Arizona Democrats select leadership teams after taking control of state House, Senate

Arizona Democrats ushered in a new era Friday by selecting their leadership teams after winning control of both chambers of the state Legislature for the first time in 60 years.

Current Senate Minority Leader Priya Sundareshan will assume the role of Senate president, and House Minority Leader Oscar De Los Santos will take the gavel as House speaker when the 58th Legislature convenes in January 2027.

Sundareshan is entering her third term as the senator from District 18, which covers part of Tucson and unincorporated areas of Pima County north of the city.

“I am proud of what we accomplished together during my time as minority leader, and I’m ready to lead us into the next chapter,” she said in a news release.

Sundareshan will be working with a two-thirds supermajority after Democrats won 20 of the Senate’s 30 seats in last week’s historic midterm election.

She said she will work for all Arizonans, regardless of where they live or how they vote.

“We’re united in our commitment to earn your trust every day by delivering results you can feel in your daily life,” she said. “That means lowering costs for working families, keeping our communities safe and giving every Arizonan a fair shot at getting ahead.”

Senate Democrats selected Christine Marsh (District 5) as majority leader and Analise Ortiz (District 24) as majority whip.

Sundareshan rounded out her Senate leadership team by appointing Alma Hernandez (District 20) and Edgar Soto (District 17) as presidents pro tempore and Rosanna Gabaldón (District 21) and Aaron Lieberman (District 4) as majority chairs.

Arizona Democrats pick state’s first openly LGBTQ+ House speaker

In the House, De Los Santos will be the state’s first Democratic speaker since 1966 and its first openly LGBTQ+ speaker ever. He is entering his third term representing District 11, which includes part of downtown Phoenix, south Phoenix and Laveen.

Democrats are on track to win 37 of the lower chamber’s 60 seats.

“It took a lot of hard work to get here, but we have much more to do,” De Los Santos said in a news release. “Our priorities have been consistently focused on bringing down costs for housing, childcare and healthcare for working people and middle-class Arizonans. Now we have a mandate, a moral obligation and a historic opportunity to deliver an Arizona we can afford.”

House Democrats also chose Nancy Gutierrez (District 18) as majority leader, Brian Garcia (District 8) and Kevin Volk (District 17) as whips, and Quantá Crews (District 26) as speaker pro tempore.

Who will lead minority Republicans in Arizona House and Senate?

On the Republican side, House Speaker Steve Montenegro (District 29) will continue leading his caucus as minority leader, with Michael Carbone (District 25) as assistant minority leader and Lupe Diaz (District 19) as minority whip.

“Our role in the House is changing, but our principles and our responsibility to Arizona families are not,” Montenegro said in a news release. “Our vision for Arizona has always been grounded in three commitments: preserving the American Dream, promoting public safety and protecting individual rights and liberties. Those principles shaped how we led in the majority, and they will continue to guide our work in the upcoming session.”

The GOP has not yet named a Senate minority leader for the next session. District 3 Sen. John Kavanagh, the current majority leader, is the highest-ranking Republican to win reelection. Senate President Warren Petersen ran for attorney general, losing to Democratic incumbent Kris Mayes.

Subscribe to the KTAR Political Brief newsletter to get our top political stories, exclusive guest interviews and more to your email inbox.

Related

2026 Arizona ballot measure results: Voters approve at least 4 propositionsDebbie Lesko on 2020, Maricopa County elections and a party that demands ‘100%’U.S. Sen. Ruben Gallego sees opening for deals with Trump on immigration, Social SecurityAZ Political Podcast: Adrian Fontes gets candid about his futureRepublican Rep. Eli Crane stays ahead of Jonathan Nez in Arizona’s 2nd Congressional DistrictDemocrats win both chambers of Arizona Legislature for first time in 60 years