Arizona’s CHANDLER According to NBC News’ projections, Blake Masters prevailed in the toughly contested Republican primary for Senate in the pivotal swing state of Arizona on Tuesday, setting up a fall run-off with Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly.
With more than 75% of the ballots cast, Masters was in the lead in the primary election on Wednesday morning with 39% of the vote. It was predicted that the venture capitalist will defeat state attorney general Mark Brnovich and businessman Jim Lamon.
In the lead-up to the primary, Masters actively promoted his win of former President Donald Trump’s support in campaign speeches and TV advertising.
In the scant pre-primary polls, Masters was favored above Mark Brnovich and Lamon, the other leading contenders.
Mark Kelly, a Democrat running for the Senate at the time, in Tuscon, Arizona, in 2020.
Image by Courtney Pedroza for Getty Images
One of the most contentious races this autumn, the Arizona election might determine which party holds the Senate for the next two years. Republicans need a net gain of one seat to take the majority, and Democrats have a 50-50 advantage.
While Kelly was seeking re-election, he ran unopposed for the Democratic nomination and easily won the primary. NBC News predicted that he would clinch the nomination quickly after the Arizona polls closed on Tuesday night.
Kelly did not attend the results ceremony in Arizona. He was in Washington, where the Democratic-controlled Senate will likely vote this week on a significant climate, health care, and tax bill as well as on medical care for veterans who were exposed to toxic burn pits.
Arizona, formerly a solidly Republican state, has been more competitive in recent elections. In 2018, Arizonans chose Democratic senator Kyrsten Sinema. Additionally, President Joe Biden won the state by a slim margin in 2020, the same year Kelly won a special election by 2.4 points.
