The 1988 Arizona Senate election was held on November 8, 1988. Voters elected members of the Arizona Senate in all 30 of the state's legislative districts to serve a two-year term. Primary elections were held on September 13, 1988.
Prior to the elections, the Republicans held a majority of 19 seats over the Democrats' 11 seats.
Following the election, Republicans maintained control of the chamber with 17 Republicans to 13 Democrats, a net gain of two seats for Democrats.
The newly elected senators served in the 39th Arizona State Legislature.
Retiring Incumbents Republicans District 13: Greg Lunn District 15: S.H. "Hal" Runyan District 18: Tony West
Incumbents Defeated in Primary Elections Republicans District 21: Carl J. Kunasek District 26: Peter Kay District 29: Jack J. Taylor
Incumbents Defeated in General Elections Republican District 8: Carol Lee Macdonald
Summary of Results by Arizona State Legislative District District Incumbent Party Elected Senator Outcome 1st John U. Hays Rep John U. Hays Rep Hold 2nd Tony Gabaldon Dem Tony Gabaldon Dem Hold 3rd James Henderson Jr. Dem James Henderson Jr. Dem Hold 4th A.V. "Bill" Hardt Dem A.V. "Bill" Hardt Dem Hold 5th Jones Osborn Dem Jones Osborn Dem Hold 6th Alan J. Stephens Dem Alan J. Stephens Dem Hold 7th Peter Rios Dem Peter Rios Dem Hold 8th Carol Lee Macdonald Rep Gus ArzbergerDem Gain 9th Jeffrey J. Hill Rep Jeffrey J. Hill Rep Hold 10th Jesus "Chuy" Higuera Dem Jesus "Chuy" Higuera Dem Hold 11th Jaime P. Gutierrez Dem Jaime P. Gutierrez Dem Hold 12th John T. Mawhinney Rep John T. Mawhinney Rep Hold 13th Greg Lunn Rep David C. BartlettDem Gain 14th William J. "Bill" DeLong Rep William J. "Bill" DeLong Rep Hold 15th S.H. "Hal" Runyan Rep Bob Denny Rep Hold 16th Wayne Stump Rep Wayne Stump Rep Hold 17th Patricia "Pat" Wright Rep Patricia "Pat" Wright Rep Hold 18th Tony West Rep Leo Corbet Rep Hold 19th Jan Brewer Rep Jan Brewer Rep Hold 20th Lela Alston Dem Lela Alston Dem Hold 21st Carl J. Kunasek Rep Jerry Gillespie Rep Hold 22nd Manuel "Lito" Peña Jr. Dem Manuel "Lito" Peña Jr. Dem Hold 23rd Carolyn Walker Dem Carolyn Walker Dem Hold 24th Pete Corpstein Rep Pete Corpstein Rep Hold 25th Jacque Steiner Rep Jacque Steiner Rep Hold 26th Peter Kay Rep Tom Patterson Rep Hold 27th Doug Todd Rep Doug Todd Rep Hold 28th Robert B. Usdane Rep Robert B. Usdane Rep Hold 29th Jack J. Taylor Rep Lester N. Pearce Rep Hold 30th James J. Sossaman Rep James J. Sossaman Rep Hold
Detailed Results District 1 • District 2 • District 3 • District 4 • District 5 • District 6 • District 7 • District 8 • District 9 • District 10 • District 11 • District 12 • District 13 • District 14 • District 15 • District 16 • District 17 • District 18 • District 19 • District 20 • District 21 • District 22 • District 23 • District 24 • District 25 • District 26 • District 27 • District 28 • District 29 • District 30__NOTOC__
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District 26
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District 28
District 29
District 30
Summary of Votes in the Impeachment Trial of Governor Evan Mecham On February 8, 1988, the Arizona House of Representatives voted to impeach Governor Evan Mecham. This caused a schism in the Arizona Republican Party since the House was controlled by Republicans and the Governor was also a Republican.
