The new District 9 is the second most competitive in the redrawn voting districts, and there is no incumbent running.
The opportunity strikes the two Democratic candidates, Mohur Sarah Sidhwa and Victoria Steele, as a chance for voters to help defeat the Republican supermajority.
Meanwhile, Republican candidate Ethan Orr sees it as a chance for Tucson to add a voice in that majority.
All three candidates have been knocking on doors to earn votes. Voters will choose two at the polls.
Here's where they stand on some key issues.
ON THE ECONOMY
Orr said he would focus on enhancing Southern Arizona's economic advantages, including supporting the transportation logistics sector with a new multimodal hub and supporting the aerospace and military sectors with a no-fly zone for drone tests.
Sidhwa supports incentives for high-tech and biotech companies. She also wants to jump-start the solar sector with a bill to install solar panels at every school, which would save on energy costs and create jobs, she said.
Steele supports local preference policies that would award more state contracts to Arizona firms, which would help create jobs. She also supports incentives for solar and bioscience companies.
Each candidate said changes are needed in the state tax code. Sidhwa and Steele want to cut loopholes and outdated incentives. Orr wants to raise the threshold on Class 3 business personal property taxes.
ON EDUCATION
Each candidate identified education as a top priority. Each said cutting prison spending would be a good way to put more money in classrooms, although they have different ideas about how to do that.
Each candidate would restore funding cuts to vocational education programs.
Orr is against the Prop. 204 sales tax, Sidhwa said she reluctantly supports it, and Steele favors the sales tax.
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