A new poll of Arizonans shows that despite his new book and recent pushback against President Donald Trump, the state’s junior senator remains deeply unpopular.
Just 18 percent of the more than 700 Arizona voters surveyed by the Democratic-leaning Public Policy Institute approve of Jeff Flake’s job performance. Sixty-two percent say they disapprove.
As for the president, Trump has the approval of 44 percent here after winning the state with 49 percent in November.
In his new book, “Conscience of a Conservative: A Rejection of Destructive Politics and a Return to Principle," Flake — one of the few Republicans who didn’t endorse Trump — argues that his party is in denial about Trump.
Trump has reportedly been vetting candidates to run against Flake in the primary next year, including former state Republican party chair Robert Graham, state Treasurer Jeff DeWit and ex-state Sen. Kelli Ward, who lost to the state’s other Sen. John McCain in last year’s primary election.
Ward has already announced her intention to challenge Flake in 2018.
