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Arizona House of Representatives District 8

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Arizona House of Representatives District 8
Incumbents
Assumed office: January 13, 2025
Assumed office: January 13, 2025

Arizona House of Representatives District 8 is represented by Janeen Connolly (D) and Brian Garcia (D).

As of the 2020 Census, Arizona state representatives represented an average of 119,315 residents. After the 2010 Census, each member represented 106,878 residents.

About the office

Members of the Arizona House of Representatives serve two-year terms with term limits, limiting representatives to four terms (a total of eight years).[1] Arizona legislators assume office on the first day of the session after they are elected. Each regular session begins on the second Monday in January.[2]

Qualifications

See also: State legislature candidate requirements by state

Article 4, Part 2, Section 2 of the Arizona Constitution states: "No person shall be a member of the Legislature unless he shall be a citizen of the United States at the time of his election, nor unless he shall be at least twenty-five years of age, and shall have been a resident of Arizona at least three years and of the county from which he is elected at least one year before his election."[3]

Arizona Statutes 16-311 and 16-312 state that all candidates seeking nomination via primary or write-in or must be qualified electors.[4][5]


Salaries

See also: Comparison of state legislative salaries
State legislative salaries, 2024[6]
SalaryPer diem
$24,000/yearFor legislators residing within Maricopa County: $35/day. For legislators residing outside of Maricopa County: $251.66.

Term limits

See also: State legislatures with term limits

The Arizona legislature is one of 16 state legislatures with term limits. Voters enacted the Arizona Term Limits Act in 1992. That initiative said that Arizona senators are subject to term limits of no more than four two-year terms, or a total of eight years.

The first year that the term limits enacted in 1992 impacted the ability of incumbents to run for office was 2000.[7]


Vacancies

See also: How vacancies are filled in state legislatures

If there is a vacancy in the Arizona State Legislature, the board of county supervisors must select a replacement. The secretary of state is required to contact the state party chairperson to give notice of the vacancy. The state chairperson must give notice of a meeting to fill the seat within three business days of receiving notice.[8] The political party committee is involved in the appointment process only if the legislative district has thirty or more elected precinct committeemen.[8]

If the legislative district has 30 or more elected precinct committeemen:

  • The precinct committeemen must nominate three qualified electors as replacements. If the Legislature is in session, this must occur within five days. If the Legislature is out of session, the committeemen have 21 days to nominate potential replacements. Each elector must receive a majority of the committeemen's vote to earn a nomination. The chair then forwards the three nominees to the board of supervisors. The board of supervisors appoints a nominee from the three names. If the committeemen do not submit a list of names within the allotted timeframe, the board of supervisors proceeds with the vacancy as if the district had fewer than 30 elected precinct committeemen.[8]

If the legislative district has fewer than 30 elected precinct committeemen:

  • The board of supervisors appoints a panel of citizen supervisors within seven business days of a vacancy occurring. The citizen panel must submit the name of three qualified electors of the same political party as the previous incumbent to the board of supervisors. If the Legislature is in session, this must occur within five days. If the Legislature is out of session, the committeemen have 21 days to nominate potential replacements. The board of supervisors must select a replacement by a majority vote.[9]
  • The person selected to fill the seat serves the remainder of the unfilled term.[9]

DocumentIcon.jpg See sources: Arizona Rev. Stat. Ann. §41-1202


District map

Redistricting

2020 redistricting cycle

See also: Redistricting in Arizona after the 2020 census

On January 24, 2022, Arizona enacted new legislative maps after the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission transmitted its finalized plans to the secretary of state.[10] The commission initially voted to finalize and certify the legislative map plan on Jan. 21.[11] The commission's nonpartisan chairwoman, Erika Neuberg, joined the two Republican members—David Mehl and Douglas York—voting in favor of the map. The commission's two Democratic members—Shereen Lerner and Derrick Watchman—were opposed.[12] This map took effect for Arizona's 2022 legislative elections.

