Incumbent Takes Commanding Lead in LD23 Dem Primary

Incumbent Rep. Mariana Sandoval leads the Democratic Legislative District 23 primary race with just under 49% of votes, according to early results released by the Secretary of State’s office at about 8:45 p.m. on Tuesday. Matias Rosales, a city councilman from San Luis, trails with approximately 35% of the votes.

The third contender, Jimmy Holmes, is significantly behind, capturing only 16% of the votes. The LD23 House race holds substantial weight for Democrats who are aiming to secure a legislative majority in 2025. Historically, Republicans held a 31-29 majority in the House following the 2022 election. In a notable victory, Rep. Michele Pena, R-Yuma, narrowly defeated Democrat Jesus Lugo Jr. by a 4% margin.

Many were surprised by Pena’s win because the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission had predicted a nearly 17% vote spread advantage for Democrats in that district, labeling it as non-competitive for Republicans.

In a conversation with The Arizona Capitol Times, Holmes revealed that the Arizona Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee requested him to drop out of the race on May 13, just before ballots were printed. Holmes mentioned that the ADLCC preferred Sandoval and Rosales due to their political experience but promised to support him if he advanced to the general election.

“It’s kind of a real letdown to hear that from my own party,” Holmes expressed. “Voters should be the ones deciding who to vote for during an election.” Attempts to reach the ADLCC for comment on this matter were unsuccessful.

When it comes to campaign funding, Sandoval and Rosales have outpaced their competitors. Reports indicate Sandoval has raised $85,000, while Rosales has garnered $74,000 for the primary. Holmes, participating as a Clean Elections Commission candidate, has gathered about $35,000, with $31,000 stemming from Clean Elections funding.

Pena stands as the sole Republican candidate in the district and is set to advance to the general election by default. She has raised just under $48,000 this election cycle.