Deciding how to vote? Here are our perspectives

Arizona voters are eager to have a say over the future of this state and the nation. More than 1.3 million of you have already cast an early ballot, but many of you will do your civic duty in person Tuesday.

It’s too late to mail in early ballots. If you still have one, you can drop off at a polling place. Polls will be open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.

On the ballot are hard-fought races for U.S. senator, governor, state Legislature, statewide offices, ballot initiatives, judges, mayors, city council and school board members.

Here are thumbnails of key races The Arizona Republic’s editorial board has weighed in:

Congressional District 1

Tom O’Halleran isn’t flashy. The moderate Democratic incumbent doesn’t throw rocks like Wendy Rogers, his far more conservative Republican challenger. O’Halleran has demonstrated his willingness to compromise — and in today’s political climate, that’s downright daring.

He’s the best choice because he can balance the needs of a sprawling district that spans the state while continuing to restore civility to Congress.

Congressional District 2

This race has heavy implications for the balance of power in the U.S. House. But which candidate most closely represents the swing district that includes Tucson? That’s what matters most.

Democrat Ann Kirkpatrick may have not been born there, but her moderate stances line up better with the equal numbers of Democrats, Republicans and independents who live in CD 2 than those of the more conservative Republican, Lea Marquez Peterson. Send her to Washington one more time.

Congressional District 8

It wasn’t a blue wave that made this deeply red west Valley district competitive. It was Democrat Hiral Tipirneni, a first-time candidate and first-generation immigrant whose practical ideas and thoughtful demeanor have packed halls across the district.

Tipirneni runs circles around her opponent, Debbie Lesko, whose primary argument for the seat is that the district is red and she is a Republican. Tipirneni is the far better choice.

Prop. 126, a ban on service taxes

Nobody wants to pay more taxes. But permanently cutting off the ability to levy taxes on services could have disastrous consequences for all the other revenue sources we rely on to fund government, including education.

There are no efforts to impose taxes on services now, but it’s also a bad idea to hamstring future leaders.

It’s a smarter idea to say no to Prop. 126.

Prop. 127, clean-energy initiative

The debate over Proposition 127 has been clouded by dueling statistics and high-dollar ad campaigns, both for and against. Here’s the bottom line: It’s a good idea to use more renewable energy in Arizona.

But enshrining it in the state Constitution is a problem, because to change such a mandate would take another vote of the people. Electing corporation commissioners who are friendly to solar and lobbying them to press for more use is a far better way to do this.

Say no to Prop. 127.

Prop. 305, expanding school vouchers

The measure won’t end the debate over school vouchers. But it will send a strong message on how comfortable voters are with expanding a program that uses public money to fund private schools.

Saying no would send the message to lawmakers that any expansion of the program is out until public schools are more properly funded.

It’s the better way to go.

U.S. Senate

Republican Martha McSally and Democrat Kyrsten Sinema have are heading to Tuesday election in a statistical tie.

Both are fiercely fighting for every vote, beefing up their negative attacks. The nastiness of this race has become its defining feature, reminding us of how broken and ugly things have gotten in D.C. In a tight race with two qualified centrists, Sinema’s insistence on playing nicer with others should earn her the seat.

Governor

Republican Gov. Doug Ducey shouldn’t have any trouble defeating Democratic educator David Garcia.

Ducey’s 20-percent pay raise for teachers by 2020 effectively defused tensions over education funding in the general election. He also presides over a prosperous economy and healthy state budget after inheriting a billion-dollarplus deficit. With the Arizona economy flying so high, it’s doubtful anyone could beat him.

And that’s OK, because Ducey is the better of the two for the seat.

Secretary of state

Democrat Katie Hobbs understands the duties of this office and would work to make elections better.

She was consistent and predictable in the state Legislature – in contrast to Republican Steve Gaynor. He has offered few specifics about how he’d handle the job, and his comments about illegal voters and LGBT protections make us wonder how much of a live wire he’d be in office.

Hobbs is the better choice.

Treasurer

Democrat Mark Manoil has some innovative ideas, but he would be a far more vocal advocate for them than Republican Kimberly Yee.

That might be good in other offices, like the Legislature, but not here. The treasurer should be low-key, focused on the often-mundane and technical but critically important work of managing the state’s money.

Yee would do a better job of that.

Attorney general

Republican Mark Brnovich is a toughminded, conservative prosecutor who deserves a second term. His Democratic opponent, January Contreras, accuses him of politicizing the job.

But Brnovich also has shown an independent streak, going after Republicans who violate their oath of office and calling for reforms of charter schools, the darlings of the political right.

Education superintendent

Republican former Congressman Frank Riggs has the political and administrative experience to lead the Department of Education.

But Democratic teacher Kathy Hoffman brings the perspective necessary to truly transform it. After four years of dysfunction, Hoffman’s classroom experience will help the department refocus on what matters most: Providing topnotch training, policy guidance and robust data to the state’s district and charter schools.

Arizona Corporation Commission

Reforming a commission tainted by scandals and perceived bias requires a track record, which makes Republican Justin Olson and Democrat Sandra Kennedy best for the job.

Olson helped the commission adopt a code of ethics and reverse a policy that had allowed utility owners to pass their income taxes to ratepayers. He has stances that challenge APS, including exploring retail electric competition — a demonstration of his independence.

Meanwhile, Kennedy, a one-time commissioner, champions solar and could help drive an effort to increase utilities’ use of renewable energy.

Phoenix mayor

There are four candidates, but the race has been dominated by two frontrunners, former council members Kate Gallego and Daniel Valenzuela. Both would make history: Gallego would be the city’s second elected woman, while Valenzuela would be its first Latino mayor.

Valenzuela is supported by lots of big names, but Gallego has the vision and the specifics necessary to lead the nation’s fifth-largest city.