Arizona races

ARIZONA RACES

A selection of local, state and federal elections, candidates and platforms:

GOVERNOR

Janet Napolitano, Democrat
(incumbent): Balanced state budget, education, secure borders, health care.
Challengers:
Len Munsil, Republican: Protect one man, one woman marriages.
Don Goldwater, Republican: Minuteman member, stop invasion of illegals.
Gary Tupper, Republican: Cut government waste
Mike Harris, Republican: Cut taxes.
Barry Hess, Libertarian: Improve education.

Analysis:

Napolitano will be re-elected.


SECRETARY OF STATE

Jan Brewer, Republican, (incumbent): Anti-voter fraud, pro-voter education.

Challengers:
Israel Torres, Democrat:  Fair elections, identity theft.
Ernest Hancock, Libertarian: Fair elections.

Analysis:

 Torres offers fresh ideas; Brewer offers more partisanship.

ATTORNEY GENERAL

Terry Goddard, Democrat (incumbent): Consumer fraud, protect families.

Challengers:
William Montgomery, Republican


TREASURER

David A. Petersen (incumbent): Petersen may step down due to legal problems.

Challengers:

Dean Martin, Republican: Open government.
Rano Singh Sidhu, Democrat: Develop technology.

Analysis:

 Dean Martin, a Legislator, has the edge because of experience

SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION

Tom Horne, Republican (incumbent):

 AIMS testing, English language learners.

Challengers:

Slade Mead, Democrat:

Higher teacher salaries, opposes school vouchers.
Jason Williams, Democrat: Correct educational disparity.

Analysis:

Will be between Horne and Mead in November. Horne is vulnerable due to questions about an alleged secret pact with feds about skewed English language learner AIMS test results.


U.S. SENATE

Jon Kyl, Republican (incumbent): Stay the course in Iraq, build a border fence, no amnesty for immigrants, better state highways.

Challengers:

Jim Pederson, Democrat: Planned withdrawal from Irag, alternative fuel choices, more education funding.
Warren Severin, Libertarian

Analysis:

Seat targeted by Democrats. Will indicate if voters approve or disapprove of Bush’s policies.


U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

DISTRICT 4

Ed Pastor, Democrat (incumbent): Worked for light rail funds, more education funding, low profile on immigration.

Challengers:

Karg, Don, Republican
Ronald Harder, Libertarian

Analysis:

Pastor will be re-elected.

DISTRICT 5

J.D. Hayworth, Republican (incumbent): Border fence, tough penalties against immigrants, hawkish on Iraq.

Challengers:

Harry Mitchell, Democrat:

Secure border, temporary guest worker program and balanced federal budget.
Warren Severin, Libertarian

Analysis:

 Test of anti-immigration backlash, or if voters want tougher immigration laws.

DISTRICT 7

Raul Grijalva, Democrat (incumbent): Protects tribal rights, more education funding, protect rights of immigrants.

Challengers:

Analysis: Grijalva will be re-elected.

Ron Drake, Republican
Joseph Sweeny, Republican
Joe Cobb, Libertarian


DISTRICT 8

Alex Rodriguez, Democrat: Health care reform.
Gabrielle Giffords, Democrat: Exit Iraq.
Jeff Latas, Democrat: Pro environment
Patty Weiss, Democrat: Pro universal health care
William Johnson, Democrat: More jobs
Francine Shacter, Democrat: Improve education.
Mike Hellon, Republican: Develop alternative fuels.
Randy Graf, Republican: Tougher immigration laws.
Frank Antenori, Republican: Pro veterans’ rights.
Mike Jenkins, Republican: Workable immigration reform
Steve Huffman, Republican: Improve tax policy
David Nolan, Libertarian

Analysis:

 For Democrats, Gabrielle Giffords, a state Legislator, has edge on Patty Weiss, former TV newswoman. Giffords has government experience, Weiss doesn’t. For Republicans, will be either Steve Huffman, a moderate, or Randy Graf, far right.

ARIZONA SENATE

DISTRICT 13

Richard Miranda, Democrat (incumbent)

Challengers:

 Running unopposed.

