# Arizona's 8th congressional district

Arizona's 8th congressional district is a congressional district located in the U.S. state of Arizona. It includes many of the suburbs north and west of Phoenix, in Maricopa County, Arizona. The district includes several high-income retirement communities, including Sun City West.
After redistricting for the 2012 general election, the new 8th district encompasses most of the Maricopa County portion of the old 2nd district, while most of the former 8th district became the 2nd congressional district. It is the geographic and demographic successor of the old 2nd; while the 4th district contains most of the old 2nd's land, more than 92 percent of the old 2nd's constituents were drawn into the 8th.
This seat was vacated by Representative Trent Franks on December 8, 2017. A special election was held on April 24, 2018, and won by Republican Debbie Lesko. In 2024, Abraham Hamadeh was elected, after Lesko retired.

## History

Arizona picked up an eighth congressional district after the 2000 census. It originally encompassed the extreme southeastern part of the state. It included all of Cochise County and parts of Pima, Pinal, and Santa Cruz counties. For all intents and purposes, it was the successor to what had been the 5th district from 1983 to 2003.
Longtime Republican incumbent Jim Kolbe retired in 2007, and was succeeded by Democrat Gabby Giffords, who was shot and severely wounded at a public event on January 8, 2011. Giffords resigned her seat on January 25, 2012. In a special election held on June 12, 2012, Democrat Ron Barber was elected as the new congressman.
For the 2012 election, Barber was redistricted to the 2nd district, which includes the bulk of the old 8th district. The 8th was redrawn to include nearly all of the Maricopa County portion of the old 2nd district–as mentioned above, more than 92 percent of the old 2nd's population. The district had previously been the 3rd district from 1963 to 2003. That district's congressman, Republican Trent Franks, won the election for the new 8th.
After the 2022 redistricting, the 8th was one of only two districts, the other being the East Valley-based 5th, that retained essentially its same boundaries.

## Composition

For the 118th and successive Congresses (based on redistricting following the 2020 census), the district contains all or portions of following counties and communities.
Maricopa County (8)
    Anthem, Glendale (part; also 9th), New River, Peoria (part; also 2nd; shared with Yavapai County), Phoenix (part; also 1st, 3rd, and 4th), Sun City, Sun City West, Surprise (part; also 9th)

## Recent election results from statewide races

| Year | Office | Results |
| 2008 | President | McCain 60% - 39% |
| 2010 | Senate | McCain 65% - 28% |
| 2010 | Governor | Brewer 61% - 36% |
| 2010 | Secretary of State | Bennett 66% - 34% |
| 2010 | Attorney General | Horne 56% - 43% |
| 2010 | Treasurer | Ducey 58% - 35% |
| 2012 | President | Romney 62% - 38% |
| 2016 | President | Trump 56% - 37% |
| 2016 | Senate | McCain 60% - 33% |
| 2018 | Senate | McSally 54% - 44% |
| 2018 | Governor | Ducey 64% - 34% |
| 2018 | Attorney General | Brnovich 59% - 41% |
| 2020 | President | Trump 56% - 43% |
| 2020 | Senate (Spec.) | McSally 56% - 44% |
| 2022 | Senate | Masters 52% - 46% |
| 2022 | Governor | Lake 55% - 44% |
| 2022 | Secretary of State | Finchem 53% - 47% |
| 2022 | Attorney General | Hamadeh 56% - 44% |
| 2022 | Treasurer | Yee 62% - 38% |
| 2024 | President | Trump 58% - 41% |
| 2024 | Senate | Lake 53% - 45% |
John McCain, the 2008 Republican nominee, was also a resident of Arizona and one of the state's two United States senators.

## List of members representing the district

Arizona began sending an eighth member to the House after the 2000 Census. Prior to this time, most of the 8th's current territory was in the 5th district.
| Member (Residence) | Party | Years | Cong ress | Electoral history | District location |
| District created January 3, 2003 ||||||
| Jim Kolbe (Tucson) | Republican | January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2007 | 108th 109th | Redistricted from the 5th district. Re-elected in 2002. Re-elected in 2004. Retired. | 2003–2013 Cochise; parts of Pima, Pinal, and Santa Cruz |
| Gabby Giffords (Tucson) | Democratic | January 3, 2007 – January 25, 2012 | 110th 111th 112th | Elected in 2006. Re-elected in 2008. Re-elected in 2010. Resigned. | 2003–2013 Cochise; parts of Pima, Pinal, and Santa Cruz |
| Vacant | Vacant | January 25, 2012 – June 19, 2012 | 112th | | 2003–2013 Cochise; parts of Pima, Pinal, and Santa Cruz |
| Ron Barber (Tucson) | Democratic | June 19, 2012 – January 3, 2013 | 112th | Elected to finish Giffords's term. Redistricted to the 2nd district. | 2003–2013 Cochise; parts of Pima, Pinal, and Santa Cruz |
| Trent Franks (Glendale) | Republican | January 3, 2013 – December 8, 2017 | 113th 114th 115th | Redistricted from the 2nd district. Re-elected in 2012. Re-elected in 2014. Re-elected in 2016. Resigned. | 2013–2023 Part of Maricopa |
| Vacant | Vacant | December 8, 2017 – May 7, 2018 | 115th | | 2013–2023 Part of Maricopa |
| Debbie Lesko (Peoria) | Republican | May 7, 2018 – January 3, 2025 | 115th 116th 117th 118th | Elected to finish Franks's term. Re-elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022. Retired. | 2013–2023 Part of Maricopa |
| Debbie Lesko (Peoria) | Republican | May 7, 2018 – January 3, 2025 | 115th 116th 117th 118th | Elected to finish Franks's term. Re-elected in 2018. Re-elected in 2020. Re-elected in 2022. Retired. | 2023–present: Part of Maricopa |
| Abraham Hamadeh (Phoenix) | Republican | January 3, 2025 – present | 119th | Elected in 2024. | 2023–present: Part of Maricopa |

