On Tuesday, August 2, nearly 1.5 million Arizona voters (a record turnout) decided in partisan primaries which candidates they want to represent them on the ballot in November. In a victory for LGBTQ+ equality, many of our endorsed candidates won their primaries, but as the results came in, it became clear that many of the most dangerously extreme candidates had also cleared their fields. In many statewide contests, this means that voters will be faced with a stark contrast between candidates who represent radically different political philosophies and visions for the future of our state and the lives of its residents. Down ballot, this trend continued, with some key LGBTQ+ allies losing out to anti-LGBTQ+ candidates. Because many legislative districts lean heavily towards one party or the other, the fate of LGBTQ+ rights in Arizona over the coming years will hinge on the outcome of only a handful of key legislative races.
Key Legislative Races
In 2022, all 30 seats in the Arizona State Senate and all 60 seats in the Arizona House of Representatives will be up for election, as they are every two years. Voters in each legislative district will elect two representatives and one senator to represent them at the State Capitol. The legislature is responsible for maintaining and updating state law, and crafts the state budget each year. The power of the state legislature to supersede local decision making, particularly in our school system, has made it a focal point for anti-LGBTQ+ activity. Shifting the balance of power to safeguard against those forces is key to preserving LGBTQ+ rights in Arizona. After the primaries, however, many legislative races are effectively locked in, leaving only a handful of truly competitive districts, the outcome of which will determine the ability of anti-LGBTQ+ extremists to implement their policy goals.
Based on voter registration numbers, the most competitive districts in 2022 will be the following. You can look up your legislative district with the redistricting commission’s official search tool.
Legislative District 2, in North Phoenix
Legislative District 4, north of Camelback Road, generally between the 51 and 101.
Legislative District 9, centered on Downtown Mesa
Legislative District 12, in South Tempe, Chandler, and Ahwatukee
Legislative District 16, a large region extending from Tucson to Maricopa County
Even if you don’t live in one of these districts, your vote can make a difference, and you can make even more of a difference by getting involved as a volunteer. Sign up to join our team today!
Stark Contrasts in Major Races
Senator | Blake Masters v. Mark Kelly
In 2020, Senator Mark Kelly won his seat in a special election following the death of Senator John McCain. This year, voters will decide whether to reelect or replace Senator Kelly. His opponent, Blake Masters, is a newcomer to politics, but has signaled that he would support anti-LGBTQ+ policies like Florida’s Parental Rights in Education Act. Along with Democratic victories in other swing states in 2020, Mark Kelly was part of a shift in power in the U.S. Senate to a 50-50 Democratic majority. With the tie-breaking vote of Vice President Kamala Harris, who serves as President of the Senate, the Democrats have been able to achieve a number of their policy priorities, but without a filibuster-proof majority, progress on many high-profile items on their agenda has been slow. Signals from the Supreme Court that key decisions like Obergefell v. Hodges – and with it, the right to gay marriage – could be in jeopardy have only further highlighted the fragile balance of power in the Senate as it falls to them to codify LGBTQ+ civil rights. Each state is afforded equal say in this chamber of Congress, so when voting in Senate elections, voters in swing states like Arizona have additional influence in determining the future of federal regulation, governmental spending, and the makeup of the Supreme Court.
Congressional District 4 | Kelly Cooper v. Greg Stanton
Unlike the Senate, each State elects a number of representatives to the House of Representatives that is proportional to its population. Arizona is divided into nine congressional districts, and all nine seats will be on the ballot this Fall. Along with the Senate, the House of Representatives is responsible for making laws and passing budgets for the federal government. The House originates all revenue generating policy, but all bills, regardless of origin, must be agreed upon by both chambers of Congress before being sent to the President to be signed into law or vetoed. This makes the House of Representatives critical to any effort to codify LGBTQ+ civil rights at the federal level. After redistricting, Representative Greg Stanton’s bid for reelection has become a highly competitive race with his opponent, Kelly Cooper.
Governor | Kari Lake v. Katie Hobbs
After two full terms, Governor Doug Ducey will leave office following the results of the 2022 elections. The primary function of the Governor is to execute state law, and the Governor decides whether to veto or sign into law each bill passed by the state legislature, making her a critical stopgap against anti-LGBTQ+ policy. Katie Hobbs and Kari Lake have expressed radically different positions on LGBTQ+ rights, so this race will be critical for our future as a community.
Secretary of State | Mark Finchem v. Adrian Fontes
The Secretary of State of Arizona has a number of responsibilities and holds a significant place in the state government as the first in line to succeed the Governor. Many diverse and important legal and political functions are overseen by the Secretary of State, including the registration of notaries and lobbyists and the administration of several key legislative processes. Perhaps most notably, the Secretary of State is responsible for all elections in Arizona and certifies their results. Due to erroneous conspiracy theories and active disinformation about the results of the 2020 election, this has become a political flashpoint and a key focus of the 2022 race for this office. In the state legislature, Mark Finchem has co-sponsored a number of anti-LGBTQ+ bills and was the prime sponsor of a resolution to decertify Arizona’s electors in the 2020 election. His opponent, Adrian Fontes, oversaw the 2020 election process in Maricopa County during his tenure as Maricopa County Recorder.
Attorney General | Abe Hamadeh v. Kris Mayes
The Attorney General oversees the State of Arizona’s law office, which represents the state government and most of its agencies. Across the country, we’ve seen a trend of “activist” attorney generals, who use the force of their office to influence policy and public affairs, and the current Attorney General of Arizona Mark Brnovich has intervened in a number of high profile political situations. This is an office with a high degree of real power, and in states like Texas, that power has been leveraged against LGBTQ+ children and families. Following the Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, the attorney general will play the deciding role in whether or not to enforce Arizona’s territorial law banning abortion and threatening providers with incarceration. One candidate, Abe Hamadeh, has committed to enforcing the law, while his opponent, Kris Mayes, has promised not to intervene.
Superintendent of Public Instruction | Tom Horne v. Kathy Hoffman
While none of the current officeholders for Governor, Secretary of State, or the Attorney General, will be seeking reelection in 2022, the race for Superintendent of Public Instruction will feature an incumbent on the ballot. Kathy Hoffman, as Superintendent, is responsible for administering a multi-billion dollar budget for Arizona’s public schools in accordance with state and federal law and State Board of Education policy. In the past years, a majority of anti-LGBTQ+ policy attacks have focused on inclusivity in school programs and curricula, so this office can be a critical ally or antagonist to LGBTQ+ children.
Maricopa County Attorney | Rachel Mitchell v. Julie Gunnigle
Due to the resignation of former Maricopa County Attorney Allister Adel, voters in Maricopa County will have the opportunity to elect a new County Attorney in 2022. The office is currently held by Rachel Mitchell, who was appointed by the county board of supervisors. Recently, the Maricopa County Attorney’s office has been caught up in a number of high-profile controversies, and voters will have a monumental decision before them this Fall when choosing an attorney to lead what is one of the largest prosecutorial agencies in the United States. To learn more about how this office can affect LGBTQ+ rights, check out our town hall with the ACLU of Arizona about the role of the Maricopa County Attorney.
