Arizona Capitol Times Your Inside Source for Arizona Government, Politics and Business

The once-contentious U.S. Senate primary that dominated the airwaves for months and cost more than $11 million ended with a whimper as Congressman Jeff Flake trounced businessman Wil Cardon in the race for the Republican nomination.

Former Apache Junction Mayor Doug Coleman and Tea Party candidate Kelly Townsend of Mesa took the lead in a four-way House Republican primary Tuesday in House Legislative District 16.

Election officials are reporting a light turnout at precincts for today’s primaries.

U.S. Justice Department monitors will be in Maricopa County to observe Tuesday’s primary election.

An unexpectedly feisty campaign marked by accusations of hypocrisy, broken promises and flip-flopping positions on the emotional issue of immigration draws to a close Tuesday when Arizona voters narrow the field of candidates to replace retiring Republican U.S. Sen. Jon Kyl.

Hundreds of Sarah Palin fans suffered the sweltering Valley heat today to see the former Alaskan governor at an election-eve barbeque in support of Kirk Adams in his primary bid for Arizona’s 5th Congressional District.

An independent expenditure committee associated with Senate President Steve Pierce will be in a strong position to defend Republican seats, having raised hundreds of thousands of dollars, mostly from business interests, in the last few weeks.

Businessman Bob Worsley dug deep into his own pocket, loaning his campaign $140,000 in his race to defeat former senator Russell Pearce.

Back-to-back court hearings are scheduled Thursday on dueling lawsuits over whether Arizona voters will decide the fate of an initiative proposal to dramatically change how the state conducts primary elections.