2018 Arizona elections

2018 Arizona elections

←  2016 2020  →

A general election was held in the U.S. state of Arizona on November 6, 2018. All of Arizona's executive offices were up for election as well as a United States Senate seat and all of Arizona's nine seats in the United States House of Representatives. The Republican Party won the majority of statewide offices, albeit by much narrower margins than in previous elections (except for the governorship, which they won easily), while the Democratic Party picked up three statewide offices.

U.S. Senate

Main article: 2018 United States Senate election in Arizona

Incumbent Republican Jeff Flake was eligible to run for re-election to a second term. As a strong critic of President Donald Trump and remaining unpopular in the state, Flake announced in October 2017 that he would not seek reelection. ^[1]

President Trump and Republicans backed Martha McSally to succeed Flake. Kelli Ward, former state senator and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2016 also ran for the Republican nomination for the open seat. ^{[2] [3]}

Results

On the evening of Monday, November 12, 2018, McSally posted on her Twitter that she had spoken with Sinema and conceded. Sinema celebrated with supporters later that evening.

United States Senate election in Arizona, 2018 ^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Kyrsten Sinema	1,191,100	49.96%
	Republican	Martha McSally	1,135,200	47.61%
	Green	Angela Green	57,442	2.41%
	Write-in		566	0.02%
Total votes			2,384,308	100%
	Democratic gain from Republican

U.S. House of Representatives

February special election

Main article: 2018 Arizona's 8th congressional district special election

A special election was held in Arizona's 8th congressional district following the resignation of Congressman Trent Franks. Republican nominee and former Arizona Senate president pro tem Debbie Lesko won a closer-than-expected race against Democratic challenger Hiral Tipirneni.

Arizona's 8th congressional district special election, 2018 ^[5]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Debbie Lesko	96,012	52.37%
	Democratic	Hiral Tipirneni	87,331	47.63%
Total votes			183,343	100%
	Republican hold

November general election

Main article: 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona

Party		Candidates	Votes		Seats
			No.	%	No.	+/–	%
	Democratic	9	1,179,193	50.37	5	1	55.56
	Republican	9	1,139,251	48.67	4	1	44.44
	Green	2	22,378	0.96	0		0.0
	Write-in	3	147	0.01	0		0.0
Total		23	2,341,270	100.0	9		100.0

Popular vote

Democratic			50.37%
Republican			48.67%
Green			0.96%
Other			0.01%

House seats

Democratic			55.56%
Republican			44.44%

Governor

Main article: 2018 Arizona gubernatorial election

Incumbent Republican governor Doug Ducey won re-election to a second term.

Results

Arizona gubernatorial election, 2018 ^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Doug Ducey (incumbent)	1,330,863	56.00%
	Democratic	David Garcia	994,341	41.84%
	Green	Angel Torres	50,962	2.15%
	Write-in		275	0.01%
Total votes			2,376,441	100%
	Republican hold

Secretary of state

Main article: 2018 Arizona Secretary of State election

Incumbent Republican secretary of state Michele Reagan lost the nomination for a second term to Steve Gaynor, who lost the general election to Democratic state senator Katie Hobbs.

Results

Arizona Secretary of State election, 2018 ^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Katie Hobbs	1,176,384	50.43%
	Republican	Steve Gaynor	1,156,132	49.56%
	Write-in		169	0.01%
Total votes			2,332,685	100%
	Democratic gain from Republican

Attorney general

Main article: 2018 Arizona Attorney General election

Incumbent Republican attorney general Mark Brnovich won re-election to a second term.

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

• Mark Brnovich, incumbent attorney general, former director of the Arizona Department of Gaming, and former Assistant U.S. Attorney for the U.S. District Court of Arizona ^[6]

Primary results

Republican primary results ^[7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mark Brnovich (incumbent)	561,370	100.0
Total votes			561,370	100.0

Democratic primary

Candidates

• January Contreras, former director of Arizona Department of Health Services and senior advisor to former U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano ^[8]

Primary results

Democratic primary results ^[7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	January Contreras	464,510	100.0
Total votes			464,510	100.0

Libertarian primary

Candidates

Declared

• Michael Kielsky (write-in candidate) ^[6]

Primary results

Libertarian primary results ^[7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Libertarian	Michael Kielsky (write-in)	2,156	100.0
Total votes			2,144	100.0

Endorsements

Mark Brnovich (R)

