In the 2022 midterm elections, state legislatures across the country were host to several competitive races. In Arizona, both the State Senate and the State House were battleground chambers. Before the election, Republicans maintained a 31-29 edge over Democrats in the Arizona State House, and the chamber was at risk of switching partisan control in the election. However, the result was status quo, as Republicans maintained their 31-29 advantage in the State House overall. This article will look at the districts with split partisan control, of which there were five.
Overall Table and Partisan Control Maps
| District | Republican (1)% | Republican (2)% | Democratic (1)% | Democratic (2)% | Total votes |
| 1 | 33.18% | 33.01% | 17.52% | 16.29% | 226,369 |
| 2 | 33.29% | 31.54% | 35.17% | — | 114,094 |
| 3 | 51.70% | 47.59% | — | — | 151,639 |
| 4 | 34.72% | 31.82% | 33.46% | — | 177,202 |
| 5 | 19.94% | — | 40.27% | 39.80% | 121,704 |
| 6 | — | — | 50.91% | 49.09% | 90,398 |
| 7 | 52.58% | 46.37% | — | — | 114,059 |
| 8 | 18.73% | 18.63% | 31.71% | 30.93% | 127,337 |
| 9 | 24.52% | 23.79% | 26.52% | 25.17% | 116,817 |
| 10 | 36.95% | 36.33% | 26.72% | — | 135,396 |
| 11 | 18.50% | — | 41.09% | 40.40% | 74,277 |
| 12 | 21.15% | 20.76% | 29.30% | 28.79% | 189,260 |
| 13 | 30.53% | 30.34% | 32.85% | — | 143,549 |
| 14 | 36.36% | 35.87% | 27.77% | — | 145,288 |
| 15 | 51.95% | 48.05% | — | — | 112,143 |
| 16 | 36.46% | 31.46% | 32.08% | — | 102,326 |
| 17 | 26.16% | 25.66% | 24.85% | 23.34% | 231,442 |
| 18 | 25.40% | — | 38.20% | 36.40% | 162,240 |
| 19 | 38.58% | 35.48% | 25.94% | — | 139,694 |
| 20 | — | — | 51.25% | 48.75% | 79,181 |
| 21 | 18.55% | 18.23% | 33.12% | 30.10% | 110,407 |
| 22 | — | — | 50.98% | 45.10% | 50,580 |
| 23 | 33.94% | — | 36.25% | 29.81% | 74,445 |
| 24 | — | — | 50.50% | 49.50% | 40,402 |
| 25 | 51.95% | 48.05% | — | — | 96,440 |
| 26 | — | — | 54.02% | 45.98% | 40,349 |
| 27 | 34.60% | 34.59% | 30.81% | — | 116,328 |
| 28 | 38.08% | 36.98% | 24.94% | — | 181,128 |
| 29 | 36.41% | 35.48% | 28.11% | — | 128,629 |
| 30 | 56.28% | 43.72% | — | — | 110,905 |
Note: For maps, total Republican control is noted as red, total Democratic control as blue, and split partisan control (signified as one Democrat and one Republican in a single district) is noted as purple. For party registration data: Arizona uses the same districts for both legislative houses.
Arizona State House District 2
Arizona’s 2nd State House district is located entirely within Maricopa County and is one of the more competitive districts in the state. In the State House, the district has seen split partisan control in recent elections, even though it retains a Republican voter registration edge of 45,801 – 36,711 voters over Democrats, with a margin of 9,090 voters at the time of the November election (6.95%). Unaffiliated and Libertarian voters are the largest group in the district.
2nd District Party Registration Data (As of November Election)
| County | Republican | Republican % | Democratic | Democratic % | Other | Total |
| Maricopa | 45,801 | 35.02% | 36,711 | 28.07% | 48,270 | 130,782 |
| Total | 45,801 | 35.02% | 36,711 | 28.07% | 48,270 | 130,782 |
| Margin | R +9,090 | R +6.95% |
In the primary election for the 2nd district of the Arizona State House, Republican incumbent Justin Wilmeth won a spot in the general election with 12,298 votes (36.70%) while Republican Christian Lamar won the second Republican slot with 11,736 votes (35.02%). An additional Republican candidate, Pierce Waychoff, came in third with 9,472 votes (28.27%) but did not secure a general election slot. The Democratic incumbent in the seat, Judy Schwiebert, ran unopposed in the Democratic primary and thus advanced to the general election against the two Republicans.
