2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona


The 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona were held on November 6, 2018, to elect the nine U.S. representatives from the State of Arizona, one from each of the state's nine congressional districts. The elections coincided with the 2018 Arizona gubernatorial election, as well as other elections to the U.S. House of Representatives, elections to the United States Senate and various state and local elections. The 2018 general elections saw the Democratic party gain the 2nd congressional district, thus flipping the state from a 5–4 Republican advantage to a 5–4 Democratic advantage, the first time since the 2012 election in which Democrats held more House seats in Arizona than the Republicans.

Overview

By district

Results of the 2018 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona by district:

District 1

The 1st district is home to the Grand Canyon and stretches along the eastern and northeastern portions of the state and includes Casa Grande, Flagstaff, and Marana. This district has a significant Native-American population, making up 25% of the population in the district. This district is home to a number of Indian reservations, including the Gila River Indian Community, Hopi Reservation, and the Navajo Nation. Incumbent Democrat Tom O'Halleran, who had represented the district since 2017, ran for re-election. He was elected with 51% of the vote in 2016, and the district had a PVI of R+2, making it one of the most competitive in the state with a PVI of R+2.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Republican primary

The district was one of 36 Democratic-held House districts targeted by the National Republican Congressional Committee.

Candidates

Nominee

Libertarian primary

Candidates

  • Zhani Doko

District 2

The 2nd district is based in the southeastern corner of Arizona and includes Cochise County and parts of suburban Tucson. Incumbent Republican Martha McSally, who had represented the district since 2015, did not run for re-election, instead running for the U.S. Senate. She was re-elected with 57% of the vote in 2016, and the district had a PVI of R+1.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Withdrew

Declined

Democratic primary

This district was one of 80 Republican-held House districts targeted by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Candidates

Nominee
  • Ann Kirkpatrick, former U.S. Representative for Arizona's 1st District and nominee for U.S. Senate in 2016
    Eliminated in primary
  • Matt Heinz, former state representative, candidate for 8th district in 2012 and nominee for this seat in 2016
  • Billy Kovacs, operations manager of Hotel Congress
  • Mary Matiella, former assistant secretary of the Army
  • Barbara Sherry
  • Bruce Wheeler, former state representative
  • Yahya Yuksel
    Withdrawn
  • Charlie Verdin, small businessman
    Declined
  • Brian Bickel, candidate for Pima County Supervisor in 2016
  • Randall Friese, state representative
  • Lou Jordan, retired U.S. Army colonel
  • Jeff Latas, retired air force fighter pilot and candidate for AZ-08 in 2006
  • Joshua Polacheck, foreign service officer
  • Victoria Steele, former state representative and candidate for this seat in 2016

General election

Debates

  • , October 11, 2018

Polling

With Heinz

Poll sourceDate
administered		Sample
size		Margin of
error		Lea
Marquez-Peterson 		Matt
Heinz 		Undecided-------
Public Policy Polling (D-Heinz)February 8–10, 2018841± 3.4%31%45%24%

District 3

The third district is based in Tucson and stretches along the southern border of Arizona including Yuma, rural portions of Maricopa County such as Gila Bend, and the western suburbs of Phoenix including Avondale, Buckeye, Goodyear, and parts of Litchfield Park. has represented this district since 2002, and ran unopposed in 2016. Incumbent Democrat Raúl Grijalva, who had represented the district since 2003, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 99% of the vote in 2016, and the district had a PVI of D+13.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

District 4

The fourth district takes up most of rural northwestern and western Arizona and includes Kingman, Lake Havasu City, Prescott, and San Tan Valley. Incumbent Republican Paul Gosar, who had represented the district since 2011, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 71% of the vote in 2016, and the district had a PVI of R+21, making it the most Republican district in Arizona.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • David Brill, Manager of Primary Care services for the Northern Arizona Veterans Administration
    Eliminated in primary
  • Delina Disanto, finance director and registered nurse
  • Ana Maria Perez

Green primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Haryaksha Gregor Knauer

General election

Campaign

This race received national media coverage after Democratic nominee David Brill aired television advertisements in which six of Republican incumbent Paul Gosar's nine siblings each condemned their brother and endorsed Brill, imploring residents of the fourth district to vote their brother out of office. Gosar responded to this advert with a tweet in which he dismissed his siblings' criticisms and characterized them as "disgruntled Hillary supporters" who "put political ideology before family".

District 5

The 5th district is based in the East Valley region of suburban Phoenix and includes Gilbert and Queen Creek, as well as portions of Chandler and Mesa. Incumbent Republican Andy Biggs, who had represented the district since 2017, ran for re-election. He was elected with 64% of the vote in 2016, and the district had a PVI of R+15.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee
  • Joan Greene, business owner
    Eliminated in primary
  • Jose Torres, engineer and businessman
    Withdrawn
  • Lisa Chappelle
  • Tony Margalis
  • Scott Menor

District 6

The sixth district is based in northeastern suburban Phoenix and is centered around Scottsdale, and also includes many affluent communities such as Fountain Hills and Paradise Valley. Incumbent Republican David Schweikert, who had represented the district since 2011, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 62% of the vote in 2016, and the district had a PVI of R+9.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Democratic primary

This district was one of 80 Republican-held House districts targeted by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Candidates

Nominee

District 7

The seventh district is based in the city of Phoenix and also includes parts of Glendale and Tolleson. Incumbent Democrat Ruben Gallego, who had represented the district since 2015, ran for re-election. He was re-elected with 75% of the vote in 2016, and the district had a PVI of D+23, making it the most Democratic district in Arizona.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Republican primary

No Republican candidate filed to run.

District 8

The eighth district is based in the West Valley region of suburban Phoenix and includes the cities of El Mirage, Peoria, and Surprise, and also many retirement communities such as Sun City. Republican Trent Franks who had represented the district since 2003 resigned from Congress on December 8, 2017, after a controversy regarding surrogate mothers. Republican Debbie Lesko won the special election that took place on April 24, 2018, defeating Democratic nominee Hiral Tipirneni with 53% of the vote. The district had a PVI of R+13.

Republican primary

Candidates

Nominee

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Independent candidates

Not on the ballot

  • Augie Beyer

General election

Campaign

The Lesko campaign was criticized for producing yard sign attacking Tipirneni as a "fake doctor" and as a "phony." on TV ads. These signs were taken down, but after Lesko accused Tipirneni of professional dishonesty during a TV appearance, the Arizona Medical Association withdrew its endorsement of Lesko.

Results

In the general election, Lesko won a full term, again defeating Tipirneni.

District 9

The ninth district is based in suburban Phoenix and is centered around Tempe, and also includes portions of Chandler, Mesa, and Scottsdale. Incumbent Democrat Kyrsten Sinema, who had represented the district since 2013, did not seek re-election, instead running for U.S. Senate. She was re-elected with 61% of the vote in 2016, and the district had a PVI of D+4, making it moderately competitive.

Democratic primary

Candidates

Nominee

Republican primary

This district was one of 36 Democratic-held House districts targeted by the National Republican Congressional Committee.

Candidates

Nominee
  • Steve Ferrara, retired Navy Chief Medical Officer
    Eliminated in primary
  • Irina Baroness von Behr, pilot and Tempe City Council candidate in 2016
  • Dave Giles, engineer, business consultant and nominee for this seat in 2016
Declined

Libertarian primary

Candidates

Withdrawn
  • Jenn Gray