Arizona enacted new congressional and legislative districts on Jan. 24, 2022, after the state’s independent redistricting commission transmitted the maps to the secretary of state. Arizona was apportioned nine seats in the U.S. House of Representatives after the 2020 census, the same number it received after the 2010 census. The state also has 30 legislative districts, each of which elects one senator and two representatives.
The redistricting commission originally approved the maps on Dec. 22, 2021. Members unanimously approved the congressional lines and voted 3-2 in favor of the legislative plan with nonpartisan Chairwoman Erika Neuberg joining the two Republican members—David Mehl and Douglas York—in support and the two Democratic members—Shereen Lerner and Derrick Watchman—opposed.
Following their approval, the maps entered a review period during which time towns and counties could suggest minor administrative edits. On Jan. 18, the commission reconvened to discuss incorporating those edits and to certify the maps. The commission voted 3-2 to certify the congressional map on Jan. 18 and 3-2 in favor of the legislative map on Jan. 21 with Neuberg, Mehl, and York voting in support both times and Lerner and Watchman opposed.
At the time of the congressional map’s enactment, Democrats held five U.S. House seats in Arizona and Republicans held four. The Arizona Republic’s Ray Stern wrote, “The new map, should it withstand legal challenges, favors Republicans in five — and possibly six — of the state’s nine districts.”
In a statement, the Arizona Democratic Party said, “Chair Neuberg … abandoned her role as nonpartisan arbiter … [and] has been an active participant in the Republican Commissioners’ efforts to achieve a warped congressional map so gerrymandered, it might as well have been drawn by a Republican legislature.”
Neuberg said her vote in favor “stemmed from fundamental differences and understanding on constitutional responsibilities as it related to redistricting.” Commissioner Mehl said, “I think this map is a terrific map for the state of Arizona … This map really represents what we heard from the public and what we see in the constitution.”
With the legislative map, the Arizona Mirror’s Jeremy Dude wrote, “The final map has 13 Republican districts, 12 Democratic ones and five that would be considered competitive … Four of those five competitive districts lean toward the GOP.”
Following the Dec. 22 meeting when the final maps were initially approved, Commissioner Lerner said, “I think there’s always going to be partisanship. But I feel the partisanship exceeded my expectations.” Neuberg referenced the competitive districts saying, “[T]hese maps will further encourage elected leaders to pay attention to their constituents.”
As of Jan. 25, 25 states have adopted congressional district maps and 29 have adopted legislative lines. Congressional redistricting has been completed for 271 of the 435 seats (62.3%) in the U.S. House. Legislative redistricting has been completed for 3,992 of the 7,383 state legislative seats (54.1%).
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