PHOENIX – “This isn't a blue wave,” said Reginald Bolding, a former State Representative in Arizona. “This is the people's wave.”

Arizona Democrats may have achieved a blue trifecta this midterm election retaining control of the governor's office, and gaining control of both chambers of the state Legislature, a feat not accomplished in nearly six decades.

As candidates declare victory, Arizona voters express hope that this new balance of power will ensure their voices are heard going forward.

“What changed that map was not one speech or one campaign; it was the people and the organizing year after year,” Bolding, a Democrat and coalition director of Activate 48, said. “Arizona did not flip by accident. It was organized, and as the votes continue to be counted, the results point to something Arizona has not seen in nearly 60 years: a governor and a legislature elected on the same agenda.”

Several nonprofit organizations, such as Activate 48, Our Voice Our Vote and Living United for Change in Arizona, held a victory rally at the State Capitol Nov. 4 to celebrate the work they put in to help turn Arizona blue. And while they were happy to see Democratic successes, they said the true motivation behind electing Democrats was to help their communities. 

Alejandra Gomez, executive director of progressive advocacy group Living United for Change in Arizona, said working communities in the state face rising utility bills, fear of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ripping families apart and the reality of the climate crisis. 

“To the Democrats elected with their support, fight for them,” Gomez said. “Fight for affordable housing, paid family medical leave, health care that does not bankrupt them, public schools with the resources our children deserve, driver's license for our communities who just want to get to work to provide for their families and contribute to Arizona's success.”

Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes was also at the State Capitol Wednesday after his reelection win. In remarks to the media, Fontes said this election was a reaffirmation that the people and the people alone decide who governs them. 

“We have a duty to include more voices every time we have an election in Arizona, because if you've got more people voting, you've got a better representation of what more people think, and isn't that what we're supposed to be doing?” Fontes said.  

As Arizona secretary of state, Fontes is responsible for elections in the state. Amid noise and fear about election integrity, Fontes said the election system was secure, free and accessible for all Arizonans. Election denialism has been rejected “wholeheartedly,” Fontes said. 

The festivities continued at the Capitol into the evening as reelected Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs was joined by Lt. Gov.-elect John Giles, an independent, to celebrate their victory. 

“You elected a Democratic governor and a former Republican mayor, now an independent, on the same ticket. And you asked us to work together, right? We come from different backgrounds and different parties, but we share the same North Star putting Arizona first,” Giles, previously the Republican mayor of Mesa, said. 

Hobb’s campaign focused on affordability and assistance to middle-class families, as well as women’s rights, job opportunities and bringing together the Arizona Over Party Coalition, made up of Republicans, Democrats and Independents to accomplish these goals.  

“In my second term, we'll keep building on our progress and make Arizona the affordable state it was when I was growing up,” Hobbs said, “To my colleagues in the Legislature, my door is open, just as it has been for four years. Republicans and Democrats have sat at my table, and together we've passed balanced bipartisan budgets that put Arizona families first.”

In a post on X, Vice President JD Vance weighed in on the conversation about why Republicans lost across the country.

“Undoubtedly there were places we could have done better on turnout. But the main problem is not turnout. The main problem is that many people who voted for Trump/Vance in 2024 voted for Democrats in 2026.” Vance posted. He singled out the war on Iran as the primary reason for Republican losses.

Giles spoke directly to Republicans and independents. 

“I have to say to all the Republicans and independents who cross party lines this year, I know that wasn't easy. I've been there. I've walked that road myself. But putting Arizona first is always worth it,” Giles said at the celebration rally. 

“I promise that the governor and I will wake up every day and work just as hard for you. As mayor, I learned that there's no Republican or Democratic way to fill a pothole,” Giles said, "There's no partisan approach that protects our water, builds homes that families can afford, keeps rural hospitals open, or gets kids ready for good jobs that are coming to this state.”

Other advocates also say that the future of the state relies on community solutions rather than political party loyalty. 

Sena Mohammed, executive director of Our Voice Our Vote, spoke during the victory rally Wednesday. 

“People are calling this a blue wave,” Mohammed said. “Respectfully, that's not the whole story. What hit Arizona last night and across the entire country has been building for 10 years. It's a black wave. It's a brown wave. It's a working class wave.”

Now that Democrats have gained ground in Arizona, voters expect them to follow through with their promises and reflect the priorities of the people who helped put them in power.

“We expect them to deliver,” Gomez said. “The conversations have been had, the policies have been discussed, and now it's about action. Now it's about getting together, sitting at the table together, making sure that we're preparing and delivering for our communities collectively.”

This article first appeared on Cronkite News and is republished here under a Creative Commons Attribution-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.