2nd District Election Results
| County | Republican (1)% | Republican (2)% | Democratic% |
| Maricopa | 33.29% | 31.54% | 35.17% |
| Total | 33.29% | 31.54% | 35.17% |
| Margin | D +1.88% |
In the general election, both incumbents held on to their seats: Schwiebert was the best performer, securing 40,130 votes (35.17%), but Wilmeth came in second with 37,977 votes (33.29%). Republican challenger Lamar came in third with 35,987 votes (31.54%). The overall election margin for the multimember district was a Democratic edge of 2,153 votes (1.88%). This is a seat that both parties will contest in 2024.
Arizona State House District 4
The 4th State House district of Arizona is located to the southeast of Senate District 2 in Maricopa County. It has a Republican voter registration edge, but is politically competitive, especially based on the number of unaffiliated voters. The district’s Republican voter registration edge at the time of the November election is 65,858 Republicans – 46,435 Democrats, with unaffiliated and Libertarian voters making up the second largest group in the district.
4th District Party Registration Data (As of November Election)
| County | Republicans | R % | Democrats | D % | Other | Total |
| Maricopa | 65,858 | 39.38% | 46,435 | 27.76% | 54,953 | 167,246 |
| Total | 65,858 | 39.38% | 46,435 | 27.76% | 54,953 | 167,246 |
| Margin | R +19,423 | R +11.62% |
In the primary election for the 4th State House district of Arizona, none of the incumbents sought re-election. In the Republican primary, Maria Syms finished in the first Republican general election slot with 16,417 votes (25.33%), while Matt Gress earned the second Republican slot with 15,878 votes (24.50%). The rest of the Republican primary candidates earned a total of 32,509 votes (50.17%). The lone Democrat went unopposed in the Democratic primary, earning 25,571 votes.
4th District Election Results
| County | Republican (1)% | Republican (2)% | Democratic % | Total |
| Maricopa | 34.72% | 31.82% | 33.46% | 177,202 |
| Total | 34.72% | 31.82% | 33.46% | 177,202 |
| Margin | R +1.26% |
In the general election, Republican Matt Gress won the first position in the 4th district with 61,527 votes (34.72%) while Democrat Laura Terech won the second position with 59,292 votes (33.46%). Republican Maria Syms finished third in the multimember district, losing with 56,383 votes (31.82%). The highest performing Republican, Gress, finished 2,235 votes (1.26%) ahead of Terech. The district will likely see major party competition in 2024, especially with the margin between Terech and Syms being so narrow.
Arizona State House District 13
The 13th State House district of Arizona is located entirely within Maricopa County, located in the southern reaches of the county. Republicans have a voter registration edge in the district, but Democrats are compeititive in it. The Republican voter registration edge is 50,504 – 40,011 voters, with unaffiliated and Libertarian voters making up the second largest group.
13th District Party Registration Data (As of November Election)
| County | Republican | Republican % | Democratic | Democratic % | Other | Total |
| Maricopa | 50,504 | 36.24% | 40,011 | 28.71% | 48,841 | 139,356 |
| Total | 50,504 | 36.24% | 40,011 | 28.71% | 48,841 | 139,356 |
| Margin | R +10,493 | R +7.53% |
In the primary election held for the 13th State House district of Arizona, incumbent Democrat Jennifer Pawlik went unopposed in the Democratic primary, but earned 19,217 votes, while Republicans Liz Harris and Julie Willoughby emerged from the Republican primary with 14,198 (31.24%) and 10,705 (23.56%) votes, respectively. The other candidates in the Republican primary combined for 20,535 votes (45.20%).
13th District Election Results
| County | Republican (1)% | Republican (2)% | Democratic% |
| Maricopa | 32.58% | 32.37% | 35.05% |
| Total | 32.58% | 32.37% | 35.05% |
| Margin | D +2.47% |
In the general election, Democratic incumbet Pawlik was re-elected with 47,164 votes (35.05%), while Republican Liz Harris earned the second position in the multimember district with 43,830 votes (32.58%). The other Republican challenger, Willoughby, narrowly lost with 43,555 votes (32.37%). The overall Democratic margin of Pawlik over Harris was a narrow 3,334 votes (2.47%). The seat will likely see increased competition in the 2024 elections.
Arizona State House District 16
The 16th State House district of Arizona is located primarily in Pinal County, with additional slivers of Pima and Maricopa Counties. The district is located in the central-south of the state and is a battleground district. Republicans had an extremely narrow voter registration edge of 45,079 – 42,212 voters, with unaffiliated and Libertarian voters making up the largest group in the district.