## Complete election results
### 2002

Arizona's 8th congressional district election, 2002 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jim Kolbe | 126,930 | 63.33 |
| | Democratic | Mary Judge Ryan | 67,328 | 33.59 |
| | Libertarian | Joe Duarte | 6,142 | 3.06 |
| | Write-In | Jim Dorrance | 28 | 0.01 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 59,602 | 29.74 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 200,428 | 100.00 |

### 2004

Arizona's 8th congressional district election, 2004 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Jim Kolbe (Incumbent) | 183,363 | 60.36 |
| | Democratic | Eva Bacal | 109,963 | 36.20 |
| | Libertarian | Robert Anderson | 10,443 | 3.44 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 73,400 | 24.16 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 303,769 | 100.00 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2006

Arizona's 8th congressional district election, 2006 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Gabby Giffords | 137,655 | 54.25 |
| | Republican | Randy Graf | 106,790 | 42.09 |
| | Libertarian | David F. Nolan | 4,849 | 1.91 |
| | Independent | Jay Quick | 4,408 | 1.74 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 30,865 | 12.16 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 253,720 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican | Democratic gain from Republican |

### 2008

Arizona's 8th congressional district election, 2008 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Gabby Giffords (Incumbent) | 179,629 | 54.72 |
| | Republican | Tim Bee | 140,553 | 42.82 |
| | Libertarian | Paul Davis | 8,081 | 2.46 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 39,076 | 11.90 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 328,266 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2010

Arizona's 8th congressional district election, 2010 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Gabby Giffords (Incumbent) | 138,280 | 48.76 |
| | Republican | Jesse Kelly | 134,124 | 47.30 |
| | Libertarian | Steven Stoltz | 11,174 | 3.94 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 4,156 | 1.46 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 283,578 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2012 (special)

Arizona's 8th congressional district special election — June 12, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Democratic | Ron Barber | 111,203 | 52.32 |
| | Republican | Jesse Kelly | 96,465 | 45.39 |
| | Green | Charlie Manolakis | 4,869 | 2.29 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 14,739 | 6.93 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 212,538 | 100.00 |
| | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold | Democratic hold |

### 2012

Arizona's 8th congressional district election, 2012 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Trent Franks | 172,809 | 63.35 |
| | Democratic | Gene Scharer | 95,635 | 35.06 |
| | Americans Elect | Stephen Dolgos | 4,347 | 1.59 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 77,174 | 28.29 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 272,791 | 100.00 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2014

Arizona's 8th congressional district election, November 4, 2014 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Trent Franks (Incumbent) | 128,710 | 75.8 |
| | Americans Elect | Stephen Dolgos | 41,066 | 24.2 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 87,644 | 50.6 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 169,776 | 100.00 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2016

Arizona's 8th congressional district election, 2016 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Trent Franks (Incumbent) | 204,942 | 68.6 |
| | Green | Mark Salazar | 93,954 | 31.4 |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 110,988 | 37.2 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 298,896 | 100 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2018 (special)

Arizona's 8th congressional district special election - April 24, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % | ±% |
| | Republican | Debbie Lesko | 96,012 | 52.37 | −16.23 |
| | Democratic | Hiral Tipirneni | 87,331 | 47.63 | +47.63 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 183,343 | 100.0 | |
| Majority | Majority | Majority | 8,681 | 4.74 | |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Swing | -16.2% | |

### 2018

Arizona's 8th congressional district, 2018 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Debbie Lesko (Incumbent) | 168,835 | 55.5 |
| | Democratic | Hiral Tipirneni | 135,569 | 44.5 |
| | New Paradigm Party | Steven Hummel (write-in) | 13 | 0.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 304,417 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2020

Arizona's 8th congressional district election, 2020 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Debbie Lesko (incumbent) | 251,633 | 59.6 |
| | Democratic | Michael Muscato | 170,816 | 40.4 |
| | Write-in | Write-in | 18 | 0.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 422,467 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2022

Arizona's 8th congressional district election, 2022 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Debbie Lesko (incumbent) | 197,555 | 96.5 |
| | Democratic | Jeremy Spreitzer (write-in) | 5,145 | 2.5 |
| | Democratic | Alixandria Guzman (write-in) | 2,013 | 1.0 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 204,713 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |

### 2024

Arizona's 8th congressional district election, 2024 :
| Party | Party | Candidate | Votes | % |
| | Republican | Abraham Hamadeh | 208,269 | 56.50 |
| | Democratic | Gregory Whitten | 160,344 | 43.50 |
| Total votes | Total votes | Total votes | 368,613 | 100.0 |
| | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold | Republican hold |