Heart of the Primaries, Republicans-Special Edition 11 (August 29, 2018)
In this special post-primary edition: Trump-based DeSantis wins Florida gov nomination, McSally beats Ward and Arpaio in Arizona Senate, and six more Oklahoma state legislative incumbents lose primary challenges.
Here are the results of the Aug. 28 primaries so far.
Arizona
McSally wins three-way battle in Republican Senate primary
U.S. Rep. Martha McSally (R) defeated former state Sen. Kelli Ward (R) and former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio (R) in the three-way battle for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate in Arizona.
The toss-up seat is critical to Republicans retaining control of the U.S. Senate. Incumbent Sen. Jeff Flake (R) did not seek re-election.
McSally led in polls released in July and August and had support from both party leaders and big donors. DefendArizona reserved $5 million worth of general election air time for McSally. The Senate Leadership Fund was also briefly involved in the primary, spending five figures on an online campaign against Ward in 2017.
McSally’s loyalty to President Donald Trump (R) became an issue in the race. McSally criticised candidate Trump in the 2016 presidential election, but according to FiveThirtyEight, has voted with the president 98 percent of the time. McSally featured a clip of Trump calling her “the real deal” in a campaign ad.
Ward and Arpaio also aligned themselves with the president. Ward wrote an editorial praising his immigration policy and sent out mailers with a photo of her and Trump together, while Arpaio highlighted his early support for Trump in the 2016 presidential election.
Trump did not endorse any candidate in the race, although he praised all three.
Ducey wins Republican gubernatorial primary
Incumbent Gov. Doug Ducey beat former Secretary of State Ken Bennett in the Republican primary. With 60 percent of precincts reporting, Ducey had 70.2 percent of the vote to Bennett's 29.8 percent.
Ducey and Bennett faced-off in the six-candidate 2014 Republican gubernatorial primary, in which Ducey received 37 percent of the vote to Bennett's 12 percent.
Tuesday’s primary took place months after Ducey signed legislation to increase teacher pay and education funding, ending a week-long teacher strike. Bennett cited his criticisms of Ducey’s handling of teacher pay raises as his initial reason for running.
Bennett said Ducey didn't have a viable plan to fund the raises. Ducey says the state can fund them without raising taxes.
Bennett also criticized Ducey over gun policy and education funding, while Ducey touted his work with the state's budget and his role in increasing education funding.
The president endorsed Ducey Aug. 28.
Ducey faces Democratic nominee David Garcia in the general election.
AZ-1 Republican primary: Race not yet called, Rogers and Smith lead
With 72 percent of precincts reporting as of 10:00 a.m. EDT, the Republican primary for Arizona's 1st Congressional District had not yet been called.
Currently, retired Air Force pilot Wendy Rogers has 43.1 percent of the vote and state Sen. Steve Smith has 38.3. Attorney and farmer Tiffany Shedd trailed with 18.6 percent.
Rogers made her support for the president the central theme of her campaign. Her policy priorities include building a border wall and overturning Roe v. Wade. She had the support of U.S. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.) and several conservative PACs.
Smith's backers included House Freedom Caucus leader Mark Meadows and the National Border Patrol Council. Smith emphasized his experience in the state Senate and his record of working to reduce illegal immigration and lower taxes.
Shedd emphasized her support for a border wall and limited federal government involvement in business and education. Several U.S. representatives and local officials endorsed her.
The 1st is one of 13 districts nationally that voted both for the president and a Democratic representative in 2016. The winner of the GOP primary will face incumbent Tom O'Halleran (D) in the general election.
Arizona Secretary of State Reagan loses primary to Gaynor
Arizona Secretary of State Michele Reagan (R) lost her bid for re-election to businessman Steve Gaynor (R). With 59 percent of precincts reporting, Gaynor led with 68.7 percent of the vote to Reagan's 32.2 percent.
Gaynor, a first-time political candidate, self-funded $1 million for his primary challenge, saying he did not have the political connections necessary to outraise Reagan. His ads portrayed Reagan as incompetent, referencing a 2016 case in which nearly 200,000 ballot pamphlets were not mailed out alongside early voting ballots.
Reagan said she had learned from the error. Gaynor's ads also emphasized his support for the president, his membership in the National Rifle Association, and his opposition to abortion.
Reagan touted her policy initiatives, including integrating new technology into the state's elections and voting infrastructure, expanded voter outreach initiatives, and measures intended to curtail fraud. Reagan criticized Gaynor for self-funding his campaign, saying that she was unable to respond to the volume of Gaynor's ads.
