Democrats Rally $250K in High-Stakes Southern Arizona Statehouse Showdown

In one of Southern Arizona’s most closely watched legislative districts, two Democratic candidates have reported raising significant funds in their efforts to unseat Republican incumbents. Legislative District 17’s House candidate Kevin Volk and Senate candidate John McLean together amassed approximately $250,000 between April and June, according to the Arizona Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee (ADLCC).

An initial report by ADLCC spokesman Andrew Useche stated that McLean raised around $114,000 while Volk collected about $101,000. The figures were later updated, showing Volk’s fundraising total had risen to roughly $145,800.

Kevin Volk, a real estate broker eyeing a seat in the Arizona House of Representatives, has focused his campaign on visiting constituents. “I’m out almost every day to reach voters across our district,” Volk stated. “What I keep hearing is that people are tired of divisive and ineffective politics.” Volk aims to unseat either Reps. Cory McGarr or Rachel Jones, both GOP incumbents.

John McLean, a former executive with a Defense Department contractor, has raised over $100,000 and is challenging Republican Sen. Justine Wadsack. Wadsack has been known for supporting controversial measures, including Arizona’s 1864 abortion ban and various conspiracy theories.

The issues central to Volk and McLean’s campaigns include abortion rights, rising housing costs, education funding, water security, and clean energy. “Voters understand that a change in the Legislature is necessary,” McLean said, emphasizing the need for legislative action on these pressing concerns.

Despite being a GOP-leaning district where Republicans hold a 9-point edge, LD17 was won by several Democrats in the 2022 election, making it a top target for Democratic strategists. Sen. Justine Wadsack, for instance, narrowly won her Senate race by 2 percentage points against a low-budget Democratic challenger.

The current Republican incumbents are members of the Legislature’s conservative Freedom Caucus. “We know opponents in this district are extreme,” Volk said during a recent campaign event. “They’re far right. And more importantly, they’re not serious about governing.” Volk’s background includes a degree in economics from Brown University and a stint as a schoolteacher in California before joining his family’s real-estate business in Tucson.

McLean has emphasized the critical nature of the LD17 race, describing it as a “once-in-a-generation opportunity to make change in Arizona.” Following his retirement from Arete, a Defense Department contractor, McLean has been active in local community efforts, including dog-rescue organizations and the board of Native Seeds/SEARCH.

The Republican incumbents, including McGarr, Jones, and Wadsack, have declined to discuss their reelection campaigns. McGarr and Jones will face Anna Orr in the July 30 GOP primary, while Wadsack is up against former state lawmaker Vince Leach.

Second-quarter campaign finance reports for all candidates are due on Monday, July 15.