The commission previously voted in favor of the legislative map by a 3-2 vote on December 22, 2021, which was followed by a period for counties to request administrative changes before the final vote on Jan. 21.[13]

How does redistricting in Arizona work? The Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission is responsible for drawing both congressional and state legislative district lines. The commission is composed of five members. Of these, four are selected by the majority and minority leaders of each chamber of the state legislature from a list of 25 candidates nominated by the state commission on appellate court appointments. These 25 nominees comprise 10 Democrats, 10 Republicans, and 5 unaffiliated citizens. The four commission members appointed by legislative leaders then select the fifth member to round out the commission. The fifth member of the commission must belong to a different political party than the other commissioners. The governor, with a two-thirds vote in the Arizona State Senate, may remove a commissioner "for substantial neglect of duty, gross misconduct in office, or inability to discharge the duties of office." The Arizona State Legislature may make recommendations to the commission, but ultimate authority is vested with the commission.[14][15][16]

The Arizona Constitution requires that both congressional and state legislative districts be "contiguous, geographically compact, and respect communities of interest–all to the extent practicable." The state constitution further mandates that district lines "should [follow] visible geographic features, city, town, and county boundaries, and undivided census tracts." In addition, the constitution requires that "competitive districts be favored where doing so would not significantly detract from the goals above."[16]

Arizona House of Representatives District 8
until January 8, 2023

Click a district to compare boundaries.

Arizona House of Representatives District 8
starting January 9, 2023

Click a district to compare boundaries.

Elections

2024

See also: Arizona House of Representatives elections, 2024

General election

General election for Arizona House of Representatives District 8 (2 seats)

Janeen Connolly and Brian Garcia defeated Caden Darrow and Tre Rook in the general election for Arizona House of Representatives District 8 on November 5, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Janeen Connolly
Janeen Connolly (D) Candidate Connection
 
35.1
 
49,065
Image of Brian Garcia
Brian Garcia (D) Candidate Connection
 
34.3
 
47,977
Image of Caden Darrow
Caden Darrow (R)
 
25.2
 
35,180
Image of Tre Rook
Tre Rook (G)
 
5.4
 
7,559

Total votes: 139,781
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Arizona House of Representatives District 8 (2 seats)

Brian Garcia and Janeen Connolly defeated Juan Mendez in the Democratic primary for Arizona House of Representatives District 8 on July 30, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Brian Garcia
Brian Garcia Candidate Connection
 
34.3
 
9,078
Image of Janeen Connolly
Janeen Connolly Candidate Connection
 
33.5
 
8,856
Image of Juan Mendez
Juan Mendez
 
32.2
 
8,510

Total votes: 26,444
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Arizona House of Representatives District 8 (2 seats)

Caden Darrow advanced from the Republican primary for Arizona House of Representatives District 8 on July 30, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Caden Darrow
Caden Darrow
 
100.0
 
9,281

Total votes: 9,281
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Green primary election

Green primary for Arizona House of Representatives District 8 (2 seats)

Tre Rook advanced from the Green primary for Arizona House of Representatives District 8 on July 30, 2024.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Tre Rook
Tre Rook (Write-in)
 
100.0
 
7

Total votes: 7
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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2022

See also: Arizona House of Representatives elections, 2022

General election

General election for Arizona House of Representatives District 8 (2 seats)

Incumbent Melody Hernandez and incumbent Athena Salman defeated Caden Darrow and Bill Loughrige in the general election for Arizona House of Representatives District 8 on November 8, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Melody Hernandez
Melody Hernandez (D)
 
31.7
 
40,378
Image of Athena Salman
Athena Salman (D)
 
30.9
 
39,386
Image of Caden Darrow
Caden Darrow (R)
 
18.7
 
23,848
Image of Bill Loughrige
Bill Loughrige (R)
 
18.6
 
23,725

Total votes: 127,337
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Arizona House of Representatives District 8 (2 seats)

