More than 100 Democrats intend to run for state legislature this year
Feb 12, 2018, 4:00 AM | Updated: 12:40 pm
A member of Save Our Schools Arizona protests with over a dozen others at the Arizona School for the Arts as Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey tours the school Thursday, Aug. 24, 2017, in Phoenix. A lawsuit has been filed, by a coalition lead by the Goldwater Institute, over an attempt to delay the expansion of Arizona's school choice program, saying the attempted delay has put many families' educational futures in limbo, but earlier this month, an anti-school choice group filed petition signatures to halt the program's expansion. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
(AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
A high number of Democrats are running for the Arizona State Legislature this year.
So far, 112 Democrats have told the Arizona Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee, which recruits candidates to run for the state House and state Senate, they intend to run for the state legislature in 2018. That number includes 55 people of color and 51 women.
For many of them, this is the first time they’re running for office.
“We have a lot of new faces this year,” Dana Walton, executive director of the Arizona Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee said.
She said many of the candidates running for the first time are “dismayed” with the state of affairs in the state legislature. As an example, she pointed to funding for education.
“A lot of folks believe that our public education system is on the wrong track, and I think people are tired of it,” she said. “They’re saying to themselves enough is enough. They’re out in their communities, they’re talking to folks and they’re really learning the issues that mean most to the voters.”
Walton said President Donald Trump has also played a role in motivating Democrats to run for office.
Not all 112 Democrats who’ve expressed interest to run for office have filed the necessary paperwork with the Arizona Secretary of State. Walton says those who have yet to do so are still putting their campaigns together.
