If you’ve spent any time driving through the East Valley, you’ve probably crossed the invisible lines of Arizona Congressional District 4 without even realizing it. It’s a weirdly shaped puzzle piece of Maricopa County. Honestly, most people still get it confused with the "old" District 4, which used to cover a massive, rural chunk of Western Arizona. But things changed. Big time.
Today, the 4th is an urban powerhouse. It’s dense. It's diverse. It basically serves as the beating heart of Arizona’s tech and education corridor. We’re talking about a district that includes all of Tempe, plus hefty slices of Phoenix, Mesa, and Chandler.
It’s not just a spot on a map; it’s a political bellwether.
Who’s Running the Show in the 4th?
Right now, the seat belongs to Greg Stanton. You probably know him as the former mayor of Phoenix. He’s been in this specific seat since 2023, though he’s been in Congress since 2019 (back when this area was mostly known as the 9th district). Stanton is a Democrat, and he’s positioned himself as a "moderate, solutions-oriented" guy. He sits on some heavy-hitting committees: Transportation and Infrastructure, and Foreign Affairs.
He just won reelection in 2024, beating Republican Kelly Cooper. It wasn't exactly a blowout, but it wasn't a nail-biter either. Stanton took about 52.7% of the vote.
But don't think for a second that the GOP has given up.
Looking ahead to the 2026 midterm elections, the 4th is already seeing action. The primary is set for August 4, 2026, and the general election falls on November 3, 2026. Stanton is running again. On the Republican side, the field is getting crowded. You’ve got names like Jerone Davison, Bradley Honer, and Elizabeth Reye already making noise.
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There's even an Independent candidate, Andromeda Crum, in the mix.
Arizona Congressional District 4: The Map and the People
Let’s get real about the geography because it’s a bit of a maze.
Since the 2022 redistricting, this district is entirely contained within Maricopa County. It’s 99.9% urban. If you’re looking for saguaros and empty desert, you’re in the wrong place. This is the land of ASU, the Price Corridor, and Sky Harbor International Airport.
A Demographic Breakdown
The people living here are younger and more educated than the state average.
- White (Non-Hispanic): Around 55-56%
- Hispanic: Roughly 26.7%
- Asian: 5.5%
- Black: 5.3%
The median household income sits around $82,539. That’s significantly higher than the Arizona state average. It’s a middle-class and upper-middle-class stronghold where people care deeply about two things: the economy and the heat.
The heat isn't just a weather complaint here; it's a policy issue. When you're in an urban heat island like Tempe or Phoenix, energy costs and infrastructure aren't abstract concepts. They're survival.
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Why the 2026 Race is Already Heating Up
Political nerds use something called the Cook Partisan Voting Index (PVI). For the 4th, it’s currently D+4.
In plain English? It leans Democratic, but it’s not a "safe" seat in the way some downtown Phoenix or Tucson districts are. It’s a "Solid D" for now, but if the national mood shifts, or if inflation keeps biting, it could get interesting.
Voters here are anxious. According to recent polling from Noble Predictive Insights, inflation is the top concern for 46% of Arizonans. Close behind are affordable housing and immigration. Even though this district is urban and leans left, those "bread and butter" issues cross party lines.
Stanton has to walk a tightrope. He needs to satisfy the progressive base in Tempe—think college students and faculty—while not alienating the more conservative suburbanites in Mesa and Chandler.
The Weird History of the "Fourth"
If you talk to someone who’s lived in Arizona for twenty years, they might think you’re talking about Paul Gosar. For a decade, District 4 was Gosar’s territory. It was one of the most Republican districts in the entire country, stretching from the Grand Canyon down to the outskirts of Yuma.
Then came the 2020 Census.
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The Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission (AIRC) basically blew up the old maps. The rural 4th became the 9th. The urban 9th became the 4th. It was a complete identity swap. This is why you see so much confusion online.
The current version of Arizona Congressional District 4 is effectively the successor to the old 9th. It’s the "Innovation District." It’s where the chips are made and the students study.
What to Watch For
If you live in the 4th, your life is shaped by what happens in D.C., but also by the hyper-local battles for housing. Chandler and Mesa are growing so fast that the infrastructure is gasping for air.
Expect the 2026 campaign to focus on:
- The CHIPS Act: Stanton has been a huge proponent of bringing semiconductor manufacturing to Arizona. Expect him to run on "jobs of the future."
- Housing Costs: Rent in Tempe has skyrocketed. Whoever wins this seat needs a plan that doesn't just involve "thoughts and prayers."
- Transportation: With Stanton on the Transportation Committee, federal funding for light rail and freeway expansion is a huge talking point.
Honestly, the 4th is sort of a microcosm of the "New Arizona." It’s not the Wild West anymore. It’s a high-tech, diverse, and politically complex engine that drives the state’s economy.
How to Get Involved
If you're a resident, the deadlines are closer than they look.
- Voter Registration Deadline: July 6, 2026.
- Early Voting Starts: July 8, 2026.
- Primary Day: August 4, 2026.
You can verify your specific district by heading to the Arizona Independent Redistricting Commission’s website and plugging in your zip code. Don't just assume you're in the same district you were in four years ago. The lines have shifted, and in a state where elections are decided by a few thousand votes, your spot on the map matters.
Check your registration status today through the Secretary of State’s portal. If you’ve moved recently—which about 32% of the district’s population has done since 2021—you likely need to update your info to ensure you're voting in the correct contests for the 2026 cycle.