State Representative District 17 in Arizona State House District 17, Arizona

2026 Primary Election

• Rachel "jones" Keshel — Incumbent State Representative in AZ

  Rachel Keshel, an incumbent Republican, represents Arizona House District 17, having assumed office on January 9, 2023. Born in Denver, Colorado, she is an alumna of Metropolitan State University of Denver. Keshel is running for re-election in the 2026 Republican primary. As a member of the Arizona Freedom Caucus, she is a vocal anti-choice advocate, sponsoring legislation to limit abortion access and voting to restrict abortion medications and funding for abortion providers. She champions the "right to life," drawing personal motivation from her three adopted children, and believes abortion decisions should rest with individual states.

• John Winchester — Senior Director of Government & Community Engagement for Arizona State University in Tucson, AZ

  John Winchester is a lifelong Tucsonan, husband, father, and minister, currently serving as the Senior Director of Government & Community Engagement for Arizona State University in Southern Arizona. He holds advanced degrees from the University of Arizona and is pursuing another from ASU. With a background in community development and higher education, he has been recognized as one of Tucson's 40 Under 40 and a NextGen Leader. Running for the Arizona House of Representatives District 17 as a Republican, Winchester advocates for conservative principles including responsible spending, strong schools, safe neighborhoods, and limited government. He aims to foster economic opportunity through supporting small businesses, infrastructure investment, and job creation, bringing results-driven leadership to the district.

• Hollace "holly" Lyon — Retired Air Force Colonel and former educator in Catalina, AZ

  Hollace "Holly" Lyon, a Democrat, is a retired U.S. Air Force Colonel and former 7th-grade math teacher running for the Arizona House of Representatives in Legislative District 17. She served 26 years in the Air Force, rising to Colonel, commanding twice, and overseeing education and strategic planning. Lyon is committed to restoring service, accountability, and common-sense leadership to government. Her priorities include ensuring a government that works for families through transparency and responsible use of taxpayer dollars. She aims to address rising costs, advocating for access to quality education, housing, and sustainable water for all Arizona families. She believes LD17 deserves experienced leadership focused on practical solutions.

• Kevin Volk — Incumbent State Representative in Tucson, AZ

  Kevin Volk is an incumbent Democratic State Representative for Arizona's 17th Legislative District, having assumed office in January 2025 after flipping his seat in a close 2024 election. A Tucson native, he has a diverse background as a fifth-grade teacher, a Fulbright scholar in Mexico, and a small business owner creating affordable, sustainable prefabricated housing. Volk has been recognized for his advocacy on early education. In the legislature, he champions affordable housing, increased early childhood education funding, and water conservation technologies. He advocates for competitive teacher wages, fully staffed schools, and transparent state spending. He is seeking re-election to continue his work delivering practical solutions and help Democrats secure a majority in the Arizona House.