Arizona Primary Results Set Stage for Competitive Midterm Election
July 24, 2026
Physician-endorsed Candidates Advance to General Election
Arizona's 2026 Primary Election, which brought voters to the polls on July 21, has set the stage for November's competitive midterm election.
The Arizona Medical Political Action Committee — the Arizona Medical Association's bipartisan political arm — endorsed several candidates for their commitment to supporting physicians, patients, and healthcare in Arizona. In a win for the physician community, several ArMPAC endorsees prevailed in their primaries.
We've summarized results from the most-watched races in the state, which determined who will be on voters' ballots in November.
Statewide Races & Results
- Governor: One of the most closely watched contests was the Republican gubernatorial primary, where former state lawmaker and Rep. Andy Biggs emerged as the GOP nominee over fellow Rep. David Schweikert. Biggs will now face Gov. Katie Hobbs, who was unopposed in the Democratic primary.
- Attorney General: State Senate President Warren Petersen prevailed over perennial candidate Rodney Glassman for the Republican nomination for Attorney General. Petersen will now face incumbent Attorney General Kris Mays, who was unopposed in the Democratic primary.
- State Secretary: Scottsdale lawmaker Alex Kolodin defeated former Arizona Republican Party Chair Gina Swoboda in the bid for the Republican nomination for Secretary of State. Kolodin will now face incumbent Secretary of State Adrien Fontes, who was unopposed in the Democratic primary.
- Superintendent of Public Instruction: In an upset, Kim Yee defeated incumbent Republican Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Horne.
Congressional District 1
Arizona's Congressional District 1 race is one of the most closely watched across the country. ArMPAC-endorsed physician Dr. Amish Shah had a resounding win in his competitive primary race and will go on to face Republican Jay Feely in the general election. Feely, a former NFL kicker, prevailed over Scottsdale legislator Joe Chaplik.
Competitive Legislative Primaries
There were several competitive primaries at the Arizona State Legislature to note:
- LD 2 Senate: ArMPAC-endorsed physician Dr. Amelia Gallitano prevailed over Daniel Toporek and will go on to face incumbent Sen. Shawna Bolick in the general election.
- LD 3 House: George Khalaf and incumbent Rep. Cody Reim appear to have prevailed in a very tight four-way race.
- LD 7 House: Incumbent Rep. Walt Blackman and former lawmaker David Cook have prevailed in a competitive four-way race.
- LD 10 House: Justin Olson and James Rogers prevailed over Ciara Anderson.
- LD 13 House: Kevin Hartke and Janet Weninger prevailed.
- LD 20 Senate: Alma Hernandez prevailed over Rocque Perez in a heated race.
- LD 21 House: Incumbent Rep. Stephanie Stahl Hamilton appears to have lost in a three-way race to seatmate Rep. Consuelo Hernandez and newcomer Miranda Lopez.
- LD 24 House: Newcomers Lisbeth Arescurenaga and Alberto Flores prevailed over incumbent Rep. Lydia Hernandez.
- LD 27 Senate: Incumbent Sen. Kevin Payne appears to have narrowly prevailed over challenger Anthony Kern. Kern has previously served in the Legislature from 2015-2021 and 2023-2025.
- LD 30 House: Newcomers Mike Gannuscio and David Rose prevailed in a crowded five-way primary.
Physician-endorsed Candidates Advance
In addition to Drs. Amish Shah and Amelia Gallitano, the following ArMPAC-endorsed candidates either advanced from the primary or faced no challengers and will be on the general election ballot:
- CD 4: Dr. Zuhdi Jasser
- LD 3 Senate: John Kavanagh
- LD 5 Senate: Christine Marsh
- LD 13 Senate: Julie Willoughby
- LD 18 Senate: Priya Sundareshan
- LD 23 Senate: Brian Fernandez
- LD 1 House: Selina Bliss
- LD 4 House: Matt Gress
- LD 4 House: Tammy Caputi
- LD 5 House: Aaron Márquez
- LD 5 House: Sarah Liguori
- LD 18 House: Nancy Gutierrez
- LD 18 House: Chris Mathis
- LD 28 House: Beverly Pingerelli
What's Next
With the official statewide canvass coming up on Aug. 6, attention now turns to the General Election on Nov. 3. The primary results have narrowed the field, but the state's most consequential races remain unsettled.