Subsequent to the House's vote to impeach, the Senate then convened the impeachment trial of Governor Mecham. On March 30, 1988, the Senate voted to dismiss Article II (pertaining to false sworn statements) for fear of putting Mecham in a position of quasi double jeopardy due to the ongoing criminal proceedings in the Superior Court of Maricopa County. The vote to dismiss Article II was Ayes-16, Noes-12, and Not Voting-2.
On April 4, 1988, the Senate voted on Article I (pertaining to obstruction of justice) and Article III (pertaining to misuse of funds) of the Articles of Impeachment. The Presiding Officer, at 4:56 p.m., announced that by a vote of 21 ayes and 9 noes, Evan Mecham was convicted of high crimes, misdemeanors or malfeasance in office, as contained in Article I of the Articles of Impeachment. The Presiding Officer announced that by a vote of 26 ayes and 4 noes, Evan Mecham was convicted of high crimes, misdemeanors or malfeasance in office, as contained in Article III of the Articles of Impeachment.
Having voted to convict on both Article I and Article III, the Senate then voted on whether to permanently disqualify Mecham from ever again holding any office of honor, trust, or profit in the State of Arizona. The Presiding Officer, at 5:30 p.m., announced that by a roll call vote of 17 ayes and 13 noes, Evan Mecham was not disqualified from holding any office of honor, trust or profit in the State.
The table below summarizes the votes of each Senator during the Mecham impeachment trial and their subsequent fate in the 1988 elections.
District Senator Party Article II Article I Article III Permanently Disqualify Mecham Senator's Electoral Outcome 1st John U. Hays Rep Do Not DismissAyeAyeAye Re-elected 2nd Tony Gabaldon DemDismissAyeAyeAye Re-elected 3rd James Henderson Jr. Dem DismissAyeAyeAye Re-elected 4th A.V. "Bill" Hardt DemDismissAyeAyeAye Re-elected 5th Jones Osborn DemDismissAyeAyeAye Re-elected 6th Alan J. Stephens DemDismissAyeAyeNo Re-elected 7th Peter Rios DemDismissAyeAyeNo Re-elected 8th Carol Lee Macdonald RepDo Not DismissAyeAyeAye Lost (General) 9th Jeffrey J. Hill RepDismissNoNoAye Re-elected 10th Jesus "Chuy" Higuera DemDismissAyeAyeAye Re-elected 11th Jaime P. Gutierrez DemDismissAyeAyeAye Re-elected 12th John T. Mawhinney RepDo Not DismissAyeAyeAye Re-elected 13th Greg Lunn RepNot VotingAyeAyeAye Retired 14th William J. "Bill" DeLong RepDo Not DismissAyeAyeAye Re-elected 15th S.H. "Hal" Runyan RepNot VotingAyeAyeAye Retired 16th Wayne Stump RepDismissNoNoNo Re-elected 17th Patricia "Pat" Wright RepDismissNoNoNo Re-elected 18th Tony West RepDo Not DismissAyeAyeAye Retired 19th Jan Brewer RepDismissNoNoNo Re-elected 20th Lela Alston DemDismissAyeAyeAye Re-elected 21st Carl J. Kunasek RepDo Not DismissNoAyeNo Lost (Primary) 22nd Manuel "Lito" Peña Jr. DemDismissAyeAyeNo Re-elected 23rd Carolyn Walker DemDismissAyeAyeAye Re-elected 24th Pete Corpstein RepDo Not DismissAyeAyeNo Re-elected 25th Jacque Steiner RepDo Not DismissNoAyeNo Re-elected 26th Peter Kay RepDo Not DismissNoAyeNo Lost (Primary) 27th Doug Todd RepDo Not DismissAyeAyeAye Re-elected 28th Robert B. Usdane RepDo Not DismissNoAyeNo Re-elected 29th Jack J. Taylor RepDo Not DismissAyeAyeNo Lost (Primary) 30th James J. Sossaman RepDismissNoAyeNo Re-elected
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