Three Dynamite Democrats Launch Aggressive Bid to Flip Legislative District 17

Three Democratic candidates launched a forceful campaign Monday to flip Arizona’s Legislative District 17, targeting Republican attacks on education funding, voucher accountability and legislative dysfunction at the state Capitol.

The trio — Edgar Soto for state Senate, and Holly Lyons and incumbent State Rep. Kevin Volk — are targeting a district rated Republican-plus-eight, banking on anti-Trump sentiment and voter fatigue with one-party rule in Phoenix.

(See their bios at the bottom.)

LD17 includes Marana, Oro Valley, eastern Tucson, Vail, Catalina, Colossal Cave, Corona de Tucson, Tanque Verde and Rita Ranch in Pima and Pinal Counties. They launched their campaign at the Democrats of Oro Valley meeting on February 9, 2026.

• Click here to see what district you live in.
• Click here to see a map of LD17.

Stark indictment

State Senate candidate Edgar Soto, a 29-year Pima Community College Executive and Marine Corps veteran, opened the Democrats of Oro Valley meeting on February 9, 2026, with a stark indictment of Arizona’s education system, citing a student who arrived at college unable to write properly after years in charter schools and homeschooling.

“I don’t see a failure in the student. I see a failure in our system,” Soto told the crowd, noting Arizona ranks near the bottom nationally in math and writing proficiency and teacher pay.

Voucher Program Under Fire

Both Soto and House candidate Holly Lyons, a retired Air Force colonel, hammered the state’s Empowerment Scholarship Account voucher program, which has exploded to nearly $1 billion in costs despite a legislative budget of just $84 million.

“All of that excess spending is coming out of your road funds. That’s coming out of your safety funds,” Lyons said, adding that the Legislature has “swept” dedicated funds for years to cover budget shortfalls.

The candidates called for strict accountability measures for the voucher program, noting rural students often cannot access private or charter schools and end up homeschooled without proper education.

Democrats See Opening in GOP District

Reactionary Republican state Sen. Vince Leach is not running for re-election. However, AR-15-brandishing Rachel Keshel is running for re-election to the House.

“Democrats have sponsored less than 10% of the bills in the Legislature. They’re not even getting through committee. Like we don’t even have a voice,” Soto said of the current Legislature, where Republicans hold supermajorities.

Campaign Centered on “Three A’s”

Lyons structured her platform around accountability, affordability, and accessibility, calling for transparency from Republican legislators who own stock in companies under their committee’s jurisdiction.

“You ought to know where the money goes, shouldn’t you?” Lyons said of tax dollars, questioning whether legislators invest in private prison stocks while passing legislation benefiting those companies.

On housing affordability, Lyons proposed incentivizing affordable developments rather than “$500,000 walled communities,” and restoring swept transportation and emergency funds.

ICE detention dungeons

Attendees asked the candidates questions about proposed ICE detention dungeons in Marana, with Soto pledging to oppose what one attendee called “human warehouses”.

“I don’t think we support anything that is going to build an ICE facility out here. I don’t want any part of that,” Soto said, though acknowledging limited state authority to block federal operations.

Lyons suggested the Legislature could “make it very difficult for them” by targeting contractors financially, though stopping short of claiming full prevention power.

Fundraising Push Intensifies

All three candidates emphasized urgent fundraising needs, with Lyons saying each candidate must raise $500,000 to win the election — far above the $80,000 she raised in previous races.

“If 20,000 people give you $20, then you’ve got a lot of support out there,” Lyons told supporters, urging even small donations to demonstrate grassroots backing to larger donors.

The candidates are collecting paper petition signatures to supplement their online ballot access submissions, aiming to collect three times the required number to avoid challenges. Petitions are available at the Pima County Democratic Party, 2302 E Speedway Blvd, Suite 106, Tucson, AZ 85719.

Soto will hold a launch party on February 20 at Hotel Congress in Tucson featuring Secretary of State Adrian Fontes.

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Edgar Soto is a lifelong Tucsonan, educator, veteran, and community leader. He currently serves as Vice President at Pima Community College, overseeing the Desert Vista Campus.

Website: www.sotoforarizona.com

Donate: secure.actblue.com/donate/edgar-soto-1

He is a bold advocate for increasing college completion rates and closing equity gaps. He believes all students should have equal access to a college education or a valuable credential.

Edgar is a frequent presenter and public speaker at many events and has served on many community boards of directors, including Chair of the Lapan College & Career Club, Chair of the Southern Arizona Sports, Tourism, and Film Authority and member of the Southern Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce board.

Edgar is a native Tucsonan and veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps. After graduating from Tucson public schools, Edgar earned his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Sociology from the University of New Mexico, a Post-Baccalaureate Certification in Education from the University of Arizona and a Master’s Degree in Multicultural Education from Northern Arizona University.

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Holly Lyon is an Air Force veteran, former educator, and proven leader. She believes LD 17 deserves an experienced leader who is willing to listen, work through differences, and focus on practical solutions that put families and communities first.

Website: www.lyonforarizona.com

Donate: secure.actblue.com/donate/holly-lyon-1

Her priorities include holding government officials to the highest standards while ensuring they have the resources to do their jobs safely and effectively, using taxpayer dollars responsibly, and working to ensure all Arizonans can afford housing and healthcare and have access to quality education and a sustainable supply of water.

Holly began her career as a 7th-grade math teacher before serving 26 years as a communications and computer officer. She commanded twice, served at the NATO Headquarters in Belgium, and taught war planning at the Armed Forces Staff College to multi-national military leaders. She retired from the Pentagon and subsequently worked for two large companies in the DC area, where, among other assignments, she researched and formulated a proposal to enhance border security operations.

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