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Mayoral election in Tucson, Arizona (2019)
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| 2019 Tucson elections |
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| Election dates |
| Filing deadline: May 29, 2019 |
| Primary election: August 27, 2019 General election: November 5, 2019 |
| Election stats |
| Offices up: Mayor and city council |
| Total seats up: 4 (click here for other city elections) |
| Election type: Partisan |
| Other municipal elections |
| U.S. municipal elections, 2019 |
The city of Tucson, Arizona, held a general election for mayor on November 5, 2019. A primary was scheduled for August 27, 2019. The filing deadline for this election was May 29, 2019.
Regina Romero won election in the general election for Mayor of Tucson.
Elections
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Candidates and results
General election
General election for Mayor of Tucson
Regina Romero defeated Edward Ackerley and Mike Cease in the general election for Mayor of Tucson on November 5, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ |  | Regina Romero (D) | 55.9 | 55,654 |
 | Edward Ackerley (Independent)  | 39.4 | 39,233 | |
 | Mike Cease (G) | 4.0 | 3,953 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.7 | 728 | ||
| Total votes: 99,568 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Democratic primary election
Democratic primary for Mayor of Tucson
Regina Romero defeated Steve Farley and Randi Dorman in the Democratic primary for Mayor of Tucson on August 27, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Regina Romero | 50.2 | 24,592 |
 | Steve Farley | 37.1 | 18,175 | |
 | Randi Dorman | 12.5 | 6,109 | |
| Other/Write-in votes | 0.3 | 137 | ||
| Total votes: 49,013 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Green primary election
Green primary for Mayor of Tucson
Mike Cease advanced from the Green primary for Mayor of Tucson on August 27, 2019.
Candidate | % | Votes | ||
| ✔ | | Mike Cease | 59.5 | 91 |
| Other/Write-in votes | 40.5 | 62 | ||
| Total votes: 153 | |||
| = 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. | ||||
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team. | ||||
Endorsements
Do you know of an official or organization that endorsed a candidate in this race? Let Ballotpedia know by email at editor@ballotpedia.org.
Past elections
2015
The city of Tucson, Arizona, held elections for mayor and city council on November 3, 2015. Because only one candidate from the Democratic party filed to run, the primary scheduled for August 25, 2015, was called off. The filing deadline for candidates who wished to run in this election was May 27, 2015, for primary candidates and was September 24, 2015, for general election candidates. Three of the six city council seats were up for election. In the mayoral race, incumbent Jonathan Rothschild (D) defeated write-in candidates Joshua Chesser, Charles Phillips and Paula Huff in the general election.[1][2]
| Mayor of Tucson, General election, 2015 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic |  Jonathan Rothschild Incumbent |
93.1% | 61,358 | |
| Independent | Paula Huff (Write-in) | 0.2% | 109 | |
| Independent | Joshua Chesser (Write-in) | 0.1% | 71 | |
| Independent | Charles Phillips (Write-in) | 0.1% | 65 | |
| Write-in votes | 6.56% | 4,327 | ||
| Total Votes | 65,930 | |||
| Source: Pima County Elections Department, "Official Canvass Consolidated Elections November 3, 2015," November 9, 2015 | ||||
2011
In the 2011 general election, Rothschild defeated Rick Grinnel (R) and Mary DeCamp (G).
| Mayor of Tucson, 2011 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Party | Candidate | Vote % | Votes | |
| Democratic | Jonathan Rothschild |
55.1% | 46,717 | |
| Republican | Rick Grinnel | 40% | 33,922 | |
| Green | Mary DeCamp | 4.9% | 4,195 | |
| Total Votes | 84,834 | |||
| Source: City of Tucson 2011 General Election Results | ||||
Additional elections on the ballot
- See also: Arizona elections, 2019
Mayoral partisanship
Once mayors elected in 2019 assumed office, the mayors of 65 of the country's 100 largest cities were affiliated with the Democratic Party. Out of the 31 mayoral elections that were held in 2019 in the 100 largest cities, five partisan changes occurred. Democrats gained three mayorships: two previously held by Republicans and one previously held by an independent. Republicans won one office held by an unaffiliated mayor, and one office where the incumbent's partisan affiliation was unknown.
