In theory, the races for Chandler City Council are non-partisan. The reality of 2026 is they usually are partisan.
And in what many political experts expect will be a theme for this year, 2026 looks like a great year for Democrats and a bad one for Republicans in Chandler.
Matt Orlando has likely won the race to be Chandler’s next mayor, easily defeating current state Rep. Jeff Weninger by 16 percentage points, according to unofficial results from the July 21 election as of this newspaper’s Friday deadline. And all three council seats up for election were won by candidates endorsed by Democratic leaders.
Orlando is registered as an independent, but sides often with the Democratic bloc on the council.
Orlando, who is finishing his sixth term on Council, also received campaign funds from organized labor and highlighted Weninger’s endorsement by Turning Point Arizona to rally supporters to his side during the race.
Weninger, a former council member, is a Republican.
“Over the past three decades, I’ve had the privilege of serving the people of Chandler on our City Council,” Orlando said in a statement following his likely victory. “Together, we’ve helped transform Chandler into one of America’s safest, most financially stable, and most desirable cities.
“Today, I am honored and humbled to have been elected the Mayor of Chandler to finish the job I started 30 years ago. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to lead Chandler into our next chapter.
“To the residents who have placed their trust in me throughout my years of public service, thank you. To the local police officers, firefighters, and teachers who have supported me over the years, thank you. As mayor, I’ll work every day to represent every Chandler resident, whether they voted for me or not, because that’s what leadership requires.”
Likely City Council winners are incumbents Jane Poston and Angel Encinas, and newcomer Cicely Rocha-Miller.
Lisa Askey, who was endorsed by many prominent local Republicans, including Mayor Kevin Hartke, finished fourth.
“Holy blue tsunami in our local races,” Joseph Yang wrote on X after the first results were announced. He’s a former council candidate, LD13 GOP official and runs a Republican-focused political action committee. “Democrats have begun the takeover of major cities, if these trends continue to hold, Democrats will have effectively captured the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and now 4th largest cities in Arizona.”
Weninger conceded the morning after the election.
“While the results are not yet official, it’s clear that we came up short,” he wrote on Facebook. “I want to sincerely thank everyone who believed in me, prayed for me, volunteered, put up signs, knocked on doors, made phone calls, contributed to the campaign, shared a post, or simply encouraged me along the way.
“I will never be able to fully express how much your support has meant to me and my family.
“Running for Mayor of Chandler has been one of the greatest honors of my life because it gave me the opportunity to meet so many incredible people and hear your stories, your ideas, and your hopes for our city.”
His wife, Janet Weninger, was luckier last week. She and termed-out Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke came out on top in a three-way Republican race for the two House nominations in legislative District 13.
The effects of last week’s election could impact Council’s future consideration of an ethics policy for its members.
Based on what happened in 2022, it would not be a shock if members of Council who were skeptical of adopting an ethics policy a couple of months ago suddenly start favoring one.
Four years ago, the Council was considering a non-discrimination ordinance (NDO), and its fate was up in the air. That changed after the 2022 Primary Election. Two Republicans facing term limits were about to be replaced by Encinas and Poston, who had both campaigned in support of the NDO.
With the prospect of a new Council adopting an NDO in 2023, Republican members changed their positions to pass their version in December 2022, though the policy lacked strong enforcement – no fines and no private right to sue a business.
The only penalty is that any business found in violation would not be eligible for a city contract or grant.
Poston has been pushing for Council to adopt an ethics policy since she got elected four years ago. She found resistance from the Republican members of Council as well as OD Harris.
Hartke said he does not see a need for it, and wanted to know what problem she is trying to fix. Christine Ellis said she is worried an ethics policy would be weaponized and cause divisions that have taken place in other communities such as Gilbert. Jennifer Hawkins agreed with Hartke.
With Rocha-Miller joining and Hartke leaving, the math has changed. Even if Harris continues to oppose an ethics agreement, Poston likely has the votes needed to pass one when the new Council is sworn in.
Current members can either try to pass a version they find more palatable or wait to see what version the Democrats and Orlando will pass in January.
This was Rocha-Miller’s second attempt for a Council seat. She finished fifth in voting in the 2024 Primary Election. She is the founder and owner of Life Design Events and a principal at ROCHA, an industrial services firm.
She and her husband live Downtown and have two children.
“[The] results show a close race, and there are still votes left to be counted – but we’re feeling confident on where this is headed,” Rocha-Miller said in a statement.
“I want to thank everyone who has supported our campaign and everyone who took the time to participate in our democracy. Every vote matters, and I appreciate all of our elections workers for diligently working to count every ballot.
“As we wait for the final results, I encourage patience and confidence in the election process. No matter the outcome, I am grateful for the opportunity to have met so many incredible Chandler residents and to have shared a desire to build a better future for our City.”
The Maricopa County Reporter said Thursday that 99% of the votes have been counted and about 5,900 remained to be tabulated. It expected to complete the count by Monday, July 27.
Chandler residents are ratifying the city’s update to its General Plan by an 84% to 16% margin. The state mandates cities update their plan every 10 years and that it must be approved by voters.
A General Plan lays out how a city wants to grow and most impacts zoning. The most controversial aspect of this year’s update was potentially allowing some residential units in the Price Road Corridor.
District races
Hartke earned the most votes in the Republican primary for one of the two District 13 House seat nominations. He advances to the Nov. 3 election with Janet Weninger to face Democrats Racquel Armstrong and Jacob Weinberg.
Debra Schinke finished in third in the Republican primary. Republicans currently hold both those House seats and Rep. Julie Willoughby is running for the Senate seat, replacing J.D. Mesnard, who is running for Sun Lakes Justice of the Peace.
Willoughby faces Democrat Kristie O’Brien in the General Election.
In District 12, which includes western Chandler as well as Ahwatukee and part of Tempe, Republican challenger David Richardson advances to face Democrats Stacey Travers and Armando Montero for the House seats.
Rep. Patricia “Patty” Contreras is running against the No Labels Party’s Anthony Jason Ramirez for the senate seat, which is being vacated by retiring Democrat Mitzi Epstein.