Conover Dominates Jette in Pima County Attorney Showdown

Pima County Attorney Laura Conover secured 66 percent of the vote in early returns for the 2024 Democratic primary, defeating challenger Mike Jette. With no other candidates for the general election, Conover will continue as the county’s leading prosecutor for another four years.

Addressing supporters at the Silver Room bar, Conover declared, “This victory is your victory. You went up against Republican money and dark money in one of the most negative primary campaigns we’ve seen in decades. You took the high road, and it led us all the way home tonight.”

Jette, endorsed by former county attorney Barbara LaWall, criticized Conover’s tenure, citing experienced prosecutor departures and managerial issues. “I’d like to see something different, but Ms. Laura Conover is the presumptive Democratic nominee,” Jette told his followers at Union Public House. He expressed appreciation for his team and wished Conover well in her next term.

Conover extended an olive branch, stating, “I am the Pima County attorney for everyone. I’ll be on a major policy tour, open to anyone wanting to discuss matters with me.”

Reflecting on the broader political landscape, Conover remarked, “We’re in an extraordinary moment. People recognize the threats to our fundamental rights. Tonight’s outcome shows that common sense and the common good prevailed over misleading messaging. This momentum must carry us into the statewide races and beyond.”

No Republican or independent candidates filed for the November 5 general election, making the Democratic primary the decisive event for this office. Early ballots had been counted, but Election Day votes were still being processed Tuesday evening. Additional vote-by-mail ballots will undergo signature verification before final tabulation.