Organizations

• Arizona Chamber of Commerce
• Arizona Fraternal Order of Police
• Arizona REALTORS
• Arizona Right to Life
• Arizona Police Association
• Cochise County Sheriff P.J. Allred
• Phoenix Chamber of Commerce
• Phoenix Law Enforcement Association
• Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb
• Professional Fire Fighters of Arizona
• Yavapai County Sheriff Scott Mascher
• Yuma County Sheriff Leon Wilmot

January Contreras (D)

Organizations

• Democracy for America ^[9]
• Emily's List
• Human Rights Campaign ^[10]
• Planned Parenthood Advocates of Arizona

General election

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Mark Brnovich (R)	January Contreras (D)	Undecided
OH Predictive Insights [11]	September 5–6, 2018	597	± 4.0%	48%	36%	16%
Data Orbital [12]	October 1–3, 2018	550	± 4.2%	46%	33%	19%

Results

Arizona Attorney General election, 2018 ^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Mark Brnovich (incumbent)	1,201,398	51.73%
	Democratic	January Contreras	1,120,726	48.26%
	Write-in		346	0.01%
Total votes			2,322,470	100%
	Republican hold

State treasurer

Main article: 2018 Arizona State Treasurer election

Incumbent Republican state treasurer Jeff DeWit announced on April 6, 2016, that he would not run for re-election to a second term as state treasurer. ^[13] Republican Kimberly Yee won the general election.

Results

Arizona State Treasurer election, 2018 ^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Kimberly Yee	1,249,120	54.28%
	Democratic	Mark Manoil	1,052,197	45.72%
Total votes			2,301,317	100%
	Republican hold

Superintendent of Public Instruction

Main article: 2018 Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction election

Incumbent Republican Superintendent of Public Instruction Diane Douglas ran for re-election to a second term and lost to Frank Riggs in a close five-way primary. Riggs lost to Democratic teacher Kathy Hoffman in the general election.

Republican primary

Candidates

• Robert Branch, Grand Canyon University professor ^[14]
• Diane Douglas, incumbent superintendent of public instruction ^[15]
• Jonathan Gelbart, director of charter school development for Basis Schools ^[16]
• Tracy Livingston, Maricopa County Community College District board member ^{[17] [18]}
• Frank Riggs, former U.S. representative for California's 1st congressional district (1995–1999), candidate for U.S. Senate for California in 1998, candidate for Governor of Arizona in 2006 and 2014 ^[19]

Endorsements

Tracy Livingston

Federal officials

• Debbie Lesko, U.S. representative ^[20]

State and local officials

• Lisa Graham Keegan, former Superintendent of Public Instruction
• Jaime Molera, former Superintendent of Public Instruction
• Steven Yarbrough, President of Arizona Senate
• Sylvia Allen, state senator
• Karen Fann, state senator
• JD Mesnard, Arizona House Speaker
• Kevin Payne, state representative. ^[21]
• Vince Leach, state representative.
• Todd Clodfelter, state representative.
• Paul Boyer, state representative ^[22]
• Drew John, state representative.
• David Livingston, state representative
• Sal Dicicio, Phoenix City Councilman

Frank Riggs

Individuals

• Ernest Garfield, former state treasurer
• Adam Kwasman, former state representative.
• Jim Waring, Phoenix City Councilman and former state senator.
• Jake Hoffman, Queen Creek Town Councilman.
• Jared Taylor, Gilbert Town Councilman.
• Jim Lane, Mayor of Scottsdale ^[23]

Jonathan Gelbart

Individuals ^[24]

• James Kolbe, former congressman
• Rich Crandall, former state senator
• Kevin Thompson, Mesa City councilmember
• Chris Glover, Mesa City councilmember

Primary results

Republican primary results ^[7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Frank Riggs	124,872	21.82%
	Republican	Bob Branch	124,623	21.78%
	Republican	Diane Douglas (incumbent)	121,452	21.23%
	Republican	Tracy Livingston	115,778	20.23%
	Republican	Jonathan Gelbart	85,511	14.94%
Total votes			572,236	100%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

• Kathy Hoffman, Peoria Unified School District speech therapist ^[15]
• David Schapira, high school administrator for the East Valley Institute of Technology and former state senator (2011–2013) ^[25]

Primary results

Democratic primary results ^[7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Kathy Hoffman	254,566	52.27%
	Democratic	David Schapira	232,419	47.73%
Total votes			486,985	100%

General election

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size	Margin of error	Frank Riggs (R)	Kathy Hoffman (D)	Undecided
OH Predictive Insights [11]	September 5–6, 2018	597	± 4.0%	41%	39%	20%

Results

Results by county

Hoffman:

•   50–60%
•   60–70%
•   70–80%

Riggs:

•   50–60%
•   60–70%
•   70–80%

Arizona Superintendent of Public Instruction, 2018 ^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Kathy Hoffman	1,185,457	51.56%
	Republican	Frank Riggs	1,113,781	48.44%
	Write-in		89	0.00%
Total votes			2,299,327	100%
	Democratic gain from Republican

Mine Inspector

Incumbent Republican Mine Inspector Joe Hart won re-election to a fourth term.

