The Arizona Primary Elections: Key Races to Watch
The political spotlight will shine on the scorching desert of Arizona as the state gears up for its primary elections amidst triple-digit summer heat. Here are the crucial races to keep an eye on in the Copper State:
The Senate Race to Replace Kyrsten Sinema
Representative Ruben Gallego, a prominent Democrat from Phoenix, has been the uncontested candidate in his party’s primary for the crucial U.S. Senate seat. With Senator Kyrsten Sinema opting out of re-election, the Democratic nominee was clear.
On the Republican side, Kari Lake is anticipated to secure victory in the primary against Mark Lamb, the Sheriff of Pinal County. Lake gained prominence during her unsuccessful gubernatorial campaign by aligning with former President Donald J. Trump and supporting his unfounded claims of election fraud. Despite causing divisions within the Republican Party, Lake is favored to win over Sheriff Lamb, who emphasizes stricter border controls.
Competitive House Districts
Democrats have their sights set on two competitive House districts in Arizona as they strive to reclaim control of the U.S. House of Representatives. In the Sixth Congressional District in Tucson, Kirsten Engel is running unopposed in the Democratic primary to challenge incumbent Representative Juan Ciscomani, a Republican. Ciscomani faces a slim chance challenger in Kathleen Winn.
Meanwhile, the Democratic primary in the First Congressional District in the Scottsdale area is a crowded field. Voters will decide on top contenders to challenge Republican Representative David Schweikert. The candidates include Andrei Cherny, Marlene Galán-Woods, Conor O’Callaghan, and former State Representative Amish Shah.
