McSally, Sinema win races
Open Senate position is among nation’s most competitive contests
The nation’s eyes are on Arizona and its hotly contested U.S. Senate race, seen as a prime pickup opportunity for Democrats fighting to retake control of the chamber and challenge President Donald Trump’s agenda on everything from illegal immigration to taxes and trade.
The open Senate race is among the nation’s most competitive, and is consequential for a state that is on the cusp of electing its first woman senator.
U.S. Rep. Martha McSally, a two-term congresswoman from Tucson, defeated her Republican rivals, former state Sen. Kelli Ward of Lake Havasu City and former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio of Fountain Hills, according to unofficial results from the Secretary of State.
Democratic Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, who has served three terms and is from Phoenix, also defeated her rival, Deedra Abboud, a progressive activist and attorney from Scottsdale.
The Associated Press called the races for McSally and Sinema.
President Donald Trump, whose presence has loomed over the Senate race, congratulated McSally in a latenight tweet while bashing U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Arizona, who announced his retirement last fall.
“Martha McSally, running in the Arizona Primary for U.S. Senate, was endorsed by rejected Senator Jeff Flake .... and turned it down — a first! Now Martha, a great U.S. Military fighter jet pilot and highly respected member of Congress,WINS BIG. Congratulations, and on to November!”
With McSally and Sinema the apparent nominees, Arizona voters are on track to elect their first woman senator.
Either party has a good chance of winning, analysts say, worrying Republicans while giving Democrats credible hope of gaining a statewide foothold.
Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, died Saturday. Gov. Doug Ducey will appoint a Republican to succeed him.
That the seat being vacated by retiring Flake is even in play is reflective of a traditionally red state trending toward purple at a level not seen in recent memory.
Arizona voters have not elected a Democrat to the Senate since Dennis DeConcini, an old-fashioned centrist, who won the seat in 1976 after defeating Republican Sam Steiger for the open seat and served three terms.
“It’s crucial to Democratic hopes of taking control of the Senate. It’s just hard to see how they would do it without Arizona,” said John J. “Jack” Pitney Jr., a political scientist at Claremont McKenna College in Southern California.
“If somehow they take control of the Senate, Democrats would control the confirmation process, making it extremely difficult for Trump to get his way.”
In Arizona’s race, Democrats, Republicans and their well-financed allies are clawing for any advantage.
Outside groups allied with the toptier candidates have waged an $8 million ad war in the primary election alone to promote and attack the candidates on health care, character and border security.
Sinema noted Tuesday night that Arizonans “are also reflecting on Senator John McCain’s lifetime of service and the example he has set for us” and said “it’s up to all of us to follow his lead of always putting country over party.”
“Tonight, we look ahead and continue fighting to uphold the values we all share: a fairshot at the American Dream and an unwavering commitment to the Arizona we love,” Sinema said in a written victory statement. “I’m grateful to everyone who voted today, and now, our work continues. We will spend these next ten weeks earning the vote of Arizonans across our state. Together, we can make sure that all Arizonans have an independent voice in the U.S. Senate.”
Arpaio, McSally and Ward battled fiercely for the Republican nomination.
In her victory remarks as prepared for delivery, McSally talked up her relationship with Trump.
“On issue after issue, by working together, we have shown an ability to solve problems and get thing done for Arizona. I have worked closely with President Trump to cut taxes for working families, to create jobs, to secure the border, to honor our veterans … and when I am in the Senate, I will work with him to confirm judges who uphold the Constitution,” McSally said.
McSally appeared emotional as she took the stage. She began her remarks by honoring Sen. John McCain and sharing personal recollections of working with him to, among other things, save the A-10. After a moment of silence, she said the general election will be a “choice between a patriot and a protester.”
The general-election race between her and Sinema, she said, will come to “a choice between a doer and a talker ... between a patriot and a protester … between a career fighter pilot and a career politician — between proven grit and Hollywood glitz.”
Arpaio told The Arizona Republic he was disappointed with the results, but would accept the decision by voters. He offered to help McSally in the general election if she wanted it.
“I’ll still be working to support President Trump,” he said.