Nancy Barto
State Senator - District 4
Republican
https://nancybarto.com
Nancy Barto is a relentless advocate for her district. She is driven by compassion for the most vulnerable, the defense of individual freedoms, and a duty to hold the government accountable to the people. By listening to families, Barto continues to lead on providing better care and accountability for foster children, the elderly, and people with serious mental and developmental disabilities. She has made neighborhoods safer by expanding prison transition programs that reduce recidivism, backing law enforcement, cracking down on "party houses" and investing in border security. Barto is a defender of life and a consistent vote for the Second Amendment. She puts kids first, voting to invest a billion new dollars in education, expanding options to every Arizona student, and strengthening parental rights. In a time of economic uncertainty, she voted to give families and businesses relief, voting for the biggest tax cut in Arizona history. She began her journey of service as a mom of three, volunteering and advocating for important issues in her local community. Today, Barto chairs Senate Health and Human Services and serves on the Education and Judiciary committees. She resides in North Phoenix with her husband Joe. Learn more about Barto's record at NancyBarto.com.
Christine Marsh
State Senator - District 4
Democratic
https://www.christineportermarsh.com
While my experiences as a mother, teacher, and foster mother helped me decide to run for the State Senate, what truly motivates me is the need for more balance at the Capitol. After being elected to my first term in the State Senate in 2020, I knew my job was to represent all of my constituents, regardless of their views or their background. I went straight to work on the issues that matter: curbing the impact of our state's drug crisis, bringing together parents and schools to make sure that our kids have access to a quality public education, and securing the right to vote. Our state faces many challenges, and one-party rule has stifled Arizona for decades, with our most vulnerable populations being placed at the most risk. Our district needs to elect a Senator who will listen to all her constituents and make sure that all good ideas get heard. That way, we can work together to solve the many challenges we face.
Matt Gress
State Representative - District 4
Republican
https://www.MattGress.com
Matt Gress is a former teacher and school board member who believes in public service and community involvement. Matt is running for State Representative, with a focus on lowering the cost of living, improving our schools, prioritizing law enforcement and security at our border and in our neighborhoods, and creating jobs. Matt will lower taxes, reduce burdensome regulations on small businesses and only vote for balanced budgets. Like many, Matt came here from somewhere else - small town Oklahoma. The youngest of four, he was raised by a single mom in a singlewide trailer. Matt worked his way through college driving school buses and became the first in his family to earn a degree. After graduating, Matt was accepted to join Teach for America, a national teaching corps focused on serving in high need, high poverty schools. From 2017 to 2021, Matt served as a Governing Board Member in the Madison Elementary School District. While on the board, Matt fought to raise teacher pay and advocated for parents and taxpayers to have a seat at the table in curriculum and budgeting decisions. Matt currently serves as the state's top budget chief in the Governor's Office of Strategic Planning and Budgeting.
Maria Syms
State Representative - District 4
Republican
https://symsforaz.com
I get the job done. That defines my career as an Assistant Attorney General, Assistant U.S. Attorney, and former Representative. Like you, I never want to receive another call that a high school student unknowingly took one fentanyl laced Xanax before bed and never woke up. So, I successfully pushed tougher sentencing laws for fentanyl dealers, stricter DUI laws, and funding for border sheriffs and police. As your Representative, I heard of a young college student who was brutally raped for an hour in her own home only to be victimized again by a bureaucratic system that forced her to wait 8 long months until her rape kit was tested and her attacker brought to justice. So, I passed legislation requiring that all rape kits be tested within 15 days, leading to the capture and conviction of countless violent offenders and justice for victims. I knew, as a public-school mom, we had to improve education, so I voted to invest in our teachers and schools, expand options, and pass fiscal policies that put families first. If you want a problem solver, I would be honored to receive your vote again. SymsForAZ.com.
Laura Terech
State Representative - District 4
Democratic
https://www.lauraforaz.com
During my time in the classroom, I saw just how underfunded our state's public schools are when a ceiling collapsed over a rug full of my kindergarten students while I was teaching. Now, I work to help Arizonans make their voices heard at the state legislature through my work with Civic Engagement Beyond Voting. I am ready to continue the work of listening to my constituents as District 4's State Representative. My vision is an Arizona where every child in our state can access a quality public education regardless of zip code, all voters have the freedom to vote and participate in our democracy, and families don't have to choose between paying healthcare costs and avoiding bankruptcy. Our state is so divided right now. I know we can bridge divides and build community by bringing everyone into our governing process and giving all good ideas the fair hearing at the legislature they deserve.