Melvin re-elected in LD26 Senate race

Sen. Al Melvin, a Republican from Tucson, was elected to a second term in Legislative District 26.

Melvin received 38,222 votes compared to Democrat Cheryl Cage’s 32,473.

The two candidates clashed over the same Senate seat two years ago, when Melvin won by fewer than 2,000 votes.

The Senate race in the north-central Pima County district has been hotly contested during the past several election cycles.

Republicans outnumber Democrats in the district, but independents comprise a third of the electorate and can swing the race either way.

Political insiders view LD26 as a district that’s perennially up for grabs.

During the campaign, Melvin sought to portray his opponent as a “far-left liberal” who wants to promote the Obama administration’s “secular socialist” agenda in Arizona.

Cage, on the other hand, said Melvin holds “extreme” Republican views on issues. She has criticized him for voting for cuts to public education.

Cage outraised and outspent Melvin during the race. She collected nearly $122,000; Melvin pulled in about $60,000.

Independent groups also spent heavily during the campaign – about $36,000 for Melvin and about $7,500 for Cage.

Both candidates were also on the receiving end of independent expenditures. Almost $17,000 was spent to defeat Cage and more than $6,000 was spent against Melvin.