AZ HB2716

Establishes a legislative caucus nomination process for U.S. Senate candidates when no incumbent is running, beginning after the 2012 general election.

House members meet in separate party caucuses to nominate candidates; each member submits one name, and the five candidates with the most votes advance to a second round of voting.

The three candidates with the highest votes in the house second round proceed to voting by the state senate caucus of the same party; the candidate receiving a majority (or winning a runoff) becomes that party's nominee.

Alternates the nominating chamber every other Senate race: the second open-seat race begins with state senate caucuses conducting preliminary votes, with house caucuses conducting final votes.

Applies only to political parties represented in both chambers of the legislature; parties lacking representation in either chamber use the standard partisan primary election process.