Ronald J. Hansen

The Republic | azcentral.com

Democrats cut into Republican majorities in the state House and Senate, but couldn't take control

More than a third of the House of Representatives will include new members

The tighter margins could complicate Gov. Doug Ducey's agenda in the upcoming session

Republicans appear to have lost one seat in both the Arizona House of Representatives and the state Senate, trimming but not substantively changing their majority, unofficial election results show.

Nearly two weeks after the elections, the results from a handful of races remained close and formally unsettled. Even so, it appeared certain Democrats made incremental progress in state government in an election largely dominated by the GOP.

The results showed Republicans held a 17-13 majority in the Senate and a 35-25 edge in the House. The Senate majority will return to what it was in 2014, and the House will be the closest it has been since 2008.

The tighter margins, along with a change in leadership in both chambers, could complicate Republican Gov. Doug Ducey's hopes for further tax cuts, deregulation and a school-funding overhaul in the remaining two years of his term.

Republican Kate Brophy McGee defeated Democrat Eric Meyer by 2 percentage points in unofficial returns for the 28th Legislative District that includes north-central Phoenix and Paradise Valley.

After receiving a "very gracious phone call" from Meyer conceding the race, Brophy McGee said she is still waiting to see how Republicans intend to move ahead at the Legislature.

"My party's leadership is still talking about what that agenda will look like," she said, hinting at complexities lawmakers will face. School funding following passage of Proposition 123 is a top concern of hers, but budget issues and potential litigation are also sure to gain outsize attention, she said.

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Democrats regained the 7th Legislative District seat held by Carlyle Begay, who switched from Democrat to Republican and opted to run for Congress this year. Jamescita Peshlakai won back the seat with no formal opposition.

Each party also claimed a Senate seat from the other.

Democrat Sean Bowie defeated Republican Frank Schmuck in the 18th Legislative District that includes south Tempe, Ahwatukee Foothills and parts of Chandler. Schmuck beat incumbent state Sen. Jeff Dial, R-Chandler, in the GOP primary, and Democrats labeled Schmuck as too extreme for the moderate-leaning suburban district.

Meanwhile, Republican Frank Pratt ousted Democratic incumbent Barbara McGuire in the 8th District.

Republican incumbent Sylvia Allen had the tightest re-election margin among the other races, but she led by nearly 2 percentage points over Democrat Nikki Bagley in the 6th District that includes lower Coconino and Navajo counties.

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In the House, Democrats won two of the three seats that changed hands.

Daniel Hernandez, a Democrat perhaps best known as the congressional aide who rendered initial care to then-U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., moments after she was shot in 2011, defeated incumbent state Rep. Jonathan Ackerley, a Republican, in the 2nd Legislative District.

Democrat Denise "Mitzi" Epstein also beat out incumbent Bob Robson, a Republican, in the 18th District.

But in the 10th District, Republican Todd Clodfelter ousted Democrat Stefanie Mach.

Overall, 23 new members will join the 60-member House, with several term-limited transfers from the Senate among them.