Janeen Connolly

Janeen Connolly

Democratic Party

Candidate, Arizona House of Representatives District 8

Arizona House of Representatives District 8

Tenure

2025 - Present

Term ends

2027

Years in position

1

Compensation

Base salary

$24,000

Per diem

Maricopa County residents: $35/day; outside Maricopa County: $269.33/day.

Elections and appointments

Last election

July 21, 2026

Next election

November 3, 2026

Education

High school

Cottonwood High School

Associates

Maricopa Community College, 1989

Bachelor's

Arizona State University, 1991

Graduate

Arizona State University, 2011

Personal

Birthplace

Boise, ID

Profession

Government relations

Contact

Official website

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Campaign X

Campaign Instagram

Personal Facebook

Personal Instagram

Personal LinkedIn

Janeen Connolly (Democratic Party) is a member of the Arizona House of Representatives, representing District 8. She assumed office on January 13, 2025. Her current term ends on January 11, 2027.

Connolly (Democratic Party) is running for re-election to the Arizona House of Representatives to represent District 8. She is on the ballot in the general election on November 3, 2026. She advanced from the Democratic primary on July 21, 2026.

Biography

Janeen Connolly was born in Boise, Idaho. She earned a high school diploma from Cottonwood High School, an associate degree from Maricopa Community College in 1989, a bachelor's degree from Arizona State University in 1991, and a graduate degree from Arizona State University in 2011. Her career experience includes working in government relations and teaching communications at Arizona State University. As of 2024, Connolly was affiliated with the Superstition Vistas Steering Committee, the Tempe Leadership Board, the Central AZ College Foundation, and Luke Air Force Base. She also volunteers with her local food pantry.

Sponsored legislation

The following table lists bills this person sponsored as a legislator, according to BillTrack50 and sorted by action history. Bills are sorted by the date of their last action. The following list may not be comprehensive. To see all bills this legislator sponsored, click on the legislator's name in the title of the table.

Committee assignments

2025-2026

Connolly was assigned to the following committees:

• House Commerce Committee
• Science and Technology Committee

Elections

2026

See also: Arizona House of Representatives elections, 2026

General election

The general election will occur on November 3, 2026.

General election for Arizona House of Representatives District 8 (2 seats)

Incumbent Janeen Connolly (D), incumbent Brian Garcia (D), and Donald Hawker (R) are running in the general election for Arizona House of Representatives District 8 on November 3, 2026.

		Candidate
		Janeen Connolly (D)
		Brian Garcia (D)
		Donald Hawker  (R)

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Democratic primary

Democratic primary for Arizona House of Representatives District 8 (2 seats)

Incumbent Brian Garcia (D) and incumbent Janeen Connolly (D) defeated Claudia Kline (D) in the Democratic primary for Arizona House of Representatives District 8 on July 21, 2026.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Brian Garcia	42.5	12,268
✔		Janeen Connolly	31.1	8,985
		Claudia Kline	26.3	7,594

---

	Incumbents are bolded and underlined. Vote totals may change until results are certified. Source 1 Source 2	Total votes: 28,847
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Republican primary

Republican primary for Arizona House of Representatives District 8 (2 seats)

Donald Hawker (R) advanced from the Republican primary for Arizona House of Representatives District 8 on July 21, 2026.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Donald Hawker	100.0	6,870

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. Vote totals may change until results are certified. Source	Total votes: 6,870
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
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Endorsements

See also: Our approach to covering endorsements

Janeen Connolly received the following endorsements and voter guide recommendations. To send us additional endorsements, click here.

• Arizona Nurses Association
• Humane World Action Fund

2024

See also: Arizona House of Representatives elections, 2024

General election

General election for Arizona House of Representatives District 8 (2 seats)

Janeen Connolly and Brian Garcia defeated Caden Darrow and Tre Rook in the general election for Arizona House of Representatives District 8 on November 5, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Janeen Connolly (D)	35.1	49,065
✔		Brian Garcia (D)	34.3	47,977
		Caden Darrow (R)	25.2	35,180
		Tre Rook (G)	5.4	7,559

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 139,781
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Democratic primary election

Democratic primary for Arizona House of Representatives District 8 (2 seats)

Brian Garcia and Janeen Connolly defeated Juan Mendez in the Democratic primary for Arizona House of Representatives District 8 on July 30, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Brian Garcia	34.3	9,078
✔		Janeen Connolly	33.5	8,856
		Juan Mendez	32.2	8,510

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 26,444
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Republican primary election

Republican primary for Arizona House of Representatives District 8 (2 seats)

Caden Darrow advanced from the Republican primary for Arizona House of Representatives District 8 on July 30, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Caden Darrow	100.0	9,281

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 9,281
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Green primary election

Green primary for Arizona House of Representatives District 8 (2 seats)

Tre Rook advanced from the Green primary for Arizona House of Representatives District 8 on July 30, 2024.

		Candidate	%	Votes
✔		Tre Rook (Write-in)	100.0	7

---

	There were no incumbents in this race. The results have been certified. Source	Total votes: 7
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
If you are a candidate and would like to tell readers and voters more about why they should vote for you, complete the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection Survey.
Do you want a spreadsheet of this type of data? Contact our sales team.

