A guide to the Phoenix City Council March 2023 runoff election

Arizona Republic
·3 min read
Kevin Robinson (far left) and Sam Stone (second from left) are running for Phoenix City Council District 6. Carlos Garcia (second from right) and Kesha Hodge Washington are running for Phoenix City Council District 8.
Kevin Robinson (far left) and Sam Stone (second from left) are running for Phoenix City Council District 6. Carlos Garcia (second from right) and Kesha Hodge Washington are running for Phoenix City Council District 8.

Voters in two Phoenix City Council districts will be selecting their representatives on March 14 in a runoff election. Runoffs happen for Phoenix council seats if no single candidate receives a majority of ballots cast in November.

The election has the potential to shift the political balance of the council.

In District 6, Councilmember Sal DiCiccio, a conservative who is term-limited, will be replaced by either Sam Stone, who is cut from the same cloth as DiCiccio, or Kevin Robinson, a moderate who spent nearly four decades with the Phoenix Police Department and is aligned with Mayor Kate Gallego.

In District 8, voters will either re-elect current Councilmember Carlos Garcia, a progressive with a background in community organizing, or choose his challenger, attorney Kesha Hodge Washington, a more moderate Democrat who has also been endorsed by Gallego.

Here's everything you need to know about the runoff election, including background on the four candidates and how to vote:

Local politics:Phoenix runoff election 2023: Voters in two council districts head to polls

District 6 candidates

Introduction to District 6 candidates:Meet Kevin Robinson, Sam Stone: Phoenix City Council District 6 candidates

District 6 debate:'180 degrees different': Robinson, Stone square off in District 6 debate

Hear the D6 candidates debate on The Gaggle: Apple | Spotify

Learn more about Sam Stone:Sam Stone maneuvers affiliation with Kari Lake and election denial in council race

Learn more about Kevin Robinson:Kevin Robinson has been in public eye for years. Now he's running to succeed Sal DiCiccio on Phoenix council

District 8 candidates

Introduction to District 8 candidates:Meet Carlos Garcia, Kesha Hodge Washington: Phoenix City Council District 8 candidates

District 8 debate:Phoenix District 8 candidates spar over policing, endorsements at debate

Hear the D8 candidates debate on The Gaggle: Apple | Spotify

Learn more about Carlos Garcia:Carlos Garcia campaigns in 'forgotten' Phoenix and focuses on development

Learn more about Kesha Hodge Washington:Kesha Hodge Washington wants to represent south Phoenix. Here's her pitch

History of District 8:Inside the effort to bring Black representation back to Phoenix City Council

Understanding voters:Carlos Garcia's activism is his biggest election asset. It's also a liability

How to cast a ballot

Casting your ballot:How to vote in the Phoenix City Council runoff election in March

More about the runoff and the campaigns

Listen to The Gaggle:The Gaggle breaks down the details of Phoenix City Council runoff election

Follow the money:Interest groups pour money into Phoenix City Council races before runoff election

Campaign fundraising:Phoenix council races raise over $1M, more than half to one candidate

Suite use becomes campaign issue:Phoenix City Council members vent frustration over ethics questions related to suite use

Campaigning gets heated:Tactics escalate in Phoenix council races with snarky GIFs, misleading calls. What to know

About the Phoenix City Council

The council members: Who is on the Phoenix City Council? What to know

The mayor:Who is the mayor of Phoenix? What to know about Kate Gallego

When council members resign:3 Phoenix City Council members may run for Congress. What to know

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: A guide to the Phoenix City Council March 2023 runoff election