Registered Republicans in Arizona have overtaken independents as the largest voting bloc in the state. Arizona Public Radio’s Ryan Heinsius reports, voters without a party affiliation had been the majority since January 2014.
Secretary of State Michele Reagan says the new registration numbers show voters returning to major political parties ahead of the Aug. 30 primary election. Almost 35 percent – or 1,185,023 – of Arizona’s 3.4 million registered voters are Republicans. The number of independents, however, is only slightly less than the GOP, at 1,164,373.
Democrats account for nearly 30 percent – 1,019,050 – while Libertarians and members of the Green Party make up less than 1 percent.
In Yavapai County, Republicans hold a strong majority of 58,732, more than doubling the number of registered Democrats, at 27,184, along with 43,224 registered independents. In Coconino County, Democrats (29,454) outnumber both Republicans (18,892) and independents (23,410).
The Secretary of State’s office reports 47,000 voters registered statewide since May.
