2020 Arizona elections

2020 Arizona elections

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Elections were held in the U.S. state of Arizona on November 3, 2020, as part of the 2020 General Election. Arizona voters chose 11 electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote. Three seats on the Arizona Corporation Commission were up for election, as were all nine of Arizona seats in the United States House of Representatives, and one of its seats in the United States Senate. Primary elections were held in August 2020. Paper ballots for voting by mail were sent to all registered voters in the state. ^[1]

Federal offices

U.S. President

Main article: 2020 United States presidential election in Arizona

Arizona was represented by 11 electors in the electoral college. Joe Biden won the state with 49.36% of the popular vote, defeating incumbent President Donald Trump by less than 11,000 votes. This was the first time a Democratic presidential candidate won Arizona since Bill Clinton in 1996 and only the second time since Harry Truman in 1948. ^[2]

U.S. Senate

Main article: 2020 United States Senate special election in Arizona

A special election was held due to the death of Republican senator and presidential candidate John McCain.

Former U.S. senator Jon Kyl was originally appointed to the seat, but resigned on December 31, 2018. Outgoing U.S. Representative Martha McSally was appointed to fill the seat following Kyl's resignation. ^[3]

Democrat Mark Kelly defeated McSally, winning 51% of the vote.

U.S. House of Representatives

Main article: 2020 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona

All nine of Arizona's seats in the United States House of Representatives were up for election in 2020. Before the election, Republicans held four seats and Democrats five. No districts changed hands, and thus Democrats maintained control.

State offices

Corporation Commission

2020 Arizona Corporation Commission election

←  2016 November 3, 2020 2024  →
3 seats on the Arizona Corporation Commission
Majority party Minority party Third party   Candidate Anna Tovar Lea Márquez Peterson James O'Connor Party Democratic Republican Republican Popular vote 1,450,194 1,449,963 1,434,236 Percentage 17.524% 17.521% 17.33%   Fourth party Fifth party Sixth party   Candidate Eric Sloan Bill Mundell Shea Stanfield Party Republican Democratic Democratic Popular vote 1,379,804 1,295,836 1,264,909 Percentage 16.67% 15.66% 15.28%
Commissioners before election Bob Burns (R) Andy Tobin (R) Boyd Dunn (R) Elected Commissioners Anna Tovar (D) Lea Márquez Peterson (R) James O'Connor (R)

Three seats on the Arizona Corporation Commission were up for election. Republican Bob Burns was term-limited and therefore ineligible to run for re-election to a third term in office. ^[4]

Republican primary

Candidates

• James O'Connor, candidate for the commission in 2018 (nominated via write-in) ^{[5] [6]}
• Lea Márquez Peterson, incumbent, appointed to replace Andy Tobin
• Eric Sloan, candidate for the commission in 2018

Not on the ballot

• Avery Block
• Neil DeSanti
• Boyd Dunn, incumbent, removed for insufficient signatures ^[7]
• Dave Farnsworth, state senator, dropped out ^[8]
• Nick Myers, legislative candidate in 2018
• Kim Owens, public relations executive, removed for insufficient signatures ^[9]
• Patrick Tucker

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Bill Mundell, former Republican state representative and commissioner
• Shea Stanfield
• Anna Tovar, mayor of Tolleson, Arizona, former state senator

Not on the ballot

• John Dougherty III
• Paul Newman, former commissioner

General election

Polling

Each voter selected up to three candidates in the state Corporation Commission general election, with the top three vote-getters winning the seats. Consequently, poll results in the table immediately below are displayed as the accumulation of a candidate's first, second and third preferences, and therefore total 300%, instead of 100%. Where a given percentage of voters are not decided with respect to multiple choices, that percentage is multiplied by the number of choices for which they are undecided (so, for instance, if 1% of voters had not picked any candidate, they would be listed in the table below as 3% of the total vote).

