With Rep. David Marshall resigning from the Arizona House to accept an appointment as Navajo County Recorder, Republicans in Legislative District 7 are guaranteed at least one new face in the Legislature next year. Marshall’s move sparked a closely watched constitutional challenge from Attorney General Kris Mayes, but earlier this month, a Maricopa County Superior Court judge ruled he was eligible to serve as recorder after resigning from the Legislature, allowing him to remain in office. Now, attention shifts back to LD7, where Republicans will decide what kind of conservative fills the vacancy he left behind.

Most political observers expect Rep. Walt Blackman to retain one of LD7’s two House seats, aided by his name recognition, military background, and established legislative record.

Blackman’s most significant recent accomplishment is the Master Sergeant Orlando Dona Stolen Valor Act, which was signed into law in 2025. The measure makes it a crime to knowingly falsify military service or honors to obtain employment, government benefits, or other advantages reserved for veterans. Blackman, a retired Army combat veteran, called the law a necessary safeguard against people who “profit off” service they did not earn.

Rep. Walt Blackman initially weighed in on the controversy surrounding the Legislative District 10 race with a measured response, emphasizing the need for a careful review before reaching any conclusions.

“I sponsored Arizona’s Master Sergeant Orlando Dona Stolen Valor Act because military service is earned through sacrifice—not used for personal or political gain,” Blackman said. “The allegations are serious and deserve a fair, thorough, and impartial investigation. Everyone is entitled to due process. However, if the evidence establishes that Arizona law was violated, it should be enforced equally. No one is above the law. Our veterans earned their honor through service and sacrifice. Anyone who knowingly exploits that service for personal or political gain should be held accountable if the facts and the law support it.”

Just days later, however, Blackman released an official letter on Arizona House of Representatives letterhead concluding that the facts presented in the Legislative District 10 race did not constitute a violation of Arizona’s Stolen Valor Act. The relatively swift transition from calling for a “fair, thorough, and impartial investigation” to announcing a legal conclusion has prompted questions about what information or documentation was reviewed in the interim.

For readers seeking additional background and context, we previously covered the LD10 controversy here.

Former Rep. David Cook is also seeking one of LD7’s two House seats. Cook previously served four terms in the Arizona House representing rural Arizona before mounting an unsuccessful bid for the Legislative District 7 Senate seat in 2024. His return to the House would bring an experienced legislator back to the chamber at a time when Republicans are replacing one of the district’s incumbents.

Cook has long focused on issues affecting rural Arizona, including water policy, agriculture, property rights, border security, and limiting government regulation. His legislative experience gives Republican primary voters another established conservative to consider as they decide who should join Blackman in representing the vast district.

Cook has also attracted significant outside support. Campaign finance reports show Responsible Leadership for Arizona has spent $60,729 in independent expenditures supporting his campaign, making him one of the best-funded candidates in the race through independent spending.

Barby Ingle is also seeking the open House seat in Legislative District 7. Asked why voters should send her to the Legislature, Ingle pointed to her record as a grassroots advocate and emphasized her commitment to constitutional conservatism.

“Voters should trust a proven fighter who has delivered results,” Ingle said. “For the past 17 years, I have worked as a volunteer, concerned citizen, and advocate at both the state and federal levels. I have personally authored or co-authored seven bills, four of which are now law. That track record shows I know how to get things done in the legislative process, even from the outside.

“As a strong constitutional conservative, I will represent all 50 towns and cities across the four counties of LD7—not just the usual power centers. Every bill I sponsor will meet three simple tests: it will be constitutional, moral, and will not harm the people I serve. Arizonans deserve representatives who actively fight for our shared values and put LD7 and the entire state first.

“Fresh leadership with a proven record is exactly what LD7 needs right now.”

Attorney Andrew Costanzo rounds out the Republican field seeking the open House seat in Legislative District 7. Costanzo has centered his campaign on constitutional government, individual liberty, and conservative values, arguing that Arizona needs legislators who will faithfully uphold the Constitution and protect the rights of its citizens.

With Walt Blackman seeking reelection, David Cook offering prior legislative experience, Barby Ingle campaigning as a grassroots advocate, and Andrew Costanzo presenting himself as a constitutional conservative, Republican voters in Legislative District 7 have a diverse field from which to choose. The primary will determine who fills the vacancy created by David Marshall’s departure and who will help represent one of Arizona’s largest and most geographically diverse legislative districts at the Capitol.