Polling on Arizona’s statewide races has consistently shown GOP candidates on top, and Republicans are optimistic that the anti-Democratic mood sweeping the state and the country will give them total control of state government.

Only a couple of relatively competitive races stand between Republicans and their first sweep of Arizona’s six statewide offices since 1994, not including the Corporation Commission.

A judge on June 17 ruled against a complaint that alleged Sen. John Huppenthal, the Republican candidate for state Superintendent of Public Instruction, illegally gathered his petition signatures for the office.