Arizona Democrats flipped the state Legislature. What comes next for families?

Dozens of Arizonans in blue shirts surrounded a podium at the Arizona Capitol on a sunny Tuesday morning, holding blue signs that read “TRIFECTA” — a nod to the results of the election last week that put Democrats in control of the state Legislature and the governor’s office.

Gov. Katie Hobbs, Senate President-elect Priya Sundareshan, House Speaker-elect Oscar De Los Santos and Arizona Democratic Party Chairwoman Charlene Fernandez gathered to speak about a new beginning for Arizonans, briefly touching on matters ranging from support for migrant families and affordability to data center funding.

At the podium, Hobbs called for lower costs, water protections and more support for public schools; De Los Santos said families should have more affordable housing while Sundareshan said Democrats would work to make health care more affordable and help people get ahead.

“But this majority doesn't belong to us. It belongs to Arizona,” Hobbs said.

After the event, the House and Senate leaders were asked what their work would mean for migrant families concerned about increased immigration enforcement, specifically families who fear getting health care or taking their children to school.

De Los Santos said a Republican bill last session would have “forced hospitals to report when a person wasn't documented.” Every Democrat voted against it and “the governor vetoed it,” he said.

Republicans proposed a slew of bills last session targeting migrant and border issues, including some that would require state agencies to share immigration information with the federal government and require local law enforcement to train officers on immigration enforcement. Others would put ICE officers at voting locations and require local police to report to ICE when someone without legal status is arrested.

The proposed bills were eventually vetoed by Hobbs or did not make it past committee.

“So we're looking at all of our options right now,” he said without giving specifics, adding that more details would come in the coming weeks.

Sundareshan said Democrats would support immigrant families and would not put forward bills that “try to attack or make our immigrant families scared.”

The two leaders did not offer a specific new immigration bill or say when people could expect new protections.

Asked about the Legislature defending abortion laws that are being challenged, the Senate leader was more specific.

“We will certainly be ending the litigation,” Sundareshan said, adding that she would work with partners on “what's the best approach for repeals that do need to occur.”

On affordability, Sundareshan pointed to the income-tax cuts that brought Arizona to a single 2.5% rate in 2023, which reduced revenue for public schools and left lawmakers with less money as they seek more funding for schools. “We have to have conversations about revenue,” she said. “We absolutely must invest more in public education at the start.” 

Lawmakers would first look at money going to programs that are not priorities for voters, she said.

On working across the aisle, Sundareshan said data centers were an area where Democrats could seek Republican support for changes. Democrats put forward Senate Bill 1380 this year to keep the energy costs of large data centers from being passed on to households through utility bills. The bill did not get a vote in the Senate, preventing it from reaching Hobbs’ desk.

Utilities have said “growth pays for growth,” she said. She wants state law to make sure households do not pay those costs.

Asked whether voters wanted Democratic policies or just wanted Republicans out, Sundareshan said Democrats would have to keep public support by doing what people asked.

“We want to be able to deliver to show the voters of Arizona we hear you loud and clear and we actually will deliver on what you've asked,” she said.

Miguel Torres is a Phoenix-based illustrator and independent journalist who covers courts, crime and the systems around them. He spent five years reporting for The Arizona Republic and USA TODAY Network.