Phoenix voters re-elect mayor, three councilmembers and progressive candidate for vacancy

Phoenix residents re-elected Mayor Kate Gallego, gave three council members another term, and chose a progressive candidate for the highly competitive, vacant seat, at the latest ballot count midday on Friday, Nov. 8.

Voters also approved salary increases for the mayor and council, plus "Home Rule," which lets Phoenix set its own spending limit. The General Plan, which outlines how Phoenix should develop the next 10 years, was also approved.

Mayor Kate Gallego declared victory immediately after the first batch of results dropped at 8 p.m.

"Over the last five years, we’ve created jobs that lift families, invested in our long-term water supply and made our city even safer,” Gallego said.  “I’m incredibly grateful that Phoenix voters have elected me to serve a final term as mayor, and I look forward to continuing to build a future that works for everyone.”

Councilwoman Betty Guardado defeated her opponent JJ Martinez, a former Phoenix police officer, in the District 5, the Maryvale area.

Vice Mayor Debra Stark defeated challenger Ayensa Millan, an immigration attorney, in the District 3 Moon Valley and Sunnyslope areas.

State Sen. Anna Hernandez won outright the highly competitive District 7 seat representing parts of downtown and southwest Phoenix. She defeated Marcelino Qui?onez, who had the backing of the mayor, former Phoenix Councilman Michael Nowakowski and political newcomer Martyn Bridgeman.

Hernandez's capture of more than 50% of the vote was a stunning defeat. The race was widely expected to go to a March runoff.

Councilman Carlos Galindo-Elvira was also victorious, capturing more than 50% of the vote against two challengers in the race to temporarily hold the District 7 seat through April 2025. He beat Nowakowski and Bridgeman.

Full, unofficial results are currently anticipated between Nov. 15 and Nov. 18. There are around 450,000 ballots left to count in Maricopa County. It's unclear how much of those belong to Phoenix voters.

The uncounted ballots include those mailed in or dropped off in the days leading up to Election Day and provisional ballots and those that need to be cured, meaning elections officials have to match signatures.

Election results in Arizona are unofficial until local and state officials have tallied all ballots and certified the results.

Phoenix council races pitted establishment against progressives

The campaigns this election cycle pitted Phoenix's establishment politicians against progressive activists. The races were competitive, and hundreds of thousands of dollars were spent trying to help push candidates ahead of their peers.

Voters' decisions will affect how the city manages projected budget deficits, negotiates with the U.S. Department of Justice over police reform and solves the housing and homelessness crisis.

City councils vote on development, local taxes and street improvements. They make deals to bring big employers to the area. They map out the long-term future of the community, with what kind, amount and density of development goes where. They set budgets that determine the level of police and fire service you get and what parks and libraries to keep open.

The outcome of the November election is set to shape how Phoenix manages the U.S. Department of Justice's investigation that found routine brutality and discrimination in the city and police department's practices. The Justice Department wants a court-binding contract called a consent decree, which could cost the city tens of millions. But fighting it would likely lead to litigation, another costly prospect.

The City Council will also make difficult future decisions about Phoenix's budget, which is projected to have as high as a $103 million deficit next year and a $53 million deficit the next. Deficits in the past have meant slashing personnel, dropping pay and cutting city services. Deficits in Phoenix's future could mean the same. That could affect any number of programs, from libraries to parks to homelessness.

Election 2024: See Arizona election results

Who is running for Phoenix mayor?

Residents citywide got to vote between Mayor Kate Gallego and software engineer Matt Evans.

Gallego, 43, was elected mayor in March 2019 in a runoff election and then reelected for a full term in 2020. She was first elected to the City Council in 2013 to represent portions of downtown and south Phoenix that fall under District 8. She campaigned for a more environmentally friendly and urban city with enhanced public transportation.

As mayor, Gallego championed economic development, sustainability, and water infrastructure advancement. She described her platform as one focused on the "long-term best interests" of Phoenix and leaving it "more future-proofed."

Evans, 36, is a software engineer who has campaigned on cleaning up Phoenix's streets and solving the homelessness crisis. He argued his background as a "DevOps" engineer would help optimize efficiency in the city.

He struggled to garner name recognition and spoke about his frustration that Gallego wouldn't respond to his requests for a debate. But he built a following for himself among Phoenix Republicans by attending GOP meetings, speaking at public county meetings and befriending active members of GOP legislative district groups.

His campaign was highly controversial at time times. His post casting Gallego as demonic the morning before Yom Kippur was called anti-Semitic by Jewish groups. He repeatedly characterized Gallego, who graduated from Harvard, as an out-of-touch elitist.

Who is running for Phoenix District 1?

