2016 Arizona elections

2016 Arizona elections

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The general election was held in the U.S. state of Arizona on November 8, 2016, as part of the 2016 General Election. Arizona voters chose 11 electors to represent them in the Electoral College via a popular vote. Also three seats on the Arizona Corporation Commission were up for election, as well as all of Arizona's nine seats in the United States House of Representatives and one seat for the United States Senate. Primary elections were held in August 2016.^[1]

US President

Main article: 2016 United States presidential election in Arizona

Republican candidate Donald Trump won Arizona by defeating Hillary Clinton and earned 11 electoral votes, although the state swung towards the Democrats significantly compared to 2012.

US Senate

Main article: 2016 United States Senate election in Arizona

Republican incumbent John McCain defeated Democratic challenger Ann Kirkpatrick.

House of Representatives

Main article: 2016 United States House of Representatives elections in Arizona

All of Arizona's nine seats in the United States House of Representatives were up for election in 2016. Republicans won 5 seats, while Democrats took 4. No seat changed hands.

Corporation Commission

2016 Arizona Corporation Commission election

← 2012 November 8, 2016 2020 →

Nominee Bob Burns Andy Tobin Boyd Dunn Party Republican Republican Republican Popular vote 1,208,002 1,122,849 1,061,094 Percentage 22.35% 20.77% 19.63%   Nominee Bill Mundell Tom Chabin Party Democratic Democratic Popular vote 1,024,501 988,666 Percentage 18.96% 18.29%

Commissioners before election Bob Burns (R) Andy Tobin (R) Bob Stump (R) Elected Commissioners Bob Burns (R) Andy Tobin (R) Boyd Dunn (R)

Three seats on the Arizona Corporation Commission were up for election.^[2] Republican Bob Stump was term-limited and ineligible to run for re-election to a third term in office.

Republican primary

Candidates

• Bob Burns, incumbent commissioner.
• Al Melvin, former state senator.
• Rick Gray, state representative.
• Andy Tobin, incumbent commissioner.
• Boyd Dunn, former mayor of Chandler, Arizona.

Results

Republican primary results^[3]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Bob Burns (incumbent)	279,348	23.85%
	Republican	Andy Tobin (incumbent)	270,738	23.11%
	Republican	Boyd Dunn	221,855	18.94%
	Republican	Rick Gray	211,718	18.07%
	Republican	Al Melvin	187,772	16.03%
Total votes			1,171,431	100%

Democratic primary

Candidates

• Tom Chabin, former Coconino County supervisor and legislator.
• Bill Mundell, former Republican lawmaker and commissioner.

General election

2016 Arizona Corporation Commission election^[4]

Party		Candidate	Votes	%
	Republican	Bob Burns (incumbent)	1,208,002	22.35%
	Republican	Andy Tobin (incumbent)	1,122,849	20.77%
	Republican	Boyd Dunn	1,061,094	19.63%
	Democratic	Bill Mundell	1,024,501	18.96%
	Democratic	Tom Chabin	988,666	18.29%
Total votes			5,405,112	100%
	Republican hold
	Republican hold
	Republican hold

State Legislature

Main articles: 2016 Arizona Senate election and 2016 Arizona House of Representatives election

All 30 members of the Arizona State Senate and all 60 members of the Arizona House of Representatives were up for election. Democrats flipped one state senate district and netted one state house seat.

State Senate Party Before After Change Republican 18 17 1 Democratic 12 13 1 Total 30 30

House of Representatives Party Before After Change Republican 36 35 1 Democratic 24 25 1 Total 60 60

Supreme Court

Results by county

Yes:

•   70–80%
•   80–90%

One justice on the Arizona Supreme Court was up for retention - Justice Ann Timmer was appointed by Governor Jan Brewer in 2012 after outgoing justice Andrew D. Hurwitz became a federal judge on the Ninth Circuit.^[5]

Justice Timmer retention, 2016

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	1,338,576	76.71
No	406,311	23.29
Total votes	1,744,887	100.00
Source: Arizona Secretary of State[4]

Ballot initiatives

See also: List of Arizona ballot propositions

Arizona had four statewide ballot propositions in 2016, two in May and two in November.^[6]

Proposition 123

Results by county

Yes:

•   60–70%
•   50–60%

No:

•   50–60%

The Arizona Education Finance Amendment would increase education funding by $3.5 billion over 10 years.^[7]

Proposition 123

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	536,365	50.92
No	516,949	49.08
Total votes	1,053,314	100.00
Source: Arizona Secretary of State[8]

Proposition 124

Results by county

Yes:

•   70–80%
•   60–70%

The Public Retirement Benefits Amendment would allow the state legislature to modify public retirement benefits for future employees and to replace the benefit system with a compounding cost of living adjustment.^[9]

Proposition 124

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	719,554	70.42
No	302,195	29.58
Total votes	1,021,749	100.00
Source: Arizona Secretary of State[8]

Proposition 205

Results by county

Yes:

•   50–60%

No:

•   60–70%
•   50–60%

The Arizona Marijuana Legalization Initiative would legalize marijuana for individuals older than 21 years of age.^[10]

Proposition 205

Choice	Votes	%
No	1,300,344	51.32
Yes	1,233,323	48.68
Total votes	2,533,667	100.00
Source: Arizona Secretary of State[4]

Proposition 206

Results by county

Yes:

•   70–80%
•   60–70%
•   50–60%

The Minimum Wage and Paid Time Off Initiative would raise the minimum wage and introduce paid sick leave.^[11]

Proposition 206

Choice	Votes	%
Yes	1,465,639	58.33
No	1,046,945	41.67
Total votes	2,512,584	100.00
Source: Arizona Secretary of State[4]

References

1. "Arizona elections, 2016". Ballotpedia. Retrieved November 30, 2025.
2. "Arizona Corporation Commission election, 2016". Ballotpedia. Retrieved November 30, 2025.
3. "Official Election Canvass of Results" (PDF). Arizona Secretary of State. September 12, 2016. Retrieved November 30, 2025.
4. "Official Signed State Canvass" (PDF). Arizona Secretary of State. November 29, 2016. Retrieved November 30, 2025.
5. Davenport, Paul (October 13, 2012). "Brewer appoints Republican judge to Supreme Court". KOLD-TV. Retrieved November 30, 2025.
6. "Arizona 2016 ballot measures". Ballotpedia. Retrieved December 1, 2025.
7. "Arizona Education Finance Amendment, Proposition 123 (May 2016)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved December 1, 2025.
8. "Special Election Results" (PDF). Arizona Secretary of State. May 26, 2016. Retrieved December 1, 2025.
9. "Arizona Public Retirement Benefits Amendment, Proposition 124 (May 2016)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved December 1, 2025.
10. "Arizona Marijuana Legalization, Proposition 205 (2016)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved December 1, 2025.
11. "Arizona Minimum Wage and Paid Time Off, Proposition 206 (2016)". Ballotpedia. Retrieved December 1, 2025.