One major statewide race remains historically close – and with an early update Thursday afternoon from Maricopa County, it’s now even closer.
In the race for attorney general, Democrat Kris Mayes’ lead over Republican Abe Hamadeh is down to just 130 votes.
Percentage-wise, they are in a 50-50 tie. And with just a few thousand votes left to tally statewide, the race is likely to head to automatic recount.
Hamadeh was the youngest statewide candidate on the ballot. Former president Donald Trump’s endorsement helped the political newcomer earn the nomination and on the campaign trail, Hamadeh focused on border security and raised questions about Arizona’s voting system.
Mayes, who is a former Arizona Corporation Commission commissioner, campaigned on protecting consumer rights and securing Arizona’s water resources.
But after Roe v. Wade was struck down this summer, the major focus of this race became abortion access. Mayes called Arizona’s abortion laws unconstitutional and promised never to prosecute doctors. Hamadeh accused Mayes of picking and choosing which laws to enforce.
