Pearce Announcement

Supporters hold signs for as an announcement is made that the Mesa Republican is launching a state Senate campaign to represent the Republican-dominated legislative District 25, at East Valley High school in Mesa, Ariz. Monday, March 19, 2012. [Tim Hacker/ East Valley Tribune]

Pearce Announcement

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio,left, and Russell Pearce take their seats on a stage before an Arizona Red Mountain tea party meeting at East Valley High school in Mesa, Ariz. Monday, March 19, 2012 where Pearce announced his running for a legislative seat in District 25. Four months after voters removed Pearce in a historic recall election, the Mesa Republican launched a state Senate campaign to represent the Republican-dominated legislative District 25. [Tim Hacker/ East Valley Tribune]

Pearce Announcement

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio speaks about Russell Pearce at an Arizona Red Mountain tea party meeting at East Valley High school in Mesa, Ariz. Monday, March 19, 2012. Four months after voters removed Pearce in a historic recall election, the Mesa Republican launched a state Senate campaign to represent the Republican-dominated legislative District 25. [Tim Hacker/ East Valley Tribune]

Pearce Announcement

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio,left, talks with Russell Pearce at an Arizona Red Mountain tea party meeting at East Valley High school in Mesa, Ariz. Monday, March 19, 2012 where Pearce announced his running for a legislative seat in District 25. Four months after voters removed Pearce in a historic recall election, the Mesa Republican launched a state Senate campaign to represent the Republican-dominated legislative District 25. [Tim Hacker/ East Valley Tribune]

Pearce Announcement

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio,left, and Russell Pearce take their seats on a stage before an Arizona Red Mountain tea party meeting at East Valley High school in Mesa, Ariz. Monday, March 19, 2012 where Pearce announced his running for a legislative seat in District 25. Four months after voters removed Pearce in a historic recall election, the Mesa Republican launched a state Senate campaign to represent the Republican-dominated legislative District 25. [Tim Hacker/ East Valley Tribune]

Pearce Announcement

Russell Pearce speaks to the Arizona Red Mountain tea party members at East Valley High school in Mesa, Ariz. Monday, March 19, 2012. Four months after voters removed Pearce in a historic recall election, the Mesa Republican launched a state Senate campaign to represent the Republican-dominated legislative District 25. [Tim Hacker/ East Valley Tribune]

Russell Pearce

Russell Pearce speaks to the Arizona Red Mountain tea party members at East Valley High school in Mesa, Ariz. Monday, March 19, 2012. Four months after voters removed Pearce in a historic recall election, the Mesa Republican launched a state Senate campaign to represent the Republican-dominated legislative District 25. [Tim Hacker/ East Valley Tribune]

Russell Pearce

Russell Pearce speaks to the Arizona Red Mountain tea party members at East Valley High school in Mesa, Ariz. Monday, March 19, 2012. [File photo by Tim Hacker/ East Valley Tribune]

Russell Pearce

Russell Pearce speaks to the Arizona Red Mountain tea party members at East Valley High school in Mesa, Ariz. Monday, March 19, 2012. Four months after voters removed Pearce in a historic recall election, the Mesa Republican launched a state Senate campaign to represent the Republican-dominated legislative District 25. [Tim Hacker/ East Valley Tribune]

Pearce Announcement

Russell Pearce speaks to the Arizona Red Mountain tea party members at East Valley High school in Mesa, Ariz. Monday, March 19, 2012. Four months after voters removed Pearce in a historic recall election, the Mesa Republican launched a state Senate campaign to represent the Republican-dominated legislative District 25. [Tim Hacker/ East Valley Tribune]

Pearce Announcement

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio,left, and Russell Pearce take their seats on a stage before an Arizona Red Mountain tea party meeting at East Valley High school in Mesa, Ariz. Monday, March 19, 2012 where Pearce announced his running for a legislative seat in District 25. Four months after voters removed Pearce in a historic recall election, the Mesa Republican launched a state Senate campaign to represent the Republican-dominated legislative District 25. [Tim Hacker/ East Valley Tribune]

Pearce Announcement

Russell Pearce listens as fellow politicians speak of him at the Arizona Red Mountain tea party meeting at East Valley High school in Mesa, Ariz. Monday, March 19, 2012. Four months after voters removed Pearce in a historic recall election, the Mesa Republican launched a state Senate campaign to represent the Republican-dominated legislative District 25. [Tim Hacker/ East Valley Tribune]

Pearce Announcement

Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio,left, talks with Russell Pearce at an Arizona Red Mountain tea party meeting at East Valley High school in Mesa, Ariz. Monday, March 19, 2012 where Pearce announced his running for a legislative seat in District 25. Four months after voters removed Pearce in a historic recall election, the Mesa Republican launched a state Senate campaign to represent the Republican-dominated legislative District 25. [Tim Hacker/ East Valley Tribune]

Russell Pearce

Russell Pearce

Senate President Russell Pearce, right, chats with state Rep. David Stevens, R-Sierra Vista, while awaiting the results of Tuesday's voting. Stevens and other Republican lawmakers came to the Mesa district to help Pearce keep his seat.

Russell Pearce

Senate President Russell Pearce, right, chats with state Rep. David Stevens, R-Sierra Vista, while awaiting the results of Tuesday's voting. Stevens and other Republican lawmakers came to the Mesa district to help Pearce keep his seat.

Russell Pearce

Senate President Russell Pearce addresses supporters Tuesday night after voters in his west Mesa legislative district recalled him.

Russell Pearce

Senate President Russell Pearce addresses supporters Tuesday night after voters in his west Mesa legislative district recalled him.

Russell Pearce

Senate President Russell Pearce listens to debate Tuesday on the vote to oust Colleen Mathis as chairwoman of Independent Redistricting Commission.

Russell Pearce

Russell Pearce represented Mesa in the Arizona Legislature and served as president of the state Senate.

Russell Pearce

Russell Pearce represented Mesa in the Arizona Legislature and served as president of the state Senate.

Russell Pearce

Russell Pearce represented Mesa in the Arizona Legislature and served as president of the state Senate.

Russell Pearce

Senate President Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, watches the votes tally to adjourn during a special session in the senate chambers at the capitol, Monday, June 13, 2011, in Phoenix. The Arizona Legislature adjourned a two-day special session without voting on a proposal to keep 20 weeks of federally funded extended unemployment benefits flowing to thousands of jobless people. Gov. Jan Brewer had sought to change a formula in state law so jobless Arizonans could continue to the extended unemployment benefits, but faced opposition from some GOP lawmakers. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)