Arizona Senate
Majority party
Minority party
Leader
Robert B. Usdane
Alan Stephens
Party
Republican
Democratic
Leader's seat
28th
6th
Seats before
19
11
Seats after
17
13
Seat change
Decrease Increase
The 1988 Arizona Senate election was held on November 8, 1988. Voters elected members of the Arizona Senate in all 30 of the state's legislative districts to serve a two-year term. Primary elections were held on September 13, 1988.[ 3]
Prior to the elections, the Republicans held a majority of 19 seats over the Democrats' 11 seats.
Following the election, Republicans maintained control of the chamber with 17 Republicans to 13 Democrats, a net gain of two seats for Democrats.[ 4]
The newly elected senators served in the 39th Arizona State Legislature .
Retiring Incumbents [ edit ] District 13: Greg Lunn
District 15: S.H. "Hal" Runyan
District 18: Tony West Incumbents Defeated in Primary Elections [ edit ] District 21: Carl J. Kunasek
District 26: Peter Kay
District 29: Jack J. Taylor Incumbents Defeated in General Elections [ edit ] District 8: Carol Lee Macdonald
Republican Primary Results
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican John Hays (incumbent )
9,442
52.36%
Republican
Shirley Mac-Noye
6,798
37.70%
Republican
Philip Beeson
1,794
9.95%
Total votes
18,034
100.00%
Republican Primary Results
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican Jim Lee
7,066
100.00%
Total votes
7,066
100.00%
Republican Primary Results
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican Paul Platero[ a]
59
100.00%
Total votes
59
100.00%
Democratic Primary Results
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic A. V. "Bill" Hardt (incumbent )
12,127
100.00%
Total votes
12,127
100.00%
Republican Primary Results
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican Brenda Udall
3,878
100.00%
Total votes
3,878
100.00%
Republican Primary Results
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican Arnold E. "Arnie" Bulick
3,456
100.00%
Total votes
3,456
100.00%
Democratic Primary Results
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic Alan Stephens (incumbent )
6,143
100.00%
Total votes
6,143
100.00%
Republican Primary Results
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican Juan S. Bautista Jr.[ a]
380
100.00%
Total votes
380
100.00%
Republican Primary Results
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican Mari Gardner
2,892
100.00%
Total votes
2,892
100.00%
Republican Primary Results
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican Carol Lee Macdonald (incumbent )
3,131
94.36%
Republican
Clay Smith[ a]
187
5.64%
Total votes
3,318
100.00%
Democratic Primary Results
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic Marjel J. De Lauer
6,974
100.00%
Total votes
6,974
100.00%
Republican Primary Results
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican Jeffrey J. Hill (incumbent )
7,242
100.00%
Total votes
7,242
100.00%
Democratic Primary Results
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic Jesus "Chuy" Higuera (incumbent )
2,954
41.58%
Democratic
Marcario Saldate
2,792
39.30%
Democratic
Doug Shakel
1,358
19.12%
Total votes
7,104
100.00%
Democratic Primary Results
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic Jaime P. Gutierrez (incumbent )
7,513
100.00%
Total votes
7,513
100.00%
General Election Results
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic Jaime P. Gutierrez (incumbent )
24,930
100.00%
Total votes
24,930
100.00%
Democratic hold
Democratic Primary Results
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic Reid Ewing
7,610
100.00%
Total votes
7,610
100.00%
Republican Primary Results
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican John T. Mawhinney (incumbent )
6,144
100.00%
Total votes
6,144
100.00%
Democratic Primary Results
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic David C. Bartlett
8,132
100.00%
Total votes
8,132
100.00%
Republican Primary Results
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican Robert Bayne
6,696
77.72%
Republican
Albert "Slick" C. Williams
1,919
22.28%
Total votes
8,615
100.00%
Democratic Primary Results
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic Craig Runyon
3,942
53.18%
Democratic
Harold Hyams
3,471
46.82%
Total votes
7,413
100.00%
Republican Primary Results
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican Bill De Long (incumbent )
5,778
63.35%
Republican
Ken Chiaro
3,343
36.65%
Total votes
9,121
100.00%
Democratic Primary Results
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic Pat Bosch
5,403
100.00%
Total votes
5,403
100.00%
Republican Primary Results
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican Bob Denny
9,904
100.00%
Total votes
9,904
100.00%
General Election Results
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican Bob Denny
24,667
61.91%
Democratic
Pat Bosch
15,174
38.09%
Total votes
39,841
100.00%
Republican hold
Democratic Primary Results
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic Stan Furman
4,138
100.00%
Total votes
4,138
100.00%
Republican Primary Results
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican Wayne Stump (incumbent )
4,508
51.86%
Republican
Jack Kearney
4,184
48.14%
Total votes
8,692
100.00%
Democratic Primary Results
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic Ray Reese
4,472
100.00%
Total votes
4,472
100.00%
Republican Primary Results
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican Patricia D. "Pat" Wright (incumbent )
8,693
100.00%
Total votes
8,693
100.00%
Democratic Primary Results
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic Madelene Van Arsdell
4,513
100.00%
Total votes
4,513
100.00%
Republican Primary Results
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican Leo Corbet 7,375
68.57%
Republican
Ronald J. Bellus
3,380
31.43%
Total votes
10,755
100.00%
Democratic Primary Results
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic Carol A. Griffin
3,397
58.12%
Democratic
Don Nilles
2,448
41.88%
Total votes
5,845
100.00%
Republican Primary Results
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican Ted Humes
4,311
100.00%
Total votes
4,311
100.00%
Democratic Primary Results
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic William E. "Bill" Hegarty
4,835
100.00%
Total votes
4,835
100.00%
Democratic Primary Results
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic Manuel "Lito" Peña Jr. (incumbent )
2,540
61.04%
Democratic
Charles E. Hall Jr.