In the elections in Phoenix, Arizona and Wichita, Kansas, Democrats won seats with Republican incumbents. In Wichita, Democrat Brandon Whipple defeated Republican incumbent Jeff Longwell. In Raleigh, North Carolina, a Democrat won a seat previously held by an independent. In Aurora, Colorado, a Republican succeeded an unaffiliated mayor. In Garland, Texas, a Republican succeeded a mayor with unknown party affiliation. Incumbents did not seek re-election in Phoenix, Raleigh, Aurora, or Garland.
Click here to learn more.
What was at stake?
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Candidate survey
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Ballotpedia invites candidates to participate in its annual survey. |
Edward Ackerley completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Ackerley's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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- #WeNeedMorePoliceAndFire - Increase the number of officers and firefighters. Establish and fund 311 Non-Emergency System. Expand TC3 Tucson Collaboarative Care.
- #FixOurStreets #FillThePotholes #$CleanTheMedians - Fill 8000 potholes per month. Reauthorize RTA for maintenance. Introduce recycled plastic bottles into asphalt. Synchronize traffic lights and HAWK Crosswalks.
- #SafeCleanParks - Foster transparency with Prop 407 $225 million bond. Beautify and green up the parks and see them safe. Cooperate with Pima County Parks to modernize.
The effect of labeling ourselves a Sanctuary City is to instruct sworn Tucson Police officers to violate their oath to ignore the law and direct them to refuse to cooperate with federal law enforcement. This is unacceptable.
If the Sanctuary City initiative passes we could lose federal funds and $150 million in state shared revenue that would result in a dramatic reduction in core services.
With reduced funds for police, fire, good roads and parks - Tucson would not attract tourism or new business that is the engine to increase our sales tax base and general fund revenues.
The theme of the campaign includes a Business Friendly approach as he has seen firsthand how profitable businesses can help the community grow. Business is the life-blood of the Old Pueblo providing jobs, sales tax revenue and a framework for growth. In the six decades he has lived in Tucson, Ed has witnessed the expansion of Tucson from a small tourist town to a thriving commercial center including deeper and profitable relationships with Mexico.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Randi Dorman completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2019. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Dorman's responses.
What would be your top three priorities, if elected?
1) Economic Development - creating more and better paying jobs 2) Smart Growth - planning for the growth that is occurring while protecting our character, culture and neighborhoods 3) Sustainability and protecting our environment
What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?
I am passionate about growing and diversifying the Tucson economy and creating more and better paying jobs. Tucson has so much potential but we are a low wage town, have a 24% poverty rate and almost flat job growth. We have the ability to change that with a candidate who has both business and community leadership as a background. I have a vision of Tucson as a thriving 21st century city where we create opportunity for ourselves, our kids and ultimately their kids. It will take a specific focus on supporting local businesses and the startup community, bringing in appropriate new businesses, creating ecosystems of business sectors, and acting like a region to create the economic change we need and deserve.
Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?
Maya Angelou. Her books transformed how I think about overcoming obstacles and thriving against all odds.
What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?
Integrity, innovation, and a true interest in the well being of the people in her community.
What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?
I am a natural leader, intelligent, innovative, thoughtful, caring, collaborative and visionary.
What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?
Someone elected to office is responsible for taking care of the community's existing needs and planning for future needs so that their community can thrive.
What legacy would you like to leave?
I would like to be remembered as the Mayor who turned Tucson into a thriving 21st century city. To me that would mean a vibrant economy; smart growth planning that balanced density in the core and along corridors and smart city technology with maintaining culture and character; and long term sustainability through protecting our environment, employing green technologies and building strategies and investing in public transportation and infrastructure
What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?
My parents filmed me in front of the TV during the lunar landing of 1969 when I was two years old. I'm not sure if I remember it specifically or if the movie has created that memory for me.
What was your very first job? How long did you have it?
Golf Caddy. My friend Rita and I were the first female golf caddies at the golf course. We worked there during the summer in high school.
What is your favorite holiday? Why?
Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday because it is about family and friends, and being grateful for what we have.
What is your favorite book? Why?
