Speaker-elect Ben Toma || Ballotopedia
By Ray Stern || Arizona Republic
New Republican leaders in the Arizona House of Representatives struck a note of optimism Tuesday about how lawmaking would work under Democratic Gov.-elect Katie Hobbs.
House GOP members elected House Majority Leader Rep. Ben Toma, R-Peoria, as next year’s speaker of the House over Rep. Joseph Chaplik, R-Scottsdale, who was favored by hard-line conservatives.
But the election of hard-line Republican leaders in the state Senate last week, some chosen by candidates who lost their races, will add to the challenges of divided rule next year.
Hobbs’ victory, combined with division in the Republican Party, means some believe next year won’t be as productive as they had hoped to see with Republican Kari Lake as governor.
Partisan issues will arise as proposed legislation and Republicans may vote for them, but it’s unclear how such bills will “survive,” Toma said, pointing out that the Legislature won’t have a veto-proof majority to override Hobbs’ rejection of bills she doesn’t like.
In addition to Toma, Republicans elected Rep. Leo Biasiucci, R-Lake Havasu City, as the next House majority leader and Rep. Teresa Martinez, R-Casa Grande, as House whip.
Toma said the main theme of Tuesday’s House leadership votes, which took place at the headquarters of the powerful lobbyist group Arizona Rock Products, was “unity.”