Incumbent Melody Hernandez and incumbent Athena Salman advanced from the Democratic primary for Arizona House of Representatives District 8 on August 2, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Melody Hernandez
Melody Hernandez
 
50.1
 
14,840
Image of Athena Salman
Athena Salman
 
49.9
 
14,758

Total votes: 29,598
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Arizona House of Representatives District 8 (2 seats)

Bill Loughrige and Caden Darrow advanced from the Republican primary for Arizona House of Representatives District 8 on August 2, 2022.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Bill Loughrige
Bill Loughrige
 
52.4
 
9,194
Image of Caden Darrow
Caden Darrow
 
47.6
 
8,355

Total votes: 17,549
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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2020

See also: Arizona House of Representatives elections, 2020

General election

General election for Arizona House of Representatives District 8 (2 seats)

Incumbent David Cook and Frank Pratt defeated Sharon Girard and Cristefano Lessard in the general election for Arizona House of Representatives District 8 on November 3, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of David Cook
David Cook (R)
 
35.7
 
45,117
Image of Frank Pratt
Frank Pratt (R)
 
34.6
 
43,799
Image of Sharon Girard
Sharon Girard (D) Candidate Connection
 
29.5
 
37,384
Cristefano Lessard (D) (Write-in)
 
0.2
 
213

Total votes: 126,513
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Arizona House of Representatives District 8 (2 seats)

Sharon Girard advanced from the Democratic primary for Arizona House of Representatives District 8 on August 4, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Sharon Girard
Sharon Girard Candidate Connection
 
100.0
 
13,727

Total votes: 13,727
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Arizona House of Representatives District 8 (2 seats)

Incumbent David Cook and Frank Pratt defeated Neal Carter in the Republican primary for Arizona House of Representatives District 8 on August 4, 2020.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of David Cook
David Cook
 
36.0
 
10,504
Image of Frank Pratt
Frank Pratt
 
32.1
 
9,381
Image of Neal Carter
Neal Carter Candidate Connection
 
31.9
 
9,295

Total votes: 29,180
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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2018

General election

General election for Arizona House of Representatives District 8 (2 seats)

Incumbent David Cook and incumbent Thomas Shope defeated Carmen Casillas and Linda Gross in the general election for Arizona House of Representatives District 8 on November 6, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of David Cook
David Cook (R)
 
29.2
 
28,421
Image of Thomas Shope
Thomas Shope (R)
 
28.9
 
28,150
Image of Carmen Casillas
Carmen Casillas (D)
 
21.8
 
21,171
Image of Linda Gross
Linda Gross (D) Candidate Connection
 
20.1
 
19,530

Total votes: 97,272
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Arizona House of Representatives District 8 (2 seats)

Carmen Casillas and Linda Gross defeated Pablo Correa in the Democratic primary for Arizona House of Representatives District 8 on August 28, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Carmen Casillas
Carmen Casillas
 
39.6
 
6,916
Image of Linda Gross
Linda Gross Candidate Connection
 
30.6
 
5,343
Pablo Correa
 
29.9
 
5,222

Total votes: 17,481
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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Republican primary election

Republican primary for Arizona House of Representatives District 8 (2 seats)

Incumbent Thomas Shope and incumbent David Cook advanced from the Republican primary for Arizona House of Representatives District 8 on August 28, 2018.

Candidate
%
Votes
Image of Thomas Shope
Thomas Shope
 
50.9
 
10,432
Image of David Cook
David Cook
 
49.1
 
10,062

Total votes: 20,494
(100.00% precincts reporting)
Candidate Connection = candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.

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2016

See also: Arizona House of Representatives elections, 2016

Elections for the Arizona House of Representatives took place in 2016. The primary election took place on August 30, 2016, and the general election was held on November 8, 2016. The candidate filing deadline was June 1, 2016.[17] Incumbent Frank Pratt (R) did not seek re-election.