1,621
38.96%
Total votes
4,161
100.00%
Republican Primary Results
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican Richard Adams
1,315
100.00%
Total votes
1,315
100.00%
Libertarian Primary Results
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Libertarian Paul Miller[ a]
3
100.00%
Total votes
3
100.00%
Republican Primary Results
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican Mary Fuentes Carr
1,020
100.00%
Total votes
1,020
100.00%
New Alliance Primary Results
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
New Alliance Carolyn T. Lowery
2
100.00%
Total votes
2
100.00%
Republican Primary Results
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican Pete Corpstein (incumbent )
10,586
100.00%
Total votes
10,586
100.00%
Libertarian Primary Results
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Libertarian Marilyn Titschinger
44
100.00%
Total votes
44
100.00%
Democratic Primary Results
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic Jeffrey R. Finley
4,587
100.00%
Total votes
4,587
100.00%
Republican Primary Results
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican Jacque Steiner (incumbent )
4,625
59.65%
Republican
Craig I. Willison
3,128
40.35%
Total votes
7,753
100.00%
Democratic Primary Results
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Democratic Deborah Linzer
4,242
100.00%
Total votes
4,242
100.00%
Republican Primary Results
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican Doug Todd (incumbent )
6,240
56.89%
Republican
Bill Valentic
4,729
43.11%
Total votes
10,969
100.00%
Libertarian Primary Results
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Libertarian Ken Van Doren[ a]
9
100.00%
Total votes
9
100.00%
Republican Primary Results
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican Robert B. Usdane (incumbent )
11,410
100.00%
Total votes
11,410
100.00%
General Election Results
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican Robert B. Usdane (incumbent )
49,626
100.00%
Total votes
49,626
100.00%
Republican hold
Republican Primary Results
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican Lester N. Pearce
5,935
56.86%
Republican
Jack J. Taylor (incumbent )
4,503
43.14%
Total votes
10,438
100.00%
General Election Results
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican Lester N. Pearce
24,240
100.00%
Total votes
24,240
100.00%
Republican hold
Republican Primary Results
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Republican James J. Sossaman (incumbent )
8,136
50.93%
Republican
Larry Chesley
7,840
49.07%
Total votes
15,976
100.00%
Libertarian Primary Results
Party
Candidate
Votes
%
Libertarian Donald Markowski[ a]
18
100.00%
Total votes
18
100.00%
On February 8, 1988, the Arizona House of Representatives voted to impeach Governor Evan Mecham . This caused a schism in the Arizona Republican Party since the House was controlled by Republicans and the Governor was also a Republican.[ 5] [ 6]
Subsequent to the House's vote to impeach, the Senate then convened the impeachment trial of Governor Mecham. On March 30, 1988, the Senate voted to dismiss Article II (pertaining to false sworn statements) for fear of putting Mecham in a position of quasi double jeopardy due to the ongoing criminal proceedings in the Superior Court of Maricopa County.[ 7]
On April 4, 1988, the Senate voted on Article I (pertaining to obstruction of justice) and Article III (pertaining to misuse of funds) of the Articles of Impeachment. The Presiding Officer, at 4:56 p.m., announced that by a vote of 21 ayes and 9 noes, Evan Mecham was convicted of high crimes, misdemeanors or malfeasance in office, as contained in Article I of the Articles of Impeachment.[ 8] Evan Mecham was convicted of high crimes, misdemeanors or malfeasance in office, as contained in Article III of the Articles of Impeachment.[ 9]
Having voted to convict on both Article I and Article III, the Senate then voted on whether to permanently disqualify Mecham from ever again holding any office of honor, trust, or profit in the State of Arizona. The Presiding Officer, at 5:30 p.m., announced that by a roll call vote of 17 ayes and 13 noes, Evan Mecham was not disqualified from holding any office of honor, trust or profit in the State.[ c] [ 10]
The table below summarizes the votes of each Senator during the Mecham impeachment trial and their subsequent fate in the 1988 elections.[ 11]
District
Senator
Party
Article II[ d]
Article I
Article III
Permanently Disqualify Mecham
Senator's Electoral Outcome
1st
John U. Hays
Rep
Do Not Dismiss
Aye
Aye
Aye
Re-elected
2nd
Tony Gabaldon
Dem
Dismiss
Aye
Aye
Aye
Re-elected
3rd
James Henderson Jr.
