Arizona election 2024 guide: Local voting information

It's officially election season in Arizona. Before you head to the polls, make sure you know where to vote and who's on the ballot.

• We've broken down key state races and contenders and ballot questions for you below.

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How to vote in Arizona

Early voting begins Oct. 9, when Maricopa County will mail ballots to all voters on the Active Early Voting List and those who made one-time mail ballot requests. Ballot drop box sites and some early voting centers also open Oct. 9.

• You can request an early ballot through Oct. 25.
• If you intend to vote on Election Day, vote centers will be open 6am-7pm. You will be allowed to vote as long as you are in line by 7pm.

U.S. Senate: Ruben Gallego (D) vs. Kari Lake (R)

Photo illustration: Axios Visuals. Photos: Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images and Hannah Beier/Bloomberg via Getty Images

Democratic U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego and Trump-backed Republican Kari Lake are facing off in a race that could determine control of the U.S. Senate.

• The seat was left open when independent U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema decided not to seek re-election.
• Gallego is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran who's served in the U.S. House since 2015.
• Lake is a former FOX 10 anchor who lost to Gov. Katie Hobbs in the 2022 gubernatorial election. She's been one of former President Trump's closest Arizona allies.

Go deeper:

• With Sinema out, Democrats see clear path to Arizona Senate win
• Senate hopeful Gallego: Biden-Harris admin. hasn't done enough on immigration
• Pro-crypto PAC bashed by progressives backs Ruben Gallego's Senate race
• Kari Lake wins Arizona GOP Senate primary
• Kari Lake targets Ruben Gallego on crime and immigration

1st Congressional District: Amish Shah (D) vs. David Schweikert (R)

Photo illustration: Axios Visuals. Photos: House of Representatives and Arizona State Legislature

National Democrats see this "toss-up" congressional district as one of their top pick up opportunities this cycle.

• Democrat Amish Shah, a doctor and former state lawmaker, won a crowded primary to take on longtime incumbent U.S. Rep. David Schweikert.
• Schweikert has served in Congress since 2011.

Go deeper:

• Shah wins CD1 Democratic primary

2nd Congressional District: Jonathan Nez (D) vs. Eli Crane (R)

Former Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez, a Democrat, is looking to unseat incumbent Republican U.S. Rep. Eli Crane.

• Crane was one of eight GOP representatives who voted to oust Kevin McCarthy as House speaker last year. McCarthy backed former Yavapai County Board of Supervisors member Jack Smith in the primary to no avail.
• The district, which encompasses much of the northeastern portion of the state, is "solid Republican," per Cook Political Report.

Go deeper:

• Rep. Eli Crane wins Arizona GOP primary after McCarthy rift

3rd Congressional District: Yassamin Ansari (D) vs. Jeff Zink (R)

Photo illustration: Axios Visuals. Photos: Courtesy of both campaigns

Former Phoenix City Council Member Yassamin Ansari won a tough Democratic primary for the open seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego.

• Republican Jeff Zink, who lost the overwhelmingly Democratic district with just 23% of the vote in 2022, is again the GOP nominee.

Go deeper:

• Ansari wins CD3 Democratic primary by 39 votes after recount
• Outside spending is ramping up in the Democratic primary for CD3

4th Congressional District: Greg Stanton (D) vs. Kelly Cooper (R)

Photo illustration: Axios Visuals. Photos: Courtesy of House of Representatives and the Cooper campaign

Greg Stanton, a former Phoenix mayor, is seeking a third term in the district, which covers Ahwatukee, Tempe, Chandler and west Mesa.

• He faces a rematch with restaurateur Kelly Cooper, who lost to Stanton by about 12 percentage points in 2022.

5th Congressional District: Katrina Schaffner (D) vs. Andy Biggs (R)

Photo illustration: Axios Visuals. Photos: Courtesy of the Schaffner campaign and House of Representatives

Democratic activist Katrina Schaffner is challenging three-time U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs in an East Valley district that is overwhelmingly Republican.

