Maricopa moves to LD16 in new legislative map

Maricopa, the largest city in Pinal County, will anchor a new and reconfigured legislative district beginning in 2023 after the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission unanimously approved a new legislative district map Dec. 22.

The commission re-draws the state’s legislative and congressional districts once a decade following the census to reflect changes in the state’s population.

The sprawling new district starts in the northwest, encompassing the Gila River Indian Community west of the new Loop 202 in Laveen, and moves southeast, essentially following Interstate 10. It includes Maricopa, Casa Grande, Florence, the Ak-Chin Community, and extends all the way south to the western edge of Tucson.

Teresa Martinez, who was appointed to replace Rep. Bret Roberts, said she sees positives in the new district.

“It was a surprise that we were placed with the cities in the south, but then again, every district has a northern and southern border,” she said. “I think it’s great that the bulk of Pinal County is together – I’m very excited. Of course, it would have been awesome to have all of Pinal County as one, but that was not in the cards. However, I’m glad the core of Pinal County is kept together.”

The Arizona Legislature has 30 districts. Currently, Republicans hold an advantage of 16-14 in the Senate and 31-29 in the House.

At least one Maricopa official did not love the placement of the city.

“We move from district 11 to district 16 on the new legislative map,” said Vice Mayor Vincent Manfredi. “The new district brings Maricopa, Casa Grande, Arizona City, Eloy, Coolidge, Florence, Red Rock, Picacho, Stanfield, Ak-Chin, and parts of Old Tucson and more into a very large, stretched-out district. I don’t see the wisdom behind it, but I made my voice clear in the process that I wanted us to be matched with communities of similar interests.”

The boundary changes mean all three of Maricopa’s representatives in the legislature will be new following the 2020 election.

Currently represented by Vince Leach, the city will be represented in the senate by TJ Shope, a first-term senator from Coolidge currently representing LD 8. Teresa Martinez was appointed to fill the balance of Bret Roberts’ term after his resignation and Neal Carter, who was appointed to replace Frank Petty, will run in another district.

Current LD 11 senator Vince Leach said the change was inevitable.

“With the changes to the legislative district, I will not be representing Casa Grande, Maricopa or Stanfield any longer,” said Leach, who remains in place through next year’s election. “That was a foregone conclusion going into redistricting because LD 11 was a gerrymandered district from the beginning. It was overpopulated with Republicans. It’s too bad because I really enjoyed that part of my district. I enjoyed the people, and I enjoyed the work we did.”

Martinez said the new district boundaries don’t change her plans to run for the seat in 2022.

“I have made the commitment to run regardless of change,” she said. “However, I am loving this new district and I am looking forward to representing LD16!”

*– Manfredi is a co-owner of InMaricopa.