Dem
Dismiss
Aye
Aye
Aye
Re-elected
4th
A.V. "Bill" Hardt
Dem
Dismiss
Aye
Aye
Aye
Re-elected
5th
Jones Osborn
Dem
Dismiss
Aye
Aye
Aye
Re-elected
6th
Alan J. Stephens
Dem
Dismiss
Aye
Aye
No
Re-elected
7th
Peter Rios
Dem
Dismiss
Aye
Aye
No
Re-elected
8th
Carol Lee Macdonald
Rep
Do Not Dismiss
Aye
Aye
Aye
Lost (General)
9th
Jeffrey J. Hill
Rep
Dismiss
No
No
Aye
Re-elected
10th
Jesus "Chuy" Higuera
Dem
Dismiss
Aye
Aye
Aye
Re-elected
11th
Jaime P. Gutierrez
Dem
Dismiss
Aye
Aye
Aye
Re-elected
12th
John T. Mawhinney
Rep
Do Not Dismiss
Aye
Aye
Aye
Re-elected
13th
Greg Lunn
Rep
Not Voting
Aye
Aye
Aye
Retired
14th
William J. "Bill" DeLong
Rep
Do Not Dismiss
Aye
Aye
Aye
Re-elected
15th
S.H. "Hal" Runyan
Rep
Not Voting
Aye
Aye
Aye
Retired
16th
Wayne Stump
Rep
Dismiss
No
No
No
Re-elected
17th
Patricia "Pat" Wright
Rep
Dismiss
No
No
No
Re-elected
18th
Tony West
Rep
Do Not Dismiss
Aye
Aye
Aye
Retired
19th
Jan Brewer
Rep
Dismiss
No
No
No
Re-elected
20th
Lela Alston
Dem
Dismiss
Aye
Aye
Aye
Re-elected
21st
Carl J. Kunasek
Rep
Do Not Dismiss
No
Aye
No
Lost (Primary)
22nd
Manuel "Lito" Peña Jr.
Dem
Dismiss
Aye
Aye
No
Re-elected
23rd
Carolyn Walker
Dem
Dismiss
Aye
Aye
Aye
Re-elected
24th
Pete Corpstein
Rep
Do Not Dismiss
Aye
Aye
No
Re-elected
25th
Jacque Steiner
Rep
Do Not Dismiss
No
Aye
No
Re-elected
26th
Peter Kay
Rep
Do Not Dismiss
No
Aye
No
Lost (Primary)
27th
Doug Todd
Rep
Do Not Dismiss
Aye
Aye
Aye
Re-elected
28th
Robert B. Usdane
Rep
Do Not Dismiss
No
Aye
No
Re-elected
29th
Jack J. Taylor
Rep
Do Not Dismiss
Aye
Aye
No
Lost (Primary)
30th
James J. Sossaman
Rep
Dismiss
No
Aye
No
Re-elected
^ a b c d e f Ran as a write-in candidate in the primary election.
^ a b c Was a write-in candidate in the general election.
^ Note that the threshold to disqualify is a two-thirds vote, which would have been 20 ayes. Though 17 is a majority, it did not meet the two-thirds necessary for permanent disqualification.
^ The vote to dismiss Article II occurred on March 30, 1988.
^ "1987, Journal of the Senate, State of Arizona, Thirty-Eighth Legislature, 1st Regular Session" . Arizona Secretary of State ^ "1989, Journal of the Senate, State of Arizona, Thirty-Ninth Legislature, 1st Regular Session" . Arizona Secretary of State ^ "1988 State of Arizona, official canvass, primary election" . Arizona Secretary of State ^ "1988 State of Arizona, official canvass, general election," . Arizona Secretary of State ^ "1988: Gov. Evan Mecham impeached" . Arizona Daily Star ^ "Arizona's Supreme Court Blocks A Special Gubernatorial Election" . New York Times ^ "1988, Journal of the Court of Impeachment, Thirty-Eighth Legislature: Record of proceedings of the Court of Impeachment: in the trial of the Honorable Evan Mecham, Governor, State of Arizona" . Arizona State Library ^ "1988, Journal of the Court of Impeachment, Thirty-Eighth Legislature: Record of proceedings of the Court of Impeachment: in the trial of the Honorable Evan Mecham, Governor, State of Arizona" . Arizona State Library ^ "1988, Journal of the Court of Impeachment, Thirty-Eighth Legislature: Record of proceedings of the Court of Impeachment: in the trial of the Honorable Evan Mecham, Governor, State of Arizona" . Arizona State Library ^ "1988, Journal of the Court of Impeachment, Thirty-Eighth Legislature: Record of proceedings of the Court of Impeachment: in the trial of the Honorable Evan Mecham, Governor, State of Arizona" . Arizona State Library ^ "1988, Journal of the Court of Impeachment, Thirty-Eighth Legislature: Record of proceedings of the Court of Impeachment: in the trial of the Honorable Evan Mecham, Governor, State of Arizona" . Arizona State Library