Endorsements

See also: Our approach to covering endorsements

Ballotpedia did not identify endorsements or voter guide recommendations for Connolly in this election.

Campaign themes

2026

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Janeen Connolly has not yet completed Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey. Send a message to Janeen Connolly asking her to fill out the survey. If you are Janeen Connolly, click here to fill out Ballotpedia's 2026 Candidate Connection survey.

Who fills out Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey?

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You can ask Janeen Connolly to fill out this survey by using the buttons below or emailing janeen@azjaneen.com.

2024

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Janeen Connolly completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2024. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Connolly's responses.

Expand All

Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Meet Janeen Connolly, candidate for LD8’s open seat in the AZ House of Representatives. Janeen understands that the word “represent” is in the job title, representing you will be her first priority. A 42-year resident of Tempe, Janeen raised four daughters on her own while earning degrees from MCC and ASU. She holds a master’s degree in advocacy communication. Janeen is an accomplished community organizer with a proven track record of bringing people together to solve problems, skills needed to be an effective legislator. Those who know her integrity, work ethic and passion have encouraged Janeen to run. She supports business. She supports unions. She supports continuing to build a strong economy. She will work for better jobs for Arizonans. Janeen submitted three times the required number of signatures to qualify for the ballot. This tells you she knows how to put in the hard work AND connect with voters. Voters' priorities are Janeen’s priorities. Janeen Connolly embodies the representation LD8 needs now at the Arizona Legislature, and she is ready to serve!

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Talking with voters, the first priority for LD8 is K12 Education. Voters want guideline and transparency for vouchers, increased pay for teachers and public money to go to public schools. I will work in support of their concerns.
• LD8 voters second priority is affordable housing. Voters are passionate about future housing becoming affordable for all Arizonans. I agree. Homeownership has always been at the heart of the American dream and that dream is slipping further and further away. When serving at the legislature I will engage and help to resolve this issue.
• The third priority for LD8 voters is women's healthcare. In my district a striking number of voters talk with me about amending Arizona's Constitution to establish a woman's fundamental right to have an abortion. I agree. All women should have the basic right to make their own decisions regarding their personal medical treatment.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

I believe that climate change is real and that any portion of it caused by man requires urgent action. I am dedicated to taking steps to reduce my personal carbon footprint. I feel a policy pathway must be grounded in science. And, I will work very hard to move sensible policy forward.

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Honesty, integrity and a strong work ethic.

What qualities do you possess that you believe would make you a successful officeholder?

I am known for bringing people to the table over sensitive issues, moving discussions forward and solving problems.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

First, to represent. Then, to be responsive as a leader, to be transparent and remain accessible to voters.

What legacy would you like to leave?

I am working to reverse my carbon footprint and I intend to leave this world at net zero for Janeen. If I can do more along those lines, I gladly will.

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

For 2 years I washed dishes at Midland Manor Nursing Home. I think I earned $.50 an hour.

What was the last song that got stuck in your head?

Lovely Day; Bill Withers

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

While still in high school, I was diagnosed with lymphedema - google it. It was a long road to working and leading a contributing life. I will never be held back again. When I began working, I was appointed to Governor Jane D Hull's Task Force on Employment for People with Disabilities. At the legislature, I will be a warrior for people with disabilities.

What do you believe is the ideal relationship between the governor and state legislature?

To engage in civil dialogue and reach solutions that work best for all Arizonans.

What do you perceive to be your state's greatest challenges over the next decade?

To resolve water. To strengthen the economy. To address affordable housing. To adequately fund public education. Forge the path to a sustainable future. And, to house the unsheltered. These challenges have somehow been shelved for too long. Let's get this done.

Do you believe that it’s beneficial for state legislators to have previous experience in government or politics?

Not necessarily. A variety of backgrounds, education and experience would be beneficial for a future state legislator. Of course mastering the arts of listening, civil discourse and effective writing would prove helpful. To me, it is important for state legislators to have some experience prior to serving. Ultimately, it is important to have a passion to serve the voters and the state of Arizona.

Do you believe it’s beneficial to build relationships with other legislators? Please explain your answer.

Yes.

Is there a particular legislator, past or present, whom you want to model yourself after?

Sandra Day O'Connor, whom I had the pleasure to meet. Like Justice O'Connor I will work very hard and move good policy forward.

Are you interested in running for a different political office (for example, the U.S. Congress or governor) in the future?

Not at this time.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

For an up to date list of campaign endorsements, please see my website at azjaneen.com.

What committees interest you?

Appropriations Natural Resources, Energy and Water

What are your views on financial transparency and government accountability?

Learn the budget, follow the rules!

Note: Ballotpedia reserves the right to edit Candidate Connection survey responses. Any edits made by Ballotpedia will be clearly marked with [brackets] for the public. If the candidate disagrees with an edit, he or she may request the full removal of the survey response from Ballotpedia.org. Ballotpedia does not edit or correct typographical errors unless the candidate's campaign requests it.