Maya Angelou's "I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings" is my favorite book. It was transformative because when I read it I was already in awe of the talent and wisdom of Maya Angelou, but was not aware of all she had overcome.
If you could be any fictional character, who would you want to be?
I would want to be a combination of Wonder Woman and Elastigirl.
What is your favorite thing in your home or apartment? Why?
I live in an old ice factory that my husband and I with partners developed into the Ice House Lofts, Arizona's first residential loft conversion. Our loft has the original wood ceilings, hot riveted steel trusses, and concrete and brick walls from the 1920's all paired with modern materials. The juxtaposition of the old and new materials and textures is beautiful.
What was the last song that got stuck in your head?
Sucker by the Jonas Brothers
What is something that has been a struggle in your life?
People have always thought of me as a leader and perceive me to have endless confidence. But I am my harshest critic and put an inordinate amount of pressure on myself to always do better
A mayor is a leader in his or her city. What does that mean to you?
The mayor in Tucson has just one vote with the council, but her power is to set vision, connect and collaborate to create a plan, and make that vision happen. That is what I plan to do as mayor.
Mayors have many responsibilities, which vary from city to city. Which of those do you personally consider the most important in your city?
As Mayor of Tucson I will set vision, create a plan and make that vision happen. I will be the defacto chief marketer of the city and the spokesperson for the city to the rest of the world.
If the mayor in your city is a member of the city council and there's a city manager appointed to handle the day-to-day administration of the city government, what do you believe should be the mayor's top priority in office?
The Mayor's top priorities should be to set the vision, be the one to convene the right people to solve our problems, and be the chief spokesperson and marketer for the city.
What do you love most about your city?
I love Tucson's incredible people, rich culture and natural beauty. Tucson is truly unique.
What do you perceive to be your city's greatest challenges over the next decade?
Our greatest challenges are growing our economy so we can reduce our poverty levels and afford the quality of life Tucsonans deserve, planning for the growth that is happening while protecting our character and culture, and protecting our environment. We also need much more support of our education system, but the the Mayor does not have direct impact over that.
What do you believe is the ideal relationship between your city and the state government?
Our state government has far too much power over city governments. We must change the make-up of the legislature and the governor's office and get them out of our business.
What do you believe is the ideal relationship between your city and the federal government?
The federal government should refrain from being antagonistic to city government.
Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.
About the city
- See also: Tucson, Arizona
Tucson is a city in Pima County, Arizona. As of 2010, its population was 520,116.
City government
- See also: Council-manager government
The city of Tucson uses a council-manager system. In this form of municipal government, an elected city council—which includes the mayor and serves as the city's primary legislative body—appoints a chief executive called a city manager to oversee day-to-day municipal operations and implement the council's policy and legislative initiatives.[3]
Demographics
The following table displays demographic data provided by the United States Census Bureau.
| Demographic Data for Tucson, Arizona | ||
|---|---|---|
| Tucson | Arizona | |
| Population | 520,116 | 6,392,017 |
| Land area (sq mi) | 238 | 113,652 |
| Race and ethnicity** | ||
| White | 72.1% | 77.2% |
| Black/African American | 5.2% | 4.5% |
| Asian | 3.2% | 3.3% |
| Native American | 3.7% | 4.5% |
| Pacific Islander | 0.2% | 0.2% |
| Other (single race) | 10.2% | 6.5% |
| Multiple | 5.4% | 3.7% |
| Hispanic/Latino | 43.6% | 31.3% |
| Education | ||
| High school graduation rate | 85% | 87.1% |
| College graduation rate | 27.4% | 29.5% |
| Income | ||
| Median household income | $43,425 | $58,945 |
| Persons below poverty level | 22.5% | 15.1% |
| Source: population provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "Decennial Census" (2010). Other figures provided by U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2014-2019). | ||
| **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. | ||
State profile
- See also: Arizona and Arizona elections, 2019
Partisan data
The information in this section was current as of May 7, 2019
Presidential voting pattern
- Arizona voted Republican in six out of the seven presidential elections between 2000 and 2024.
Congressional delegation
- Following the 2018 elections, one U.S. Senator from Arizona was a Democrat and one was a Republican.
