Arizona state elections 2024: Legislative majority at risk for Republicans

ARIZONA PRIMARY ELECTION 2024

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The 2024 elections in Arizona could mark a pivotal turning point.

Republicans in the Arizona Legislature hold narrow one-seat majorities in both the state House of Representatives and the state Senate.

With every lawmaker in Arizona on the ballot, Democrats could win control of a chamber of the state Legislature for the first time in more than three decades. Democrat Katie Hobbs holds the Governor's Office, meaning they could also win total control over state government for the first time since 1966.

Republicans could also retain one of both legislative chambers, ensuring divided government through 2026, when Hobbs is eligible to seek reelection.

And Arizonans will weigh in on three seats on the state Corporation Commission, an agency that serves as the state's utility regulator.

The process begins with the July 30 primary election and ends with the Nov. 5 general election, in which voters will also be asked to settle policy questions pivotal to Arizona's future. The extension of a half-cent sales tax to pay for a mix of transportation projects has already qualified for the ballot, while a constitutional amendment enshrining abortion rights into the state constitution appears poised to go before voters.

Arizona Legislature: What important issues does it work on?

Control of all 90 seats in the Arizona Legislature will be up for grabs this fall. Republicans seek to defend their single-seat majorities in both the state House of Representatives and Senate.

Here's what lawmakers have been doing during the 2024 legislative session on some of the biggest issues facing Arizonans:

1864 abortion ban repeal passes

Immigration targeted with House Concurrent Resolution 2060

Guns, cellphones, school vouchers become education focus

Lawmakers focus on election security

Environment: Groundwater bill rejected as clean air fight ensues

Ethics: Allegations of fraud, sexual violence surface

Lawmakers target Arizona's housing crisis

Leaders get tough on drugs and punishments

Culture wars surface

Relationship with Gov. Katie Hobbs

Arizona Corporation Commission has 3 seats up for grabs

The five-member commission regulates Arizona's public utility companies, incorporation of businesses and organizations, and manages railroad and pipeline safety, among other duties.

Three of the commission's five seats are up for election. Incumbent Lea Marquez Peterson as well as Rene Lopez and Rachel Walden are running in the Republican primary, while Ylenia Aguilar, Jonathon Hill, and Joshua Polacheck will run in the Democratic primary. The candidates will face off for the trio of seats in November.

The commission is currently controlled by Republicans by a 4-1 margin. Chairman Jim O'Connor, a Republican, and Anna Tovar, the lone Democrat, aren't seeking reelection.

Abortion measure likely headed to ballot

The Arizona abortion ballot measure would create a "fundamental right" to obtain an abortion anytime before viability — the point at which a fetus would have a significant chance of surviving outside the womb. Fetal viability is typically at about 23 or 24 weeks of gestation.

The citizen-initiated effort to amend the Arizona Consitution has not qualified for the ballot yet, but supporters say it has enough signatures to make it in front of voters in November.

Voters to decide Maricopa County transportation tax ballot measure

The measure — which will appear on the ballot as Proposition 479 and is dubbed Connect Maricopa — allows Maricopa County to ask its voters if they want to extend a half-cent sales tax to pay for a mix of transportation projects over the next 20 years. It has qualified for the ballot.

Other Arizona ballot proposals

See all 2024 Arizona primary races

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A recap of everything: When is Arizona's primary? Election day is July 30. Here is a voter guide to help you learn about all the candidates.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona state elections 2024: Legislative majority at risk for GOP