Farnsworth strong in LD22 comeback; Urie also wins

Former House Majority Leader Eddie Farnsworth ran away with a victory in the GOP’s House Legislative District 22 primary election, and incumbent Laurin Hendrix lost his seat.

Former Gilbert Town Councilman Steve Urie finished second, beating Hendrix by 401 votes.

Hendrix said Farnsworth’s and Urie’s experience in politics effectively made it a race among the three of them.

“Those aren’t exactly novice politicians,” Hendrix said.
Urie attributed his success to his 11-year record as a town councilman and staying true to a message that resonates with voters of his district: education, unemployment and border security.

Farnsworth said he understood the value of his name recognition, but never expected to win so big, especially in a field of six and because other candidates also had name identification.

He said his message was limited government and individual freedom, and people knew from his record that he sticks to those principles.

“People know who I am and know what I’m going to do,” he said.

Hendrix had one consolation: His first grandchild, a girl, was born about a half-hour before the returns started coming in.

“Frankly, of the two, the grandchild was the bigger event,” he said.

GOP voters effectively chose the Farnsworth and Urie for the House since no Democrats are running in the Nov. 2 general election. Republican voters dominate the district, which encompasses Gilbert and parts of Mesa and Pinal County, Apache Junction and Gold Canyon.

The rest of the crowded GOP field was nowhere in contention.