Arizona is gearing up for its primaries on Tuesday, a crucial battleground state that could determine control of the House and Senate in the upcoming general election. The spotlight is on the race to succeed Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, who is not seeking re-election, making way for a highly contested Senate seat.
Leading the Republican Senate nomination race is Kari Lake, a former TV anchor and strong supporter of former President Trump. Lake's alliance with Trump has given her a significant advantage, both in terms of popularity and fundraising, over her GOP rivals, Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb and neuroscientist Elizabeth Reye.
On the Democratic side, Rep. Ruben Gallego is running unopposed for the nomination, setting the stage for a potentially intense battle in the general election.
With Democrats currently holding a slim majority in the Senate, Republicans are eyeing key swing states like Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, Pennsylvania, and Wisconsin, where they have a chance to gain ground. In the House, the GOP is also facing challenges, with Democrats aiming to unseat vulnerable Republican incumbents in districts that President Biden carried in the last election.
In Arizona's 1st Congressional District, incumbent Rep. David Schweikert is facing primary competition from businessman Robert Backie and former FBI agent Kim George. The Democratic field is also crowded, indicating a fierce battle ahead.
Further south, Rep. Juan Ciscomani is seeking re-election in a district that includes suburban Tucson. He is expected to win the GOP primary and face Democrat Kisten Engel in a rematch of their closely contested 2022 election.
Lastly, in the 8th Congressional District, Trump has endorsed both major Republican candidates, Blake Masters and Abe Hamadeh, setting the stage for an intriguing primary showdown.
