Get your morning recap of today's local news and read the full stories here: tucne.ws/morning

Miranda Schubert had a significant lead in the three-way Democratic race for midtown Tucson's Ward 6, primary election results Tuesday night showed.

Schubert had collected about 5,254 votes. That's more than double the 2,536 votes for Leighton Rockafellow Jr. Jim Sinex hadΒ Β 324 votes in initial results.

From left to right, Miranda Schubert, Leighton Rockafellow Jr. and James Sinex.

"I hope (this race) can be a model for how local politics can be. This is really where it starts," Schubert said during her victory speech at a Democratic watch part at Hotel Congress. "I know that the federal and state levels get a lot of attention, but the resistance starts here at the local level."

"It starts with conversations with your neighbors and with your fellow community members. It starts with things like fixing roads and building more affordable housing and increasing access to shelters."
Β 
"I have been told to be careful, be careful about being too blunt about being progressive. Maybe people need somebody who's more moderate, and I just think the results are showing that that's not the case," she said. "Being progressive means trying different things. It means not doing things the same way that it's always been done, and not reading not reading that as less risky than taking the leap of trying something that we haven't done before.""There's a myth about progressivism being too idealistic. No, this is literally the solution," Shubert said.

Schubert is set to face Republican Jay Tolkoff in the Nov. 4 general election.

Like the other wards up for elections this year, Ward 6 is a Democratic stronghold for Tucson. It spans the areas around the University of Arizona and downtown.

Come November, Ward 6 will have new representation for the third time in less than two years.

In March last year,Β four-term councilman Steve Kozachik resigned. It was filled by Karin Uhlich, a former Ward 3 council member appointed in May last year. Uhlich is not seeking a full term. SchubertΒ is the operations manager for KXCI radio. She previously worked as an academic advisor at the University of Arizona, where she helped organize the union UCW local 7065, one of the times that got her interested in politics.

She previously ran for the Ward 6 seat in 2021. She lost but collected about 28% of the primary vote.

Schubert serves on the city’s Board of Adjustment and the Complete Streets Coordinating Council. An avid cyclist, Schubert also helped found the Transit for All Coalition.

Miranda Schubert gets a congratulatory kiss Tuesday night from her wife, who uses one name Maass.

Schubert cited the city’s functions and initiatives in the areas of transportation, roads, housing support and homeless intervention services and programs that are working. But she says the successful programs need to be expanded.

Rockafellow has been practicing as a personal injury attorney at the family law firm founded by his father.Β 

Sinex is a longtime Tucsonan and former science teacher at Tucson High School, where he cut his teeth in union organizing.

Become a #ThisIsTucson member! Your contribution helps our team bring you stories that keep you connected to the community. Become a member today.