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

• Joe Hart, incumbent Mine Inspector ^[6]

Primary results

Republican primary results ^[7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Joe Hart (incumbent)	546,189	100.0
Total votes			546,189	100.0

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

• William Pierce, engineer ^[26]

Primary results

Democratic primary results ^[7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	William "Bill" Pierce	447,924	100.0
Total votes			447,924	100.0

Libertarian primary

Candidates

Declared

• Kim Ruff (write-in candidate) ^[6]

Primary results

Libertarian primary results ^[7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Libertarian	Kim Ruff (write-in)	2,106	100.0
Total votes			2,144	100.0

General election

Results

County results Hart:     50-60%     60-70%     70-80%Pierce:     50–60%     60–70%     70–80%

Arizona Mine Inspector election, 2018 ^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Joe Hart (incumbent)	1,168,798	51.74%
	Democratic	William Pierce	1,090,346	48.26%
Total votes			2,259,144	100%
	Republican hold

Corporation Commission

2018 Arizona Corporation Commission election

←  2014 November 6, 2018 2022  →

Nominee Sandra Kennedy Justin Olson Party Democratic Republican Popular vote 1,076,800 1,053,862 Percentage 25.72% 25.17%   Nominee Rodney Glassman Kiana Sears Party Republican Democratic Popular vote 1,049,394 1,006,654 Percentage 25.06% 24.04%

Commissioners before election Justin Olson (R) Tom Forese (R) Elected Commissioners Justin Olson (R) Sandra Kennedy (D)

"Corporation Commissioners must only satisfy the standard requirements for all Arizona state officers, who must be at least 18 years old, a citizen of the United States and able to speak English." ^[27] Two of the seats on the Arizona Corporation Commission are up for election, elected by plurality block voting.

Republican primary

Candidates

Declared

• Tom Forese, incumbent Corporation Commissioner ^{[6] [28]}
• Rodney Glassman, former Tucson city councilman and Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in 2010 ^[29]
• James "Jim" O'Connor, former investment law advisor for the California State Senate ^[30]
• Justin Olson, incumbent Corporation Commissioner ^[28]
• Eric Sloan, small business owner ^{[6] [31]}

Declined

• Doug Little, former Corporation Commissioner (2015–2017) ^[32]

Endorsements

Rodney Glassman

Individuals

• Bill Montgomery, Maricopa County Attorney

Primary results

Republican primary results

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Justin Olson (incumbent)	240,825	25.18%
	Republican	Rodney Glassman	218,130	22.81%
	Republican	James "Jim" O'Connor	206,929	21.64%
	Republican	Tom Forese (incumbent)	152,395	15.93%
	Republican	Eric Sloan	138,051	14.44%
Total votes			956,330	100%

Democratic primary

Candidates

Declared

• Sandra Kennedy, former Corporation Commissioner (2009–2013), former state senator (1993–2000), and former state representative (1987–1992) ^[33]
• William Mundell, former Republican Corporation Commissioner (1999–2009) and former Republican state representative (1986–1992) ^[34]
• Kiana Sears, Mesa Public Schools governing board member ^{[35] [6]}

Primary results

Democratic primary results ^[7]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Sandra Kennedy	351,561	45.10%
	Democratic	Kiana Sears	219,011	28.10%
	Democratic	William "Bill" Mundell	208,941	26.80%
Total votes			779,513	100%

General election

Results

Arizona Corporation Commission election, 2018 ^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Sandra Kennedy	1,076,800	25.72%
	Republican	Justin Olson (incumbent)	1,053,862	25.17%
	Republican	Rodney Glassman	1,049,394	25.06%
	Democratic	Kiana Sears	1,006,654	24.04%
	Write-in		232	0.01%
Total votes			4,186,942	100%
	Democratic gain from Republican
	Republican hold