6th Congressional District: Kirsten Engel (D) vs. Juan Ciscomani (R)

One of two toss-up districts in Arizona will be decided by a rematch of the 2022 battle for this highly competitive district in Tucson and southeastern Arizona.

• Ciscomani, a longtime aide to former Gov. Doug Ducey, won by about 5,200 votes last time, a key pickup for the GOP as it took narrow control of the House.
• Kirsten Engel is a former state legislator and a law professor at the University of Arizona.

7th Congressional District: Raúl Grijalva (D) vs. Daniel Butierez (R)

Raúl Grijalva, Arizona's longest-serving member of Congress who was first elected to his Tucson-based district in 2002, is seeking a final term.

• He recently announced he won't run again in 2026.
• Contractor Daniel Butierez is challenging him in the overwhelmingly Democratic district.

Go deeper:

• Arizona Democratic Rep. Raúl Grijalva announces cancer diagnosis

8th Congressional District: Gregory Whitten (D) vs. Abraham Hamadeh (R)

Abraham Hamadeh, a lawyer and 2022 GOP nominee for attorney general, won a bruising, six-way Republican primary in the Northwest Valley-based district.

• Democrat Gregory Whitten, a biosecurity expert, will face him in the predominantly Republican district.
• The seat is open due to the retirement of U.S. Rep. Debbie Lesko, who is running for the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors.

Go deeper:

• Hamadeh wins CD8 Republican primary
• Slugfest between Hamadeh and Masters dominates CD8 Republican primary

9th Congressional District: Paul Gosar (R)

Longtime Rep. Paul Gosar is running unopposed in his district, which encompasses parts of the West Valley and northwestern Arizona.

Prop. 133: Protects partisan primary elections

The measure would enshrine partisan primaries in the Arizona Constitution.

• GOP lawmakers referred it to the ballot, where it will directly compete with a proposal to create nonpartisan open primaries in Arizona (Prop. 140).

Prop. 134: County-based signature requirements for citizen initiatives

The Republican-backed measure would amend the Arizona Constitution to require statewide initiative and referendum campaigns to collect a minimum number of signatures from each of the state's 30 legislative districts.

• Currently, campaigns can collect signatures from voters anywhere in the state, with percentage-based requirements ranging from 5-15% depending on whether it's a constitutional change, statutory change or citizen referendum.

Go deeper:

• Prop. 134 would make citizen initiatives tougher

Prop. 135: Emergency powers

Republican state lawmakers pushed this ballot measure, which would limit the governor's power during an emergency. It was born out of GOP frustration over business closures during the COVID pandemic.

• Currently, the governor can declare a state of emergency during fires, floods, epidemics, riots and a handful of other major events. During the emergency, the governor has full control over state agencies and police operations until the governor or Legislature declares them over.
• This proposition would make it so that most emergencies automatically expire after 30 days and would require a majority vote of the Legislature to extend them.

Prop. 136: Easier to challenge citizen initiatives

The measure would allow people to challenge the constitutionality of citizen initiatives in court before they're actually passed.

Prop. 137: Eliminates most judicial retention elections

Under the current system, Arizona Supreme Court justices and Court of Appeals judges must go before the voters every six years for an up-or-down vote on whether they remain on the bench, and superior court judges in the most populous counties must do so every four years.

• The measure would change that system so judges only face retention elections if they're convicted of felonies or crimes involving fraud or dishonesty, if they file bankruptcy, have a mortgage foreclosed on, or if the Arizona Commission on Judicial Performance Review finds they don't meet performance standards.
• If it passes, any judges who lose retention elections this year would get to keep their seats, which is noteworthy given that Democrats are targeting Supreme Court Justices Clint Bolick and Kathryn Hackett King over their votes for a ruling to reinstate Arizona's pre-Roe abortion ban .

Go deeper:

• The future (and present) of judicial elections are on the ballot

Prop. 139: Arizona Abortion Access Act

Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios

The Arizona Abortion Access Act would permit abortions up to the point of fetal viability, around 24 weeks of pregnancy, which was the standard under Roe v. Wade.