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size [a]	Margin of error	Anna Tovar (D)	Lea Márquez Peterson (R)	Bill Mundell (D)	Shea Stanfield (D)	James O'Connor (R)	Eric Sloan (R)	Undecided
Patinkin Research Strategies/Arizona Research Consortium (D) [10]	October 21–24, 2020	729 (LV)	± 3.6%	37%	31%	25%	24%	21%	20%	69%
Patinkin Research Strategies/Arizona Research Consortium (D) [11]	October 1–3, 2020	604 (LV)	± 3.8%	32%	30%	29%	28%	31%	31%	96%
Patinkin Research Strategies/Arizona Research Consortium (D) [12]	September 10–13, 2020	679 (LV)	± 3.8%	28%	26%	27%	26%	29%	27%	120%

Results

Arizona Corporation Commission election, 2020 ^[13]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Democratic	Anna Tovar	1,450,194	17.52%
	Republican	Lea Márquez Peterson (incumbent)	1,449,963	17.52%
	Republican	James O'Connor	1,434,236	17.33%
	Republican	Eric Sloan	1,379,804	16.67%
	Democratic	Bill Mundell	1,295,836	15.66%
	Democratic	Shea Stanfield	1,264,909	15.29%
	Independent	Christina Gibson (write-in)	411	0.01%
	Republican	Patrick Finerd (write-in)	232	0.00%
Total votes			8,275,585	100%
	Democratic gain from Republican
	Republican hold
	Republican hold

State legislature

Main articles: 2020 Arizona Senate election and 2020 Arizona House of Representatives election

All 90 seats in both chambers of the Arizona State Legislature were up for election in 2020. Democrats gained a seat in the state senate.

State Senate Party Before After Change Republican 17 16 1 Democratic 13 14 1 Total 30 30

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

Supreme Court

Three justices on the Arizona Supreme Court were up for retention in 2020. ^[14]

Justice Brutinel retention

Results by county

Yes:

•   80–90%
•   70–80%

Robert M. Brutinel was appointed by Governor Jan Brewer in 2010 to succeed retiring justice Michael D. Ryan. ^[15] He was retained by the voters in 2014. ^[16]

Justice Brutinel retention, 2020

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	1,865,552	75.13
No	617,429	24.87
Total votes	2,482,981	100.00
Source: Arizona Secretary of State [13]

Justice Gould retention

Results by county

Yes:

•   80–90%
•   70–80%
•   60–70%

Andrew Gould was appointed by Governor Doug Ducey in 2016 to a newly established seat on the Arizona Supreme Court after it was expanded to seven justices. ^[17]

Justice Gould retention, 2020

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	1,683,460	68.06
No	790,095	31.94
Total votes	2,473,555	100.00
Source: Arizona Secretary of State [13]

Justice Lopez retention

Results by county

Yes:

•   80–90%
•   70–80%
•   60–70%

John Lopez IV was appointed by Governor Doug Ducey in 2016 to a newly established seat on the Arizona Supreme Court after it was expanded to seven justices. ^[17]

Justice Lopez retention, 2020

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	1,806,530	72.65
No	679,989	27.35
Total votes	2,486,519	100.00
Source: Arizona Secretary of State [13]

Ballot initiatives

Main article: List of Arizona ballot propositions § 2020

Two initiatives were approved for the general election ballot. ^{[18] [19]}

Proposition 207

Main article: 2020 Arizona Proposition 207

Proposition 207, the Smart and Safe Arizona Act, is to legalize and tax cannabis for adult use.

Polling

Likely voters polled in July 2020 indicated 62% support for cannabis legalization. ^[20]

On Proposition 207

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size [a]	Margin of error	For Proposition 207	Against Proposition 207	Other	Undecided
OH Predictive Insights [21]	October 22–25, 2020	716 (LV)	± 3.7%	60%	36%	0% [b]	4%
Monmouth University [22]	October 11–13, 2020	502 (RV)	± 4.4%	56%	36%	0% [c]	7%
OH Predictive Insights [23]	October 4–8, 2020	608 (LV)	± 4.0%	55%	37%	1% [d]	7%
Suffolk University [24]	September 26–30, 2020	500 (LV)	± 4.4%	46%	34%	1% [e]	19%
Strategies 360/Smart and Safe Arizona [25] [A]	September 24–29, 2020	800 (LV)	± 3.5%	57%	38%	–	5%
Monmouth University [26]	September 11–15, 2020	420 (RV)	± 4.8%	51%	41%	3% [f]	6%
Strategies 360/Smart and Safe Arizona [25] [B]	Early August, 2020	– (V) [g]	–	57%	37%	–	6%
HighGround Inc. [27]	May 18–22, 2020	400 (LV)	± 4.9%	66%	25%	–	9% [h]

