Harry Mitchell, a former Tempe mayor, state lawmaker and congressman, dies at 86

Harry Mitchell, an Arizona political legend who spent 16 years as Tempe’s mayor before serving as a Democratic state lawmaker and congressman, has died. He was 86.

Mark Mitchell announced his father’s death on social media Wednesday.

“While our hearts are heavy, we want to focus on celebrating Harry’s incomparable life of service to his family, his community and to the many lives he touched. He leaves behind an incredible legacy of love, laughter and treasured memories that will stay with us forever. We thank you for keeping our family in your prayers during this time,” Mark Mitchell, who followed in his father’s footsteps to serve as Tempe mayor, wrote on Facebook.

The announcement did not mention a cause of death, but Mark Mitchell said in a previous post that his father suffered a brain bleed after falling recently.

Harry Mitchell’s Tempe roots ran deep

Harry Mitchell was born on July 18, 1940, in Phoenix. He graduated from Tempe High School before earning bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Arizona State University, according to his congressional biography.

Harry Mitchell devoted his life to serving Arizona: as a teacher, Tempe mayor, state senator, Arizona Democratic Party chair, and member of Congress. His integrity, decency, and unwavering commitment to public service left a lasting mark on our state and inspired generations of… pic.twitter.com/CEX7tRqC95

— Arizona Senate Democrats (@AZSenateDems) July 30, 2026

Mitchell was working as a teacher at Tempe High when he entered politics. He served as a councilman from 1970 to 1978 before leading the East Valley suburb as its mayor from 1978 to 1994.

After his 24-year local tenure, the Tempe Municipal Building area on Fifth Street was named the Harry E. Mitchell Government Complex. A sculpture on the grounds called “Above the Crowd” was created as a tribute to Mitchell.

Harry Mitchell remembered for his impactful public service

Current Tempe Mayor Corey Woods lauded Mitchell as “a bona fide legend” and “a true statesman” who left an indelible impression on the city.

“There is no part of Tempe that has not been influenced by the legacy of the Honorable Harry Mitchell. During his 24 years on the Tempe City Council (16 of those as mayor), he voted to build our iconic City Hall in downtown Tempe. He was also a huge advocate for the Rio Salado Project, which eventually resulted in the creation of Tempe Town Lake,” Woods said in a statement.

Mitchell moved from City Hall to the Arizona Capitol, where he served as a state senator from 1999 to 2006. He was then elected to two terms in Congress before losing to Republican David Schweikert in 2010.

“He lost his seat in Congress after voting for the landmark Affordable Care Act, extending health coverage to tens of thousands of his constituents. But he never regretted it, not for a moment. That was Harry: a public servant who put people before politics, always,” U.S. Rep. Greg Stanton, whose district includes Tempe, said in a statement.

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