David Cook and incumbent Thomas Shope, Jr. defeated Carmen Casillas in the Arizona House of Representatives District 8 general election.[18][19]

Arizona House of Representatives, District 8 General Election, 2016
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.png David Cook 35.82% 31,565
     Republican Green check mark transparent.png Thomas Shope, Jr. Incumbent 34.52% 30,416
     Democratic Carmen Casillas 29.66% 26,138
Total Votes 88,119
Source: Arizona Secretary of State


Carmen Casillas ran unopposed in the Arizona House of Representatives District 8 Democratic Primary.[20]

Arizona House of Representatives, District 8 Democratic Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Democratic Green check mark transparent.png Carmen Casillas  (unopposed)


Incumbent Thomas Shope, Jr. and David Cook were unopposed in the Arizona House of Representatives District 8 Republican Primary.[21]

Arizona House of Representatives, District 8 Republican Primary, 2016
Party Candidate
    Republican Green check mark transparent.png Thomas Shope, Jr. Incumbent
    Republican Green check mark transparent.png David Cook

2014

See also: Arizona House of Representatives elections, 2014

Elections for the Arizona House of Representatives took place in 2014. A primary election took place on August 26, 2014. The general election was held on November 4, 2014. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was May 28, 2014. Carmen Casillas was unopposed in the Democratic primary. Incumbents Frank Pratt and T.J. Shope defeated Wayne Bachmann and Darla Dawald in the Republican primary. Pratt and Shope defeated Casillas in the general election.[22][23][24][25]

Arizona House of Representatives District 8, General Election, 2014
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngFrank Pratt Incumbent 36.4% 19,458
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngThomas "TJ" Shope Incumbent 35.9% 19,198
     Democratic Carmen Casillas 27.7% 14,847
Total Votes 53,503


Arizona House of Representatives, District 8 Republican Primary, 2014
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngFrank Pratt Incumbent 32.2% 5,992
Green check mark transparent.pngT.J. Shope Incumbent 29.9% 5,556
Darla Dawald 21.9% 4,081
Wayne Bachmann 16% 2,974
Total Votes 18,603

2012

See also: Arizona House of Representatives elections, 2012

Elections for the office of Arizona House of Representatives consisted of a primary election on August 28, 2012, and a general election on November 6, 2012. The signature filing deadline for candidates wishing to run in this election was May 30, 2012. Incumbent Frank Pratt and fellow Republican Thomas Shope, Jr. defeated Democratic candidates Ernest Bustamante and Emily Verdugo in the general election. Bustamante and Verdugo defeated George Arredondo in the August 28 Democratic primary. Shope and Pratt ran without primary opposition. Libertarian candidate Dean Dill withdrew prior to the August 28 primary election. [26][27][28][29]

Arizona House of Representatives, District 8, General Election, 2012
Party Candidate Vote % Votes
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngFrank Pratt Incumbent 27.6% 24,195
     Republican Green check mark transparent.pngThomas "T.J." Shope 25.2% 22,102
     Democratic Ernest Bustamante 24.3% 21,258
     Democratic Emily Verdugo 22.9% 20,102
Total Votes 87,657
Arizona House of Representatives, District 8 Democratic Primary, 2012
Candidate Vote % Votes
Green check mark transparent.pngErnest Bustamante 40.1% 6,173
Green check mark transparent.pngEmily Verdugo 36.6% 5,636
George Arredondo 23.3% 3,581
Total Votes 15,390

Campaign contributions

From 2000 to 2024, candidates for Arizona House of Representatives District 8 raised a total of $3,203,572. Candidates who raised money in contributions earned $48,539 on average. All figures come from Follow the Money

