Except for his concession speech, it’s all over for Russell Pearce.
Outraised and outspent, the man who helped elevate Arizona onto the national stage in the illegal immigration debate, failed on Tuesday to persuade his party-mates to send him back to the state Legislature.
It was the former Senate president’s second loss since November – when he was ousted from office in a recall election – against an opponent who holds moderate views on immigration enforcement.
Conservative icon Pearce loses again by double digits
GOP race for Senate headlines Arizona primary
Arizona's primary election Tuesday features a spirited race for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate and heated contests for several U.S. House seats, with outcomes that will set the roster of candidates for the Nov. 6 general election.
Read More »Redistricting stirs up legislative primary races
Redistricting has forced some big names in Arizona legislative politics into contested races in the Aug. 28 primary election.
Read More »Immigration a focus of GOP debate in Senate race
Illegal immigration and border security were a combined focus of a televised debate between the two leading Republican candidates for an open U.S. Senate seat from Arizona.
Read More »Former congressional candidate, Ray Russell, 80, dies 
Ray Russell, who provided a serious challenge to John McCain in the future senator’s first political campaign, died Aug. 9 at the age of 80.
Read More »Phoenix Democrats fight over 2008 tax vote 
An intraparty fight has intensified between Rep. Katie Hobbs and former Sen. Ken Cheuvront, who are dueling for the Democratic nomination to the state Senate in a central Phoenix district.
Read More »Republican Victory Fund spends $28k on Crandall v Fillmore primary 
The committee whose goal is to extend Republicans’ dominance at the state Legislature has so far spent nearly $30,000 on the primary contest between Sen. Rich Crandall, R-Mesa, and Rep. John Fillmore, R-Apache Junction.
Read More »GOP senators to Pierce: Pull back spending in Republican primary 
The Republican teapot is boiling.
Several members of the GOP caucus in the Senate delivered this week a letter to Senate President Steve Pierce, expressing their dismay that the money he has raised is being used to defeat a party-mate and fearing “long-term fissures.”
Republican group calls Fillmore a liberal in new campaign mailer 
An independent expenditure group with ties to Senate President Steve Pierce has decided not only to support Sen. Rich Crandall, but to spend money on a mailer that sharply criticizes Rep. John Fillmore.
Read More »Pierce’s Victory Fund spends against Fillmore 
A committee whose goal is to return a robust GOP majority to the state Senate has taken sides in a Republican primary, spending money to help Sen. Rich Crandall, R-Mesa, beat Rep. John Fillmore, R-Apache Junction.
The Republican Victory Fund recently sent out a mailer touting Crandall’s record, including his vote to pass SB1070.
As expected, Fillmore is dismayed by the committee’s action.