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Here's who Tempe Democrats chose to replace state Rep. Athena Salman

Tempe Democrats chose three candidates to replace outgoing Representative Athena Salman (D-Tempe) in the state House of Representatives on Tuesday.

The three top vote-getters were Jacob Raiford, Jevin Hodge and Deborah Nardozzi — all prominent in the area. 

Raiford is vice chair of the Democratic Party in District 8, which Salman represents. Nardozzi chaired a district in the same area before redistricting. 

Hodge ran unsuccessfully against U.S. Rep. David Schweikert in 2022, and ran unsuccessfully for a spot on the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors before that.

Salman announced in December that she would resign to run an abortion rights campaign in Arizona for a national nonprofit. 

The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors will choose which of the three candidates will be the district’s new lawmaker.

The legislative session began on Monday, and Salman’s seat is the only one in the Legislature left vacant.

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Camryn Sanchez is a field correspondent at KJZZ covering everything to do with state politics.