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Democratic Showdown: Arizona’s 3rd District Primary Heads to Recount

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Democratic primary in Arizona's 3rd District enters recount range as count continues


Former City Council member Yassamin Ansari leads former state lawmaker Raquel Terán by 89 votes, with 42,523 votes counted and only a few hundred remaining.

PHOENIX — The Democratic primary in Arizona’s 3rd Congressional District is remarkably close, with only 0.21 percentage points separating the contenders, pushing it into the range for an automatic recount.

This tight race follows Democratic Rep. Ruben Gallego’s decision to run for the U.S. Senate, leaving his seat open. The winner of the Democratic primary will likely face Republican Jeff Zink in November, representing a district that leans Democratic and spans central and southwest Phoenix.

According to Arizona law, a recount is mandatory if the margin of victory is 0.5 percentage points or less.

Another notable congressional primary concluded Thursday when former Arizona state Rep. Amish Shah secured the Democratic ticket for a district that includes parts of northeastern Phoenix and affluent suburbs. This sets the stage for a tough November battle against seven-term Republican incumbent David Schweikert.

Tuesday’s primary also brought significant victories for leading candidates. Former Phoenix news anchor Kari Lake defeated Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb in a prominent Republican U.S. Senate primary. Lake will challenge Democrat Ruben Gallego in November.

State Rep. Justin Heap of Mesa took his chance to unseat election officials who countered false claims about the 2020 and 2022 elections. Heap defeated incumbent Stephen Richer and professor Donald Hiatt in the GOP primary for Maricopa County recorder.

Richer conceded defeat on social media, emphasizing the nature of elections and congratulating Heap on his victory. Richer, who assumed office in 2021, had faced criticism from some conservatives for denouncing falsehoods about the 2020 election results.

The Maricopa County recorder’s office oversees voter registration and early voting. Heap argues that many Republicans distrust the county’s election processes. He will compete against Democrat Tim Stringham, an attorney, in the general election on November 5.

In Arizona’s 8th District, Republican candidate Hamadeh edged out Masters and others to secure the party’s nomination. The district leans conservative, offering Hamadeh a strong chance to succeed Republican U.S. Rep. Debbie Lesko.

Hamadeh expressed gratitude to voters, Trump, and supporters in a social media post, encouraging optimism for the future. Masters, who also had Trump’s endorsement, called for unity behind Hamadeh.

Ansari has positioned herself as a progressive candidate committed to opposing MAGA extremism and defending abortion rights in the 3rd District Democratic primary. Terán highlights her organizing successes and role in removing Joe Arpaio from the Maricopa County sheriff’s office. Zink, who claims fraud in the 2020 election, won the Republican nomination by defeating Jesus David Mendoza.

State Sen. Shawnna Bolick won her Republican primary in Senate District 2, countering a challenge from a more right-leaning small business owner. Appointed last summer, she will face state Rep. Judy Schwiebert in November.

In Senate District 7, incumbent State Sen. Wendy Rogers prevailed. Known for her election denialism and association with Trump, she faces a widespread district and will compete against Democratic challenger Haley Creighton.

In Senate District 1, former state Rep. Mark Finchem, a staunch Trump loyalist, defeated State Sen. Ken Bennett for the GOP nomination. Finchem, a prominent proponent of baseless fraud claims about the 2020 election, will contest against Democrat Mike Fogel in the general election.

This article has been updated to reflect that Haley Creighton, not David Cook, will face Wendy Rogers in November.

Decision 2024

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