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Recapping the 2022 Primary Election

Jocelyn McAlpin

Arizona held its 2022 Primary Election on August 2nd and there’s plenty for the business community, and the public in general, to digest. Overall, voters continued the current trend of selecting candidates that track more to the left or right of their respective political parties to represent them in the November General Election. This is especially true on the Republican side, where most of former President Trump backed candidates prevailed. Given the current district make up, the Arizona State Legislature looks almost certain to become more conservative over the next two years.

Below is an overview of some highlighted races at the federal and state level as they stand today. Many races have already been called, but a handful, including the governor’s race, remain too close to call as late ballots continue to be counted. For up-to-date results on all the races, please visit: Arizona 2022 Primary Results

Federal

  • US Senate – Trump-endorsed Republican Blake Masters easily beat numerous challengers to run against Senator Mark Kelly in November.
  • CD 1 – In what some expected to be a closer race, incumbent David Schweikert clinched the Republican nomination and will face off against Democrat Jevin Hodge.
  • CD 2 – Republican Eli Crane topped State Representative Walt Blackman and will match up against incumbent Tom O’Halleran.
  • CD 4 – Cooper Kelly was victorious in a crowded field to secure the Republican nomination and will face off with incumbent Congressman and former Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton.
  • CD 6 – In contested primaries on both sides of the aisle, Democrat Kirsten Engel was victorious over Daniel Hernandez and will run against Republican Juan Ciscomani who won the Republican Primary over a handful of challengers.

Statewide

  • Governor – In probably the most closely watched race of the cycle, Trump-endorsed Republican Kari Lake won the nomination against close contender, businesswoman Karrin Taylor Robson. Lake will take on Democrat nominee and current Secretary of State Kate Hobbs who easily won her primary race.
  • Secretary of State – Trump-endorsed candidate Mark Finchem easily secured the Republican nomination and will likely face Democrat Adrian Fontes in the Fall.
  • Attorney General – Democrat Kris Mayes will be up against Republican Abe Hamadeh who secured the Republican nomination over a crowded field due in large part to a late endorsement by Trump.
  • State Treasurer – Incumbent Treasurer Kimberly Yee held off Republican challenger Jeff Weninger and will face Democrat Martin Quezada.
  • Superintendent of Public Instruction – Incumbent Kathy Hoffman will match up against Republican Challenger and former office holder Tom Horne.
  • Corporation Commission – Republicans Kevin Thompson and Nick Myers will vie for the two open seats against Democrats Sandra Kennedy and Lauren Kuby.

Legislative

  • LD 1 Senate – Former Republican Secretary of State Ken Bennett will face Democrat Mike Fogel.
  • LD 1 House – In a somewhat surprising development, Republican Selina Bliss will join Quang Nguyen in vying for the two House seats after beating out incumbent Representative Judy Burges.
  • LD 3 Senate – Incumbent and GPC-endorsed Republican Representative John Kavanagh has beaten Jan Dubuaskas and will run against Democrat Thomas Dugger this fall.
  • LD 3 House – Former Republican legislator Darin Mitchell came up short in his quest to return to the House by losing out to Alexander Kolodin and incumbent Joseph Chaplik.
  • LD 4 House – On the Republican side, Matt Gress and former Representative Maria Syms won the party’s nominations.
  • LD 5 Senate – GPC-endorsed Lela Alston won her Democrat Primary and will face no challenger in November.
  • LD 5 House – GPC-endorsed Democrat candidates Amish Shah and Jennifer Longdon will be returning to the Legislature.
  • LD 7 Senate – In another closely watched race, Senator Wendy Rodgers beat out Senator Kelly Townsend in the Republican Primary and is pitted against Democrat Kyle Nitschke.
  • LD 7 House – Current Representative John Fillmore has lost a close race to David Marshall and current Representative David Cook.
  • LD 9 Senate – In a somewhat shocking upset, newcomer Robert Scantlebury handily beat out business community-backed incumbent Senator Tyler Pace and will face Democrat Eva Burch.
  • LD 10 Senate – Current House Speaker Rusty Bowers lost his primary battle to Trump-endorsed former Senator David Farnsworth.
  • LD 11 Senate – Former Senator Catherine Miranda looks to make a comeback by beating her challengers in the Democrat Primary.
  • LD 11 House – In a crowded Democrat Primary, Oscar De Los Santos and Marcelino Quinonez have secured the top two spots.
  • LD 12 House – Patty Contreras and Stacey Travers won the Democrat Primary and will face Republicans Terry Roe and Jim Chaston in the fall.
  • LD 13 House – Republicans Liz Harris and Julie Willoughby will face off against incumbent Representative Jennifer Pawlik in the General.
  • LD 17 Senate – In what is probably the most shocking result, incumbent State Senator Vince Leach has lost his primary to Justine Wadsack.
  • LD 17 House – Republicans Rachel Jones and Cory McGarr beat out a crowded field to run against Democrats Dana Allmond and Brian Radford.
  • LD 18 Senate – Democrat Morgan Abraham was defeated by challenger Priya Sundareshan.
  • LD 18 House – Democrats Nancy Gutierrez and Chris Mathis beat out a crowded field to run against Republican Linda Evans.
  • LD 22 Senate – GPC-endorsed Democrat Diego Espinoza secured the Senator position for this district.
  • LD 22 House – In another surprising upset in the Democrat primary, incumbent Representative Lorenzo Sierra lost his seat to Leezah Sun and Lupe Contreras.
  • LD 24 Senate – Progressive candidate Anna Hernandez beat out a more moderate Cesar Chavez to gain the Democrat nomination.
  • LD 25 House – Incumbent Republican Representative Joel John lost his seat to newcomer Michael Carbone who will join Representative Tim Dunn.
  • LD 27 Senate – Former Legislator Anthony Kern beat out Jamie Kelly to secure the Republican nomination.
  • LD 27 House – Incumbent Republican Representatives Ben Toma and Kevin Payne easily held off challengers to retain their House seats.
  • LD 29 Senate – In another win for Trump, Janae Shamp beat incumbent Representative Joanne Osborne for the Republican nomination.
  • LD 29 House – Former legislator Steve Montenegro and newcomer Austin Smith secured the two Republican spots to challenge Democrat Scott Podeyn come November.