2012 Arizona Senate election

Not to be confused with 2012 United States Senate election in Arizona.

The 2012 Arizona Senate election was held on November 6, 2012. Voters elected members of the Arizona Senate in all 30 of the state's legislative districts to serve a two-year term. These were the first elections following the 2010 redistricting cycle. Since passage of Proposition 106 in 2000, redistricting in Arizona is done by the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission (AIRC). Following redistricting, many incumbents were moved into new districts. Primary elections were held on August 28, 2012.^[4]

2012 Arizona Senate election

← 2010 November 6, 2012 2014 →
All 30 seats of the Arizona Senate 16 seats needed for a majority
Majority party Minority party   Leader Andy Biggs Anna Tovar[a] Party Republican Democratic Leader's seat 12th 19th Seats before 21 9 Seats after 17 13 Seat change 4 4 Popular vote 1,068,468 828,981 Percentage 54.52% 42.30%
Results:      Democratic hold      Democratic gain      Republican hold
Senate President before election Russell Pearce (Jan. 10, 2011 - Nov. 8, 2011)[1] Steve Pierce (Nov. 10, 2011 - Jan. 1, 2013)[2] Republican Elected Senate President Andy Biggs[3] Republican

Prior to the elections, the Republicans held a majority of 21 seats over the Democrats' nine seats.

Following the election, Republicans maintained control of the chamber with 17 Republicans to 13 Democrats, a net gain of four seats for Democrats.^[5]

The newly elected senators served in the 51st Arizona State Legislature.

Recall Election

Republican Senate President Russell Pearce faced a recall election on November 8, 2011. For the first time in Arizona history, a member of the state legislature was ousted from the body in a recall. Fellow Republican Jerry Lewis defeated Pearce and took his seat in the Senate.^[b] Official election results here.^[7]

November 8, 2011 Special Recall Election - Legislative District 18

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jerry Lewis	12,812	55.20%
	Republican	Russell Pearce (incumbent)	10,121	43.61%
	Withdrawn[8]	Olivia Cortes	277	1.19%
Total votes			23,210	100.00%

Retiring Incumbents

Democrats

1. District 15: David Lujan
2. District 17: David Schapira^[c]
3. District 28: Paula Aboud

Republicans

1. District 1: Lori Klein^[d][e]
2. District 3: Ron Gould^[f]
3. District 5: Sylvia Tenney Allen
4. District 10: Linda Gray
5. District 11: Steve Smith^[g][h]

