State Sen. John McComish Won't Seek Another Term

By Nick Blumberg
Published: Tuesday, January 28, 2014 - 10:31am

Arizona’s Senate Majority Leader has announced he won’t run for re-election this fall. John McComish faced a Tea Party challenge in the Republican primary.

An Awhwatukee Republican, McComish has served in the legislature for nearly ten years. He’s the longest-serving lawmaker in the Senate second only to the chamber’s president, Andy Biggs. Monday, McComish announced he won’t seek re-election. Rather, he’ll run for Justice of the Peace in the Kyrene Justice Court.

McComish has endorsed Republican Representative Jeff Dial as his successor. Both men are considered moderates, and were among the group of Republican lawmakers who supported Governor Jan Brewer’s push for Medicaid expansion last year. McComish was facing a primary challenge from former state Republican Party chairman Tom Morrissey.