<P> In 1986 , Arizona Governor Bruce Babbitt , a Democrat , created a paid state MLK holiday in Arizona by executive order just before he left office , but in 1987 , his Republican successor Evan Mecham , citing an attorney general 's opinion that Babbitt 's order was illegal , reversed Babbitt 's decision days after taking office . Later that year , Mecham proclaimed the third Sunday in January to be `` Martin Luther King Jr. / Civil Rights Day '' in Arizona , albeit as an unpaid holiday . In 1990 , Arizona voters were given the opportunity to vote on giving state employees a paid MLK holiday . That same year , the National Football League threatened to move Super Bowl XXVII , which was planned for Arizona in 1993 , if the MLK holiday was voted down . In the November election , the voters were offered two King Day options : Proposition 301 , which replaced Columbus Day on the list of paid state holidays , and Proposition 302 , which merged Lincoln 's and Washington 's birthdays into one paid holiday to make room for MLK Day . Both measures failed to pass , with only 49 % of voters approving Prop 302 , the more popular of the two options ; although some who voted `` no '' on 302 voted `` yes '' on Prop 301 . Consequently , the state lost the chance to host Super Bowl XXVII , which was subsequently held at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena , California . In a 1992 referendum , the voters , this time given only one option for a paid King Day , approved state - level recognition of the holiday . </P>
<P> In 1986 , Arizona Governor Bruce Babbitt , a Democrat , created a paid state MLK holiday in Arizona by executive order just before he left office , but in 1987 , his Republican successor Evan Mecham , citing an attorney general 's opinion that Babbitt 's order was illegal , reversed Babbitt 's decision days after taking office . Later that year , Mecham proclaimed the third Sunday in January to be `` Martin Luther King Jr. / Civil Rights Day '' in Arizona , albeit as an unpaid holiday . In 1990 , Arizona voters were given the opportunity to vote on giving state employees a paid MLK holiday . That same year , the National Football League threatened to move Super Bowl XXVII , which was planned for Arizona in 1993 , if the MLK holiday was voted down . In the November election , the voters were offered two King Day options : Proposition 301 , which replaced Columbus Day on the list of paid state holidays , and Proposition 302 , which merged Lincoln 's and Washington 's birthdays into one paid holiday to make room for MLK Day . Both measures failed to pass , with only 49 % of voters approving Prop 302 , the more popular of the two options ; although some who voted `` no '' on 302 voted `` yes '' on Prop 301 . Consequently , the state lost the chance to host Super Bowl XXVII , which was subsequently held at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena , California . In a 1992 referendum , the voters , this time given only one option for a paid King Day , approved state - level recognition of the holiday . </P>
when did arizona make mlk day a holiday
when did arizona make mlk day a holiday
1992
1992