In a remarkably close contest, the Democratic primary for Arizona's 3rd Congressional District has resulted in an automatic recount. Yassamin Ansari, former Phoenix City Council member, holds a slim lead of 42 votes over Raquel Terán, a former state lawmaker. With 42,819 ballots counted, the margin stands at a mere 0.1 percentage points.
Arizona law mandates a recount when the margin is 0.5 percentage points or less. The process will commence after Adrian Fontes, Arizona's Secretary of State, requests the Maricopa County Superior Court to oversee the recount once the canvass is complete.
The 3rd District, which includes parts of Phoenix, became an open seat following Rep. Ruben Gallego's decision to run for the U.S. Senate. This district has been consistently represented by Democrats since its creation in 2003, making it a favorable prospect for the primary winner in the November general election against Republican Jeff Zink.
Ansari, whose parents are Iranian immigrants, previously served as Phoenix's vice mayor. She stepped down from the city council in March 2024 to focus on her congressional campaign. Terán, who once chaired the Arizona Democratic Party, resigned from her first term in the Arizona Senate in April 2023 to pursue this congressional seat.
Arizona's recent electoral history has seen several close races. In November 2022, the state attorney general contest required a recount when Democrat Kris Mayes led Republican Abraham Hamadeh by just 511 votes. The final tally confirmed Mayes' victory with a narrow 280-vote margin.
"Every vote counts, and this razor-thin margin demonstrates the importance of each ballot cast. We will ensure a thorough and transparent recount process."
This tight race underscores Arizona's status as a swing state, where elections have become increasingly competitive. The state, which joined the Union in 1912 as the 48th state, has seen a shift in its political landscape in recent years.
The recount process in Arizona involves a manual count of ballots, ensuring accuracy in such close contests. As one of 435 voting members in the U.S. House of Representatives, the winner of this seat will play a crucial role in representing the diverse interests of the 3rd District's constituents.
As Arizonans await the final results, this race serves as a reminder of the significance of every vote in shaping the political future of both the state and the nation.