Bruce Wheeler Exits Tucson City Council Race Amidst Surprising Turn of Events

Former Tucson City Councilmember Bruce Wheeler announced he will not run for a Council seat in the Midtown Ward 6 race this year. Wheeler, who previously filed a statement of interest for the seat on January 28, reflected on his decision, saying, “I’m glad I gave it some consideration. I’m reading Tolstoy’s ‘War and Peace’ and I find it more exciting.”

Wheeler’s withdrawal leaves a competitive field of candidates, including five Democrats and one Republican, vying for the seat vacated by Councilmember Karin Uhlich, who is not seeking reelection. Uhlich was appointed to the Council in May 2024 after Democrat Steve Kozachik stepped down.

The Democratic candidates in the race comprise Miranda Schubert, a community advocate and previous Ward 6 primary candidate who garnered 28 percent of the vote in 2021; retired math teacher Theresa Riel, who is also involved in her local neighborhood association; Charlie Verdin, a business owner with previous runs for Congress and the Arizona Legislature; Leighton Rockafellow Jr., making his first run for public office; and Jim Sinex, a retired science teacher focusing on electoral reform.

On the Republican side, Jay Tolkoff, former owner of PJ Subs “T6” Filling Station, is the sole candidate to have filed a statement of interest. The Tucson City Council races are particularly challenging for Republicans; the city’s political landscape heavily favors Democrats, with a registration ratio of nearly two-to-one. Currently, Democrats make up 42 percent of the electorate, Republicans 22 percent, and independents 36 percent.

The last Republican to secure a City Council seat through election was Kozachik in 2009, a seat he later left after changing party affiliation. Bob Walkup remains notable as the last Republican mayor, serving from 1999 to 2011.

Candidates are required to file statements of interest before collecting signatures for their nominating petitions, with the deadline for the upcoming August 5 primary scheduled for April 7. Tucson’s city elections occur in odd-numbered years, with current Councilmember Kevin Dahl seeking a second term, while Richard Fimbres from Ward 5 will not seek reelection. Four candidates have already declared interest in that race.

In 2023, voters elected Mayor Regina Romero and Councilmembers Lane Santa Cruz, Paul Cunningham, and Nikki Lee to four-year terms.