The 1988 Arizona Senate election was held on November 8, 1988. Voters elected members of the Arizona Senate in all 30 of the state's legislative districts to serve a two-year term. Primary elections were held on September 13, 1988.[3]
Prior to the elections, the Republicans held a majority of 19 seats over the Democrats' 11 seats.
Following the election, Republicans maintained control of the chamber with 17 Republicans to 13 Democrats, a net gain of two seats for Democrats.[4]
Summary of Votes in the Impeachment Trial of Governor Evan Mecham
On February 8, 1988, the Arizona House of Representatives voted to impeach Governor Evan Mecham. This caused a schism in the Arizona Republican Party since the House was controlled by Republicans and the Governor was also a Republican.[5][6]
Subsequent to the House's vote to impeach, the Senate then convened the impeachment trial of Governor Mecham. On March 30, 1988, the Senate voted to dismiss Article II (pertaining to false sworn statements) for fear of putting Mecham in a position of quasi double jeopardy due to the ongoing criminal proceedings in the Superior Court of Maricopa County.[7] The vote to dismiss Article II was Ayes-16, Noes-12, and Not Voting-2.
On April 4, 1988, the Senate voted on Article I (pertaining to obstruction of justice) and Article III (pertaining to misuse of funds) of the Articles of Impeachment. The Presiding Officer, at 4:56 p.m., announced that by a vote of 21 ayes and 9 noes, Evan Mecham was convicted of high crimes, misdemeanors or malfeasance in office, as contained in Article I of the Articles of Impeachment.[8] The Presiding Officer announced that by a vote of 26 ayes and 4 noes, Evan Mecham was convicted of high crimes, misdemeanors or malfeasance in office, as contained in Article III of the Articles of Impeachment.[9]
Having voted to convict on both Article I and Article III, the Senate then voted on whether to permanently disqualify Mecham from ever again holding any office of honor, trust, or profit in the State of Arizona. The Presiding Officer, at 5:30 p.m., announced that by a roll call vote of 17 ayes and 13 noes, Evan Mecham was not disqualified from holding any office of honor, trust or profit in the State.[c][10]
The table below summarizes the votes of each Senator during the Mecham impeachment trial and their subsequent fate in the 1988 elections.[11]
^ abcdefRan as a write-in candidate in the primary election.
^ abcWas a write-in candidate in the general election.
^Note that the threshold to disqualify is a two-thirds vote, which would have been 20 ayes. Though 17 is a majority, it did not meet the two-thirds necessary for permanent disqualification.
^The vote to dismiss Article II occurred on March 30, 1988.
