Due to a state constitutional amendment, the election of 1970 was the first in Arizona with a four-year term for the governor.

The legislature remained at two-year terms.

[1] While the number of senators remained constant at 30 and the members of the house of representatives held steady at 60, the structure of the legislature changed.

The Republicans picked up a single seat in the Senate, giving them an 18–12 edge in the upper house, while the balance in the lower house remained with a Republican edge of 34–26.

The Legislature met for two regular sessions at the State Capitol in Phoenix.