Supreme Court

Two justices on the Arizona Supreme Court were up for retention in 2018. ^[36]

Justice Bolick retention

Results by county

Yes:

•   60–70%
•   70–80%
•   80–90%

Clint Bolick was appointed by Governor Doug Ducey in 2016 to succeed retiring justice Rebecca White Berch. ^[37]

Justice Bolick retention, 2018

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	1,187,184	70.04
No	507,800	29.96
Total votes	1,694,984	100.00
Source: Arizona Secretary of State [4]

Justice Pelander retention

Results by county

Yes:

•   60–70%
•   70–80%
•   80–90%

John Pelander was appointed by Governor Jan Brewer in 2009 to succeed retiring justice Ruth McGregor. ^[38] He was retained by the voters in 2012. ^[39]

Justice Pelander retention, 2018

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	1,188,576	71.75
No	467,934	28.25
Total votes	1,656,510	100.00
Source: Arizona Secretary of State [4]

State Legislature

Main articles: 2018 Arizona Senate election and 2018 Arizona State House of Representatives election

All 30 members of the Arizona State Senate and all 60 members of the Arizona House of Representatives were up for election. Democrats flipped four state house districts.

State Senate Party Before After Change Republican 17 17 Democratic 13 13 Total 30 30

House of Representatives Party Before After Change Republican 35 31 4 Democratic 25 29 4 Total 60 60

State ballot measures

See also: List of Arizona ballot propositions

Arizona had five statewide propositions on the ballot in 2018. ^[40]

2018 Arizona ballot propositions

No.	Description	Votes				Type
		Yes	%	No	%
125	Allows for adjustments to the retirement plans of corrections officers and elected officials. [41]	1,130,219	51.72	1,055,201	48.28	Legislatively referred constitutional amendment
126	Prohibits the government from increasing taxes on services in the future. [42]	1,436,106	64.09	804,794	35.91	Citizen-initiated constitutional amendment
127	Requires 50% of energy to come from renewable resources by 2030. [43]	723,138	31.40	1,580,101	68.60
305	Upholds SB 1431 (2018), expanding the Empowerment Scholarship Accounts program. [44]	790,608	35.17	1,457,070	64.83	Veto referendum
306	Designates unlawful contributions from clean election accounts and removes commission exemption from rulemaking requirements. [45]	1,248,675	56.19	973,385	43.81	Legislatively referred state statute
Source: Arizona Secretary of State [4]

Results by county

Proposition 125 results by county

Yes:

•   50–60%

No:

•   50–60%

Proposition 126 results by county

Yes:

•   50–60%
•   60–70%
•   70–80%

Proposition 127 results by county

No:

•   80–90%
•   70–80%
•   60–70%
•   50–60%

Proposition 305 results by county

No:

•   60–70%
•   50–60%

Proposition 306 results by county

Yes:

•   50–60%

No:

