Arizona Primary Election: Polls Officially Closed at 7 PM

Polls in Arizona closed at 7 p.m. this Tuesday for the primary election.

Initial election results, primarily from early ballots returned by mail, are expected to be released by Pima County shortly after 8 p.m. Votes cast on Tuesday will be released later in the evening. Early ballots dropped off at polling centers on Tuesday and provisional ballots require verification before they are added to the tally later this week.

The primary election will narrow down the candidates advancing to the Nov. 5 general election. Key races to watch include:

The Republican primary for U.S. Senate featuring Kari Lake, Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb, and newcomer Elizabeth Reye. The winner will face Democrat U.S. Congressman Ruben Gallego in the general election.

In the Republican congressional primary, U.S. Rep. Juan Ciscomani is challenged by Kathleen Winn. The victor will go against Democrat Kristen Engel, who narrowly lost to Ciscomani in 2022.

A heated contest for Pima County attorney sees incumbent Democrat Laura Conover facing Mike Jette, a seasoned prosecutor who criticizes Conover’s management. With no Republican contenders, the primary will decide the next county attorney.

The Democratic primary for the open District 3 seat on the Pima County Board of Supervisors includes Jen Allen, April Hiosik Ignacio, Edgar Soto, and Miguel Cuevas. The winner will face Republican Janet “JL” Wittenbraker and independent candidate Iman-Utopia Layjou Bah in November.

In Legislative District 17, Sen. Justine Wadsack is defending her seat against Republican Vince Leach. The primary winner will face Democrat John McLean. This district is crucial for Democratic strategists aiming to flip the Senate in November.

Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos, a Democrat, is challenged by Sandy Rosenthal, a 36-year veteran of the department. The Democratic primary winner will face either Heather Lappin, Bill Phillips, or Terry Frederick, the three Republican contenders.

Various non-partisan races for town and city councils are also taking place in Marana, Oro Valley, Sahuarita, and South Tucson.

As of July 1, Pima County recorded 231,815 registered Democrats, 173,977 registered Republicans, and a number of voters registered under other parties, such as Libertarians and Greens.

Over 204,000 independent voters, who are eligible to participate in the Democratic or Republican primaries, can vote at more than 125 vote centers across Pima County. Libertarian and Green party primaries are restricted to their respective party members.

As early voting began, more than 332,000 Pima County voters requested ballots, with 143,446 returned and processed by July 26. These ballots undergo signature verification before being sent for tabulation.

Voters can track their early ballot’s progress on the Pima County Recorder’s website.