum co-hosted by Tucson Spotlight, Arizona Luminaria and Press Forward Southern Arizona.
League of Women Voters offers free advocacy workshop
The League of Women Voters of Greater Tucson is hosting a free “Writing for Impact” workshop June 15 at Nanini Library, covering letters to the editor, contacting elected officials and social media advocacy.
Arizona advocates say Prop. 139 hasn’t solved abortion access
Reproductive rights advocates, congressional candidate JoAnna Mendoza and state Rep. Stephanie Stahl Hamilton gathered in Tucson to argue that despite Prop. 139’s passage, Arizona women still face significant barriers to abortion access.

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