On November 5, 2026, Scottsdale residents voted to fill the city’s two remaining council seats, a result that will shape local policy on housing, water and public safety for the next four years.
According to AZ Free News, the unofficial tally at 8:30 p.m. showed Ugenti‑Rita leading with 51,141 votes (33.91% of the total), Graham close behind with 50,992 votes (33.81%), and Raoul Zubia with 48,678 votes (32.28%). Ugenti‑Rita’s lead over Zubia was 2,463 votes, while Graham led Zubia by 2,314 votes. The two candidates receiving the most votes win the seats, though the results remain unofficial pending the council’s canvass.
Following Zubia’s concession on Thursday evening, councilmember Solange Whitehead and former mayoral candidate Brian Anderson posted congratulations on X, praising the outcome as “amazing news for families and businesses in Scottsdale.”
Graham, a certified public accountant, has served on the council since 2023 and is positioned for a second term. Ugenti‑Rita represented Scottsdale in the Arizona Legislature for 12 years before entering the municipal race. Zubia, a newcomer, had previously advocated for expanding wastewater purification for drinking water.
The campaign was heavily influenced by the ongoing dispute over the Axon headquarters development. In 2024 the council approved rezoning for the Taser manufacturer’s campus, which included a controversial apartment component. Residents organized through Taxpayers Against Awful Apartment Zoning Exemptions (TAAAZE) to seek a public vote on the rezoning, but state legislation SB 1543 blocked the referendum. In November 2025 the council approved a compromise allowing 600 apartments and 600 condominiums across two phases, a deal defended by Mayor Lisa Borowsky as a reduction in residential density.
During the campaign, Graham, Ugenti‑Rita and former councilman Bob Littlefield sent a letter to Axon’s board alleging that company executives financed efforts to defeat candidates opposed to the apartment component. The letter cited contributions of $500,000 from Axon, $500,000 from CEO Rick Smith, $100,000 from President Josh Isner and $20,000 from Chief Legal Officer Isaiah Fields to the group Arizonans for a Better Future.
Water policy also divided the candidates. Zubia supported expanding wastewater purification for drinking water, while Ugenti‑Rita opposed adding purified recycled water directly to the municipal supply and Graham described the option as a last resort. Ugenti‑Rita also opposed the city’s Flock license‑plate readers, stating in an August 10 campaign statement that “the right to privacy outweighs the benefits of putting citizens under continuous, automated surveillance.”
Initial returns on Tuesday evening showed Zubia in the lead, but later updates moved Graham and Ugenti‑Rita into the top two positions, resulting in Zubia’s concession.
The two winning councilmembers are slated to take office in January 2027, where they will join councilwoman Solange Whitehead and other incumbents in addressing the city’s growth, water sustainability and public‑safety initiatives.
Sources: azfreenews.com
