Current Events > Martha McSally beats Kelli Ward and Joe Arpaio

(+) Yeah! (+)

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/elections/arizona-senate-republican-primary-election-results-n904601

Rep. Martha McSally handily defeated former Sheriff Joe Arpaio and Kelli Ward in the Arizona Republican Senate primary on Tuesday night, setting the stage for a November battle over a seat that could determine control of the Senate, NBC News projects.

McSally, a former fighter pilot, had been favored to prevail over the two conservatives, who split the anti-establishment vote. But McSally tacked to the right in the primary, which could cause problems for her in what is expected to be a tough race against Democrat Kyrsten Sinema in November.

McSally had 51.4 percent, or 196,452 votes, to Ward's 28.6 percent, or 109,105 votes, and Arpaio's 20 percent, or 76,517 votes, with 58 percent of precincts reporting.

Republican officials had worried that Ward or Arpaio would be unelectable in November, potentially costing the GOP a Senate seat. Despite both of the challengers accusing McSally of being too moderate, she's on track to win more votes than both of her challengers combined.

Ward lost a nasty primary against Sen. John McCain in 2016, and returned this year to challenge Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz. But when Flake decided not to run for reelection and Arpaio got in, Ward had a tougher time consolidating the pro-Trump conservative vote. President Donald Trump did not endorse in the race.

In the final days of her campaign, Ward launched a bus tour with Pizzagate conspiracy theorist Mike Cernovich, and wondered aloud on Facebook if McCain's family timed their decision to announce the senator had stopped medical treatment for cancer in order to overshadow her campaign.

Arpaio, meanwhile, struggled to gain any real traction, despite tying himself closely to Trump, who pardoned the former Maricopa County Sheriff after he was convicted of criminal contempt. And his disappointing third-place finish will likely mark the end of the 86-year-old's political career.

The result could influence Republican Gov. Doug Ducey, who is also up for reelection this year, as he decides whom to appoint to fill McCain's seat. The appointee will not face voters until 2020.

Arizona Democrats like their gubernatorial nominee, former state education official David Garcia, and think he has a chance to win despite the state's Republican tilt thanks to Democratic energy and concerns about public education funding.

Meanwhile, Sinema, a Democratic congresswoman from the Phoenix suburbs, ran essentially unopposed for her party's Senate nomination.

Arizona hasn't elected a Democratic senator in 30 years, but changing demographics makes it more competitive and it is now viewed as one of Senate Democrats' few pickup opportunities in November. Hillary Clinton came within 4 percentage points of Trump in the state.

McSally has already started running ads attacking Sinema for "protesting us in a pink tutu" while McSally was flying combat missions in Afghanistan.

Meanwhile, former Arizona Democratic Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick was leading in her bid to make it back to Congress. Her opponent, Matt Heinz, a doctor who ran for the seat before, has not made it easy, comparing Kirkpatrick's political ambition to a "meth addiction." With 59 percent of precincts reporting, Kirkpatrick has a comfortable 10-point lead.

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Why was that fucking piece of shit arpaio even allowed to run
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Arpaio can go die in a ditch
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As someone that lives in Arizona that is great news that two terrible candidates Kelli Ward and Joe Arpaio lost.
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getting real sick of her ads while I'm trying to watch Jeopardy
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Imagine McSallys self-esteem if she had lost to Joe Arpaio and a woman who just basically accused McCain of dying to make her look bad
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foxhound101 posted...

As someone that lives in Arizona that is great news that two terrible candidates Kelli Ward and Joe Arpaio lost.

I don't care what Batman says fuck Martha also
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Awesome news as an Arizonian, gotta get my mom's take on this sometime lol
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Good news, now I don't feel bad for being registered 3rd party
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How did sheriff joe even get 20% of the votes?

Side note: hola fellow Arizonians
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Hummer 2 posted...

How did sheriff joe even get 20% of the votes?

ridding Arizona of people who broke the law

smoliske posted...

Hummer 2 posted...

How did sheriff joe even get 20% of the votes?

ridding Arizona of people who broke the law

Could be the people that likes that he hates Mexicans.

Not that I'm a Mexican living here or anything
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86-year-old

christ, is Arpaio really that fucking old? god willing he'd be dead by the time he took office anyway
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HylianFox posted...

86-year-old

christ, is Arpaio really that fucking old? god willing he'd be dead by the time he took office anyway

I was sure he'd be out of politics after losing a crushing sheriff election 2016, but the old geezer just won't give up
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for some weird reason, people really love to elect dinosaurs on their death bed to government positions.

FL81 posted...

HylianFox posted...

86-year-old

christ, is Arpaio really that fucking old? god willing he'd be dead by the time he took office anyway

I was sure he'd be out of politics after losing a crushing sheriff election 2016, but the old geezer just won't give up

it could be worse. at least the old bastard isn't in the senate or house now.
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there needs to be an age limit for politicians, like maybe 70 at best

there's way too many desiccated old white guys who are sorely out-of-touch with society running the show
>_>
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