•   50–60%

References

1. "Arizona's Jeff Flake announces he will not seek re-election to U.S. Senate". azcentral. Retrieved August 31, 2018.
2. Min Kim, Seung (October 27, 2016). "Kelli Ward aims to oust Flake in 2018". Politico . Retrieved October 27, 2016.
3. Bowman, Bridget (October 27, 2016). "Flake Gets 2018 Primary Challenge". Roll Call . Retrieved October 27, 2016.
4. "2018 1203 Signed Official Statewide Canvass.pdf" (PDF). Arizona Secretary of State. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
5. "Official Canvas of Special General Election" (PDF). Arizona Secretary of State. Retrieved December 25, 2018.
6. "Arizona Election Information". apps.arizona.vote.
7. "2018 0910 Signed Statewide Canvass.pdf" (PDF). Arizona Secretary of State.
8. "January Contreras enters race for Arizona attorney general".
9. "Democracy for America Endorses David Garcia for Governor and January Contreras for Attorney General". Democracy for America. June 27, 2017. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
10. Metzger, Ianthe (February 23, 2018). "Human Rights Campaign Endorses January Contreras for Arizona Attorney General". Human Rights Campaign. Archived from the original on March 10, 2018. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
11. OH Predictive Insights
12. Data Orbital
13. Wingett Sanchez, Yvonne (April 6, 2016). "Why state Treasurer Jeff DeWit won't run for re-election". The Arizona Republic . Retrieved July 18, 2016.
14. "6-27-17 Briefs". archives.mcrcbriefs.org.
15. "Race for Arizona schools chief grows as two more announce run". April 18, 2017.
16. "Allhands: Arizona's big education race just got its dark horse".
17. Report, Yellow Sheet (February 3, 2017). "John Huppenthal feels your pain – Arizona Capitol Times". azcapitoltimes.com.
18. Stone, Sam. "Tracy Livingston Announces Candidacy for AZ Superintendent of Public Instruction".
19. "Republican, Democrat Join Race for Arizona Schools Chief | Arizona News | US News". Archived from the original on April 19, 2017. Retrieved April 19, 2017.
20. "Endorsements – Tracy Livingston". www.tracylivingston.vote. Archived from the original on September 9, 2017. Retrieved September 8, 2017.
21. ^[ dead link ]
22. Duda, Jeremy (March 17, 2017). "House Ed Chair Paul Boyer, Rep. Drew John Endorse Tracy Livingston for Superintendent".
23. "Media release" (PDF). riggsforaz.com.
24. "Endorsements".^{[ permanent dead link ]}
25. "Roberts: David Schapira to take on Diane Douglas".
26. "Press release". www>statepress.com.
27. "Arizona Corporation Commission – Ballotpedia".
28. "Arizona Corporation Commission". www.azcc.gov.
29. TucsonSentinel.com. "Rodney Glassman on GOP bus as candidate for Az Corp Commission".
30. "Why Jim". Jim O'Connor For Corporation Commission. Archived from the original on January 22, 2018. Retrieved January 22, 2018.
31. ^[ dead link ]
32. "Arizona Corporation Commission member appointed to Energy Department".
33. "Home". kennedyacc2018.com.
35. Hines, Gary (June 21, 2018). "Meet your state candidates". The Glendale Star.
36. "Arizona Supreme Court elections, 2018". Ballotpedia . Retrieved November 25, 2025.
37. Wingett Sanchez, Yvonne (January 6, 2016). "Ducey appoints independent to Supreme Court". The Arizona Republic . Retrieved November 25, 2025.
38. Fischer, Howard; Smith, Kim (July 29, 2009). "Longtime Tucsonan named to state's high court". Arizona Daily Star . Retrieved November 26, 2025.
39. Kiefer, Michael (November 7, 2012). "All local judges on ballot retained". The Arizona Republic . Archived from the original on November 10, 2012. Retrieved November 26, 2025.
40. "Arizona 2018 ballot measures". Ballotpedia . Retrieved November 30, 2025.
41. "Arizona Proposition 125, Adjustments to Elected Officials' and Corrections Officer's Retirement Plans Amendment (2018)". Ballotpedia . Retrieved November 30, 2025.
42. "Arizona Proposition 126, Prohibit New or Increased Taxes on Services Initiative (2018)". Ballotpedia . Retrieved November 30, 2025.
43. "Arizona Proposition 127, Renewable Energy Standards Initiative (2018)". Ballotpedia . Retrieved November 30, 2025.
44. "Arizona Proposition 305, Expansion of Empowerment Scholarship Accounts Referendum (2018)". Ballotpedia . Retrieved November 30, 2025.
45. "Arizona Proposition 306, Clean Election Account Uses and Commission Rulemaking Measure (2018)". Ballotpedia . Retrieved November 30, 2025.

External links

• Candidate Debates from Citizens Clean Elections Commission
• Candidates at Vote Smart
• Candidates at Ballotpedia
• Campaign finance at OpenSecrets

Ballot measures

• Ballot Measure Information
• Ballot Measures and Analyses

Election results

• Arizona primary election results
• Arizona general election results

Official Secretary of State campaign websites

• Steve Gaynor (R) for Secretary of State
• Katie Hobbs (D) for Secretary of State

Official Attorney General campaign websites

• Mark Brnovich (R) for Attorney General
• January Contreras (D) for Attorney General

Official State Treasurer campaign websites

• Mark Manoil (D) for State Treasurer Archived 2018-10-04 at the Wayback Machine
• Kimberly Yee (R) for State Treasurer

Official Superintendent of Public Instruction campaign websites

• Kathy Hoffman (D) for Superintendent
• Frank Riggs (R) for Superintendent

Official Mine Inspector campaign websites

• Bill Pierce (D) for Mine Inspector

Official Corporation Commission campaign websites

• Rodney Glassman (R) for Corporation Commissioner
• Sandra Kennedy (D) for Corporation Commissioner
• Justin Olson (R) for Corporation Commissioner
• Kiana Sears (D) for Corporation Commissioner