State Senator - District No. 3
July 21, 2026 · State Senate District 3; Arizona · State senate district · primary
How do we calculate vote impact?
Vote impact = representation (how much weight one vote carries here, the smaller the district's population, the higher the representation) + decisiveness (how likely this race is to be close, based on past results and number of candidates).
Representation: Average · 61 out of 100
This district is mid-sized for its type, so each vote carries average weight. About 240,816 people live here.
score = 100 × ln(largest population ÷ this district's) ÷ ln(largest ÷ smallest), rounded to 2 decimals = 100 × ln(275,769 ÷ 240,816) ÷ ln(275,769 ÷ 221,081) = 61.32, comparing state senate districts in AZ (grades: 66+ high, 33+ average, otherwise low)
Decisiveness: Unknown
No past results for this contest yet.
Average representation + unknown decisiveness → Average vote impact.
Some data is missing, so this rating is based on partial information and capped at "High".
State Senator is responsible for:
- Voting on state laws and the state budget
- Representing their district in the state senate
- Confirming certain governor appointments in many states
- Helping district residents deal with state agencies
Affected Areas: Environment and Public Health, Reduce Wealth Gap, Anti-Corruption, Government Efficiency, Healthcare Affordability, Government Spending Reduction, Public Safety and Crime Control, Housing Affordability, Social Programs and Welfare, Public Education Quality, Gun Control, Women's Reproductive Rights, Election Integrity, Personal Income Tax Reduction, Data Privacy, Civil Rights, Corporate Accountability, Public Infrastructure
Candidates
Jeffrey Fortney
Democratic · declared
Jeffrey Fortney is a special-education teacher, former computer programmer, and elected member of the Cave Creek Unified School District governing board running for Arizona State Senate District 3. He moved to Arizona in 1999, earned his bachelor's degree in 2004, won the school-board seat in 2020, and was reelected in 2024.
John Kavanagh
Republican · Incumbent · declared
John Kavanagh is the Republican Arizona state senator for Legislative District 3 and Senate Majority Leader. First elected to the Legislature in 2006, he previously served on the Fountain Hills Town Council, worked 20 years as a Port Authority police officer and detective sergeant, taught criminal justice, and holds a Ph.D. in criminal justice from Rutgers University.
Records: Anti-Corruption 1 for, Civil Rights 6 against, Corporate Accountability 1 against, Data Privacy 1 for, Election Integrity 1 for, Environment and Public Health 1 for, Government Spending Reduction 1 for, 1 against, Housing Affordability 1 for, Personal Income Tax Reduction 1 for, Public Education Quality 1 for, Public Safety and Crime Control 3 for, Women's Reproductive Rights 1 against
Robert Michael Wallace
Republican · declared
Robert Michael Wallace is a Fountain Hills conservative activist and 2026 Republican candidate for Arizona State Senate District 3. He has worked in information-technology support and real estate, served as a Republican precinct committeeman, worked with Turning Point Action, served as secretary of the Log Cabin Republicans of Phoenix, and led advocacy organizations.
Election sources
Source: azsos.gov
Source: azsos.gov