Tempe’s spring election is not quite done, but one race is already locked up. Incumbent Arlene Chin held on to her Tempe City Council seat outright, while the scramble for the other two open spots is getting kicked to overtime in a May runoff.
Uncertified returns from Maricopa County Elections showed about 24,223 ballots counted and roughly 28.2% voter turnout in the city’s mail-only contest, officials said. The county reported a small number of ballots still waiting to be cured or counted and said totals would be updated once the signature-curing deadline passes.
According to AZFamily, Chin cleared the majority threshold and will not have to defend her seat again in May. “I'm grateful to the Tempe community for the opportunity to continue serving on the City Council,” Chin told the station. City officials said the remaining two council seats will be decided in a May 19 runoff, with the next four highest vote-getters advancing.
Runoff Timeline And What Voters Need To Know
Under Tempe's election code, any council seat that does not reach a majority in March automatically moves to the May 19 runoff. The City of Tempe has posted the full election calendar, spelling out key dates and rules.
The schedule includes an April 20 deadline to register to vote in time for the runoff and late April mailings for runoff ballots. Voters are urged to double-check the city’s official guidance for details on how to replace a lost ballot and when mail or drop-off returns must be received.
Who Made The Cut In Tempe
The four candidates who advanced to the May runoff are Brooke St. George, Berdetta Hodge, Bobby Nichols and Jennifer Adams, according to AZFamily. For more on how this crowded race took shape and the issues that dominated the trail, check out Hoodline’s look at the seven candidates vying for three seats.
Why These Local Races Matter Across The Valley
City council results are not just inside baseball. These seats help set the agenda on development, transportation and basic services across metro Phoenix, and local decisions can spill over into regional planning fights.
High-profile projects like Valley Metro’s disputed Capitol and I-10 West proposals have turned into litmus tests for council priorities, as reported by KJZZ. At the same time, The Arizona Republic has tracked who is on council ballots across the Valley, underscoring how these low-turnout contests can steer big-ticket projects.
Maricopa County Elections has said it will refresh Tempe’s numbers after the signature-curing period closes and then post updated returns. Tempe officials have indicated that the City Council will certify final results at an upcoming meeting. According to the city’s election information, the winning councilmembers are slated to be sworn in this July and will serve four-year terms.
