GOP’s Vince Leach Holds Narrow 396-Vote Edge Over Dem John McLean in Tucson’s LD17 Battle

In a significant turn of events, Republican Vince Leach has taken the lead over Democrat John McLean in the Legislative District 17 Senate race, as per the latest vote tally released Saturday. Leach now leads by 396 votes, having garnered 64,792 votes compared to McLean’s 64,396.

This marks the first time since the election’s initial results were announced that McLean finds himself trailing. Leach, a former state lawmaker, had previously lost his primary race in 2022 to current Senator Justine Wadsack, only to return and defeat Wadsack in this year’s GOP primary.

McLean, a newcomer to the political scene and former CEO of a local defense contractor, is running for public office for the first time. Meanwhile, in the House race, Democrat Kevin Volk maintains a lead over Republican incumbents Cory McGarr and Rachel Jones, with Volk capturing 35 percent of the vote while Jones and McGarr follow closely at 33 and 32 percent, respectively.

Remaining ballots in the heavily Republican district are yet to be counted, suggesting a waiting game ahead. “We put in a hell of an effort,” Volk stated during the Democratic Party’s election night gathering at Hotel Congress. “It’s gonna be a close race. We’ve just got to give it time to go through the process and get an accurate count.”

Legislative District 17 encompasses areas in Pinal County, such as Saddlebrooke, as well as portions of Pima County, including Oro Valley and Marana. Current counts reflect a combination of Election Day votes and early ballot tabulations, with Pima County estimating 97,918 ballots still to be processed, while Pinal County has about 4,023 left to tally.

Despite a 9-point Republican voter-registration advantage in LD 17, Democrats have aggressively targeted this district for potential seat gains. Notable wins by Democrats Mark Kelly, Katie Hobbs, and Adrian Fontes in the 2022 elections suggest a competitive landscape. Election officials across the state continue the vital process of validating remaining vote-by-mail ballots.

The final statewide vote count is not expected until next week, with voters allowed until Sunday to correct any issues with their ballots. The stakes are high in LD 17, one of three critical Tucson-area districts that could shift the balance of power in the Legislature. The other two districts, 16 and 23, are also presenting formidable challenges for Democratic candidates.

In Legislative District 16, Republican Chris Lopez leads Democratic Rep. Keith Seaman by 3,734 votes. Meanwhile, Republican Sen. T.J. Shope holds a commanding 56 percent of the vote against Democratic challenger Stacey Seaman.

Across in Legislative District 23, Democrats face hurdles in their bid to unseat Republican incumbents. Republican Michele Peña leads the House race with 28,254 votes, while Democratic representatives Mariana Sandoval and Matias Rosales follow with 26,005 and 24,465 votes, respectively.

Yuma County makes up 47 percent of District 23’s voters, with significant portions also residing in rural and suburban Maricopa County. The dynamics of this election cycle continue to unfold, as candidates and voters alike brace for the final tally.