In 2022, our candidates beat election deniers to successfully hold ground in the Arizona Senate and House.

We helped to keep both chambers within a one-seat margin of governing power.

The path to the majority in both chambers is now clearer than when we headed into the 2020 election, but more importantly, we’ve given our democracy a fighting chance. With these close margins, pro-democracy state lawmakers are in a strong position to work across the aisle to stand against extremist rightwing attempts to overturn rightful, valid election results in 2024.

• Giving Circles helped fuel The States Projects’ full toolkit of evidence-based tactics in the most competitive Arizona districts. Our funds supported critical staff hires alongside layered opportunities for voter contact across local media, TV ads with fully tested messages, digital advertising, and direct mail.
• In the Senate, our candidates won three of four critical toss-up seats. In the House, new state legislative candidates held two key seats – one by just 322 voters.
• Working in the tightest races is the most critical thing we do to hold or build power. Ending rightwing control of the Arizona House was out of reach by just 941 voters in a single district. Similarly, just 1,480 voters changing their votes in one district could have shifted control of the State Senate.
• Late in the 2022 cycle, a Democratic candidate running uncontested for a State Senate seat dropped out of his race. Because of state election laws, his name was still on the ballot, but votes cast for him would not be counted. This kicked-off several write-in campaigns for the seat. TSP’s Giving Circles and Give Smart communities immediately mobilized around Dr. Eva Diaz, an educator, and first-time candidate. TSP’s Give Smart Program — where members of The States Project community give directly to candidates — was the top funder for Dr. Diaz in a seat that the rightwing could have easily have stolen without our support.

• We gained one new seat in the State Senate and were now within one seat of shifting power in the chamber. 
• We won two new seats in the House, but incumbent losses meant that chamber margins remained unchanged — a four-seat gain — from 2018.
• Democrats came the closest they’ve been to winning the Arizona Legislature since 1966.

• In our first election in Arizona, we helped gain four seats in the State House, sending four new State Representatives to Phoenix.