LD22

UPDATE, 10:30 p.m.: 

Republicans Jerry Weiers and Steve Montenegro have survived the LD12 Republican primary in the House and will move on to the general election.  Robert Blendu came in a close third. 

Thayer Verschoor has held off a late charge by Eddie Farnsworth in the LD22 senate race and will hold onto his seat and will likely have the inside edge to become the next senate president. 

Incumbent Barbara McGuire survived her House primary in LD23 and will be joined in the general election by Ernest Bustamante.  Both defeated Dorian Bond,Krista Pacion and Emily Verdugo-Aldrichin the primary. 

Earlier this spring we had written a few times about how a race of the ages was about to develop in LD22.  Two very well known and well respected legislators were going to be squaring off for the senate seat currently held by Republican Majority Leader Thayer Verschoor.  Verschoor is being challenged by state Representative Thayer Verschoor who is in his final term because of term limits. 

The primary is only a week away in Arizona and things are sure to heat up this week.  Here are three things Inside Edge will be looking to watch this week.

1)     Will the Maricopa County Republicans and the congressional delegation continue to fight in public?

2)     Will the Arizona Democrats who were sharply divided in the Presidential Primary come home from Denver completely united or will any resentment remain?

3)     The LD22 state senate race was considered to be the one to watch by many earlier this year, but has been amazingly quiet.  Will things heat up with last minute attacks?

With Senate President Tim Bee on his way out the door, LD22 Republican Thayer Verschoor is in line to become the next senate president if Republicans hold onto the state senate.  Because LD22 Republican Rep. Eddie Farnsworth is term-limited, In a normal election year they would change seats.  But with the possibility of senate president in front of him, local Republicans think it is unreasonable for anyone to think Verschoor would move over to a state representative seat.

If Farnsworth decided to take one term off, the senate seat would be his and the Republicans would rally around him for being a loyal team player.  Except that’s not the case.  Farnsworth has decided to challenge Verschoor for the seat in the September primary. 

Just a week ago Inside Edge reported State Rep Eddie Farnsworth was leaning towards not launching a primary challenge against Senate Majority Leader Thayer Verschoor.  Farnsworth had been under pressure not to challenge Verschoor, who is the likely successor to Senate President Tim Bee, if Bee were to win his

Republican Thayer Verschoor, the Majority Leader from LD-22, looked to be facing a primary challenge last fall from State Rep.  read more »