Recap of the 2024 election

Nov. 27, 2024
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Federal

Donald Trump was elected the 47th president of the United States, winning both the popular vote and the Electoral College, with JD Vance as vice president. Trump will be inaugurated Monday, Jan. 20, 2025. 

Republicans fared very well nationally in the polls, winning the majority in both chambers of Congress. The House and Senate majorities have held their respective conference elections with Rep. Mike Johnson (R-LA) expected to serve another term as speaker of the House and Sen. John Thune (R-SD) set to take over as Senate majority leader.

Among Arizona's congressional delegation, every incumbent running won their seat. Of the two open seats among Arizona's delegation, one went to a Democrat and one to a Republican. Senator-elect Ruben Gallego's seat was won by Democrat Yassamin Ansari, former vice mayor of Phoenix. Retiring U.S. Rep. Debbie Lesko's seat was won by Republican Abe Hamadeh, a former Maricopa County prosecutor.

Congressional District Winners

CD1 – David Schweikert (incumbent) (R)
CD2 – Eli Crane (incumbent) (R)
CD3 – Yassamin Ansari (D)
CD4 – Greg Stanton (incumbent) (D)
CD5 – Andy Biggs (incumbent) (R)
CD6 – Juan Ciscomani (incumbent) (R)
CD7 – Raul Grijalva (incumbent) (D)
CD8 – Abe Hamadeh (R)
CD9 – Paul Gosar (incumbent) (R)

State

The votes cast in the Nov. 5 election are tallied and most of the outcomes are clear, though one race for a Phoenix-area House seat must go to a recount – just 132 votes separate two Republican candidates vying for the seat.

Overall, votes trended in favor of Republicans. Republican Donald Trump won Arizona's electoral votes for president, all three open seats on the Arizona Corporation Commission went to Republicans, and the state's congressional delegation remains split with six Republicans and three Democrats. Ruben Gallego (D) defeated Kari Lake (R) for a U.S. Senate seat, but in the state Legislature, Republicans picked up three additional seats. When the new session begins in January, Republicans will hold a 17-13 majority in the Arizona Senate and a 33-27 majority in the House.

Successful legislative candidates gathered to select the leaders who will guide Republican and Democratic caucuses for the next two years. Senate President Warren Petersen (R-Gilbert) will lead the Senate for another term, supported by Majority Leader Janae Shamp (R-Surprise) and Majority Whip Frank Carroll (R-Sun City West). Senate Democrats elected Sen. Priya Sundareshan (D-Tucson) to lead their caucus, supported by Assistant Minority Leader Flavio Bravo (D-Phoenix), Minority Whip Rosanna Gabaldón (D-Green Valley) and Minority Caucus Chair Lela Alston (D-Phoenix).

Rep. Steve Montenegro (R-Goodyear) defeated two other candidates to win the role of House speaker. His leadership team will include Majority Leader Michael Carbone (R-Buckeye) and Majority Whip Julie Willoughby (R-Chandler). House Democrats elected Rep. Oscar De Los Santos (D-Phoenix) to lead their caucus, along with Assistant Minority Leader Nancy Gutierrez (D-Tucson) and Minority Whips Quantá Crews (D-Phoenix) and Stacey Travers (D-Tempe).

Petersen and Montenegro have announced their assignments to committee chairmanships: 

Legislative leaders will announce full committee membership appointments soon.

These leadership teams and committee assignments foretell political tension in the upcoming legislative session: Republican leaders are staunchly conservative, and Democratic leaders align with the more liberal side of their caucuses. 

All legislative efforts may be countered by Gov. Katie Hobbs (D), however, who has relationships with legislators on both sides of the aisle and is expected to continue to veto many proposals that pass the Legislature with only Republican support.

Pima County 

All Pima County Board of Supervisor seats were on the ballot this year. The political balance of the board remains the same: four Democrats and one Republican. Democrat Supervisors Rex Scott, Matt Heinz and Chair Adelita Grijalva were reelected, and Jen Allen will join the board filling the seat previously held by Sharon Bronson. The Republican on the board, Steve Christy, was reelected. 

Democrats were elected to all six countywide elected offices: assessor, attorney, recorder, treasurer, school superintendent and sheriff. The sheriff's race must go to a recount – just 495 votes separate the candidates. 

The seats for Tucson mayor and the City Council were not on the ballot this year. All positions are held by Democrats.