• Abortions would be permitted past that point to "protect the life or physical or mental health" of the mother.
• The measure would also prohibit any law penalizing a person who helps someone get an abortion.
• Abortion is currently permitted in Arizona up to 15 weeks of pregnancy.

Go deeper:

• Arizona will call fetuses "unborn human beings" in abortion initiative description
• How a $16 million Arizona abortion ad campaign could help Democrats
• Advocates say criticism of abortion ballot measure is misleading
• When Arizona women sought abortion care, by week
• The last time abortion was on the ballot, Arizona voters protected it

Prop. 140: Make Elections Fair Act

Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios

The proposal would replace Arizona's partisan primary system with a nonpartisan "open primary" in which all candidates appear on the same ballot, with the top vote-getters advancing to the general election, regardless of party affiliation.

• Arizona would have the option of having between two and five candidates go to the general election for each seat or office. If more than two candidates advance, the state would have to use a form of ranked-choice voting.
• Under ranked-choice voting, voters list candidates by preference, and if no candidate gets a majority, the candidate with the fewest votes is eliminated and their second-choice votes are given to the remaining candidates until someone has over 50%.
• The Legislature would be tasked with determining the details of Arizona's open primary system, but if lawmakers are unable to agree, the decision would go to the secretary of state.

Go deeper:

• Arizona Supreme Court says voters will decide on open primaries measure to overhaul elections
• Proposal would overhaul Arizona elections with nonpartisan open primaries
• Open primaries proposal won't require ranked choice voting, but opens the door
• Party activists' role in legislative appointments could end under open primaries initiative

Prop. 312: Property tax refund for nuisance issues

Prop. 312 would allow property owners to request a tax refund if their city or town does not enforce "nuisance" laws related to homelessness, like illegal camping, loitering and public urination.

• Proponents like the conservative Goldwater Institute point to the city of Phoenix's handling of "The Zone" encampment to show why the tax rebate is necessary.
• Cities have raised alarm bells about the initiative, saying it would take away resources that could otherwise be used to try to address shelter shortages and other long-term solutions to homelessness.

Prop. 314: Secure Border Act

The proposal would make it a state crime to cross into Arizona from Mexico anywhere except an official port of entry, a provision based on a similar law in Texas.

• It would require state and local governments to use federal systems to determine whether noncitizens are eligible to apply for public benefits.
• And it would impose stiff prison sentences for selling fentanyl that causes someone's death.

Go deeper:

• Measure making illegal border crossing a state crime will go to the ballot
• Speaker Toma believes he has the votes to pass border plan after Senate approval

Prop. 479: Regional transportation tax extension

This ballot proposition would extend a half-cent sales tax for regional transportation projects.

• The tax has been in place since 1985 and has supported the development of Loops 101, 202 and 303, the light rail and several other projects.

Go deeper:

• How Prop. 479 would impact metro Phoenix transportation

Prop. 486: Maricopa County Community College District funding

The measure would permanently raise the spending cap formula imposed on the county's community college district by the Arizona Constitution.

• It would allow the district to spend more of the money it raises but wouldn't raise taxes.

Go deeper:

