PHOENIX (AP) - A Democrat who raised a hefty amount of money and a Republican lobbyist who has never held elected office will battle each other in November to succeed embattled Republican Rep. Rick Renzi in Arizona's 1st Congressional District.
Ann Kirkpatrick, a Flagstaff lawyer and former state legislator, easily beat out three other Democrats in the district primary Tuesday with 23,557 votes, or 48 percent, with 97 percent of precincts reporting.
"We're one step closer to bringing real change to Washington, and it feels great," Kirkpatrick said after winning her party's nomination.
Sydney Hay, a mining industry lobbyist, won by a smaller margin among a field of four Republicans. She had 15,493 votes, or 39 percent, with 97 percent of precincts reporting.
"I will celebrate for about 10 minutes," Hay said, "then I'll have to jump in and work very hard on what's going to be a very challenging, hard-fought general election on issues that matter for Congressional District 1."
Democrats vying for the largely rural Arizona seat raised twice as much as Republican candidates, led by Kirkpatrick, who had the financial backing of Democrats nationwide and a key endorsement from Gov. Janet Napolitano.
Kirkpatrick and Hay also will face Independent Brent Maupin in the general election.
Renzi, who is not running for re-election, was indicted this year on charges that he engineered a swap of federally owned mining land to benefit himself and a former business partner.
Authorities also contend that he stole from clients of his family owned insurance company to help finance his first congressional campaign.
Renzi, 50, has pleaded not guilty and said he will not resign because he is innocent. He is scheduled to go on trial in federal court in Tucson next spring.
Another Arizona race was too close too call. David Schweikert, a former Maricopa County treasurer, held a 790 vote lead over his closest rival in the GOP race for the 5th Congressional District.
The winner of that primary will challenge Harry Mitchell, a one-term Democrat, who wrested the seat away from J.D. Hayworth two years ago.
Associated Press writers Felicia Fonseca and Chris Kahn contributed to this report. |