Trump-backed candidates sweep to victory in Arizona primaries - Roll Call

What the report says

Roll Call reported that candidates endorsed by President Donald Trump won several Republican primaries in Arizona on Tuesday, while a Democratic contest in a closely watched Phoenix-area House district was still unresolved early Wednesday. In the GOP primary for governor, Rep. Andy Biggs, a former House Freedom Caucus chair, won the nomination to challenge Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs, who did not face a primary opponent. The Associated Press showed Biggs far ahead in a four-candidate field with about three-quarters of the vote counted.

Biggs’ departure from Arizona’s strongly Republican 5th District opened another Trump-backed race. Former Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb defeated homebuilder Daniel Keenan in the Republican primary, according to the AP count cited by Roll Call. Lamb has recently faced scrutiny after an Arizona Republic investigation reported allegations involving threats and offensive text messages; Lamb has denied the claims. He is set to face Democrat Elizabeth Lee in November.

In Arizona’s 1st District, a northeast Phoenix battleground being vacated by Rep. David Schweikert, retired NFL kicker and commentator Jay Feely won the Republican nomination. The Democratic primary there had not been called as of early Wednesday, with former state Rep. Amish Shah leading former journalist Marlene Galán-Woods and others. Roll Call noted that the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee backed Galán-Woods, a move that drew criticism from Shah and some Arizona Democrats.

Other Arizona House contests also took shape. Democratic Rep. Greg Stanton defeated a primary challenge in the Tempe-anchored 4th District. In the 6th District, GOP Rep. Juan Ciscomani will face Democrat JoAnna Mendoza, while Republican Rep. Eli Crane is headed for a rematch with Democrat Jonathan Nez in the 2nd District.