• Prop. 486 would raise spending cap on Maricopa County community colleges

Competitive state legislative races

• LD2: Incumbent Sen. Shawnna Bolick (R-Phoenix) faces Rep. Judy Schwiebert (D-Phoenix) in this competitive but Republican-leaning north Phoenix district. Meanwhile, Stephanie Simacek looks to hold Schwiebert's seat for the Democrats as her party's lone candidate against Republicans Rep. Justin Wilmeth (R-Phoenix) and Ari Bradshaw.
• LD4: Sen. Christine Marsh (D-Phoenix) is looking to fend off Republican challenger Carine Werner, while incumbent Rep. Matt Gress (R-Phoenix) and Republican Pamela Carter face Democrats Karen Gresham and former Rep. Kelli Butler.
• LD9: Democrats hold all three seats in this west Mesa-based district, and keeping them will be critical if they hope to take control of the Legislature.
• LD13 : This Chandler-based district may be Arizona's most competitive. Sen. J.D. Mesnard (R-Chandler) has fended off strong Democratic challenges before, while Democrats are making a rare play for both the district's House seats, but must do so without battle-tested Rep. Jennifer Pawlik (D-Chandler), who isn't seeking re-election.
• LD16: Rep. Keith Seaman (D-Casa Grande) faces a tough re-elect in this Republican-leaning Pinal County-based district, while Stacey Seaman, the lawmaker's daughter, takes on longtime Sen. T.J. Shope (R-Coolidge).
• LD17: Control of the Senate may run through this northern Tucson-area district, but former Sen. Vince Leach's win over Freedom Caucus Sen. Justine Wadsack (R-Tucson) in the GOP primary could hurt Democrats' chances in this Republican district. Democrats are also hoping to snag a House seat.
• LD23: Rep. Michele Peña (R-Yuma) blocked the Democrats from splitting the House in 2022 when she won a seat in this heavily Democratic district in southwestern Arizona. They'll need to win it back if they want control of the House.

Go deeper:

• GOP primary results complicate Democrats' quest for legislative majorities

Corporation Commission

• Three of five seats are open on the Corporation Commission — the body that regulates public utilities, registers corporations and governs the offer and sale of securities and investment advice.
• The Democratic candidates favor clean-energy policies while the Republicans say they want a more diverse energy profile.
• Lea Marquez Peterson (R): Peterson is the former president and CEO of the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. She has served on the commission since 2019 and is the only incumbent on the ballot.
• Ylenia Aguilar (D): Aguilar is a member of the Central Arizona Water Conservation District. Sher formerly served on the Osborn School District governing board and was a trustee on the Vitalyst Health Foundation board.
• Jonathon Hill (D): Hill is a scientist and engineer who has contributed to several NASA missions through his position at ASU.
• Joshua Polacheck (D): Polacheck is a former U.S. State Department foreign service officer.
• Rene Lopez (R): Lopez is a Navy veteran and former Chandler council member.
• Rachel Walden (R): Walden is a Mesa Public Schools governing board member. She sued the school district last year over its policies to support transgender students.

Maricopa County Attorney: Tamika Wooten (D) vs. Rachel Mitchell (R)

Republican incumbent Rachel Mitchell, who's served as county attorney since 2022 faces a challenge from Democrat Tamika Wooten.

• Mitchell has spent more than 20 years with the county attorney's office, including as the head prosecutor in the sex crimes bureau. She's known nationally for serving as investigative counsel during Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh's confirmation hearings .
• Wooten formerly served as the chief city prosecutor in Glendale and as a judge in Avondale, El Mirage, Mesa, Scottsdale, Surprise and Wickenburg.

Go deeper:

• Challengers turn Maricopa County attorney matchup into hotly contested race

Maricopa County recorder: Timothy Stringham (D) vs. Justin Heap (R)

Republican state lawmaker Justin Heap defeated incumbent Recorder Stephen Richer and now faces Democrat Timothy Stringham.

• Heap is aligned and backed by many of the MAGA Republicans who have questioned the validity of Maricopa County's election results, and has declined to say whether President Biden legitimately won the 2020 election. He's a state representative and member of the Arizona Freedom Caucus who's critiqued the county's handling of elections.
• Stringham is a political newcomer and a veteran of the Army and Navy. He also served in the Judge Advocate General's Corps. He's attempting to appeal to anti-Trump Republicans who resent the election-denial rhetoric pushed by people associated with Heap's campaign.

Go deeper:

• Maricopa Recorder Stephen Richer gets primary challenge from the right
• Democrat Stringham hopes to rally GOP support in recorder race after Richer's defeat

Maricopa County sheriff: Tyler Kamp (D) vs. Jerry Sheridan (R)

Jerry Sheridan, the one-time second-in-command to controversial former Sheriff Joe Arpaio, is gunning for his old boss' job. He's facing off with former Phoenix police officer Tyler Kamp.

