Sen.-elect Diego Espinoza resigns || Gage Skidmore
By Ray Stern || Arizona Republic
Rep. Diego Espinoza resigned his post Friday to take a job for Salt River Project, leaving the Senate seat he won last month to whoever gets the most write-in votes.
Espinoza beat Rep. Richard Andrade, D-Phoenix, in the Aug. 2 Democratic primary election for the Senate seat.
There is no opposing candidate in the Nov. 8 general election for the seat in the Democratic-heavy new Legislative District 22, which includes Tolleson and parts of west Phoenix and Avondale.
Espinoza’s name still will be on the ballot in November, but any votes for him won’t be counted.
Espinoza, who is in his fourth term of office and was term-limited for the House, will work on SRP’s Government and Community Relations team, according to a statement by House Democrats.
He had served as a Tolleson city council member for 14 years before becoming a state lawmaker.
“I am proud of the many accomplishments for my legislative district, our Latino community, Arizona, and our country,” Espinoza said in the statement. “However the most memorable will be delivering for our democratic caucus with this past budget — championing key investments for our Indigenous communities, infrastructure, social services and lastly, a record investment in education.”
