Arizona State Legislature update: GOP holds slight edge in local Senate and House races | Election 2024

The balance of power in the Arizona State Legislature is coming down to the wire with two races yet to be called in the State Senate and 13 undecided winners in the State House.

As of Saturday, Nov. 9, the Associated Press called 28 of the 30 State Senate seats with Republicans in the lead 16-12 over the Democrats. 

In the House of Representatives, the AP has called 51 of the 60 available seats with the Republicans in the lead 26-25.

Full results can be found on our FOX 10 Phoenix live election results page.

What is happening in the Arizona State Senate?

The five seats that have not been called yet are in Districts 17 and 23.

District 17 is coming down to the wire between Democrat John McLean and Republican Vince Leach. With 92% of the vote reported, McLean leads by about 3,000 votes.

District 23 is leaning Democrat with Brian Fernandez leading by more than 1,500 votes with 86% of votes counted.

State Senate (All districts)

From the drop-down menu, select Districts 1-30 to view the races.

READ MORE: Election results across Arizona continue to be tallied

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What is happening in the Arizona State House of Representatives?

While 51 seats have been officially called for specific candidates, we can deduce which party will win some of the seats that are still contested.

The nine districts still undecided are in 2, 4, 9, 13, 16, 17 and 23.

With two Republicans running against one Democrat in 17 and two Democrats running against no remaining Republicans in 23, the effective lead for Republicans is 27-26 with seven more seats undecided.

Both seats in District 2 and District 17 are still open, although we can deduce Republicans will win at least one of the seats in 17.

District 2 is undecided with Democrat Stephanie Simacek in the lead over two Republican opponents in incumbent Justin Wilmeth and Ari Daniel Bradshaw.

One of two seats in District 4 has been called. Incumbent Matt Gress is more than 6,000 votes ahead of his closest opponent. The race for the second seat is close with Republican Pamela Carter leading Democrat Kelli Butler by 1 point with 98% of votes counted.

Democrats appear to be poised to win both seats in District 9. Incumbents Lorena Austin and Seth Blattman lead and the AP has already called Lorena Austin the winner with 98% of votes counted.

District 13 has been called for Republican Jeff Weninger. Incumbent Julie Willoughby leads three other challengers for the second available seat with 98% of the votes counted.

District 17 is led by Democrat Kevin Volk with 92% of votes counted. If Volk wins, he would usurp a Republican incumbent in either Rachel Jones or Cory McGarr who are also in contention.

Since District 17 has two Republican candidates and one Democratic candidate, one of the two incumbents will automatically regain their seat.

In District 23, a similar situation is underway with two Democrats running and one Republican candidate, ensuring the Democrats will get at least one representative.

Republican Michele Pena has been declared the winner of one seat, leaving the remaining seat up for grabs between Democrats Mariana Sandoval and Matias Rosales.

State House (All districts)

From the drop-down menu, select Districts 1-30 to view the races.

Additional analysis

 Republicans held a majority in both chambers of the Arizona State Legislature heading into the 2024 election with a 16-14 majority in the Senate and 31-29 majority in the House.

Arizona was one of several states where Democrats felt they could flip the balance of power in state legislatures.

However, if the results hold in the Senate, Republicans would again hold a 16-14 majority.

In the House of Representatives, Republicans need to win six more seats to reach the magic number of 31, and they will get at least one more winner in District 17, from either Jones or McGarr. 

Republicans will also get a winner between Fink or Rivero in District 27.

Democrats will get at least one more Representative in either Sandoval or Rosales in District 23, making the effective balance at 27-24.

In the remaining nine seats up for grabs, Republicans hold an edge 7-2. If results hold, that would give the GOP a 34-26 advantage in the House for the next legislative session.