The Arizona Multihousing Association Political Action Committee (AMAPAC) celebrated a successful primary election, with nearly 90 percent of its endorsed candidates advancing to the November general election.
At the federal level, five of the six candidates AMAPAC endorsed won their primary, with only Democratic candidate Jonathan Treble falling short in Congressional District 1, an open seat covering parts of Phoenix, Scottsdale, Paradise Valley and Fountain Hills. Among the remaining pro-housing candidates, only Republican Juan Ciscomani, whose district covers greater Tucson and much of southeastern Arizona, is expected to face a highly competitive general election.
Ciscomani will take on Democrat JoAnna Mendoza in a race expected to draw national attention and significant outside spending.
On the legislative side, AMAPAC endorsed 56 candidates committed to reducing the cost of building new homes, streamlining government bureaucracy and addressing Arizona’s housing affordability crisis. Fifty of those candidates advanced to the general election.
Among the winners was Rep. Alma Hernandez of the Tucson area, who survived a bruising primary despite a challenge from her left that came after the Legislative District 20 Democratic Committee formally rebuked her for votes she cast alongside Republicans. A centrist Democrat, Hernandez has been a strong advocate for affordable housing and reducing regulations that discourage the construction of new homes throughout Arizona.
Each of AMAPAC’s endorsed candidates in the Chandler area – Kevin Hartke, Janet Weninger and Julie Willoughby – also advanced to November. The same was true for other pro-housing candidates across Arizona, including southern Arizona Rep. Kevin Volk, a Democrat, and Republican state Senate candidate Chris King.
“We are so proud of these candidates who won with the endorsement and support of the multihousing industry,” AMA President and CEO Courtney LeVinus said. “AMAPAC is committed to making a difference in our elections and sending people to office who want to tackle Arizona’s housing crisis in a responsible manner.”
Candidates now turn their attention to the November general election. Rep. Alma Hernandez, who is term-limited and moving to the Senate, faces no Republican opponent in November and is all but assured of victory. Rep. Leo Biasiucci is likewise seeking to move from the House to the Senate in a heavily Republican northwestern Arizona district that covers Lake Havasu City (his hometown), Kingman, Bullhead City, Parker and the surrounding rural areas.
Not every pro-housing candidate survived the primary. Two leaders who understood Arizona’s housing shortage and worked to address it will not be returning to the Capitol, including Rep. Lydia Hernandez of west Phoenix and former legislator Deborah Nardozzi, who challenged incumbent Sen. Lauren Kuby in the Tempe and Scottsdale area.
Although the primary settled many nominations, the battle for control of the Arizona Legislature is far from over. Republicans hold narrow majorities in both the House and Senate, and just a handful of competitive races this fall will determine which party controls each chamber in 2027. Those results will shape the future of housing policy in Arizona, from zoning reform and permitting to infrastructure and other issues that affect the cost of building new homes and apartments.
AMAPAC will evaluate those races before making endorsements for the November general election.
AMAPAC also posted strong results in municipal elections. Mesa Council Member Scott Somers secured another term after running unopposed, while Goodyear Mayor Joe Pizzillo won his contested race outright. In Goodyear’s council contest, AMAPAC-endorsed Jason Kish finished just outside the top three. In Flagstaff, Council Member Khara House will be one of six candidates competing for three seats in November.
Phoenix does not hold a council primary, so the AMAPAC-endorsed candidates go straight to the November ballot.
- Danny Mazza and Julie Read are running in District 2, which covers the northeast corner of the city, including Desert Ridge and the Tatum and Cave Creek Road corridors.
- Ed Hermes and Megan Schmitz are competing in District 4, the central Phoenix seat that takes in Midtown, Uptown and the Melrose District.
- Kevin Robinson is seeking a second term in District 6, which links the Biltmore, Arcadia and North Central with Ahwatukee to the south.
- Vice Mayor Kesha Hodge Washington is running for reelection in District 8, which covers downtown, south Phoenix and the neighborhoods just east of downtown.
Any Phoenix race without a majority winner will go to a runoff in March 2027.
Elections absolutely matter. Decisions made by local councils, the Legislature and Congress directly affect Arizona’s ability to address the state’s housing affordability crisis. Whether the issue is zoning, permitting, taxes or development regulations, elected leaders can help expand the housing supply or make it more difficult to build.
“Elections are decided by those who turn out to vote,” LeVinus said. “We encourage all members to review the candidates and cast a ballot. Arizona makes it easy to vote by mail. Make sure to return your ballot or go to the polls on Nov. 3.”
We will let you know about our general election endorsements in the coming weeks. Please make sure your voice is heard in November.
To register to vote, go to azsos.gov/elections/voters/registering-vote.
To join the Active Early Voting List or request a ballot by mail, go to azsos.gov/elections/voters/early-voting.
