Democratic state Rep. Mark DeSimone is expected to resign his seat following his arrest early Friday morning on charges related to an episode of domestic violence involving him and his wife. DeSimone, 45, a first-term legislator representing District 11 in Phoenix, was booked into Maricopa County's 4th Avenue jail. He faces assault charges, a Class 1 misdemeanor. Phoenix police responded to DeSimone's north-central Phoenix home after receiving a 911 call from his wife around 11:45 p.m. Officers were told that the couple had engaged in a verbal dispute that turned physical, said Sgt. Joel Trantor. DeSimone, who had been drinking, is believed to have struck his wife in the face at least once, Trantor said. She had lacerations to the inside of her mouth and lip. No medical treatment was required. One of the DeSimones' young children was in the home at the time of the incident but was not involved or harmed, Trantor said. DeSimone's looming resignation, confirmed by the Arizona Democratic Party, complicates Democratic efforts to retake the House of Representatives in the November election. The party needs to flip at least four seats to claim control of the body, now led by the GOP. District 11 leans conservative, with registered Republicans outnumbering Democrats by nearly 14,000. For that reason, DeSimone's election to the seat was one of the biggest Capitol surprises of the 2006 election. But DeSimone, owner of the Hidden House tavern in Phoenix, was considered a pro-business Democrat with a strong chance at re-election this year. Earlier this week, he was named Freshman of the Year by the Arizona Chamber of Commerce. Arizona Democratic Party spokeswoman Emily DeRose said the party hasn't yet begun contemplating ballot replacements for DeSimone, but issued a statement saying, "Our thoughts and prayers are with his family."