Arizona Democrats Pick Leaders, Outline New Majority Agenda

Arizona Democrats are preparing to shape their first governing trifecta in 60 years after winning the Governor’s Office and both chambers of the Legislature.

Democratic lawmakers selected Phoenix Rep. Oscar De Los Santos as the next House speaker and Tucson Sen. Priya Sundareshan as Senate president. Current unofficial projections give Democrats a 37-23 House majority and a 20-10 Senate supermajority when the new Legislature convenes in January.

De Los Santos said the incoming majority will focus on affordability, health care, public education, and working families. One of its first priorities will be changing Arizona’s universal Empowerment Scholarship Account program. Democrats have accused the school-voucher system of waste, fraud and insufficient oversight, while Republicans argue it expands educational choice.

Lawmakers are considering a new plan to renew Proposition 123, the expired measure that increased state land-trust distributions to public schools. Other proposals could include prevailing-wage requirements, protections for outdoor workers during extreme heat, and restrictions on corporate purchases of single-family homes.

Data-center growth will likely produce debate within the Democratic majority. Attorney General Kris Mayes and some lawmakers have called for a statewide pause on new facilities, citing water, electricity, and consumer-cost concerns. Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs rejected a blanket moratorium during her reelection campaign but supported stronger cost and resource requirements.

Tucson Rep. Nancy Gutierrez, the incoming House majority leader, plans to revive “Christian’s Law,” which would require secure firearm storage intended to prevent minors from accessing guns.