Incumbent Defeated in Primary Elections

Republican

1. District 13: John Nelson^[i]

Incumbents Defeated in General Elections

Republicans

1. District 10: Frank Antenori^[j]
2. District 26: Jerry Lewis^[k][l]

Predictions

Source	Ranking	As of
Governing[9]	Likely R	October 24, 2012

Summary of Results by Arizona State Legislative District

District	Incumbent	Party		Elected Senator	Outcome
1st	Steve Pierce		Rep	Steve Pierce		Rep Hold
2nd	Jack C. Jackson Jr.[m][n]		Dem	Linda Lopez[o][p]		Dem Hold
3rd	Ron Gould[f]		Rep	Olivia Cajero Bedford[q]		Dem Gain
4th	Judy M. Burges[r][s]		Rep	Lynne Pancrazi		Dem Gain
5th	Sylvia Tenney Allen		Rep	Kelli Ward		Rep Hold
6th	Lori Klein[d][e]		Rep	Chester Crandell[t]		Rep Hold
7th	Nancy Barto[u]		Rep	Jack C. Jackson Jr.[m][n]		Dem Gain
8th	Michele Reagan[v]		Rep	Barbara McGuire		Dem Gain
9th	Rick Murphy[w]		Rep	Steve Farley		Dem Gain
10th	Linda Gray		Rep	David Bradley		Dem Gain
11th	Adam Driggs[x]		Rep	Al Melvin[y]		Rep Hold
12th	John Nelson[i]		Rep	Andy Biggs[z]		Rep Hold
13th	Steve Gallardo[aa]		Dem	Don Shooter[ab]		Rep Gain
14th	Robert Meza[ac]		Dem	Gail Griffin[ad]		Rep Gain
15th	David Lujan[ae]		Dem	Nancy Barto[u]		Rep Gain
16th	Leah Landrum[af]		Dem	Rich Crandall[ag][ah]		Rep Gain
17th	David Schapira[c]		Dem	Steve Yarbrough[ai]		Rep Gain
18th	Jerry Lewis[k][l]		Rep	John McComish[aj]		Rep Hold
19th	Rich Crandall[ag][ah]		Rep	Anna Tovar		Dem Gain
20th	John McComish[aj]		Rep	Kimberly Yee		Rep Hold
21st	Steve Yarbrough[ai]		Rep	Rick Murphy[w]		Rep Hold
22nd	Andy Biggs[z]		Rep	Judy M. Burges[r]		Rep Hold
23rd	Steve Smith[g][h]		Rep	Michele Reagan[v]		Rep Hold
24th	Don Shooter[ab]		Rep	Katie Hobbs		Dem Gain
25th	Gail Griffin[ad]		Rep	Bob Worsley		Rep Hold
26th	Al Melvin[y]		Rep	Ed Ableser		Dem Gain
27th	Olivia Cajero Bedford[q]		Dem	Leah Landrum[af]		Dem Hold
28th	Paula Aboud		Dem	Adam Driggs[x]		Rep Gain
29th	Linda Lopez[o][p]		Dem	Steve Gallardo[aa]		Dem Hold
30th	Frank Antenori[j]		Rep	Robert Meza[ac]		Dem Gain

Detailed Results

District 1 • District 2 • District 3 • District 4 • District 5 • District 6 • District 7 • District 8 • District 9 • District 10 • District 11 • District 12 • District 13 • District 14 • District 15 • District 16 • District 17 • District 18 • District 19 • District 20 • District 21 • District 22 • District 23 • District 24 • District 25 • District 26 • District 27 • District 28 • District 29 • District 30

District 1

Republican Primary Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Steve Pierce (incumbent)	29,362	100.00%
Total votes			29,362	100.00%

General Election Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Steve Pierce (incumbent)	65,988	71.23%
	Independent	Tom Rawles	26,656	28.77%
Total votes			92,644	100.00%
	Republican hold

District 2

Democratic Primary Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Linda Lopez (incumbent)[o][p]	12,613	100.00%
Total votes			12,613	100.00%

General Election Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Linda Lopez (incumbent)[o][p]	39,590	96.91%
	Republican	Don Woolley[ak]	1,263	3.09%
Total votes			40,853	100.00%
	Democratic hold

District 3

Democratic Primary Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Olivia Cajero Bedford (incumbent)[q]	9,718	66.84%
	Democratic	Maria Garcia	4,822	33.16%
Total votes			14,540	100.00%

General Election Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Olivia Cajero Bedford (incumbent)[q]	43,084	100.00%
Total votes			43,084	100.00%
	Democratic gain from Republican

District 4

Democratic Primary Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Lynne Pancrazi	7,043	100.00%
Total votes			7,043	100.00%

Republican Primary Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Perla Inzunza[al]	37	100.00%
Total votes			37	100.00%

General Election Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Lynne Pancrazi	29,823	100.00%
Total votes			29,823	100.00%
	Democratic gain from Republican

District 5

Democratic Primary Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Beth Weisser	5,092	100.00%
Total votes			5,092	100.00%

Republican Primary Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Kelli Ward	9,925	42.20%
	Republican	Sam Scarmardo	7,832	33.30%
	Republican	Nancy McLain	5,762	24.50%
Total votes			23,519	100.00%

General Election Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Kelli Ward	49,613	71.23%
	Democratic	Beth Weisser	20,040	28.77%
Total votes			69,653	100.00%
	Republican hold

District 6

Democratic Primary Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Tom Chabin	11,261	100.00%
Total votes			11,261	100.00%

Republican Primary Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Chester Crandell[t]	17,089	100.00%
Total votes			17,089	100.00%

General Election Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Chester Crandell[t]	45,105	53.04%
	Democratic	Tom Chabin	39,933	46.96%
Total votes			85,038	100.00%
	Republican hold

District 7

Democratic Primary Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Jack C. Jackson Jr. (incumbent)[m][n]	19,642	100.00%
Total votes			19,642	100.00%