Campaign contributions, Arizona House of Representatives District 8
Year Amount Candidates Average
2024 $214,300 5 $42,860
2022 $101,920 4 $25,480
2020 $310,290 4 $77,573
2018 $348,001 5 $69,600
2016 $260,551 3 $86,850
2014 $238,068 5 $47,614
2012 $165,332 5 $33,066
2010 $251,587 7 $35,941
2008 $229,023 3 $76,341
2006 $403,512 7 $57,645
2004 $235,430 5 $47,086
2002 $367,716 7 $52,531
2000 $77,842 6 $12,974
Total $3,203,572 66 $48,539


See also

External links

Footnotes

  1. Arizona State Legislature, "Term limits," accessed December 16, 2013
  2. Arizona Revised Statutes, "41-1101, Section B," accessed November 22, 2016
  3. Arizona State Legislature, "2. Qualifications of members of legislature," accessed May 21, 2025
  4. Arizona Legislature, "16-311," accessed May 29, 2025
  5. Arizona Legislature, "16-312," accessed May 29, 2025
  6. National Conference of State Legislatures, "2024 Legislator Compensation," August 21, 2024
  7. Arizona Attorney General, "Legislative Term Limits," accessed February 8, 2021
  8. 8.0 8.1 8.2 Arizona Legislature, "Arizona Revised Statutes," accessed February 8, 2021 (Statute 41.1202 (A), Arizona Revised Statutes)
  9. 9.0 9.1 Arizona Legislature, "Arizona Revised Statutes," accessed February 8, 2021 (Statute 41.1202 (B), Arizona Revised Statutes)
  10. Phone conversation with Valerie Neumann, AIRC executive assistant, Jan. 25, 2022]
  11. Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission, "Official Maps," accessed Jan. 21, 2022
  12. Tucson Sentinel, "Arizona Redistricting Commission gives final certification to new election maps," Jan. 21, 2022
  13. Arizona Mirror, "Republicans hold the edge as Arizona redistricting nears completion," Dec. 17, 2021
  14. Supreme Court of the United States, "Arizona State Legislature v. Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission, et al. - Appellant's Jurisdictional Statement," accessed March 6, 2015
  15. Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission, "Home page," accessed March 6, 2015
  16. 16.0 16.1 All About Redistricting, "Arizona," accessed April 17, 2015
  17. Arizona Secretary of State, "Elections Calendar & Upcoming Events," accessed January 11, 2016
  18. Arizona Secretary of State, "General election ," accessed September 9, 2016
  19. Arizona Secretary of State, "2016 official general election results," accessed November 11, 2016
  20. Arizona Secretary of State, "2016 Election Information - Primary Candidate List," accessed June 3, 2016
  21. Arizona Secretary of State, "2016 Election Information - Primary Candidate List," accessed June 3, 2016
  22. Arizona Secretary of State, "Official primary election results," accessed August 27, 2014
  23. Arizona Secretary of State, "2014 Primary Election," May 27, 2014
  24. Arizona Secretary of State, "Official general election candidate list," accessed September 11, 2014
  25. Arizona Secretary of State, "Official general election results," accessed August 3, 2015
  26. Arizona Secretary of State, “Official 2012 General Election Results,” December 18, 2013
  27. “Arizona Secretary of State”, “Official 2012 General Election Candidates”, December 18, 2013
  28. Arizona Secretary of State, “Official 2012 Primary Results,” December 18, 2013
  29. Arizona Secretary of State, “Official 2012 Primary Candidates,” December 18, 2013


Current members of the Arizona House of Representatives
Leadership
Speaker of the House:Steve Montenegro
Majority Leader:Michael Carbone
Minority Leader:Oscar De Los Santos
Representatives
District 1
District 2
District 3
District 4
District 5
District 6
District 7
District 8
District 9
District 10
District 11
District 13
District 14
District 15
District 16
District 17
District 18
District 19
Lupe Diaz (R)
District 20
District 22
District 23
District 24
District 25
District 26
District 27
Lisa Fink (R)
District 28
District 29
District 30
Republican Party (33)
Democratic Party (27)