LD26

Political observers on both sides of the isle seem to agree, this year's legislative races will be interesting to watch. On the surface, it looks like there will not be much change, but then again anything could happen this year. Voters are angry, but the question that remains to be unanswered is will they take that anger out on the Republican held legislature or the Democratic Governor?

One Election Day reversal is finalized as State Representative John McComish has now fended off Frank Schmuck in LD20.  After last Tuesday it was reported Schmuck had won, but after all of the ballots were counted McComish had indeed won the second seat.  The winner will join Jeff Dial on the ballot for Republicans.

The LD26 Republican race shows a possible reversal that would lead to Marilyn Zerull and not Trent Humphries as joining Vic Williams as the Republican House candidate.  On Tuesday it had appeared Humphries had squeaked out a win but now results show Zerull with a 50 vote lead.  A loss would be a major disappointment to Humphries who seemed to be running one of the more active house campaigns in the state. 

UPDATE, 10:30 p.m.: 

Republicans Jerry Weiers and Steve Montenegro have survived the LD12 Republican primary in the House and will move on to the general election.  Robert Blendu came in a close third. 

Thayer Verschoor has held off a late charge by Eddie Farnsworth in the LD22 senate race and will hold onto his seat and will likely have the inside edge to become the next senate president. 

Incumbent Barbara McGuire survived her House primary in LD23 and will be joined in the general election by Ernest Bustamante.  Both defeated Dorian Bond,Krista Pacion and Emily Verdugo-Aldrichin the primary. 

Legislative District 26 Republican Trent Humphries has been one of, if not the most active House candidate this year.  Humphries tonight will be hosting a public to discuss health care and the health care provider “crisis” in Southern Arizona. 

Confirmed panelists include Shawn Strash, CEO of Northwest Hospital-Oro Valley, Dr. David Schwartz, Medical Director at Northwest Medical Center, Dale Pelton, VP and board member of the Arizona Healthcare Association and Executive Director of Valley Health Care and Rehabilitation, Dr. Fred Fiastro, board member of the Pima County Medical Society and Pulmonologist, and Dr. John Wadleigh, Osteopathic and Family Physician and Medical Director for several skilled nursing facilities and sub-acute care units.

This event will be held at 7 p.m. tonight at the Northwest Rancho Vistoso Outpatient and Urgent Care facility located at 13101 N. Oracle Road. The facility is behind the Ike's Market at Rancho Vistoso Blvd. and Oracle Rd. just north of Tangerine.

More Inside Edge

At the Arizona Democratic Party Convention two weekends ago, Gov. Janet Napolitano declared that the Democrats had their sights set on capturing the Arizona House this fall. Today, State House Minority Leader Phil Lopes (D-Tucson) told PolitickerAZ that the focus is as much on protecting seats as picking them up, but that the outlook is good for the Democrats to have a fighting chance at reaching their goal.

That may be bolstered by news that, in LD9, a "high quality candidate" may be preparing to jump into the fray, further shifting an already uncertain electoral landscape.

Wrapping up our look at the LD26, we focus on the Republicans running to unseat Rep. Nancy Young Wright and replace Rep. Pete Hershberger, who's undertaking a run at the State Senate. There are three going after the two open slots, which will leave one of the candidates out in the cold after the September 2 primary.

Trent Humphries is considered a cinch to become the top vote-getter among the trio, which would leave Vic Williams and Marilyn Zerull to battle it out for the number two berth.

Continuing with our series plumbing the depths of the Arizona legislative races this year, our focus turns to the House race in LD26, where Democrats are making a push to take the district in its entirety.

However, midterm replacement Rep. Nancy Young Wright (D-Tucson), who was selected to fill in for Lena Saradnik, and Don Jorgensen, who was running for one of the district's seats even before Saradnik vacated due to a stroke, face three Republican candidates who see the seats as the rightful territory of the GOP.

Today we begin our new special series entitled "Better Know a District Race," which, yes, unabashedly cribs from The Colbert Report's segment of nearly the same name.In this new series, which will continue throughout the election year, we will examine the primary fights and general election match-ups in the state's most hotly contested races for the Arizona House and Senate.

We start with 26, which has what is sure to be among the most heavily-scrutinized Senate primaries in the state, as well as what is currently a five-way battle for the two House seats.

So now, get to know the Senate race in LD26 - The Fightin' 26th!

PolitickerAZ has learned that State Sen. Charlene Pesquiera (D-26) will not run for reelection.

In a statement to supporters, Pesquiera explained:  read more »