State Representative District 23 in Arizona State House District 23, Arizona

2026 Primary Election

• Gary Garcia Snyder — Candidate for State Representative in San Luis, AZ

  Gary Garcia Snyder is a conservative and lifelong Republican candidate for the Arizona House of Representatives, representing District 23. He is seeking election in the Republican primary on July 21, 2026. Snyder lives in a bilingual household with his wife and two children, emphasizing his faith as a core part of his life. He is actively campaigning, distributing materials to Republicans and Independents as he seeks to serve in the state legislature.

• James "jimmy" Holmes — Candidate for Arizona House of Representatives District 23 in AZ

  James "Jimmy" Holmes is a candidate for the Arizona House of Representatives, representing District 23. He is running as a Democratic Party candidate in the 2026 Arizona Primary Election. His campaign aims to secure a position on the general election ballot for this state legislative role. While his candidacy for District 23 is confirmed, specific details regarding his professional background, policy platforms, or any current organizational endorsements are not provided in the available information.

• Michele Peña — Incumbent State Representative in Yuma, AZ

  Michele Peña is an incumbent Arizona State Representative for District 23, first elected in 2022. A lifelong Yuma resident and daughter of an immigrant mother and Vietnam veteran father, she values faith, family, and hard work. Peña champions agricultural initiatives and advocates for educational policies empowering parents, including supporting Arizona’s Universal Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA). She prioritizes transparency in education, opposing political influence in curricula, and focuses on lowering taxes and costs for Arizonans. Peña also fights for Arizona’s water rights and recently endorsed Andy Biggs for Governor, citing his focus on these issues and legislative experience. She is running for re-election in 2026.

• Emilia Cortez — Economic Development Specialist in AZ

  Emilia Cortez is a Yuma County native and bilingual public affairs professional running as a Democrat for the Arizona House in Legislative District 23. A community leader, her career spans education, nonprofit leadership, tribal governance, and economic development. She currently serves as an Economic Development Specialist with the Quechan Indian Tribe, focusing on infrastructure, investment, and workforce opportunity. Cortez holds a Bachelor’s in Public Administration and an MBA. She is committed to strengthening communities, supporting working families, and advocating for a more responsive, inclusive Arizona, with a vision rooted in co-governance.

• Juan Guerrero — Incumbent Yuma County Justice of the Peace - Precinct 2 in Yuma, AZ

  Juan Manuel Guerrero currently serves as the Yuma County Justice of the Peace for Precinct 2, a position he holds until the end of 2026. He is a candidate for the Arizona House of Representatives, representing District 23, in the 2026 Arizona Primary Election. Guerrero is running as an Independent candidate, committed to operating outside the two-party system. His campaign emphasizes being people-powered, rejecting special interest and big money influence, and upholding anti-corruption principles through accountability and transparency. He also pledges to run a civil campaign, free of mudslinging.

• Naomi Miguel — Small business owner in AZ

  Naomi Miguel, also known by her Traditional Name Ba’ag Nei’dam O’ks (Eagle Singing Woman), is an Indigenous woman and small business owner seeking election as Arizona State Representative for District 23. As a citizen of the Tohono O’odham Nation, she has lived most of her life on her ancestral lands in Arizona, with a family history of leadership within her tribe and district. Miguel is deeply rooted in her tribal and rural community in Southern Arizona and is running to support democratic values, advocate for the issues important to her rural and Indigenous communities, and bring Indigenous leadership to the 23rd Legislative District.

• Mariana Sandoval — Incumbent Arizona State Representative in AZ

  Mariana Sandoval is an incumbent Democratic member of the Arizona House of Representatives, currently serving District 23. She took office on January 9, 2023, and her term is set to conclude on January 11, 2027. Sandoval is seeking re-election to the Arizona House of Representatives for District 23 in the 2026 Democratic primary election. She has been involved in legislative discussions concerning environmental priorities for the 2026 legislative session and has also been associated with work on campaign finance and corporate contributions.