By Nathan L. Gonzales & Jacob Rubashkin
Arizona
Senate. Venture capitalist Blake Masters won the GOP primary with 39 percent followed by solar energy CEO Jim Lamon (29 percent) and state Attorney General Mark Brnovich (18 percent). Masters will face Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly in one of the most important Senate races in the country, in a state Biden won very narrowly in 2020. Masters has the national environment in his favor but Kelly had a 16-to-1 cash advantage in mid-July. Toss-up.
Governor. Former local news anchor Kari Lake leads former Arizona Board of Regents member Karrin Taylor Robson in a close race for the GOP nomination. Lake is stridently pro-Trump and a major promoter of false stolen election theories; she could make it more difficult for Republicans to hold the governorship. GOP Gov. Doug Ducey is term-limited and could not seek re-election. The GOP nominee will face Democratic Secretary of State Katie Hobbs, who dispatched former Nogales Mayor Marco Lopez, 73-22 percent in the Democratic primary, in the general election. Toss-up.
1st District. Embattled GOP Rep. David Schweikert survived a competitive primary challenge from wealthy insurance executive Elijah Norton, 44-34 percent. Another Republican, gym chain owner Josh Barnett, received 22 percent, so the congressman benefited from having multiple opponents dividing votes against him. Business consultant Jevin Hodge won the Democratic nomination and faces a difficult general election race, even though Biden would have won the district with 50 percent. Lean Republican.
2nd District. Retired Navy Seal Eli Crane won the GOP primary with 34 percent and will face Rep. Tom O’Halleran, one of the most vulnerable Democratic incumbents in the country, in the general election. Army veteran/state Rep. Walt Blackman, who had some previous controversial statements and was...