Republican Warren Petersen was re-elected President of the Arizona Senate after his lone challenger dropped out of the race earlier in the day.
Petersen had a successful initial term as President over the last two years and, working with House Speaker Ben Toma, he muscled through a number of conservative wins in spite of Arizona having a Democrat Governor with a hyperactive veto pen. Petersen also helped stop Hobbs from illegally circumventing the director appointment process when she was trying to force unacceptable candidates through the Senate to lead various state departments.
Petersen has also been holding a number of other elected Democrats accountable, including Secretary of State Adrian Fontes and Attorney General Kris Mayes.
The conservative Petersen has a long track record that dates back to when he started in the State House, where he served alongside his seatmate, then Senator Andy Biggs. Petersen has been mentioned as a possible statewide candidate in 2026 and is being recruited to run for Attorney General.
Joining Petersen in Senate leadership is State Senator Janae Shamp, who will serve as the Senate Majority Leader, and Frank Carroll, who will serve as the Majority Whip.
The Senate races were largely quiet campaigns, although a late attack was launched by Marissa Hamilton and her EZAZ group on Shamp. Hamilton’s group bizarrely claimed that Shamp was a faux America-First candidate and was pro-swamp. Shamp was actually personally endorsed in her campaign by President Donald J Trump, making the attack both bizarre and wildly unsuccessful.
