Arizona Corporation Commission Race Shakes Up as Heap Overtakes Incumbent Myers
The political landscape of Arizona’s utility regulatory body is witnessing a significant shift. With nearly all votes tallied, state lawmaker Ralph Heap is poised to unseat current Corporation Commissioner Nick Myers, following a contentious GOP primary.
Nick Myers partnered with fellow Republican Commissioner Kevin Thompson, campaigning for two available seats on the Arizona Corporation Commission. Their main opposition emerged from Ralph Heap and former legislator David Marshall, supported by the state Legislature’s far-right Freedom Caucus. However, Marshall exited the race to assume the role of Navajo County recorder, leaving Heap to mount a solo campaign, bolstered by backing from conservative groups such as Turning Point Action and the Arizona Free Enterprise Club.
Thompson secured the most votes in the three-way contest and will move on to the general election. Meanwhile, official results from the Secretary of State’s Office indicate Myers is trailing Heap by approximately 15,000 votes, with all precincts across Arizona’s 15 counties reporting. Despite this, a small number of provisional and early ballots with signature discrepancies remain unprocessed, requiring validation by Sunday.
Following these developments, Myers acknowledged his defeat on social media, stating, “While last night’s results were not what we hoped, I look forward to working with my colleagues over the next 5 months to finish my term the same way it began — delivering conservative, consumer friendly results for ratepayers.”
Looking ahead to the November general election, Thompson and Heap will compete against Democrats Clara Pratte and Jonathan Hill, setting the stage for a pivotal showdown in Arizona’s utility regulatory sphere.