General Election Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Jack C. Jackson Jr. (incumbent)[m][n]	49,639	100.00%
Total votes			49,639	100.00%
	Democratic gain from Republican

District 8

Democratic Primary Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Barbara McGuire	8,646	100.00%
Total votes			8,646	100.00%

Republican Primary Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Joe Ortiz	8,265	100.00%
Total votes			8,265	100.00%

Libertarian Primary Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Libertarian	Dean Dill[al]	26	100.00%
Total votes			26	100.00%

General Election Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Barbara McGuire	25,026	48.94%
	Republican	Joe Ortiz	23,542	46.04%
	Libertarian	Dean Dill	2,570	5.03%
Total votes			51,138	100.00%
	Democratic gain from Republican

District 9

Democratic Primary Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Steve Farley	18,820	100.00%
Total votes			18,820	100.00%

Republican Primary Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Tyler Mott	15,746	100.00%
Total votes			15,746	100.00%

General Election Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Steve Farley	49,818	55.74%
	Republican	Tyler Mott	39,562	44.26%
Total votes			89,380	100.00%
	Democratic gain from Republican

District 10

Democratic Primary Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	David Bradley	18,139	100.00%
Total votes			18,139	100.00%

Republican Primary Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Frank Antenori (incumbent)[j]	17,260	100.00%
Total votes			17,260	100.00%

General Election Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	David Bradley	48,509	54.69%
	Republican	Frank Antenori (incumbent)[j]	40,193	45.31%
Total votes			88,702	100.00%
	Democratic gain from Republican

District 11

Democratic Primary Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Jo Holt	11,587	100.00%
Total votes			11,587	100.00%

Republican Primary Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Al Melvin (incumbent)[y]	18,265	100.00%
Total votes			18,265	100.00%

General Election Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Al Melvin (incumbent)[y]	48,367	56.38%
	Democratic	Jo Holt	37,428	43.62%
Total votes			85,795	100.00%
	Republican hold

District 12

Republican Primary Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Andy Biggs (incumbent)[z]	19,844	100.00%
Total votes			19,844	100.00%

General Election Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Andy Biggs (incumbent)[z]	63,812	100.00%
Total votes			63,812	100.00%
	Republican hold

District 13

Democratic Primary Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Terri Woodmansee[al]	181	100.00%
Total votes			181	100.00%

Republican Primary Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Don Shooter (incumbent)[ab]	10,509	64.90%
	Republican	John Nelson (incumbent)[i]	5,683	35.10%
Total votes			16,192	100.00%

General Election Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Don Shooter (incumbent)[ab]	48,132	100.00%
Total votes			48,132	100.00%
	Republican gain from Democratic

District 14

Democratic Primary Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Patricia V. Fleming	12,101	100.00%
Total votes			12,101	100.00%

Republican Primary Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Gail Griffin (incumbent)[ad]	19,144	100.00%
Total votes			19,144	100.00%

General Election Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Gail Griffin (incumbent)[ad]	49,647	61.71%
	Democratic	Patricia V. Fleming	30,808	38.29%
Total votes			80,455	100.00%
	Republican gain from Democratic

District 15

Republican Primary Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Nancy Barto (incumbent)[u]	19,162	100.00%
Total votes			19,162	100.00%

Libertarian Primary Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Libertarian	Dennis Grenier	95	100.00%
Total votes			95	100.00%

General Election Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Nancy Barto (incumbent)[u]	58,213	73.13%
	Libertarian	Dennis Grenier	21,384	26.87%
Total votes			79,597	100.00%
	Republican gain from Democratic

District 16

Democratic Primary Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Scott Prior	6,346	100.00%
Total votes			6,346	100.00%

Republican Primary Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Rich Crandall (incumbent)[ag][ah]	9,493	52.43%
	Republican	John Fillmore	8,614	47.57%
Total votes			18,107	100.00%

General Election Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Rich Crandall (incumbent)[ag][ah]	45,586	64.08%
	Democratic	Scott Prior	25,553	35.92%
Total votes			71,139	100.00%
	Republican gain from Democratic

District 17

Democratic Primary Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Bill Gates	7,523	100.00%
Total votes			7,523	100.00%

