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Mary Jo Pitzl in Phoenix, Arizona
Within an hour of the first drop of voting returns, Democratic governor Katie Hobbs sealed her bid for a second term in this increasingly swingy state.
Hobbs was projected to clinch another four years at the helm of Arizona government, outpacing Republican Andy Biggs by double digits in early returns. It was the first in a string of apparent Democratic wins up and down the statewide ballot, including the possible takeover of the state Legislature after decades in the minority.
Oscar de los Santos, leader of the minority Democrats in the House of Representatives, hedged his bet, but barely, as he said he wasn’t calling any races....yet. But he proceeded to proclaim a “Democratic trifecta in 2027,” with control of both law-making chambers and the Governor’s Office in Democrats’ hands.
The Arizona House has been controlled by Republicans since 1966. Even as Democrats narrowed the margin in the 60-member chamber, their boasts of an overthrow fell short year after year. In the state Senate, Democrats had control for two years in 1991-92.
But bouyed by widespread disapproval of president Donald Trump and his policies, legislative Democrats savored a return to power even as ballots were still being counted,
“We are achieving this by kicking Turning Point’s ass,” de los Santos said, referring to the conservative organization that backed many GOP campaigns. “Because in Arizona, the voters decide, not the corporations, not the billionaires and certainly not the sore losers.”
Further underscoring the Democratic dominance, attorney general Kris Mayes claimed early victory as she was leading her Republican opponent by more than 10 points.
“As you know, we won our last campaign by 280 votes,” Mayes said. “It’s going to be a whole lot more than that.”