The months ahead will offer an opportunity to learn more about the candidates, engage in the policy conversation, and help shape the direction of Arizona's healthcare system.
Stay tuned for ArMPAC's 2026 General Election Voter Guide — the physician community's best
election resource.
Statewide orders keep pharmacists and physicians authorized to vaccinate Arizonans amid uncertainty over the next ACIP meeting. Statewide Orders Cover the 2026-27 Flu & COVID Season The Arizona Department of Health Services has issued statewide standing orders supporting access to the 2026-27 influenza and COVID-19 vaccines approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Arizonans seeking a flu or COVID-19 vaccine should contact their physician or pharmacy to confirm availability. Why the Orders Were Issued Arizona pharmacists may administer vaccines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices, vaccines recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for international travel, or vaccines authorized under a prescription, including a physician-issued public health standing order. With the timing of the next ACIP meeting uncertain, ADHS worked with the Arizona Board of Pharmacy to issue statewide standing orders for the flu and COVID-19 vaccines, which function as a prescription allowing pharmacists and physicians across Arizona to administer them to anyone who wants one. ADHS Medical Advisor Weighs In "Vaccines are one of the most important tools we have to protect our communities. The Influenza and COVID-19 vaccines have been proven safe and effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and death. Vaccines help us limit the spread of disease, reduce pressure on our healthcare system and reduce costs," said Dr. Richard Carmona, ADHS public health medical advisor and the 17th U.S. Surgeon General. "We have issued these standing orders to ensure safe and timely access to the vaccines in alignment with scientific and evidence-based guidance." What Arizonans Should Know The standing orders do not require every pharmacy to offer vaccinations, and they do not guarantee insurance coverage for administration. Coverage and out-of-pocket costs vary by plan, so Arizonans should check with their insurance provider before scheduling an appointment.
State attorneys seek an emergency stay after lower courts reject bids to delay receivership of the prison health care system. State Makes a Last-Ditch Appeal Attorneys for the Arizona Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry asked the U.S. Supreme Court this week to delay a court-ordered receivership of the state's prison health care system. The request comes after both a federal district court and the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals declined to pause the takeover. In the recent application, former U.S. Solicitor General Paul Clement, a representative of the department, argued that the state deserves more time to make its case before surrendering control of its operations, including oversight of its employees and health care budget. Roots of the Case The dispute began in 2012 when inmates sued the department, alleging the prison system's inadequate medical, mental health, and dental care amounted to cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment. The case went through years of litigation and a failed settlement agreement. In 2023, U.S. District Judge Roslyn Silver ruled that the health care system was "grossly inadequate." The court ordered the prison healthcare system to comply with more than 150 "quality indicators," but according to court-appointed monitors, the department failed to comply with 131 of the measures. In light of this finding, Silver named Annette Chambers-Smith, former director of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, to take over as receiver effective Oct. 19. Arguments on Both Sides Clement argues receivership should be the last resort and that Silver moved to it too quickly. He asserts that the department has made measurable progress, including growing its health care staffing by more than 50%, expanding substance-use treatment access, and adopting a new care model. Corene Kendrick, deputy director of the American Civil Liberties Union National Prison Project, which represents the roughly 25,000 people incarcerated in Arizona prisons, called the department's request a "Hail Mary" and said Silver had given the department years of opportunities to comply before ordering receivership. What Happens Next The Supreme Court has not yet set a deadline for the plaintiffs to respond to the stay request. Separately, the 9th Circuit is now reviewing the merits of the receivership order itself. The department filed its opening brief on Sept. 15, and the plaintiffs' response is due Oct. 15. Information in this article was sourced from the Arizona Mirror .
