Here are the highly competitive races to watch for in Arizona’s primary

PHOENIX (AZFamily) — Polls open in less than 24 hours for Arizona’s primary, and there are a number of hotly contested races for both Republicans and Democrats this year.

These races will help determine which party will control the divided U.S. House and Senate, and the state legislature. There is also the Maricopa County sheriff primary that could lead to changes in policing policies and procedures in Arizona’s most populated county.

More: Where to vote in person on Election Day in Arizona

Here are the races to watch for Tuesday

U.S. Senate: Republican primary

• Former TV news anchor and Trump-endorsed Kari Lake is being challenged by Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb.
• While Lake has widespread name recognition, Lamb also has widespread appeal among much of the GOP.
• A Noble Predictive Insights poll conducted last week showed Lake was a clear favorite (+12)
• However, the poll finds Lake faces challenges with younger voters and independents.

The winner will face off against Democrat U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego to replace Independent Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, who announced earlier this year she would not be seeking re-election.

Maricopa County Recorder

It’s no secret that Maricopa County has been in the spotlight since the 2020 Presidential Election. Now, a political newcomer and a state Congressman are trying to unseat incumbent Stephen Richer.

Richer has faced criticism from the far right over the handling of the election and after then-President Donald Trump claimed that the election was stolen in Arizona and other states.

• Rep. Justin Heap was elected in 2022 and is a member of the Arizona Freedom Caucus
• Rep. Heap has been endorsed by Kari Lake and fellow Reps. Andy Biggs, Paul Gosar, and Eli Crane
• Don Hiatt refers to himself as a conservative Republican with a background in information technology (I.T.)
• Hiatt’s website says that he is “MAGA” and a “tried-and-true” believer in America First.
• Hiatt’s signs he will push for more public-private partnerships to be “more open and transparent.”

Maricopa County Sheriff

Democratic Sheriff Russ Skinner is seeking to remain in office after being appointed to replace Paul Penzone earlier this year.

Skinner was a lifelong Republican before switching to Democrat, which made him eligible to be appointed sheriff when Penzone stepped down.

On the Democratic side, challenger Tyler Kamp touted two decades of experience in the Phoenix Police Department. During the debate, Kamp said that because Skinner worked under Joe Arpaio, there were trust issues due to the racial profiling committed under Arpaio’s leadership.

On the Republican side, the most well-known candidate is Frank Milstead, a former director of the Arizona Department of Public Safety.

In 2022, Arizona’s Family reported that Milstead was served an order of protection over allegations of abuse from a woman with whom he was in a relationship. He then filed a countersuit, saying in court documents that the relationship ended because she was unfaithful “on numerous occasions.” Milstead sought net equity of the home they shared.

Milstead retired from DPS in early 2020 after five years on the job, months after he was stopped for driving over 90 miles per hour and weaving through traffic on I-17 while off-duty.

Mike Crawford is also a former sheriff’s deputy, police officer and special DEA agent. He touts an action plan that includes recruiting 20% more deputies, auditing the department’s budget and bringing back the department’s “volunteer posse” to assist with search-and-rescue operations and youth and community programs.

Finally, there is Jerry Sheridan, who then-Sheriff Joe Arpaio appointed as chief deputy. He touts over 40 years with the sheriff’s office, says he oversaw the design and construction of two major jails while being chief of custody, and was appointed to the Arizona Peace Officers Standards and Training Board by three separate governors.

Congressional District 1: Democratic primary

The winner of this primary will likely take on Republican Rep. David Schweikert, who has been in the U.S. House since 2011 and representing the First Congressional District since last year, winning in the 2022 election by only 3,200 votes.

Here’s a look at the candidates:

• Andrei Cherny is a former assistant state attorney general who worked in the Bill Clinton Administration and former state party chair. He says he has a 25-year track record with Democrats on tackling the issues and says he will fight to protect democracy.
• Marlene Galán-Woods is the widow of Arizona politician Grant Woods and switched from Republican to Democrat after the 2016 election. She touts her endorsements from big-name Democrats like Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes, former Gov. Janet Napolitano and abortion rights group EMILYs List.
• Andrew Horne (not related to Tom Horne) is an orthodontist who practiced in Colorado before moving home to Arizona in 2020. The state native said he’ll focus on improving public education, fighting for women’s rights, and improving gun safety.
• Kurt Kroemer is a former Red Cross executive and was a city council member in Bowie, Maryland. He says he’s the only candidate who previously worked for Congress as an investigator and the only one with a background in international affairs.
• Amish Shah was a three-term state representative before resigning to run for Congress and is an emergency room physician. He touts his experience in politics with his three election wins in the state House and his push to defeat a proposal to ban the so-called abortion pill.
• Conor O’Callaghan was the last candidate in the race and is the managing director of a financial services firm. He says his campaign team helped Secretary of State Adrian Fontes win in 2022 and has more campaign money than Rep. Schweikert.

Congressional District 8: Republican primary

The winner of the primary will most likely take over the seat left by Rep. Debbie Lesko, who announced in October she’s not running for re-election because the district is so red. The primary features six candidates, including five big names.

• Abe Hamadeh is a former county prosecutor and lost the 2022 state attorney general race to Kris Mayes, a loss he’s still fighting in court. The Trump and Kari Lake-endorsed candidate said abortion laws should be left up to the states.
• Anthony Kern is a state senator who was charged in the so-called “fake electors” case. He says he was rated 100 with the Conservative Union and said the 1864 abortion law was the “best abortion ban in the nation.”
• Blake Masters is a venture capitalist who was endorsed by Donald Trump for the U.S. Senate in 2022 but lost to incumbent Sen. Mark Kelly. He supports federal restrictions on abortion and wants to finish the border wall.
• Trent Franks was in Congress for about 14 years before resigning in 2017 after sexual harassment allegations. He says he was one of the most conservative representatives and will continue that record.
• Ben Toma is the Arizona Speaker of the House. He’s highlighted his conservative record, such as passing the Secure the Border Act and pushing for a flat tax in Arizona.
• Pat Briody is an independent contractor who has bragged about not having an endorsement. He wants term limits for politicians and to stop “endless wars.”

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