AZ-LD13: Winners of House race in Chandler district could clinch control for Rs or Ds
A hotly contested race for two East Valley seats in the Arizona House of Representatives could determine which party controls the chamber for the next two years, and massive outside spending on the race shows that both parties are scrambling to eke out a victory.
Legislative District 13 covers portions of Chandler, Gilbert and Sun Lakes. Its voters lean Republican, but it was rated a highly competitive district by the Independent Redistricting Committee when it drew a new legislative map in 2021. Republicans currently have a slim one-seat majority in the state House, and if Democrats win both seats, they could take control of the chamber for the first time in almost 60 years.
Rep. Jennifer Pawlik, D-Chandler, has held one of the district’s two seats since 2018, when it was Legislative District 17, prior to redistricting. Pawlik did not run for reelection.
The other seat has long been in Republican hands. It is currently held by former emergency room nurse Rep. Julie Willoughby of Chandler, who is hoping to keep it that way. Willoughby was appointed to represent Legislative District 13 in May 2023, after Republican Rep. Liz Harris was expelled from the chamber for lying to the Ethics Committee about her knowledge that a woman she invited to speak to legislators was going to spread wild, unfounded criminal allegations about lawmakers.
https://azmirror.com/2024/10/24/winners-of-ld13-house-race-in-chandler-district-could-clinch-control-for-rs-or-ds/