- Arizona had five Democratic and four Republican U.S. Representatives.
State executives
- Democrats held three of Arizona's 15 state executive offices and Republicans held nine. Elections for the other offices are nonpartisan.
- Arizona's governor was Republican Doug Ducey.
State legislature
- Republicans controlled the Arizona State Senate with a 17-13 majority.
- Republicans controlled the Arizona House of Representatives with a 31-29 majority.
Arizona Party Control: 1992-2025
No Democratic trifectas • Twenty-two years of Republican trifectas
Scroll left and right on the table below to view more years.
| Year | 92 | 93 | 94 | 95 | 96 | 97 | 98 | 99 | 00 | 01 | 02 | 03 | 04 | 05 | 06 | 07 | 08 | 09 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D | D | D | D | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | D | D | D |
| Senate | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | S | S | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
| House | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R | R |
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| Demographic data for Arizona | ||
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | U.S. | |
| Total population: | 6,817,565 | 316,515,021 |
| Land area (sq mi): | 113,594 | 3,531,905 |
| Race and ethnicity** | ||
| White: | 78.4% | 73.6% |
| Black/African American: | 4.2% | 12.6% |
| Asian: | 3% | 5.1% |
| Native American: | 4.4% | 0.8% |
| Pacific Islander: | 0.2% | 0.2% |
| Two or more: | 3.2% | 3% |
| Hispanic/Latino: | 30.3% | 17.1% |
| Education | ||
| High school graduation rate: | 86% | 86.7% |
| College graduation rate: | 27.5% | 29.8% |
| Income | ||
| Median household income: | $50,255 | $53,889 |
| Persons below poverty level: | 21.2% | 11.3% |
| Source: U.S. Census Bureau, "American Community Survey" (5-year estimates 2010-2015) Click here for more information on the 2020 census and here for more on its impact on the redistricting process in Arizona. **Note: Percentages for race and ethnicity may add up to more than 100 percent because respondents may report more than one race and the Hispanic/Latino ethnicity may be selected in conjunction with any race. Read more about race and ethnicity in the census here. | ||
Pivot Counties
- See also: Pivot Counties by state
Pivot Counties are counties that voted for Barack Obama (D) in 2008 and 2012 and for Donald Trump (R) in 2016. Altogether, the nation had 206 Pivot Counties, with most being concentrated in upper midwestern and northeastern states. No counties in Arizona are Pivot Counties.
Donald Trump (R) defeated Hillary Clinton (D) in the 2016 presidential election. Trump won 48.7 percent of the vote, while Clinton won 45.1 percent. Arizona was one of 12 key battleground states in 2016. Of the 30 states won by Trump in 2016, Arizona had the fifth closest margin. From when it became a state in 1912 to 2016, Arizona voted Republican in 66.7 percent of presidential elections. It voted Republican in all presidential elections from 2000 to 2016.
Presidential results by legislative district
The following table details results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections by state House districts in Arizona. Click [show] to expand the table. The "Obama," "Romney," "Clinton," and "Trump" columns describe the percent of the vote each presidential candidate received in the district. The "2012 Margin" and "2016 Margin" columns describe the margin of victory between the two presidential candidates in those years. The "Party Control" column notes which party held that seat heading into the 2018 general election. Data on the results of the 2012 and 2016 presidential elections broken down by state legislative districts was compiled by Daily Kos.[4][5]