Republican Primary Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Steve Yarbrough (incumbent)[ai]	17,615	100.00%
Total votes			17,615	100.00%

General Election Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Steve Yarbrough (incumbent)[ai]	48,581	57.20%
	Democratic	Bill Gates	36,349	42.80%
Total votes			84,930	100.00%
	Republican gain from Democratic

District 18

Democratic Primary Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Janie Hydrick	11,944	100.00%
Total votes			11,944	100.00%

Republican Primary Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John McComish (incumbent)[aj]	17,874	100.00%
Total votes			17,874	100.00%

General Election Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	John McComish (incumbent)[aj]	51,084	53.10%
	Democratic	Janie Hydrick	45,115	46.90%
Total votes			96,199	100.00%
	Republican hold

District 19

Democratic Primary Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Anna Tovar	5,782	100.00%
Total votes			5,782	100.00%

General Election Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Anna Tovar	31,473	100.00%
Total votes			31,473	100.00%
	Democratic gain from Republican

District 20

Democratic Primary Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Michael Powell	7,877	100.00%
Total votes			7,877	100.00%

Republican Primary Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Kimberly Yee	15,519	100.00%
Total votes			15,519	100.00%

General Election Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Kimberly Yee	37,371	51.06%
	Democratic	Michael Powell	26,987	36.87%
	Independent	Doug "Q" Quelland	8,829	12.06%
Total votes			73,187	100.00%
	Republican hold

District 21

Democratic Primary Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Michael Tarrats	7,970	100.00%
Total votes			7,970	100.00%

Republican Primary Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Rick Murphy (incumbent)[w]	16,706	100.00%
Total votes			16,706	100.00%

General Election Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Rick Murphy (incumbent)[w]	44,369	59.59%
	Democratic	Michael Tarrats	30,087	40.41%
Total votes			74,456	100.00%
	Republican hold

District 22

Republican Primary Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Judy M. Burges (incumbent)[r]	23,902	100.00%
Total votes			23,902	100.00%

General Election Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Judy M. Burges (incumbent)[r]	72,211	100.00%
Total votes			72,211	100.00%
	Republican hold

District 23

Republican Primary Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Michele Reagan (incumbent)[v]	28,532	100.00%
Total votes			28,532	100.00%

General Election Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Michele Reagan (incumbent)[v]	82,278	100.00%
Total votes			82,278	100.00%
	Republican hold

District 24

Democratic Primary Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Katie Hobbs	7,234	61.19%
	Democratic	Ken Cheuvront	4,589	38.81%
Total votes			11,823	100.00%

Republican Primary Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Augustine "Auggie" Bartning	6,731	100.00%
Total votes			6,731	100.00%

General Election Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Katie Hobbs	38,142	66.37%
	Republican	Augustine "Auggie" Bartning	19,326	33.63%
Total votes			57,468	100.00%
	Democratic gain from Republican

District 25

Democratic Primary Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Greg Gadek	7,005	99.97%
	Democratic	Nick Thomas[al]	2	0.03%
Total votes			7,007	100.00%

Republican Primary Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Bob Worsley	17,200	55.96%
	Republican	Russell Pearce[l]	13,534	44.04%
Total votes			30,734	100.00%

General Election Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Bob Worsley	55,290	66.61%
	Democratic	Greg Gadek	27,720	33.39%
Total votes			83,010	100.00%
	Republican hold

District 26

Democratic Primary Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Ed Ableser	6,835	100.00%
Total votes			6,835	100.00%

Republican Primary Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Jerry Lewis (incumbent)[k][l]	6,810	100.00%
Total votes			6,810	100.00%

Libertarian Primary Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Libertarian	Damian Trabel	68	100.00%
Total votes			68	100.00%

General Election Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Ed Ableser	26,051	54.00%
	Republican	Jerry Lewis (incumbent)[k][l]	19,442	40.30%
	Libertarian	Damian Trabel	2,747	5.69%
Total votes			48,240	100.00%
	Democratic gain from Republican

District 27

Democratic Primary Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Leah Landrum (incumbent)[af]	5,516	60.87%
	Democratic	Victor Jett Contreras	3,546	39.13%
Total votes			9,062	100.00%

Republican Primary Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Sarah Coleman	2,671	100.00%
Total votes			2,671	100.00%

