Arizona Overview

Redistricting Process: Arizona’s independent redistricting commission controls the congressional redistricting process as well as the state legislative redistricting process. Arizona’s Proposition 106 created the first largely independent redistricting commission in the United States. The commission’s congressional plan has been in effect since 2001.

The commissioners are selected by caucus leaders in the state legislature; however, their choices are limited to a short list of candidates selected by the Commission on Appellate Court Appointments.

The Arizona Constitution lays out the commission’s redistricting priorities. First, it requires compliance with all federal laws and the U.S. Constitution. Then, in descending order of precedence, it requires districts to have equal population, be contiguous and compact, respect communities of interest, use visible geographic features and political boundaries, and promote competition where practicable and where there is no significant detriment to the preceding requirements.

While most of Arizona’s districts are very compact, the two congressional districts of Northern Arizona have odd shapes. This is a product of centuries’ old rivalries between the Hopi and Navajo tribes. The Hopi requested not to be in the same congressional district as the Navajo. The Arizona Redistricting Commission respected this request, resulting in two oddly shaped districts.

The legislative plan and congressional plan adopted by the Independent Redistricting Commission become law with no action by the legislature or governor.

Governor: Republican Jan Brewer

Legislature: Republicans control both chambers.

Number of Congressional Seats in 2011: 9 (+1 since 2010)

2011 Ideal District Population: 710,224

Link to Arizona Independent Redistricting Committee

Current District by District Politics and Demographics

1st District- Republican Paul Gosar

2010 Congressional Results: Gosar 49.7%

2008 Congressional Results: Ann Kirkpatrick (D) 56%

2006 Congressional Results: Rick Renzi (R) 52%

2004 Congressional Results: Renzi 59%

2008 Presidential Results: McCain 54% Obama 44%

2004 Presidential Results: Bush 54% Kerry 45%

District Population: 774,310

Over/Under Populated by: 64,086 (Arizona is gaining a seat)

White Population: 442,333

African American Population: 11,762 

Hispanic Population: 150,731

See more demographic information from the 2010 Census for the 1st District.*

2nd District- Republican Trent Franks

2010 Congressional Results: Franks 65%

2008 Congressional Results: Franks 60%

2006 Congressional Results: Franks 59%

2004 Congressional Results: Franks 59%

2008 Presidential Results: McCain 61% Obama 38%

2004 Presidential Results: Bush 61% Kerry 38%

District Population: 972,839

Over/Under Populated by: 262,615 (Arizona is gaining a seat)

White Population: 674,663

African American Population: 34,092

Hispanic Population: 202,001

See more demographic information from the 2010 Census for the 2nd District.

3rd District- Republican Ben Quayle

2010 Congressional Results: Quayle 59%

2008 Congressional Results: John Shadegg (R) 54%

2006 Congressional Results: Shadegg 59%

2004 Congressional Results: Shadegg 80%

2008 Presidential Results: McCain 56% Obama 42%

2004 Presidential Results: Bush 58% Kerry 41%

District Population: 707,919

Over/Under Populated by: 2,305 (Arizona is gaining a seat)

White Population: 500,403

African American Population: 21,795

Hispanic Population: 136,913

See more demographic information from the 2010 Census for the 3rd District.

4th District- Democrat Ed Pastor

2010 Congressional Results: Pastor 67%

2008 Congressional Results: Pastor 72%

2006 Congressional Results: Pastor 73%

2004 Congressional Results: Pastor 70%

2008 Presidential Results: McCain 33% Obama 66%

2004 Presidential Results: Bush 38% Kerry 62%

District Population: 698,314

Over/Under Populated by: 11,910 (Arizona is gaining a seat)

White Population: 150,172

African American Population: 60,063

Hispanic Population: 446,159

See more demographic information from the 2010 Census for the 4th District.

5th District- Republican David Schweikert

2010 Congressional Results: Schweikert 52%

2008 Congressional Results: Harry Mitchell (D) 53%

2006 Congressional Results: Mitchell 50%

2004 Congressional Results: J.D. Hayworth (R) 59%

2008 Presidential Results: McCain 52% Obama 47%

2004 Presidential Results: Bush 54% Kerry 45%

District Population: 656,833

Over/Under Populated by: 53,391 (Arizona is gaining a seat)

White Population: 461,465

African American Population: 25,051

Hispanic Population: 108,527

See more demographic information from the 2010 Census for the 5th District.

6th District- Republican Jeff Flake

2010 Congressional Results: Flake 66%

2008 Congressional Results: Flake 62%

2006 Congressional Results: Flake 75%

2004 Congressional Results: Flake 79%

2008 Presidential Results: McCain 61% Obama 38%

2004 Presidential Results: Bush 64% Kerry 35%

District Population: 971,733

Over/Under Populated by: 261,509 (Arizona is gaining a seat)

White Population: 673,881

African American Population: 30,047

Hispanic Population: 200,680

See more demographic information from the 2010 Census for the 6th District.

7th District- Democrat Raul Grijalva

2010 Congressional Results: Grijalva 50.2%

2008 Congressional Results: Grijalva 63%

2006 Congressional Results: Grijalva 61%

2004 Congressional Results: Grijalva 62%

2008 Presidential Results: McCain 42% Obama 57%

2004 Presidential Results: Bush 43% Kerry 57%

District Population: 855,769

Over/Under Populated by: 145,545 (Arizona is gaining a seat)

White Population: 278,662

African American Population: 31,450

Hispanic Population: 479,014

See more demographic information from the 2010 Census for the 7th District.

8th District- Democrat Gabrielle Giffords

2010 Congressional Results: Giffords 48.8%

2008 Congressional Results: Giffords 55%

2006 Congressional Results: Giffords 54%

2004 Congressional Results: Jim Kolbe (R) 60%

2008 Presidential Results: McCain 52% Obama 46%

2004 Presidential Results: Bush 53% Kerry 46%

District Population: 754,300

Over/Under Populated by: 44,076 (Arizona is gaining a seat)

White Population: 514,068

African American Population: 24,841

Hispanic Population: 171,124

See more demographic information from the 2010 Census for the 8th District.


*In some browsers, the link to the 2010 Census page may link to a table of demographics for several states as opposed to the districts for the specific state.  If this occurs, click the “Back to Search” link at the top of the page and then click on the arrow next to “Geographies” in the left column.  Select “All Congressional Districts within Arizona” and then close the box.  Click on the link for “Race, Hispanic or Latino, Age and Housing Occupancy: 2010” and the correct table should appear.

Redistricting Process taken from Rose Institute study “Redistricting in America.”