| In 2012, Barack Obama (D) won 12 out of 30 state House districts in Arizona with an average margin of victory of 25 points. In 2016, Hillary Clinton (D) won 14 out of 30 state House districts in Arizona with an average margin of victory of 27.5 points. Clinton won two districts controlled by Republicans heading into the 2018 elections. |
| In 2012, Mitt Romney (R) won 18 out of 30 state House districts in Arizona with an average margin of victory of 22.9 points. In 2016, Donald Trump (R) won 16 out of 30 state House districts in Arizona with an average margin of victory of 21.5 points. |
| 2016 presidential results by state House district | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| District | Obama | Romney | 2012 Margin | Clinton | Trump | 2016 Margin | Party Control |
| 1 | 30.1% | 68.2% | R+38.2 | 28.6% | 66.9% | R+38.3 | R |
| 2 | 57.2% | 41.6% | D+15.7 | 59.4% | 36.1% | D+23.2 | D |
| 3 | 70.0% | 28.1% | D+41.9 | 70.2% | 24.4% | D+45.8 | D |
| 4 | 54.3% | 44.2% | D+10.2 | 56.8% | 38.2% | D+18.7 | D |
| 5 | 28.1% | 70.0% | R+41.9 | 22.2% | 73.5% | R+51.3 | R |
| 6 | 42.2% | 55.6% | R+13.4 | 41.7% | 52.1% | R+10.4 | R |
| 7 | 63.2% | 35.4% | D+27.8 | 59.8% | 34.1% | D+25.7 | D |
| 8 | 44.7% | 53.5% | R+8.8 | 40.2% | 54.6% | R+14.4 | R |
| 9 | 53.4% | 44.9% | D+8.4 | 56.8% | 37.9% | D+18.9 | D |
| 10 | 51.8% | 46.5% | D+5.4 | 52.9% | 41.6% | D+11.4 | D |
| 11 | 39.7% | 59.0% | R+19.3 | 40.6% | 54.5% | R+13.9 | R |
| 12 | 32.5% | 65.9% | R+33.4 | 34.8% | 59.3% | R+24.5 | R |
| 13 | 33.5% | 65.1% | R+31.6 | 34.1% | 61.1% | R+27 | R |
| 14 | 35.7% | 62.5% | R+26.8 | 33.6% | 59.9% | R+26.2 | R |
| 15 | 36.4% | 61.9% | R+25.4 | 39.1% | 55.7% | R+16.6 | R |
| 16 | 35.0% | 63.1% | R+28.1 | 32.9% | 61.3% | R+28.4 | R |
| 17 | 42.1% | 56.2% | R+14.2 | 45.1% | 49.2% | R+4.1 | R |
| 18 | 48.1% | 50.0% | R+1.9 | 51.9% | 41.5% | D+10.4 | R |
| 19 | 66.4% | 32.1% | D+34.3 | 67.4% | 27.2% | D+40.3 | D |
| 20 | 42.4% | 55.3% | R+12.9 | 42.7% | 50.7% | R+8 | R |
| 21 | 40.6% | 58.0% | R+17.4 | 39.8% | 55.0% | R+15.2 | R |
| 22 | 33.4% | 65.4% | R+31.9 | 33.7% | 62.1% | R+28.4 | R |
| 23 | 35.9% | 62.9% | R+26.9 | 41.2% | 54.6% | R+13.3 | R |
| 24 | 63.2% | 34.4% | D+28.8 | 65.9% | 27.7% | D+38.3 | D |
| 25 | 33.1% | 65.1% | R+31.9 | 35.1% | 58.7% | R+23.6 | R |
| 26 | 58.3% | 38.5% | D+19.8 | 59.4% | 31.9% | D+27.5 | D |
| 27 | 75.2% | 23.2% | D+52 | 74.1% | 20.6% | D+53.5 | D |
| 28 | 44.6% | 53.6% | R+9 | 49.9% | 44.6% | D+5.3 | R |
| 29 | 64.7% | 33.6% | D+31.1 | 65.0% | 29.3% | D+35.7 | D |
| 30 | 61.3% | 36.7% | D+24.7 | 62.2% | 31.7% | D+30.5 | D |
| Total | 44.6% | 53.7% | R+9.1 | 45.5% | 49.0% | R+3.6 | - |
| Source: Daily Kos | |||||||
See also
| Tucson, Arizona | Arizona | Municipal government | Other local coverage |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ City of Tucson, "2015 General Election Candidates" September 4, 2015
- ↑ City of Tuscon, "About City of Tucson Elections," accessed September 19, 2014
- ↑ Mayor Rothschild, "History and Culture of Tucson," accessed October 21, 2014
- ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' statewide election results by congressional and legislative districts," July 9, 2013
- ↑ Daily Kos, "Daily Kos Elections' 2016 presidential results for congressional and legislative districts," February 6, 2017
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