On whether recreational marijuana should be legal

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size [a]	Margin of error	Yes	No	Other	Undecided
OH Predictive Insights [28]	September 8–10, 2020	600 (LV)	± 4%	45%	44%	0% [i]	9%
OH Predictive Insights [29]	July 6–7, 2020	600 (LV)	± 4%	62%	32%	No voters [j]	6%
OH Predictive Insights [30]	December 3–4, 2019	628 (LV)	± 3.9%	51%	42%	–	7%
OH Predictive Insights [31]	October 31 – November 8, 2019	900 (RV)	± 3.3%	54%	33%	–	13%
OH Predictive Insights [32]	August 13–14, 2019	600 (LV)	± 4%	50%	40%	–	10%
OH Predictive Insights [33]	February 12–13, 2019	600 (LV)	± 4%	52%	41%	–	7%

Proposition 208

Proposition 208, the Invest in Education Act, is to impose a 3.5% income tax surcharge on high earners and invest the revenue generated in education. ^{[34] [35]}

Polling

Poll source	Date(s) administered	Sample size [a]	Margin of error	For Proposition 208	Against Proposition 208	Other	Undecided
Patinkin Research Strategies [36]	October 21–24, 2020	729 (LV)	± 3.6%	55%	40%	–	5%
Monmouth University [37]	October 11–13, 2020	502 (RV)	± 4.4%	60%	34%	1% [k]	5%
OH Predictive Insights [38]	October 4–8, 2020	608 (LV)	± 4.0%	55%	39%	0% [l]	6%
Data Orbital [39]	October 3–5, 2020	550 (LV)	± 4.2%	51%	37%	–	12%
HighGround Inc. [40]	September 28 – October 5, 2020	400 (LV)	± 4.9%	56%	38%	–	6% [m]
Patinkin Research Strategies [41]	October 1–3, 2020	604 (LV)	± 3.8%	55%	37%	–	9%
Suffolk University/USA Today [42]	September 26–30, 2020	500 (LV)	± 4.4%	47%	37%	1% [n]	15%
Monmouth University [43]	September 11–15, 2020	420 (RV)	± 4.8%	66%	21%	1% [o]	7%

Results

Results by county

Yes:

•   60–70%
•   50–60%

No:

•   60–70%
•   50–60%

Proposition 208

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	1,675,810	51.75
No	1,562,639	48.25
Total votes	3,238,449	100.00
Source: Arizona Secretary of State [13]

See also

• Elections in Arizona
• Bilingual elections requirement for Arizona (per Voting Rights Act Amendments of 2006) ^[44]

Notes

1. Key:
   A – all adults
   RV – registered voters
   LV – likely voters
   V – unclear
2. "Refused" with 0%
3. Would not vote with 0%
4. "Refused" with 1%
5. "Refused" with 1%
6. Would not vote with 3%
7. Not yet released
8. Includes "Refused"
9. "Refused" with 0%
10. "Refused" with no voters
11. Would not vote with 1%
12. "Refused" with 0%
13. Includes "Refused"
14. "Refused" with 1%
15. Would not vote with 1%

Partisan clients

1. Smart and Safe Arizona endorsed Proposition 207 prior to this poll's sampling period
2. Smart and Safe Arizona endorsed Proposition 207 prior to this poll's sampling period

