Dem
50
Ties
1
GOP
49
The result of the race for governor of Arizona was clear, but the race for Arizona attorney general is a real squeaker. Democrat Kris Mayes, a lawyer, is leading Republican Abraham Hamadeh, a former Army intelligence officer, by 711 votes out of 2.5 million votes cast. That is 0.03%. About 97% of the votes have been counted, with about 77,000 votes still to be counted. This is probably the closest statewide race in the country. Hamadeh is a strong supporter of Donald Trump and is strongly supported by the former president. If he wins, he will control the state's law-enforcement apparatus. If he doesn't like the 2024 election results, he would be in a position to sue to have them overturned.
Mayes has a masters in public administration from Columbia University and a J.D. from Arizona State University. She has worked as a reporter and later was on Arizona's version of a public utilities commission. Until 2019, she was a Republican. Her issues are border security, consumer fraud, corporate accountability, elder abuse, the environment, reproductive rights, voting rights, the fentanyl crisis, and political corruption. She has a very long list of endorsements from Democratic politicians, union leaders, the president of the Navajo Nation, environmental groups, voting rights groups, and reproductive rights groups.
Hamadeh has a J.D. from the University of Arizona. After he served in the Army (in Saudia Arabia) he became a prosecutor in the Maricopa D.A.'s office. His issues are border security, the fentanyl crisis, inflation, the war on police, cancel culture, and the Second Amendment, among others. He is anti-choice. In addition to being endorsed by Trump, he has also been endorsed by Ron Paul, Rand Paul, Kash Patel, Kimberly Guilfoyle, Bernie Kerik, and a bunch of other second-tier right wingers.
No matter how the final turns out, with such a small margin, a recount is almost certain.
What is especially interesting about this race is that if Mayes hangs on, it will be a shutout. Donald Trump endorsed in four statewide races in Arizona: senator, governor, secretary of state, and attorney general. His candidates have already lost the first three. If Hamadeh loses, The Donald will have been completely shut out and lost all four races. What will that say about his popularity in Arizona, an emerging swing state? (V)