Kevin Thompson won the primary and is the party's nominee for the general election. Finished first in the July 21, 2026 Republican primary for two Corporation Commission seats with 35.8% of the vote, ahead of Ralph Heap (33.0%) and Commissioner Nick Myers (31.2%). Faces Republican Ralph Heap, Democrats Clara Pratte and Jonathon Hill, and Green nominee Mike Cease in the November 3, 2026 general election.
Source: kjzz.org · Last verified: October 23, 2026
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Statement
One office that shouldn't be political is the regulators who oversee utilities and our grid. My focus is protecting ratepayers and grid stability. I've championed an all-of-the above energy approach to manage Arizona's energy grid, focusing on eliminating Green New Deal policies that have cost customers billions of dollars in extra surcharges, while pushing for greater ratepayer protections and holding utilities accountable for wasteful and frivolous spending. I championed the elimination of previously enacted Commission mandates that forced utilities to fund energy projects and programs costing ratepayers nearly $4Billion since their inception. I led the charge in eliminating over $50Million in ratepayer surcharges from the state's largest electric utility in incentives for things like electric golf carts, EV charging stations, and payments to homebuilders to install appliances. I've worked tirelessly to remove regulatory barriers and mandates to unleash energy innovation, while ensuring grid stability and maintaining reliable energy supply. Under my watch, Arizona's grid is now ranked the 7th most reliable in the country. I recently led the charge to prevent ratepayers from being saddled with $1.9Billion in extra costs to open a shuttered power plant and have worked on federal permitting reform for natural gas and nuclear power.
Biography
Kevin Thompson is an Arizona Corporation Commissioner, first elected in November 2022, and has served as the commission's chair. A U.S. Air Force veteran who deployed for Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, he earned a mechanical engineering degree from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, worked 17 years for Southwest Gas, and served on the Mesa City Council from 2015 to 2023. He co-founded the Mesa Veterans Resource Center. On the commission he supported repealing the state's renewable energy standard and most utility energy-efficiency programs, and he favors natural gas as the grid's backbone within an all-of-the-above portfolio that includes micro-nuclear. He backs formula rate plans that would let utilities seek annual rate adjustments, saying they would reduce rate shock. Thompson finished first in the July 21, 2026 Republican primary for two seats with 35.8% of the vote and faces Republican Ralph Heap, Democrats Clara Pratte and Jonathon Hill, and Green nominee Mike Cease in the November 3, 2026 general election.
Past offices held
Positions
Issue Stances
Water Policy
SupportsThompson says Arizona is in a water crisis and that the Commission must take a proactive approach, including reducing water losses from aging utility pipelines.
Education Funding
No official stance on record.
Border Security & Immigration
No official stance on record.
Housing Affordability
No official stance on record.
Election Integrity
No official stance on record.
Healthcare Access
No official stance on record.
Public Safety & Criminal Justice
No official stance on record.
Energy Policy
SupportsThompson favors natural gas as the grid's backbone because it is dispatchable, within an all-of-the-above portfolio that includes renewables and micro-nuclear. He supported repealing the renewable energy standard and most energy-efficiency programs, saying major utilities already exceed the targets and subsidies should end, and backs formula rate plans for annual utility rate adjustments.
"I think everything gets subsidized at some point in time as it gets started."
Economic Development & Jobs
SupportsThompson argues that an affordable, reliable electrical grid is essential to attract businesses and maintain Arizona's competitive economic edge.
Reproductive Rights
No official stance on record.
Transportation & Infrastructure
SupportsThompson's infrastructure priorities are utility-focused: grid capacity expansion, long-range demand planning, and reducing water-pipe losses across the state.
Government Spending & Taxation
SupportsThompson says he has fought mandates, subsidies, and cost shifts and wants to prevent utility costs from being passed onto Arizona families and businesses.
Legislature
Legislative Voting Record
No voting record on file.
Voting records are only available for candidates who have held legislative office.
Ballot
Ballot Measure Stances
No ballot measure stances on file yet.
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