2018 election had historic voter turnout and close races

Governor Doug Ducey was declared the winner of the governor’s race with 1,218,765 votes, easily defeating Democrat David Garcia, who drew 475,431 votes. Green Party candidate Angel Torres garnered 45,129 votes. In Navajo County, the unofficial totals were: Ducey, 21,877; Garcia, 13,645; and Torres1,055.

The race was close for U.S. senate as of press time, with Kyrsten Sinema holding the lead with 1,071,947 votes to Republican Martha McSally’s 1,039,778. Green Party candidate Angela Green had 50,797. In Navajo County the percentage margin was wider with McSally garnering 18,764 votes to Sinema’s 16,523, followed by Green with 1,238.

District 1 Congressman Tom O’Halleran, a Sedona Democrat, outpolled his Republican opponent, Wendy Rogers of Flagstaff, by over 18,000 votes, according to unofficial results available Sunday evening. District-wide O’Halleran drew 134,255 votes to Rogers’ 115,603. In Navajo County, Rogers had the lead 18,328 to 18,017.

For secretary of state, Steve Gaynor, took a narrow lead over Democrat Katie Hobbs, 1,058,283 to 1,057,859. In Navajo County, Gaynor led 19,037 to 16,929.

In the attorney general’s race, Mark Brnovich defeated Democrat January Contreras, 1,099,352 to 1,007,445. Among Navajo County voters, that trend continued with Brnovich holding a 19,851 to 16,014 edge.

In the race for state treasurer Kimberly Yee overtook Democratic opponent Mark Manoil, 1,141,425 to 945,919. In Navajo County, Yee received 20,140 votes to Manoil’s 15,643.

The vote was closer in the race for superintendent of public instruction, but Democrat Kathy Hoffman held a 1,066,138 to 1,019,417 lead over Republican Frank Riggs. In Navajo County the trend was reversed with Riggs getting 18,508 votes to Hoffman’s 17,519.

The top vote getters for two seats on the Arizona Corporation Commission were Democrat Sandra Kennedy with 970,318 and Republican Justin Olson with 964,743. Republican Rodney Glassman and Democrat Kiana Maria Sears trailed with 960,571 and 905,438 respectively. In Navajo County, Glassman came out ahead with 16,784 votes, followed by Olson with 16,750, Kennedy with 15,400 and Sears with 12,408

Republican Joe Hart won his bid for re-election as state mine inspector. He received 1,068,651 votes over William Pierce who received 979,584. In Navajo County, Hart garnered 19,186 votes and Pierce, 16,426.

District 6 Races

Senator Sylvia Tenney Allen held on to her position over Democrat Wade Carlisle 46,525 to 43,959. The margin in Navajo County was also in her favor, 7,810 to 3,043.

Republican Walter Blackman received the highest votes for one of the District 6 state representative seats with 43,870 and Republican incumbent Bob Thorpe kept his seat with 42,888. Democrats Felicia French and Bobby Tyler garnered 41,508 and 35,765 votes respectively. In Navajo County the results reflected the same outcome, with Blackman garnering 13,507; Thorpe, 13,396; French, 13,288; and Tyler, 11,080.

Navajo County

In Navajo County, all races featured incumbents running unopposed. Those re-elected included Judge of Superior Court Division 1 Ralph Hatch, 27,497; Clerk of the Superior Court Deanne Romo (D), 25,335; Justice of the Peace District 1 Evelyn Marez (D), 3,324; Constable Precinct 1 Phyllis Romo (D), 3,282; Justice of the Peace District 2 BJ Little (D), 4,040 votes; Constable Precinct 2 Suzanne Smith (D), 3,908; Justice of the Peace District 3 Fred Peterson (R), 6,201; Constable Precinct 3 Sam Grimes (R), 6,175; Justice of the Peace District 5 Shirley Patterson (R), 6,329; Constable Precinct 5 Scott Tipton (R), 6.358; Justice of the Peace District 6 David Widmaier (D), 5,184; and Constable Precinct 6 Greg Sharp (D), 4,828.

Holbrook City

Council Recall

Phil Cobb unseated Bobby Tyler in the recall election for the mayor’s seat, 775 to 502. Mike Nilsson did likewise against CJ Wischmann for the council seat, 819 to 497.

Proposition 419

The Navajo County Jail Tax failed by a narrow margin of 17,676 votes to 17,520.

Unified School District Governing Boards

Winslow: Josephine “Dodie” Montoya with 1,711 and Marilee Ervien with 1,483 votes will fill the two seats. Isabel Britton received 1,176 votes.

Kayenta: Raymond Laughter with 1,854 and Lita Dixon with 1,753 votes will fill the two seats. Helen Bonnaha received 760 votes.

Heber: Gwendolyn Wendy Lee Hall with 890 votes and Craig Blackburn with 820 will fill the two seats. Jess Cochran received 709 and Leamon “L.J.” Crandell received 663.

Override Elections

The Holbrook Unified School District override passed with 2,281 in favor and 1,206 against. Joseph City Unified School District override failed with 310 votes against and 287 votes in favor.

Unisource Franchise Agreement

The Unisource Franchise Agreement passed in Winslow with 1,326 in favor and 812 against.