One incumbent seems to have squeaked in, and two new faces moved closer to winning a seat on the Tucson City Council, primary election results show.
One-term Democrat Kevin Dahl held a 138-vote margin over Sadie Shaw, a TUSD board member, in the primary race for USD midtown’s Ward 3.
Nearly 1,800 ballots still need to be counted citywide, officials say, but Dahl declared victory over Shaw soon after the initial release of votes Tuesday night. The final tally might not be completed until Monday, city officials said, citing the need to verify mail-in ballots dropped at election sites Tuesday.
“My fellow candidate for Ward 3 did a pretty good job campaigning, and it’s pretty close, but it’s not too close to call. It’s just a close call,†Dahl said Tuesday night at a Democratic election party at Hotel Congress downtown. “(The margin) means that every vote does count, and every door knock counts, every phone call made.â€
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Ward 3 incumbent Kevin Dahl talks with Mayor Regina Romero at a Democratic primary election night party at Hotel Congress. Dahl, who has a 138-vote lead in his re-election bid, declared victory Tuesday night. His opponent Sadie Shaw called it premature.
On Wednesday, Shaw said Dahl’s victory speech was “absolutely†premature.
“We’re super close ... if I was him, if things were turned around and I was up 138 votes, I would not have made a victory speech. But you know, he’s confident enough to do that, so we’ll see what happens,†Shaw said. “I’m very pleased with how much support we’ve gotten thus far. With almost 2,000 and maybe 600 (votes) or more in my ward left to be counted, I think it’s just just too close to call and we’re hopeful that we’re going to close that margin.â€
“Whatever happens I’m just so grateful for all the support that I received,†she said.
The winner in Ward 3 will face Republican Janet “JL†Wittenbraker in November. Wittenbraker, who lost a run for the District 3 Pima County Board of Supervisors seat last November, also challenged Tucson Mayor Regina Romero in 2023.
The other two primary races Tuesday night were settled much faster.
With Wards 5 and 6 currently represented by interim members Rocque Perez and Karin Uhlich, respectively, two new faces will join the city council regardless of November’s general election results.
Ward 5 voters, whose longtime councilmember Richard Fimbres resigned earlier this year, resoundingly supported Selina Barajas, a fourth-generation Tucsonan raised on the city’s south side.
Barajas easily defeated fellow Democrats Jesse Lugo and Chris Elsner.
The primary night win by Democrat Selina Barajas is likely sending her to the City Council because no Republican is challenging for the Ward 5 seat.
Barring a successfully mounted write-in candidate, Barajas will represent Ward 5. That’s because there is no Republican running for the post.
“I’m honored to be your Ward 5 city councilwoman. I’m the first woman ever to run and win (in Ward 5), and I don’t take that lightly,†Barajas said Tuesday night. “I feel proud, I feel honored. I don’t take this position lightly ... I’m going to continue to be the voice of our community, so when I hear from our constituents and our Ward 5 neighbors, what they both need to be voiced, I’m going to make sure to represent those concerns and be present.â€
I’m feeling very blessed, very grateful to be in this position ... it’s been an emotional process,†she said.
In Ward 6, which includes the UA and downtown areas, voters supported progressive candidate Miranda Schubert, an avid cyclist who helped found the Transit for All Coalition. She also serves on the city’s Board of Adjustment and the Complete Streets Coordinating Council.
Schubert defeated fellow Democrats Leighton Rockafellow Jr. and Jim Sinex.
“I have been told to be careful, be careful about being too blunt about being progressive, (that) maybe people need somebody who’s more moderate, and I just think the results are showing that that’s not the case,†she said. “Being progressive means trying different things. It means not doing things the same way that it’s always been done, and not reading not reading that as less risky than taking the leap of trying something that we haven’t done before.â€
Democrat Miranda Schubert celebrates her primary night win in the race for Tucson’s Ward 6.
“There’s a myth about progressivism being too idealistic. No, this is literally the solution,†Shubert said.
Schubert will face Republican Jay Tolkoff in the Nov. 4 general election.