In addition to serving as the state's elections administrator, the secretary of state of Arizona is the next in line to the governorship, as the state is one of five without a lieutenant governor. In the past 30 years, three Arizona secretaries of state have succeeded governors.
Florida
DeSantis wins Republican gubernatorial nomination
Rep. Ron DeSantis (R) defeated state agriculture commissioner Adam Putnam (R) and six other candidates to win the Republican gubernatorial nomination.
With 53 percent of precincts reporting, DeSantis led with 55.8 percent of the vote to Putnam's 37.4 percent.
DeSantis highlighted his December 2017 endorsement from the president, as well as his military service. The president's endorsement of DeSantis was his third of a 2018 gubernatorial candidate, following Bill Schuette (R) of Michigan, who won his primary on Aug. 7, and Henry McMaster (R) of South Carolina, who won his primary runoff on June 26.
Putnam emphasized his Florida connections and state government experience. Before his election as agriculture commissioner in 2010, Putnam served five terms in the U.S. House and two in the Florida House. His backers included state House Speaker Richard Corcoran (R) and the Florida Chamber of Commerce.
DeSantis' campaign attacked Putnam for allegedly looking out for sugar industry interests and for the amount of time he had spent in elected office, calling him a career politician. Putnam's campaign said DeSantis' policy positions had not been fleshed out.
Both candidates opposed sanctuary cities, but they often criticized each other’s broader immigration policies. DeSantis criticized a vote Putnam had cast while in the U.S. House in favor of legislation that would have allowed some immigrants residing in the country without legal permission to obtain citizenship. Putnam criticized DeSantis' vote in favor of allowing immigrants residing in the country without legal permission to receive food assistance from the government.
Moody beats White in heated attorney general primary
Former circuit court judge Ashley Moody beat state Rep. Frank White in the Republican primary 56.8 percent to 43.2 percent.
Moody faces Democratic nominee Sean Shaw in the general election.
The candidates had similar views on taxes, abortion, gun restrictions, and government regulations. But they criticized each others ideology and experience. A White campaign mailer said Moody was "running as a Republican on a record of a liberal." A Moody campaign ad referred to White as "a car salesman turned politician."
Moody defended her conservative credentials, while White said his private sector experience would enable him to improve the state's economy.
Both candidates were endorsed by a number of state legislators. Moody led in endorsements from county sheriffs and was backed by U.S. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) and term-limited incumbent Attorney General Pam Bondi.
U.S. Rep. John Rutherford (R-Fla.) and the Florida Right to Life PAC endorsed White.
Waltz wins GOP nomination in FL-06
Businessman Michael Waltz (R) defeated businessman John Ward (R) and former state Rep. Fred Costello (R) to win the Republican primary for Florida's 6th Congressional District. Waltz received 42.4 percent of the vote to Ward's 30.4 percent and Costello's 27.2 percent.
The current incumbent, Rep. Ron DeSantis (R), is the GOP gubernatorial nominee.
Waltz emphasized his experience in the U.S. Army and as a White House and Pentagon staffer. He supports a plan to bring commercial space exploration to Volusia County. Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry (R) and the American Patriots PAC supported his candidacy.
Ward touted his experience in the U.S. Navy and in business. He called for a reduction in corporate tax rates, a repeal of Obama-era regulations, and a steady interest rate.
Costello, who challenged DeSantis in the 2012 and 2016 Republican primaries, argued that he knew the district better than his opponents. He had been endorsed by the National Rifle Association but the endorsement was rescinded after he stated his support for a state bill which would raise the age limit for firearms purchases to 21 and implement a mandatory waiting period following the sale of certain firearms.
Spano defeats Combee in Republican primary for Republican-leaning open seat in FL-15
State Rep. Ross Spano (R) defeated former state Rep. Neil Combee (R) and three other candidates in the Republican primary for Florida's 15th Congressional District.
Spano led Combee 44 percent to 34 percent. Incumbent Rep. Dennis Ross (R) did not seek re-election.
Spano, who was endorsed by Sen. Marco Rubio (R), currently represents a suburban Tampa district in the Legislature. He is campaigning on his support for the Trump administration, anti-abortion legislation, and the Second Amendment.
Combee represented a Polk County district in the Legislature before becoming state executive director for the U.S. Department of Agriculture's (USDA) Farm Service. Combee called himself "the only candidate trusted and appointed by President Trump," referring to his position with the USDA.
