Primary Day is bittersweet for Gov. Jan Brewer

GLENDALE — Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer cast her primary election ballot Tuesday morning.

After voting at the Hope Chapel near 63rd Avenue and Bell Road, she said it was the first time in her 32 years in public office that her name was not on the ballot.

Brewer has been running for office since 1982. In that year, Bryant Gumbel became co-host of “Today,” Joe Montana led the San Francisco 49ers to the Super Bowl and Sally Ride was named the first female astronaut.

Now, the outgoing governor is Jan Public.

“It was interesting to go in there and pick and choose without automatically voting for myself,” she said. “I have no regrets. I believe I served the state of Arizona well, and I look forward to the new challenges.”

Before her time as governor, Brewer was a county supervisor, a state lawmaker and Secretary of State. What’s more, she never lost an election in her entire political career.

She said she’s looking forward to having her own voice back.

“[I won’t be] Jan Brewer the elected official,” she explained. “I can do or say what I really want to do at the appropriate times. That’s difficult when you’re governor, because you’re speaking for the state.”