LD17: Democrat Kevin Volk Triumphs in Tucson’s GOP Stronghold

Democrat Kevin Volk has secured a seat in the Arizona House of Representatives for Legislative District 17, outperforming Republican Cory McGarr in a predominantly GOP area. This victory marks a notable shift in an otherwise Republican-dominated landscape in Southern Arizona’s competitive races.

According to the latest vote tally from Pima County, Volk received 34 percent of the votes, with McGarr trailing closely at 32 percent. Shortly after the vote counts were revealed, Volk expressed his gratitude. “I am humbled to have been elected to represent Legislative District 17 in the Arizona House of Representatives,” he stated. “We worked hard and ran a strong campaign. The people are tired of extreme, divisive politics. They want leaders focused on public service.” His statement underscores a clear call for unity and effective governance.

Despite his loss, McGarr did briefly address the situation on a local radio show, expressing skepticism about the election results. “I’m calling for an investigation into what Pima County did because it makes absolutely no sense,” he claimed, indicating a belief that the results were manipulated in a district he deemed heavily Republican.

Legislative District 17 encompasses parts of Pinal and Pima Counties, notably areas like Saddlebrooke, Oro Valley, and Tucson. Although Republicans hold a 9-percentage-point voter registration advantage in the district, recent elections showcased a Democratic trend. Noteworthy Democrats, including Mark Kelly and Katie Hobbs, successfully won in this district during the last election cycle.

On a less optimistic note for Democrats, Republican Vince Leach is leading in the Senate race against Democrat John McLean by a margin of nearly 3,000 votes. Leach, a former lawmaker, reclaimed his political ground despite being ousted in a previous primary.

Statewide, ballot counting continues slowly, especially in counties such as Cochise and Yuma, where a significant number of votes remain uncounted. In contrast, Pima County reported having completed 98 percent of its count, with only 8,813 ballots left, including many provisional ballots that may not be valid.

The stakes are high in Legislative District 17, which is one of three Tucson-area districts vital for the balance of power in the Arizona Legislature. In neighboring District 16, Democratic Representative Keith Seaman trails Republican Chris Lopez, and in District 23, Democrats struggle to unseat Republican candidates. The ongoing results will shape the political landscape in Arizona for the coming years, highlighting the competitive nature of these races.