Campaign finance summary

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Note: The finance data shown here comes from the disclosures required of candidates and parties. Depending on the election or state, this may represent only a portion of all the funds spent on their behalf. Satellite spending groups may or may not have expended funds related to the candidate or politician on whose page you are reading this disclaimer. Campaign finance data from elections may be incomplete. For elections to federal offices, complete data can be found at the FEC website. Click here for more on federal campaign finance law and here for more on state campaign finance law.

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Janeen Connolly campaign contribution history

Year	Office	Status	Contributions	Expenditures
2024	Arizona House of Representatives District 8	Won general	$110,049	$68,840
Grand total			$110,049	$68,840
Sources: OpenSecrets,  Federal Election Commission ***This product uses the openFEC API but is not endorsed or certified by the Federal Election Commission (FEC).

Scorecards

See also: State legislative scorecards, State legislative scorecards in Arizona

A scorecard evaluates a legislator’s voting record. Its purpose is to inform voters about the legislator’s political positions. Because scorecards have varying purposes and methodologies, each report should be considered on its own merits. For example, an advocacy group’s scorecard may assess a legislator’s voting record on one issue while a state newspaper’s scorecard may evaluate the voting record in its entirety.

Ballotpedia is in the process of developing an encyclopedic list of published scorecards. Some states have a limited number of available scorecards or scorecards produced only by select groups. It is Ballotpedia’s goal to incorporate all available scorecards regardless of ideology or number.

Click here for an overview of legislative scorecards in all 50 states. To contribute to the list of scorecards, email suggestions to editor@ballotpedia.org.

• 2025

Below you can find the scorecards found for the Arizona State Legislature in 2025.

• Arizona Republican Assembly — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to limited government, individual liberties, and fiscal responsibility.
• Christian Employers Alliance — Legislators are scored on "how consistently their votes support limited government" and "whether their decisions protect or restrict freedom in the marketplace."
• Humane Voters of Arizona — Legislators are scored on their stances on animal issues.
• Progress Arizona — Legislators are scored on their votes on the association's policy platform.
• Secular Coalition for Arizona — Legislators are scored on their stances on secular policy.
• The Arizona Center for Economic Progress — Legislators are scored on their votes on bills related to economic policy.
• The Freedom Index — Legislators are scored on their adherence to the limited government principles of the U.S. Constitution.

See also

2026 Elections

What's on the ballot? Arizona U.S. Congress U.S. Congress special elections State executives State legislatures State courts Ballot measures Municipal government School boards Election analysis hub

Government

Who represents me? U.S. CongressState executivesState legislators State courts Ballot measures Municipal governmentList of school districts in Arizona

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External links

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Candidate

Arizona House of Representatives District 8

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Arizona House of Representatives District 8

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Footnotes

[show]

Current members of the Arizona House of Representatives

Leadership

Speaker of the House:Steve Montenegro

Majority Leader:Michael Carbone

Minority Leader:Oscar De Los Santos

Representatives

District 1

Selina Bliss (R)

Quang Nguyen (R)

District 2

Stephanie Simacek (D)

Justin Wilmeth (R)

District 3

Alexander Kolodin (R)

Cody Reim (R)

District 4

Pamela Carter (R)

Matt Gress (R)

District 5

Sarah Liguori (D)

Aaron Marquez (D)

District 6

Mae Peshlakai (D)

Myron Tsosie (D)

District 7

Sylvia Allen (R)

Walter Blackman (R)

District 8

Janeen Connolly (D)

Brian Garcia (D)

District 9

Lorena Austin (D)

Seth Blattman (D)

District 10

Ralph Heap (R)

Justin Olson (R)

District 11

Junelle Cavero (D)

Oscar De Los Santos (D)

District 12

Patricia Contreras (D)

Anastasia Travers (D)

District 13

Jeff Weninger (R)

Julie Willoughby (R)

District 14

Laurin Hendrix (R)

Khyl Powell (R)

District 15

Neal Carter (R)

Michael Way (R)

District 16

Chris Lopez (R)

Teresa Martinez (R)

District 17

Rachel Keshel (R)

Kevin Volk (D)

District 18

Nancy Gutierrez (D)

Christopher Mathis (D)

District 19

Lupe Diaz (R)

Gail Griffin (R)

District 20

Alma Hernandez (D)

Betty Villegas (D)

District 21

Consuelo Hernandez (D)

Stephanie Stahl Hamilton (D)

District 22

Lupe Contreras (D)

Elda Luna-Nájera (D)

District 23

Michele Pena (R)

Mariana Sandoval (D)

District 24

Anna Abeytia (D)

Lydia Hernandez (D)

District 25

Michael Carbone (R)

Nick Kupper (R)

District 26

Cesar Aguilar (D)

Quantá Crews (D)

District 27

Lisa Fink (R)

Tony Rivero (R)

District 28

David Livingston (R)

Beverly Pingerelli (R)

District 29

Steve Montenegro (R)

James Taylor (R)

District 30

Leo Biasiucci (R)

John Gillette (R)

Republican Party (33)

Democratic Party (27)

Capital: Phoenix

Arizona

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