Scottsdale Cliffhanger, Eight-Vote School Election and a Page Constable Mystery Highlight Arizona’s Local Results

While Arizona’s statewide elections commanded most of the headlines Tuesday night, voters across the state also decided dozens of municipal, school board and local funding contests. Some of the most interesting results were also among the closest.

In Scottsdale, three candidates continued battling for two City Council seats. In Williams, a school budget measure led by just eight votes. And in Page, an unusual constable election raised the possibility that write-in votes could outnumber those cast for the only named candidate.

Here are some of the notable local results from Tuesday’s election.

Scottsdale City Council Race Remains Competitive

Former Republican state Sen. Michelle Ugenti-Rita and incumbent Councilman Barry Graham held the top two positions in Scottsdale’s three-candidate City Council race early Wednesday, with Raoul Zubia still within striking distance.

According to Maricopa County’s 3:41 a.m. results, Ugenti-Rita had received 47,849 votes, Graham 47,827 and Zubia 45,949.

Just 22 votes separated the two leaders, although both held leads of more than 1,800 votes over Zubia. The top two finishers will win the available seats.

The contest was narrowed when former Councilman Bob Littlefield withdrew in August, leaving three candidates competing for two positions. Councilwoman Solange Whitehead had already secured reelection in July’s primary.

With additional ballots still to be counted, the final composition of Scottsdale’s City Council remained unsettled.

Scottsdale School Bond Leads; Johnson and Carney Ahead

Scottsdale Unified School District voters appeared inclined to approve a $375 million bond package for school improvements, security, technology and transportation.

The bond proposal led with 48,493 votes in favor and 40,568 opposed, a margin of nearly eight percentage points.

A separate measure authorizing the district to sell, lease or exchange certain district property enjoyed considerably stronger support, with 59,933 votes in favor and 26,504 opposed.

In the district’s school board election, Jennifer Johnson led the three-candidate field with 42,720 votes. Amy Carney held second place with 37,010, followed by Jeanne Beasley with 33,743.

Two board seats were available.

The early results suggested that Scottsdale voters were willing to authorize another substantial investment in school facilities, even as school governance remained a contentious local issue.

Phoenix Heads Toward Two Council Runoffs

In Phoenix, incumbents Kevin Robinson and Kesha Hodge Washington held commanding leads in their reelection campaigns, while two open City Council seats appeared headed toward March runoffs.

District 2 produced an exceptionally close three-way contest.

Matt Evans led with 16,799 votes, followed by Julie Read with 16,100 and Danny Mazza with 15,940.

Just 160 votes separated Read and Mazza for second place, with the top two candidates advancing to a runoff if no candidate receives a majority.

District 4 featured an eight-candidate field, with Ed Hermes comfortably leading at 12,114 votes, nearly 40% of the total.

The contest for the second runoff position was much tighter. Ashley Harder held 3,859 votes, followed by Patricia Jimenez with 3,439 and Cassandra Hernandez with 3,285.

In District 6, Robinson led Michael Del Prete with nearly 65% of the vote. Hodge Washington held more than 72% in District 8.

The runoff elections are scheduled for March 9, 2027.

Tempe Voters Reject Sales Tax Increase

Tempe voters appeared to reject Proposition 424, a proposed half-cent sales tax increase intended to fund public safety, transportation and early childhood programs.

The proposal trailed by 25,087 votes to 17,395, with approximately 59% voting against it in early returns.

The measure would have divided the additional revenue among police and fire services, transportation improvements, and preschool and early childhood initiatives.

The result would leave city officials to determine how to fund those priorities without the proposed additional sales tax revenue.

Tolleson School District Faces Two Funding Defeats

Voters in the Tolleson Union High School District appeared to reject two separate school-funding proposals.

A bond question trailed by 17,067 votes to 14,342, while a separate budget increase proposal was losing by 16,448 to 15,066.

The district’s governing board election also produced a competitive field, with Elda Luna-Nájera leading at 14,924 votes and Fernando Urbina holding second place with 11,610. Two seats were available.

The potential rejection of both financial measures would leave district administrators facing difficult decisions about capital projects and operational spending.

Elsewhere in the East Valley, Gilbert Public Schools’ proposed $136 million bond, Proposition 422, held a much narrower advantage: 31,648 Yes votes to 31,005 No votes, a margin of only 643 ballots.

Flagstaff Splits on Public Safety Taxes and Bonds

Flagstaff voters appeared to make a distinction between financing public safety improvements through borrowing and paying for them through higher sales taxes.

Proposition 404, a proposed half-cent sales tax dedicated to public safety services, trailed by 8,576 No votes to 7,976 Yes votes.

But Proposition 405, authorizing up to $40 million in bonds for public safety facilities, vehicles and equipment, led with 8,652 Yes votes to 7,796 No votes.

In municipal elections, incumbent Mayor Becky Daggett faced no remaining named opponent and received 13,023 votes.

In the five-candidate contest for three City Council seats, Patty Hansen, Khara House and Austin Aslan held the top three positions, followed by Nancy Baca and Lori Matthews.

Williams School Override Leads by Just Eight Votes

One of Arizona’s closest local results came from Williams, where voters considered Proposition 408, a continuation of an existing school district budget override.

The proposal led by exactly eight votes in early Coconino County returns: 888 Yes to 880 No.

The measure would authorize Williams Unified School District to maintain a maintenance-and-operations budget up to 10% above the state revenue control limit, beginning with the 2027-28 fiscal year.

District election materials estimated that the proposed continuation would provide approximately $201,613 in additional budget authority during its first year.

The eight-vote difference leaves the outcome particularly vulnerable to additional ballot counting.

In the city’s separate council election, Michelle Campbell led Jeremy Peasley, 420 votes to 293, for the available seat.

Page Constable Race Produces an Unusual Write-In Mystery

Perhaps the strangest local result came from Page, where the contest for constable produced a curious result in Coconino County’s election reporting system.

Republican candidate Cory Black received 80 votes.

But the county’s results also showed 94 votes in a category labeled “Unofficial Write-in,” along with two additional unassigned write-in votes.

That means the unofficial write-in category received more votes than the only named candidate appearing in the reported contest.

It doesn’t necessarily mean an eligible write-in candidate defeated Black. The county hasn’t identified the individuals receiving those votes in the results reviewed, and write-in eligibility and ballot adjudication will determine their ultimate treatment.

Nevertheless, a constable election in which the leading vote category has no name attached makes for one of the more unusual footnotes of the 2026 election.

For now, Page voters know how many write-in votes were reported, but not whether they represent a qualified candidate capable of winning the office. But we’ll find out in January when either Black, a random dog, or “Ron Swanson” take the constable’s seat.

All results are unofficial and subject to additional counting and canvassing. Maricopa County figures reflect the November 4, 3:41 a.m. results report; Coconino County figures reflect its early Wednesday election reporting.