• Former Sheriff Paul Penzone stepped down earlier this year. Kamp defeated his appointed successor, Sheriff Russ Skinner, in the Democratic primary.
• Sheridan climbed the ranks of the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office for 38 years. He says he will reinstate Arpaio's "tent city" jail and focus on ending drug smuggling and protecting children from sexual predators.
• Kamp was a Phoenix police officer for 20 years who says he "represents the ideal blend of innovative crime-fighting techniques, ethical leadership and community engagement." After leaving the department, a rookie officer accused him of sending inappropriate messages about her appearance. Kamp said the texts were "taken out of context," ABC 15 reported .

Maricopa County school superintendent: Laura Metcalfe (D) vs. Shelli Boggs (R)

Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios

Republican Shelli Boggs defeated incumbent Steve Watson in the primary and will now go head-to-head with Democrat Laura Metcalfe.

• Boggs is a former teacher and East Valley Institute of Technology governing board member. She says she will remove politics from classrooms, defend parental rights and restore financial accountability.
• Metcalfe is a former high school teacher and district administrator who also worked in the Maricopa County School Superintendent's Office.

Maricopa County supervisors (Districts 1 and 3)

There are two competitive seats open on the Board Of Supervisors — the body responsible for countywide services, like public health and Election Day operations.

• District 1: Democrat Joel Navarro, a Phoenix firefighter and former Tempe council member, faces Republican Mark Stewart, a former Chandler council member and small business owner. Stewart defeated incumbent Jack Sellers in the primary.
• District 3: Democrat Daniel Valenzuela, a Glendale firefighter and former Phoenix council member, is running against Republican Kate Brophy McGee, a former state lawmaker.

Go deeper:

• Maricopa County election guide: Board of Supervisors races
• Tempe's Navarro plans Board of Supervisors run that could give Democrats a majority

Phoenix mayor and council

• Mayor: Incumbent Kate Gallego, a former council member, faces Republican challenger Matt Evans, a software engineer, as she seeks a second full term.
• District 1: Council Member Ann O'Brien is unopposed in her re-election campaign.
• District 3: Incumbent Debra Stark seeks re-election against attorney Ayensa Millan.
• District 5: Betty Guardado seeks a second full term, and is challenged by retired police officer JJ Martinez.
• District 7: Four candidates — Martyn Bridgeman, Anna Hernandez, Michael Nowakowski and Marcelino Quiñonez — are competing for the open seat.
• Carlos Galindo-Elvira, who was appointed to the vacant District 7 seat, is running in a special election to serve the remainder of former Council Member Yassamin Ansari's term, but isn't seeking the full term.

Go deeper:

• November election will decide majority of Phoenix City Council

Mesa mayor and council

• Former Mayor Scott Smith and current Council Member Mark Freeman are competing for the open mayoral seat.
• Smith resigned in 2014 to run for governor. He lost the race and then served as Valley Metro CEO from 2016 to 2022.
• Freeman has sat on the city council since 2017. He's a corn farmer and retired paramedic with the Mesa Fire Department.
• There is also a runoff in Council District 1. Rich Adams, a former member of the city's Planning and Zoning Board, and Ron Williams, who serves on the city's Human Relations Advisory Board, are facing off.

Go deeper:

• Mesa election guide

Scottsdale mayor and council

• Incumbent Mayor David Ortega faces a challenge from commercial litigator and former Council Member Lisa Borowsky. She squared off with Ortega in 2020 and lost by about 6,000 votes.
• There are three candidates in a runoff race for two council seats.
• Tammy Caputi is a first-term incumbent who owns a lighting and electrical supply company in the city.
• Adam Kwasman is a personal injury attorney who served one term as a state representative.
• Maryann McAllen is the chair of Scottsdale's Parks and Recreation Commission who has been active in several city community organizations.
• Incumbent Council Member Tom Durham dropped out of the race in late September and encouraged his supporters to back fellow moderates Caputi and McAllen.