16th District Party Registration Data (As of November Election)
| County | Republican | Republican % | Democratic | Democratic % | Other | Total |
| Maricopa | 77 | 6.02% | 608 | 47.50% | 595 | 1,280 |
| Pima | 7,863 | 32.02% | 8,994 | 36.62% | 7,702 | 24,559 |
| Pinal | 37,139 | 32.19% | 32,810 | 28.44% | 45,411 | 115,360 |
| Total | 45,079 | 31.93% | 42,412 | 30.04% | 53,708 | 141,199 |
| Margin | R +2,667 | R +1.89% |
In the primary elections held for the 16th State House district of Arizona, incumbent Republican Teresa Martinez and Rob Hudelson had the field to themselves, with Hudelson winning the first general election slot with 14,351 votes (51.26%) and Martinez winning the second with 13,647 votes (48.74%). Democratic candidate Keith Seaman ran unopposed in the Democratic primary, earning 14,973 votes overall.
16th District Election Results
| County | Republican (1)% | Republican (2)% | Democratic (1)% | Democratic (2)% |
| Maricopa | 20.00% | 6.58% | 73.42% | 0.00% |
| Pima | 31.68% | 29.23% | 39.10% | 0.00% |
| Pinal | 37.87% | 32.20% | 29.94% | 0.00% |
| Total | 36.46% | 31.46% | 32.08% | 0.00% |
| Margin | R +4.38% |
In the general election, Republican incumbent Martinez won re-election with 37,308 votes (36.46%) while Democratic candidate Seaman won the second position with 32,831 votes (32.08%). Republican candidate Hudelson came in third place with 32,187 votes (31.46%). The edge of Martinez over Seaman in the district was 4,477 votes (4.38%).
Arizona State House District 23
The 23rd State House district of Arizona is located in the Southwest of the state, with a portion of it touching te Mexican border. The district has a Democratic voter registration edge of 44,627 – 28,951 votes (36.79% – 23.76%), with unaffiliated and Libertarian voters making up the largest group. The district would not be expected to competitive based on the voter registration numbers.
23rd District Party Registration Data (As of November Election)
| County | Republican | Republican% | Democratic | Democratic% | Other | Total |
| Maricopa | 13,405 | 33.48% | 11,560 | 28.87% | 15,074 | 40,039 |
| Pima | 4,479 | 19.13% | 10,745 | 45.88% | 8,194 | 23,418 |
| Pinal | 8 | 3.35% | 149 | 62.34% | 82 | 239 |
| Yuma | 11,059 | 19.20% | 22,173 | 38.50% | 24,364 | 57,596 |
| Total | 28,951 | 23.87% | 44,627 | 36.79% | 47,714 | 121,292 |
| Margin | D +15,676 | D +12.92% |
In the primary elections for the 23rd district of Arizona, Democratic candidate Mariana Sandoval and Jesús Lugo, Jr. had the primary to themselves in the Democratic primary. Sandoval secured 11,201 votes (55.92%) , while Lugo won the second general election slot with 8,827 votes (44.08%). A write in candidate, Michele Pena, won the Republican primary with 1,144 votes. All of the candidates advanced to the general election, where the Democratic candidates were favored.
23rd District Election Results
| County | Republican (1)% | Republican (2)% | Democratic (1)% | Democratic (2)% | Total |
| Maricopa | 41.48% | 0.00% | 32.60% | 25.92% | 30,981 |
| Pima | 24.30% | 0.00% | 40.86% | 34.83% | 16,014 |
| Pinal | 4.14% | 0.00% | 50.34% | 45.52% | 145 |
| Yuma | 31.20% | 0.00% | 37.60% | 31.19% | 27,305 |
| Total | 33.94% | 0.00% | 36.25% | 29.81% | 74,445 |
| Margin | D +1,718 |
After all the ballots were counted, a split outcome occurred in the 23rd State House district. Sandoval was the highest performer in the district, winning the first position with 26,986 votes (36.25%), while the write in candidate in the Republican primary, Michele Pena, won the second position with 25,268 votes (33.94%). Democratic candidate Jesús Lugo Jr. lost with 22,191 votes (29.81%). The winning margin of Sandoval over Pena was a narrow 1,718 votes (2.31%). This district, like the other state house districts with a split outcome, will likely be a top target for Democrats to reclaim the gain that Republicans made.