DISTRICT 16

Leah Landrum, Democrat (incumbent): Affordable housing, pro environment.

Challenger:

Daniel Veres, Republican: Improve education.

Analysis:

Landrum has proven an effective leader and a voice for African Americans.

DISTRICT 23

Rebecca Rios, Democrat (incumbent): Transportation, education, more jobs.

Challenger:

Cheryl Chase, Republican: Pro rural Arizona, border security.

Analysis:

 Rios has proven an effective leader and voice for Latinos.

DISTRICT 24

Amanda Aguirre, Democrat (incumbent): Improve education, health care, immigration reform.

Challenger:

Russell Jones, Republican: Pro agriculture and business.

Analysis:

Aguirre’s experience in health care and immigration is needed for legislative solutions.

DISTRICT 27

Jorge Luis Garcia, Democrat (incumbent, running unopposed): Education, tax policies, environment.

Analysis:

Garcia will be re-elected.

DISTRICT 29

Victor Soltero, Democrat (incumbent, running unopposed): Pro unions, more jobs.

Analysis:

Soltero will be re-elected.

ARIZONA HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

DISTRICT 3

Luis Lopez, Democrat: Water development, higher wages.

Challengers:

Ray Cullison II, Republican: Lower taxes, stop illegal immigration.
Doris Goodale, Republican: Balanced budget, lower crime rate.

Analysis:

Republics will win. First-time race for Lopez.


DISTRICT 13

Steve Gallardo, Democrat (incumbent); Education, health care, housing.
Martha Garcia, Democrat (incumbent): Education, health care, water.

Analysis:

Both will return to their seats.


DISTRICT 14

Robert Meza, Democrat (incumbent): Increase teacher pay, sensible immigration reform.

Challengers:

John Carpenter, Democrat
Chad Campbell, Democrat
John Stevens, Republican: Family values.

Analysis:

 Meza is a master campaign and coalition builder. He will be re-elected.

DISTRICT 15

David Lujan, Democrat (incumbent): Education, health care, environment.
Kyrsten Sinema, Democrat (incumbent): Pro environment, women’s rights.

Challenger:

Robert Young, Democrat

Analysis:

Lujan and Sinema will be re-elected based on performance.

 

Ben Miranda, Democrat (incumbent):

 Education reform.
Carlos Avelar, Democrat (incumbent): Youth crime prevention, senior health care

Challengers:

Cloves Campbell Jr., Democrat
Betty Doss Ware, Democrat: Improve education.
Daniel Coleman, Republican: Economic development.
Robert McPeek, Republican

Analysis:

 Campbell, because of his family’s name recognition and effective Black support, has chance to unseat one of two Latinos.

DISTRICT 23

Pete Rios, Democrat (incumbent): More jobs, quality education.
Krista Pacion, Democrat (Incumbent): Planned growth, education, health care

Challenger:

Barbara McGuire, Democrat

Analysis:

Rios, a tough campaigner and proven leader, should be re-elected.

DISTRICT 27

Olivia Cajero Bedford, Democrat (Incumbent): Pro business, improve education, women’s rights.
Phil Lopes, Democrat (Incumbent): Improve health care, improve education.

Challenger:

Gene Chewing, Republican: Secure borders, protect man-woman marriage ideal.

Analysis:

 Both Lopes and Cajero Bedford are voices of civility in a sometimes bickering Legislature. They should be returned.

DISTRICT 29

Linda Lopez, Democrat (Incumbent): Improve education, health care.
Tom Prezelski, Democrat (Incumbent): Planned growth, pro environment.

Challengers:

Bruce Murchison, Republican: Improve education, crime rate.
Betty Liggins, Democrat: Improve health care, increase immigration quotas.
Patricia Anne Puig, Democrat: Improve education, minimum wage.

Analysis:

Lopez and Prezelski are proven leaders and offer a voice for Latinos.


This article appears in the September 2006 issue of Latino Perspectives Magazine.

Did you like what you read here? Subscribe to Latino Perspectives Magazine »