Democratic lawmaker from competitive Mesa district won't seek re

MESA, Ariz. — The Democratic lawmaker from a competitive legislative district in the East Valley has announced he won't seek re-election.

State Rep. Seth Blattman of District 9 announced this week he wasn't going to seek another term in order to "pursue new professional opportunities that offer long-term stability."

Blattman, who represents a district that encompasses the communities surrounding downtown Mesa, indicated he will finish out the remainder of his two-year term.

LD 9 notably has more registered Republican voters than Democrats, but non-affiliated, independent voters outnumber both parties in the competitive district. As of October 2025, the district had 44,054 independents, 37,719 Republicans and 34,128 Democrats.

Three Democrats currently represent the district in the Ar