On Tuesday, a citizen panel will interview eight candidates vying to be the next state senator in Legislative District 30.
The panel has until Sept. 7 to nominate three candidates for the Senate seat, left vacant earlier this month after former lawmaker Tony Navarrete resigned. Navarrete stepped down after he was charged with multiple allegations of sexual conduct with minors.
Among the most notable candidates are Rep. Raquel Terán and former lawmakers Ray Martinez and Jonathan Larkin. The other candidates are:
- Flavio Bravo
- Al DePascal III
- Harry Garewal
- Nathan Schick
- Jonathan Solorzano
All candidates are Democrats. In accordance with state law, the next senator must be from the same political party as the former lawmaker who left the seat.
Once the panel nominates three of the candidates, it’s up to the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors to appoint one as senator in LD30, which covers parts of Glendale and Phoenix.
If Terán is appointed, it’ll trigger another process to fill her seat in the House of Representatives.