Democrats poised to control both chambers of Arizona Legislature for first time in 60 years

Arizona Democrats are in position to take control of both chambers of the state Legislature for the first time in 60 years.

If the early results hold up, it will be a historic shift. Arizona Democrats last held majorities in the Senate in 1992 and the House in 1966.

With Gov. Katie Hobbs winning reelection, her party is poised to control the state’s lawmaking process for the next two years. Democrats’ last trifecta (control of governor’s office and both chambers of the Legislature) in Arizona was in 1966.

Republicans worked with a 33-27 majority in the House and a 17-13 advantage in the Senate the past two years.

Democrats lead in both chambers of Arizona Legislature

As of 6 a.m. Wednesday, Democrats led in 20 of the 30 Arizona Senate races. The margins were within 4 percentage points for two races (Districts 14 and 16) led by Democrats and one race led by a Republican (District 29).

Meanwhile, Democrats led in the races for 37 of the 60 state House seats (two seats per district). Several races were still close enough to change hands, but, as in the Senate, it appeared unlikely that enough were still in play for Republicans to maintain their majority.

The GOP teetered on the brink of losing control of the House and Senate several times in recent elections as independents became the state’s largest voting bloc. Republicans clung to one-seat majorities in the House after the 2018, 2020 and 2022 elections and won by a single seat in the Senate in 2020 and 2022.

Arizona Democrats are finally on the verge of breaking through in a blue wave election that also saw the party retain control of the offices of governor, secretary of state and attorney general. Nationally, Democrats claimed majorities in the U.S. House and Senate.

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