LD4

Legislative preview, House districts 1-5

LD1
This district is strongly Republican and should see no change. Republicans Lucy Mason and Andrew Tobin are both running for re-election. The Democrats have put up only one candidate in hopes of garnering more votes and picking up one of the district seats, but Dennis Grittner is unlikely to get enough votes.

The Arizona conservatives declared all out war on moderate Republicans they deemed not conservative enough and they won; big.

Conservative activists and blogs got behind both Sydney Hay in AZ-1 and David Schweikert in AZ-5 as their congressional candidates of choice and both ended up winning close primary races.

In the legislature they had even more success.  In the Senate they were able win every seat they targeted.  The were able to fend off a challenge of conservative favorite Jack Harper in LD4.  In LD1 newcomer Steve Pierce was able to knock off incumbent Senator Tom O'Halleran.  Conservatives put an all out effort in LD18 where Russell Pearce was able to easily hold off Kevin Gibbons.  The other senate race they concentrated on was in LD26 where their pick Al Melvin defeated Pete Hershberger.  

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.