Northwest Phoenix residents in District 1 got to vote to re-elect Councilwoman Ann O'Brien, who's running unopposed.

A moderate Republican first elected in November 2020, O'Brien is known for her steadfast support for the Phoenix police. She was formerly a member of the Deer Valley Unified School District governing board and the Arizona School Board Association board of directors.

Who is running for Phoenix District 3?

Moon Valley and Sunnyslope-area residents got to vote between sitting Councilwoman Debra Stark and immigration attorney Ayensa Millan in District 3.

Stark is a moderate Democrat who was elected in 2017 and reelected in 2021. Prior to joining the City Council, Stark worked as a planner for the city and Maricopa County. She said she wanted another term "to continue to serve the public and ensure we maintain our quality of life in Phoenix." She said affordable housing was one of her top priorities.

Millan is an attorney with experience in immigration, criminal and personal injury law. Millan was backed by deep-pocketed progressive groups, such as Worker Power, associated with the local hospitality union, Unite Here Local 11. She was also supported by the Working Families Party.

Millan said she wanted to transform communication between the council district and its residents. "I want the days of wondering where your Councilmember stands on important issues to be a thing of the past," she wrote in a Republic questionnaire.

Competition is fierce: Phoenix progressives want their City Council seat back

Who is running for Phoenix District 5?

Maryvale-area residents got to choose between incumbent Councilwoman Betty Guardado and challenger JJ Martinez in District 5.

Guardado, a former union organizer for Unite Here Local 11, said she's running for reelection to continue her lifelong work to improve the quality of life for workers and their families. Guardado, like Millan and District 7 candidate Anna Hernandez, was backed by Worker Power.

Martinez, a former Phoenix police officer of 26 years, had the backing of a number of police unions, such as the Arizona Police Association PAC, the Phoenix Police Sergeants and Lieutenants Association PAC, Chandler police PAC and Associated Highway Patrolmen of AZ PAC.

He said his background as an officer afforded him the opportunity to deeply understand the district's problems and that he is uniquely capable of implementing swift solutions.

Who is running for Phoenix District 7?

Downtown and southwest Phoenix residents got to decide who should be their temporary council member in District 7 to serve through April, and who should serve a full, four-year term. Both races are crowded with multiple candidates, including current and former state lawmakers.

Mayor Kate Gallego endorsed Marcelino Qui?onez. Realtors and police unions backed Qui?onez as well as Martinez in his bid against Guardado. Qui?onez was a former state lawmaker and school board member. He teaches at Phoenix College. Martinez was a former Phoenix police officer.

Progressives wanted Hernandez, Millan and Guardado, in hopes the three could join forces with Laura Pastor and find a fifth vote to advance policies like higher wages for workers. Hernandez is a state senator, Millan is an immigration attorney and Guardado was a union organizer who was elected to City Council in 2019.

Former Councilman Michael Nowakowski, who served the district for 13 years before being term-limited, was also vying for a comeback. Martyn Bridgeman, the long-shot political newcomer, is a real estate agent and board chair at Phoenix Center for the Arts.

What's at stake: Phoenix District 7 voters' guide to the 2024 City Council candidates

Propositions 487, 488 and 489

Phoenix voters also got to decide three propositions related to the city's spending limit, plan for future development and City Council salaries.

Proposition 487: Proposition 487 asked voters if they wanted to "continue the existing locally controlled alternative expenditure limitation." It's sometimes referred to as "Home Rule."

Without approval, Phoenix's budget would be controlled by a state formula that would severely restrict spending. The limit would not take into account Phoenix's revenue or the services it provides, meaning the city would need to cut services despite having the money to provide them.

Proposition 488: Every 10 years, cities in Arizona are required by state law to devise General Plans that serve as a roadmap for long-term growth. Phoenix's general plan focuses on:

• Creating a network of cores, centers and corridors. (Think downtown core, transit-oriented communities, connecting neighborhoods to village cores.)

• Connecting people and places.

• Strengthening the local economy.

• Celebrating diverse communities and neighborhoods.

• Building the most sustainable desert city.

Proposition 489: Proposition 489 asked voters if they wanted to approve a recommendation by the Citizens' Commission on Salaries for Elected City Officials.

The increase would raise the mayor's pay by 18% and council members' pay by 25%. The mayor's salary would increase from $88,000 to $103,840, and the council's from $61,600 to $77,000. It would be the first raise to mayoral and City Council pay since 2006 if voters approve the measure.

This article will be updated as election results come in.

Taylor Seely covers Phoenix for The Arizona Republic / azcentral.com. Reach her at [email protected] or by phone at 480-476-6116.

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix elects Mayor Kate Gallego, Anna Hernandez to City Council