Construction of more “middle housing” will be a state goal in 2026, but that’s one of Chandler’s stories to watch this year that could play out in a variety of ways.
Here are five topics that are likely to make news in the Chandler area in 2026.
Housing development
Housing costs so much in the Chandler area, it’s become almost a monthly topic at both city council and school board meetings.
And even when the Arizona legislature and governor agree on measures that attempt to create either affordability or more “middle-housing” condominiums, townhomes or small housing supply, some moves have confused or rankled Chandler leaders.
Expect possibly some early-year legislature battles that involve or affect Chandler housing, along with more controversial proposals and discussions of what should be built where at the local level.
Changes to federal housing procedures, programs or funding could spark local Chandler discussions as well.
Data centers
A separate development conversation between residents and the city of Chandler in 2026 is likely to focus on data centers — possibly even the newer wave of AI data centers.
A late-2025 series of hearings and a Chandler City Council rejection of a development agreement and rezoning for a large south Chandler development, backed by now-President-Trump-aligned former U.S. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, was probably not the last proposal of that type to be brought forward within the city.
Government spending and staffing
Though the Chandler Unified School District and the city of Chandler both passed large bonds in the Nov. 4 election, residents still go online or speak at public meetings about curtailing government spending in various categories.
Chandler Unified, in its ongoing efforts to explain to the public all of its funds and spending regulations on staffing vs. capital vs. special services, is hoping to avoid what other Valley districts are forced to do in terms of closing schools. CUSD enrollment is projected to slowly continue declining over the next several school years.
The city of Chandler’s main heat around spending comes from the public about its “C-suite” or executive payroll. This has especially come under fire when new contracts are issued, such as the city clerk about to retire or the new city manager who’s making nearly what his predecessor made annually.
It’s also a topic that comes up when there are controversies that are perceived to involve one of the city’s four appointed leadership roles. City Attorney Kelly Schwab and then-City Manager Josh Wright were criticized for not bringing forward ambiguous city charter language about mayoral and council term limits sooner.
New parks, new school
Work is slated to begin in 2026 on a few new publicly funded projects in Chandler, aided partly by passage of bonds in 2025.
The city will work on its downtown events space by pouring at least $20 million into A.J. Chandler Park, to make it more multiuse and pedestrian- and event-friendly.
There’s also the long-awaited start of Mesquite Groves Park in southeast Chandler. The multiphase, multiyear construction will cost tens of millions of dollars, but will bring much-needed sports and recreation facilities to nearby neighborhoods, along with one of the few cricket pitches in the Valley.
Chandler Unified is set to have a contractor start its $41 million re-construction on its rebuild of its oldest in-use elementary school, Hartford Sylvia Encinas.
Elections
Several Chandler-area races have become more crowded in recent months as the 2026 general election and primary election seasons begin.
Chandler will have a new mayor in 2026, as Kevin Hartke hands the gavel over to either Ronnie McKenzie, current City Council member Matt Orlando, former City Council member and current state Rep. Jeff Weninger.
First-term Council members Jane Poston and Angel Encinas are running for re-election. They’ll be joined in the early August election by seven challengers — some of whom have run before — with only three at-large seats up for grabs.
Chandler Unified’s first-term board members Kurt Rohrs and Patti Serrano, both elected in 2022, have both filed to compete for second terms. Sindy Martinez-Reich, Stacey Etherington and Zeyna Pruzhanovsky have filed to compete for one of the two seats up for election on that board.
At the state level, Democrats Racquel “Rockee” Armstrong and unsuccessful past House candidate Brandy Reese are running for one of the two District 13 House seats. Hartke, the current Chandler mayor; Jeff Weninger’s wife, Janet; and Debra Schinke are among the Republicans seeking those seats.
District 13 will have two new representatives at this time next year. Julie Willoughby, the other current LD13 representative, is among those running for the state Senate seat currently held by the term-limited J.D. Mesnard. Willoughby will be opposed in her state Senate race by Democrat Kristie O’Brien.
District 12, which includes parts of west Chandler, is where two Democrats appear to be challenging each other for the party’s nomination in the August primary. Incumbent Sen. Mitzi Epstein is being challenged by current Rep. Patty Contreras.
District 12’s House field includes incumbent Democratic Rep. Stacey Travers, along with Democratic challengers Jacob Ehlers, Armando Montero and Bill Schaffer and Republicans Marcus Johnston and David Richardson.
In Congress, Rep. Greg Stanton has AZ4 challengers who have filed from both parties, though none appear to have Chandler ties. In District 5, where Rep. Andy Biggs is vacating the seat to run for governor, dozens of candidates have filed to run, including Chandler nurse and Democratic candidate Elizabeth Lee.
Jason W. Brooks News Editor | Chandler Independent
Jason W. Brooks joined Independent Newsmedia, Inc., USA, in July 2021 as an associate editor. After a year covering Buckeye, he has covered Chandler since the fall of 2022, in addition to assisting the Daily Independent throughout his time at INI.
Education: University of New Mexico, bachelor of arts in journalism and mass communication, print emphasis, English minor.
Random Fact: He and his siblings witnessed a Space Shuttle launch and landing in the same year in person, on opposite coasts.
Hobbies: Karaoke, bicycling and American Sign Language.
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