Arizona Capitol Times Election Coverage Your Inside Track to Arizona Elections

A Republican spending spree to knock off Rep. Nancy Young Wright appears to be working.

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

Many Republicans in highly competitive Senate races are facing a financial disadvantage going into the general election.

Swing districts will play prominently in a handful of House races this year. And in most, Democrats will be on defense while Republicans will be trying to regain seats they traditionally held and lost in recent years.

Lopsided voter registration figures in many of Arizona’s legislative districts will weigh heavily against Senate candidates in the general election, but Republicans and Democrats are expecting a more level playing field in at least four Senate races.

Rep. Adam Driggs, who is in a three-way Senate race for the Republican Party’s nomination in Legislative District 11, has received a huge boost from independent groups. But he's not the only one.

Most of Gov. Jan Brewer's recent primary endorsements have been for out-of-state candidates, but now Brewer is officially weighing in on some of the state's most contested GOP battles. Several of the candidates Brewer is pushing for in contested primaries are percieved to be the moderates in their races.

The Arizona Association of Realtors endorsed 78 statewide and legislative candidates the group says promote issues important to homeowners, Realtors and the real estate industry.

The Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry on June 22 released its candidate endorsements for the state House and Senate. The business group endorsed 52 candidates - 17 Senate and 35 House candidates - who they said share the Chamber's "pro-business, free-market agenda."

The national electoral climate has been portrayed as a battle by incumbents to keep their seats against a groundswell of anti-incumbency sentiment.