GOP State Sen. Shawnna Bolick Battles Josh Barnett for North Phoenix Seat

Republican state Sen. Shawnna Bolick appears to have fended off a far-right contender in a closely-watched legislative race. Preliminary results show Bolick with a nearly 10-point lead over local businessman Josh Barnett.

Bolick was appointed to the Arizona Senate in July 2023. She took over the remainder of Sen. Steve Kaiser’s term after the Phoenix Republican abruptly resigned. Kaiser’s departure came after the high-profile failure of an affordable housing reform package he had championed.

Bolick previously served as a state representative for the same district in northern Phoenix from 2019 to 2023. She also ran for Arizona Secretary of State in 2022, finishing third out of four candidates in the GOP primary.

Barnett, known for his far-right views and involvement in conspiracy theories, was one of two Republicans nominated as potential replacements for Kaiser. This marks his third consecutive electoral defeat, following unsuccessful congressional bids in 2020 and 2022.

Bolick herself has a controversial history. In 2021, she authored legislation that would have allowed lawmakers to override the presidential choice of Arizona voters with a simple majority, reflecting the long-standing Republican majority in the state legislature.

This year, Bolick made headlines for voting with Democrats to repeal an 1864 near-total abortion ban. Her nearly 30-minute floor speech, in which she discussed a personal medical procedure, highlighted her concerns that the old law could jeopardize care for women facing difficult pregnancy complications.

Despite her vote against the 1864 law, Bolick clarified that she does not support the abortion rights initiative headed for the November ballot. She later voted to send a summary of the Arizona Abortion Access Act to voters, which includes the term “unborn human being.” The campaign behind the initiative has filed a lawsuit against this phrasing.

Bolick’s husband, Arizona Supreme Court Justice Clint Bolick, was involved in drafting the ruling that reinstated the 1864 abortion ban. This has led to a campaign to unseat two of the justices facing retention in November, including Clint Bolick. In response, GOP lawmakers have approved a ballot measure for lifetime judicial appointments, garnering criticism when Shawnna Bolick supported the referral.