The unofficial results of the Arizona Primary Election held last Tuesday show support for local incumbents, but several state officials are out. Navajo County has a total of 62,158 voters, and ballots were cast by 15,861 of them in Tuesday’s election for a voter turnout of just 25.52 percent. That’s slightly lower than the statewide turnout rate of 28.18 percent with 1,023,516 of Arizona’s 3,632,337 voters going to the polls.
Locally the towns of Snowflake and Taylor each held their town council elections, while Holbrook voted to continue the Unisource gas franchise agreement.
For the Town of Snowflake, Mayor Michael “Lynn” Johnson retained his seat as mayor with 600 votes, with Tom Poscharsky receiving 266 votes. Hunter Lewis retained his appointed seat from 2016 for another two years with 768 votes, with write-ins that garnered 13 votes. For the two four-year terms up for office, Greg Brimhall retained his seat with 667 votes and Cory Johnson did the same with 621 votes, with 15 write-in votes. A total of 919 ballots were cast.
Taylor had four council seats open that were filled by Carl Cosper, with 389 votes, David Smith with 408, Jason Brubaker with 402 and Bill Baldwin, 397. There were also write-ins that garnered nine votes. All were incumbents for their seats with the exception of Bill Baldwin. Mayor Lyn Dewitt did not run for office this election. The council will select a new mayor from their members once they are seated. A total of 602 ballots were cast.
The Aug. 28 turnout for the Holbrook election showed 397 votes to 76 in favor of renewing the Unisource gas franchise agreement. A total of 570 ballots were cast.
Holbrook constable Phyllis Romo won re-election unopposed in the primary with 1,233 votes, with 20 write-in votes, as did Winslow constable Suzanne Smith with receiving 1,310 votes, and 17 write in votes. The Snowflake/Taylor and Heber/Overgaard constable race went to Sam Grimes with 1,095 votes over Colton Solomon with 951 votes, and 10 write-in votes.
Holbrook Justice of the Peace Evelyn Marez won re-election unopposed in the primary, as did B.J. Little for Winslow Justice of the Peace. Snowflake Justice of the Peace incumbent Fred Peterson won with 1,385 votes against John Saline with 908, with one write-in vote. Marez received 1,239 with 21 write-in votes. Little received 1,330, with 18 write-in votes.
Navajo County Clerk of the Court Deanne Romo retained her seat unopposed, with 7,122 votes and 81 write-in votes.
Ralph Hatch retained his seat as Judge of Superior Court Division 1, running unopposed and receiving 6,724 votes. There were 81 write-in votes.
Incumbent Doug Ducey earned the Republican nomination for governor with 5,028 votes in Navajo County and 389,445 statewide, defeating Ken Bennett with 2,416 and 162,763. In the general election, Ducey will face Democrat David Garcia, who garnered 3,476 in Navajo County and 211,907 statewide. Beating out fellow Democrats Steve Farley with 2,360 and 143,831 and Kelly Fryer with 1,656 and 73,587.
In the race for the U.S. Senate seat Democrat Kyrsten Sinema garnered 5,798 votes in Navajo County and 347,116 votes statewide against Deedra Abboud who received 85,888 and 1,812. She will face Republican Martha McSally who received 3,089 votes in Navajo County and 296,076 votes statewide. She won against Kelli Ward with 2,175 and 253,863, and Joe Arpaio with 2,268 and 101,643.
For the District 1 Congressional seat, incumbent Democrat Tom O’Halleran ran unopposed in his party garnering 7,155 votes in Navajo County and 56,410 statewide and will face Republican Wendy Rogers in November. Rogers garnered 3,666 votes in Navajo County and 25,535 statewide, Steve Smith, 2,277 and 22,375 and Tiffany Shedd, 1,296 and 11,098.
For the State Senate seat Republican incumbent Sylvia Allen retained 2,813 votes in Navajo County and 19,826 statewide, and Democrat Wade Carlisle garnered 774 and 15,055.
The November race for two District 6 State Representative seats will feature Republican incumbent Bob Thorpe and fellow Republican Walt Blackman and Democrats Felicia French and Bobby Tyler. Thorpe received 1,547 votes in Navajo County and 14,262 statewide, Blackman, 2,474 and 12,680, and Stuart McDaniel, 706 and 7,508. In the Democratic primary, French received 605 in Navajo County and 13,850 statewide, and Tyler received 550 and 9,582.
The office of State Treasurer will be between Democrat Mark Manoil, who garnered 6,939 votes in Navajo County and 387,592 statewide, and Kimberly Yee, who retained 3,771 votes in Navajo County and 286,918 votes statewide. She won against Jo Ann Sabbagh who had 2,867 and 203,635.
Voters unceremoniously booted three incumbents in state offices: Superintendent of Public Instruction Diane Douglas, Secretary of State Michele Reagan and Corporation Commissioner Tom Forese.
For the office of Superintendent of Public Instruction, Democrat Kathy Hoffman received 4,513 votes in Navajo County and 218,024 statewide, beating out David Schapira, who received 2,910 and 196,431. She will go up against Republican Frank Riggs who retained 1,359 votes in Navajo County and 106,513 statewide, winning over Bob Branch, 1,529 and 105,774, Diane Douglas, 1,526 and 104,316, Tracy Livingston, 1,518 and 97,223, and Jonathan Gelbart, 700 and 71,698.
Katie Hobbs ran unopposed for Democratic nomination for Secretary of State with 7,074 votes in Navajo County and 396,654 statewide. She will meet Republican Steve Gaynor in the general. Gaynor drew 4,441 in Navajo County and 353,367 votes across the state. He won against Michele Reagan who had 2,644 votes in Navajo County and 172,302 statewide.
The November race for two seats on the Arizona Corporation Commission will feature Democrats Sandra Kennedy and Kiana Maria Sears, and Republicans Justin Olson and Rodney Glassman. Kennedy received 5,050 votes in Navajo County and 301,143 statewide, Sears, 2,493 and 185,351, and William Mundell, 2,959 and 179,340. In the Republican primary, Justin Olson received 2,563 votes in Navajo County and 202,305 across the state, Glassman, 2,663 and 185,216, James O’Connor, 2,230 and 176,152, Tom Forese, 1,720 and 129,151, and Eric Sloan, 1,625 and 118,946.
Mark Brnovich ran unopposed for the Republican nomination for attorney general, garnering 6,152 votes in Navajo County and 475,200 statewide. He will go up against January Contreras who also ran unopposed to gain the Democratic nomination, with 6,939 votes in Navajo County and 395,367 statewide.
Incumbent State Mine Inspector Joe Hart faced no opposition in the Republican primary election, garnering 6,127 votes in Navajo County and 463,474 statewide. He will go up against Democrat William Pierce, who received 6,949 votes in Navajo County and 82,221 statewide.
