By Lisa Diethelm and Sara Edwards
Arizona has shattered typical voting norms this election after the state turned blue in its projected votes for former Vice President Joe Biden and the election of U.S Senate candidate Mark Kelly. While the country anxiously waits for the final ballot counts that will determine the next President of the United States, here’s what we know about local election decisions.
Presidential race
The state of Arizona has become one of the many key races during this Presidential Election as the final mail-in ballots are being counted for Maricopa County. Per ABC News, former Vice President Joe Biden is leading in the popular vote for Arizona over President Donald Trump with 1,444,213 votes.
Arizona is one of the few states left that has yet to release their final count with 86% of votes counted as of this publication.
Senate Race
Former astronaut Mark Kelly (Dem) beat Republican U.S. Sen. Martha McSally on Tuesday night with 1,478,786 votes for the Arizona Senate seat.
“Tonight isn’t about celebrating,” Kelly said in his victory speech on Tuesday. “Tonight is about getting to work.”
Phoenix City Council Race
Phoenix residents reelected Mayor Kate Gallego, who called the race on Tuesday night. Gallego has served as mayor since 2018.
Four districts were up for election this year. District 7, which is the home to parts of the downtown area, is one of those up for election because Michael Nowakowski faces term limits this year. Yassamin Ansari leads against four other candidates, according to Phoenix’s website.
SEE RELATED Sen. Martha McSally and Mark Kelly debate in downtown
Prop 207
Proposition 207 has passed, meaning recreational use of marijuana is legal and that marijuana-related crimes have the potential to be expunged in court.
The prop comes after Proposition 205 did not pass four years ago in 2016.
SEE RELATED: Prop 207 could affect Arizona in different ways, experts say
Prop 208
According to Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbes’ website at the time of this update, Proposition 208 holds 52.6% of votes in favor for the prop and 47.4% against.
If passed, the prop will increase the highest income tax rate by 3.5%. The tax would then put the revenue toward state education.
The revenue from the tax increase would be put in a Student Support and Safety Fund (SSSF), which the prop establishes.
SEE RELATED: Prop. 208 promises more money for schools from tax dollars. Here’s what you need to know
This is a developing story.
Contact the reporters at ldiethel@asu.edu and smedwar7@asu.edu.
Sara Edwards was the executive editor of Downtown Devil. She is a graduate student at the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Sara has additional bylines in Phoenix New Times, West Valley View, L.A. Downtown News and Boardwalk Times.
Sara is also the co-secretary for the Multicultural Student Journalists Coalition.
