NRCC MEMO: ARIZONA PRIMARY RESULTS
TO: INTERESTED PARTIES
FROM: NRCC POLITICAL AND NRCC COMMUNICATIONS
DATE: AUGUST 29, 2012
SUBJECT: ARIZONA PRIMARY RESULTS
Arizonans have nominated excellent Republican candidates in the state’s three competitive races, pitting experienced reformers against Democrat candidates who fundamentally don’t fit the districts they seek to represent. Republicans plan to hold these Democrat candidates accountable for their support of Washington’s failed policies with candidates who offer an independent-minded approach to turning around our economy and creating jobs.
OPEN
AZ-01: Jonathan Paton (R) vs. Ann Kirkpatrick (D)
Republicans have a history of winning this sprawling rural district, which stretches from the outskirts of metropolitan Tucson all the way to the Utah border. Encompassing 11 counties, Bush and McCain both carried the district, where voters are conservative-minded and independent.
Democrats have placed their bets on Ann Kirkpatrick, who was rejected in 2010 for voting for ObamaCare and the failed stimulus. She even walked out on her own town hall meeting because she was unwilling to take questions from seniors concerned about her support for Obama’s healthcare takeover. In this year’s race, Kirkpatrick has doubled-down on her support for ObamaCare.
Kirkpatrick’s liberal record will present a clear contrast with Republican Jonathan Paton, a former state Senator and Army Intelligence Officer who made international headlines for voluntarily enlisting for a tour of duty in Iraq. Time Magazine wrote: “When politicians usually travel to Iraq, they go on ‘fact-finding missions’ and are photographed shaking hands with U.S. troops. Arizona Rep. Jonathan Paton is going to fight.” As a legislator, Paton sponsored the nation’s first law to crack-down on human smuggling and won praise for leading an investigation into negligence in the state’s Child Protective Services department.
District Facts: Cook PVI R+2; McCain received 51 percent of the vote in 2008; Bush received 50 percent in 2004; Stretches over 11 counties, includes communities of Marana, Oro Valley, Flagstaff and Casa Grande.
AZ-09: Vernon Parker/ Wendy Rogers (R) vs. Kyrsten Sinema (D)
Democrats have nominated the most extreme candidate possible in this new Phoenix-centric district. Kyrsten Sinema has a long record of left-wing extremism. She has been a prominent and vocal supporter of Washington’s failed policies, from the trillion dollar stimulus to the $700 billion in cuts to Medicare.
But it gets worse. The website BuzzFeed named Sinema one of the “8 craziest candidates of 2012.” Why? Well, for one, Sinema has even attacked stay-at-home moms.
In 2006, she said: “These women who act like staying at home, leeching off their husbands or boyfriends, and just cashing the checks is some sort of feminism because they’re choosing to live that life. That’s bull****. I mean, what the f*** are we really talking about here?”
With final results still coming in, Republicans Vernon Parker and Wendy Rogers both offer a common-sense approach to governing that is in stark contrast to Sinema’s platform.
District Facts: Cook PVI: EVEN; mostly Phoenix and Tempe, includes parts of Chandler and Paradise Valley
CHALLENGER
AZ-02: Martha McSally (R) vs. Rep. Ron Barber (D)
Martha McSally is an inspirational candidate with a compelling life-story. She is the first female fighter pilot to fly in combat, and first to command a fighter squadron in combat in United States history. In 2001-2002, Martha McSally earned national recognition for successfully overturning a military policy requiring all U.S. servicewomen to wear a Muslim Abaya and headscarf when off base in Saudi Arabia. In addition to her military commendations, Martha was a regional finalist for the Rhodes scholarship and a White House Fellowship National Finalist. She earned an Honorary Doctorate in Civil Law from Rhode Island College and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Center on Women in Policing.
This race pits McSally against Ron Barber, who confirmed his support for ObamaCare after being elected in June by voting against repeal – continuing Washington’s $700 billion in Medicare cuts. McSally will offer a check and balance for Southern Arizonans.
District Facts: Cook PVI: R+2; McCain and Bush both received 50 percent of the vote; Pima and Cochise Counties, including much of metropolitan Tucson
STATEWIDE ROUNDUP
The following are the unofficial results from Tuesday’s primary election in Arizona. These results are unofficial and incomplete.
*Indicates Winner determined by A
| AZ-01 – GOP Primary | ||
| 294 of 338 Precincts Reporting – 87% | ||
| Jonathan Paton * | 61% | |
| Martin Gaither | 19% | |
| Douglas Wade | 14% | |
| Patrick Gatti | 6% | |
|
AZ-02 – GOP Primary |
||
| 211 of 216 Precincts Reporting – 98% | ||
| Martha McSally * | 82% | |
| Mark Koskiniemi | 18% | |
|
AZ-04 – GOP Primary |
||
| 243 of 266 Precincts Reporting – 91% | ||
| Paul Gosar * | 51% | |
| Ron Gould | 32% | |
| Rick Murphy | 17% | |
|
AZ-05 – GOP Primary |
||
| 102 of 113 Precincts Reporting – 90% | ||
| David Schweikert ( i ) * | 54% | |
| Ben Quayle ( i ) | 46% | |
|
AZ-09 – DEM Primary |
||
| 138 of 141 Precincts Reporting – 98% | ||
| Kyrsten Sinema * | 42% | |
| David Schapira | 31% | |
| Andrei Cherny | 27% | |
|
AZ-09 – GOP Primary |
||
| 138 of 141 Precincts Reporting – 98% | ||
| Vernon Parker | 23% | |
| Wendy Rogers | 21% | |
| Martin Sepulveda | 20% | |
| Travis Grantham | 18% | |
| Lisa Borowsky | 7% | |
| Jeff Thompson | 7% | |
| Leah Campos Schandlbauer | 4% | |