General Election Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Leah Landrum (incumbent)[af]	33,137	76.23%
	Republican	Sarah Coleman	10,333	23.77%
Total votes			43,470	100.00%
	Democratic hold

District 28

Democratic Primary Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Eric Shelley	11,379	100.00%
Total votes			11,379	100.00%

Republican Primary Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Adam Driggs (incumbent)[x]	20,247	100.00%
Total votes			20,247	100.00%

General Election Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Adam Driggs (incumbent)[x]	49,160	55.61%
	Democratic	Eric Shelley	39,243	44.39%
Total votes			88,403	100.00%
	Republican gain from Democratic

District 29

Democratic Primary Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Steve Gallardo (incumbent)[aa]	5,710	100.00%
Total votes			5,710	100.00%

General Election Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Steve Gallardo (incumbent)[aa]	27,931	100.00%
Total votes			27,931	100.00%
	Democratic hold

District 30

Democratic Primary Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Robert Meza (incumbent)[ac]	4,268	50.67%
	Democratic	Raquel Terán	4,155	49.33%
Total votes			8,423	100.00%

General Election Results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Robert Meza (incumbent)[ac]	27,485	100.00%
Total votes			27,485	100.00%
	Democratic gain from Republican

1. On October 29, 2013, Democratic Senator Leah Landrum Taylor stepped down as Democratic Leader and was replaced by Anna Tovar as Democratic Leader.
2. Republican Jerry Lewis was elected in a Special Recall Election held November 8, 2011 and sworn in as Senator on November 22, 2011 after defeating recalled incumbent Republican Senator Russell Pearce.^[6]
3. Ran for US Representative in Congressional District 9, but lost in the Democratic primary.
4. Redistricted from district 6 to 1.
5. Ran for State Representative in Legislative District 1, but lost in the Republican primary.
6. Ran for US Representative in Congressional District 4, but lost in the Republican primary.
7. Redistricted from district 23 to 11.
8. Ran for State Representative in Legislative District 11 and was elected.
9. Redistricted from district 12 to 13.
10. Redistricted from district 30 to 10.
11. Redistricted from district 18 to 26.
12. Republican Jerry Lewis was elected in a Special Recall Election held November 8, 2011 and sworn in as Senator on November 22, 2011 after defeating recalled incumbent Republican Senator Russell Pearce.^[15][16]
13. Redistricted from district 2 to 7.
14. Democrat Carlyle Begay was sworn in August 6, 2013 to replace Democratic Senator Jack C. Jackson Jr. who resigned on July 12, 2013.^[10]
15. Redistricted from district 29 to 2.
16. Democrat Andrea Dalessandro was sworn in January 22, 2014 to replace Democratic Senator Linda Lopez who resigned on January 13, 2014.^[17]
17. Redistricted from district 27 to 3.
18. Redistricted from district 4 to 22.
19. Republican Judy Burges was sworn in January 23, 2012 to replace Republican Senator Scott Bundgaard who resigned on January 6, 2012.^[11]
20. Republican Alice Crandell, the widow of former Republican Senator Chester Crandell, was sworn in September 24, 2014 to replace her deceased husband who died on August 4, 2014.^[12]
21. Redistricted from district 7 to 15.
22. Redistricted from district 8 to 23.
23. Redistricted from district 9 to 21.
24. Redistricted from district 11 to 28.
25. Redistricted from district 26 to 11.
26. Redistricted from district 22 to 12.
27. Redistricted from district 13 to 29.
28. Redistricted from district 24 to 13.
29. Redistricted from district 14 to 30.
30. Redistricted from district 25 to 14.
31. Democrat David Lujan was sworn in January 12, 2012 to replace Democratic Senator Kyrsten Sinema who resigned on January 3, 2012.^[13]
32. Redistricted from district 16 to 27.
33. Redistricted from district 19 to 16.
34. Republican Dave Farnsworth was sworn in September 12, 2013 to replace Republican Senator Rich Crandall who resigned on August 31, 2013.^[14]
35. Redistricted from district 21 to 17.
36. Redistricted from district 20 to 18.
37. Was a write-in candidate in the general election.
38. Was a write-in candidate in the primary election.