References

1. Lily Hay Newman (August 27, 2020), "How to Vote by Mail and Make Sure It Counts", Wired.com , archived from the original on October 6, 2020
2. Collins, Keith; Fessenden, Ford; Gamio, Lazaro; Harris, Rich; Keefe, John; Lu, Denise; Lutz, Elanor; Schoenfeld Walker, Amy; Watkins, Derek; Yourish, Karen (November 10, 2020). "Phoenix's Blue Wave Pushes Arizona Toward Biden". The New York Times . Retrieved November 23, 2025.
3. Sanchez, Yvonne Wingett; Hansen, Ronald J. (December 18, 2018). "Martha McSally will be appointed to John McCain's Senate seat". Arizona Republic. Retrieved December 18, 2018.
4. Rosenblatt, Dillon (July 2, 2019). "Ties run deep, many between APS and Republican candidates for utility regulator | Arizona Capitol Times".
5. "GOP write-in candidates face steep challenges in Corp Comm campaign". May 19, 2020.
6. Randazzo, Ryan. "Successful write-in candidate for Corporation Commission gives Republicans a full slate for November". The Arizona Republic.
7. Oxford, Andrew. "Judge removes Boyd Dunn from Arizona Corporation Commission ballot over forged signatures". The Arizona Republic.
8. Services, Howard Fischer Capitol Media. "2 Republican candidates lose bids to qualify for Arizona Corp Comm ballot". Arizona Daily Star.
9. Oxford, Andrew. "Arizona Corporation Commission candidate Kim Owens bumped from ballot". The Arizona Republic.
10. Patinkin Research Strategies/Arizona Research Consortium (D)
11. Patinkin Research Strategies/Arizona Research Consortium (D)
12. Patinkin Research Strategies/Arizona Research Consortium (D)
13. "State of Arizona - Official Canvass - 2020 General Election" (PDF). Arizona Secretary of State. November 30, 2020. Retrieved December 23, 2020.
14. "Arizona Supreme Court elections, 2020". Ballotpedia . Retrieved November 23, 2025.
15. Fischer, Howard (November 22, 2010). "Brewer names Yavapai County trial judge to state Supreme Court". East Valley Tribune . Retrieved November 23, 2025.
16. McNamara, Patrick (November 5, 2014). "Voters approve retention of all judges". Arizona Daily Star . Retrieved November 23, 2025.
17. Kiefer, Michael; Wingett Sanchez, Yvonne (November 28, 2016). "Gov. Doug Ducey appoints two Arizona Supreme Court justices". The Arizona Republic . Retrieved November 23, 2025.
18. "Proposition 207 – Sample Ballot/Ballot Format" (PDF). Arizona Secretary of State. Retrieved September 16, 2020.
19. "Arizona 2020 ballot measures". Ballotpedia . Retrieved November 23, 2025.
20. Michael Lucie (July 21, 2020), Support for marijuana legalization jumps among voters in Arizona poll, Glendale, Arizona: KTAR-FM
21. OH Predictive Insights
22. Monmouth University
23. OH Predictive Insights
24. Suffolk University
25. Strategies 360/Smart and Safe Arizona
26. Monmouth University
27. HighGround Inc.
28. OH Predictive Insights ^{[ dead link ]}
29. OH Predictive Insights ^{[ dead link ]}
30. OH Predictive Insights ^{[ dead link ]}
31. OH Predictive Insights ^{[ dead link ]}
32. OH Predictive Insights
33. OH Predictive Insights
34. "Arizona: Dems Ahead for Prez, Senate". Monmouth University . September 17, 2020. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
35. "Arizona Proposition 208, Tax on Incomes Exceeding $250,000 for Teacher Salaries and Schools Initiative (2020)". Ballotpedia . Retrieved November 23, 2025.
36. Patinkin Research Strategies
37. Monmouth University
38. OH Predictive Insights
39. Data Orbital
40. HighGround Inc.
41. Patinkin Research Strategies
42. Suffolk University/USA Today
43. Monmouth University
44. "Covered Areas for Voting Rights Bilingual Election Materials—2015", Voting Rights Act Amendments of 2006, Determinations Under Section 203, Federal Register , retrieved October 13, 2020, A Notice by the Census Bureau on 12/05/2016

Further reading

• David Weigel; Lauren Tierney (September 22, 2020), "The 50 political states of America", Washingtonpost.com , archived from the original on October 11, 2020, Arizona
• Maggie Astor (October 15, 2020), "For the Navajo Nation, 'Everything Takes Time,' Including Voting", New York Times

External links

• League of Women Voters of Arizona, March 16, 2018 (state affiliate of the U.S. League of Women Voters)
  • League of Women Voters of Metro Phoenix, November 15, 2019
  • League of Women Voters of Greater Tucson
  • League of Women Voters of Greater Verde Valley, January 22, 2019
  • League of Women Voters of Northwest Maricopa County
  • League of Women Voters of Central Yavapai County
• Primary Candidates
• National Institute on Money in Politics; Campaign Finance Institute, "Arizona 2019 & 2020 Elections", OpenSecrets
• "State Elections Legislation Database", Ncsl.org, Washington, D.C.: National Conference of State Legislatures, State legislation related to the administration of elections introduced in 2011 through this year, 2020

Official campaign websites for Corporation Commission

• Bill Mundell (D) for Corporation Commission
• Lea Márquez Peterson (R) for Corporation Commission
• Eric Sloan (R) for Corporation Commission
• Shea Stanfield (D) for Corporation Commission Archived January 28, 2020, at the Wayback Machine
• Anna Tovar (D) for Corporation Commission