Spano faces attorney Kristen Carlson (D) in the general election.
Freedom Caucus-backed Steube wins FL-17 primary
State Rep. Greg Steube defeated his state House colleague Julio Gonzalez in the Republican primary for Florida’s 17th Congressional District 62.4 percent to 18.3 percent. Businessman Bill Akins received 19.3 percent.
The House Freedom Caucus and the Club for Growth supported Steube. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) backed Gonzales.
Candidates backed by the House Freedom Caucus won at least eight of the 17 competitive Republican primaries in this cycle. Five of the primaries were to replace departing Freedom Caucus members.
The District’s current incumbent, U.S. Rep. Tom Rooney (R), is retiring. The seat is rated “Safe Republican” in the general election.
Oklahoma
Mortgage exec Stitt defeats Oklahoma City Mayor Cornett in OK gubernatorial runoff
Mortgage industry executive Kevin Stitt (R) defeated Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett (R) in the Republican primary runoff.
With 90 percent of precincts reporting, Stitt won 55 percent of the vote to Cornett's 45 percent.
This was an improvement for Stitt, who lagged behind Cornett in the June 26 primary, 24 percent to 29 percent.
Cornett and Stitt had similar platforms but differed on education and energy policy. Cornett approved of term-limited Gov. Mary Fallin's $474 million tax package to fund raises for teachers, while Stitt said he would have sought to reduce waste before raising taxes.
When discussing Fallin’s gross production tax increase, Cornett said the state needed to move away from reliance on the oil and gas industry to provide revenue. Stitt said he would not have signed the tax legislation, adding, there must be a “level playing field between your industry and the market you compete in.”
Stitt faces former Oklahoma Attorney General Drew Edmondson (D) in the general election.
Hern defeats Harris in OK-01 runoff
Businessman Kevin Hern (R) defeated former Tulsa County district attorney Tim Harris (R) in the Republican primary runoff for Oklahoma's 1st Congressional District.
With 84 percent of precincts reporting, Hern had 55.4 percent of the vote to Harris' 44.6 percent.
Hern emphasized his support for the president and called for congressional term limits. He pointed to his career in business while portraying Harris as a career politician, referencing his opponent's 16 years as district attorney. His endorsers included the Republican Main Street Partnership.
Harris ran on his experience as district attorney, arguing it would make him an effective House member. Harris cast himself as a fighter and said Hern’s fundraising advantage left him unable to respond to Hern’s ads.
Six more Republican incumbents lose in Oklahoma state legislative runoffs=
Twelve of Oklahoma’s Republican state legislators lost in primaries this year, with six losing in the June 26 regular primaries and another six losing in Tuesday’s primary runoffs.
The 12 incumbent losses were up from 2014 (no losses) and 2016 (three losses). The primaries occurred in the aftermath of a statewide teacher strike over salaries and education funding. In response, the legislature passed a tax increase to pay for additional funding.
Eight of the 19 legislators who opposed the tax and funding increase were defeated in their primaries, including all six who lost Tuesday.
Republican Attorney General runoff remains too close to call
The Republican Attorney General primary runoff between incumbent Mike Hunter (R) and attorney Gentner Drummond (R) remained too close to call Wednesday morning.
With all precincts reporting, Hunter led by a 269-vote margin out of just under 300,000 votes cast. Although the Hunter campaign declared victory Tuesday night, Drummond refused to concede and national outlets did not call the race.
Gov. Mary Fallin (R) appointed Hunter to the post in February 2017 following Scott Pruitt's (R) resignation to head the federal Environmental Protection Agency. Hunter touted his opposition to amending the U.S. Constitution, his support for capital punishment, and his response to the opioid crisis.
Drummond, an attorney, rancher, and business owner, touted his private sector experience and service in the U.S. Air Force. He said he opposed to career politicians and called on voters to elect an outsider.
Oklahoma law allows candidates to request a recount. A candidate-requested recount must specify the precincts to be counted and whether they wish for a manual recount or a retabulation of results. Candidates must pay a fee based on the scope and method of the recount, which is refunded if the recount finds the requesting candidate won the election.
The eventual winner will face attorney Mark Myles (D) in the November general election.
Up next: The final five statewide primaries of 2018: Massachusetts, Delaware, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and New York state elections. Stay tuned for our final analysis of Republican Party primaries.
