Ducey puts support behind Arizona Senate GOP nominee ahead of primary
Aug 21, 2018, 6:42 PM
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey, R, speaks at a campaign rally Wednesday, June 20, 2018 in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)
(AP Photo/Matt York)
PHOENIX — Voters will elect a Republican nominee for the U.S. Senate race in Arizona next week, but Gov. Doug Ducey has already pledged to support the nominee — whoever they will be.
In an interview with KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Mac and Gaydos on Tuesday, Ducey said he will support whichever candidate the voters elect as the party’s nominee: U.S. Rep. Martha McSally, former state senator Kelli Ward or former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio.
“The primary’s up to the people. Once the primary is decided, whoever our nominee is on the Republican side, I will join hands with them to get them over the finish line,” he said.
“Let the people decide — of course I got my opinion, but I’ve got my own primary,” Ducey added.
“Once I am the (gubernatorial Republican) nominee and we’ve got a Senate nominee, we will be working together from here until Nov. 6.”
But if recent polls are any indication, Ducey will be “joining hands” with McSally.
An OH Predictive Insights/ABC15 phone survey from earlier this month found that McSally pulled out to a 20-point lead in the race for U.S. Senate over Ward, her closest rival.
The Tucson politician led Ward 47.4 percent to 27 percent, while Arpaio had fallen from 15 percent to 13.3 percent.
Ducey, who is facing former Arizona Secretary of State Ken Bennett and Robert Weber in his own primary, said he believes this election will focus on three things: Education, immigration and economy.
“Education is going to be a huge part of this election, immigration and public safety is going to be a huge part of this election, and so is our economy,” Ducey said.
“Elections are always about the future, they’re always about what’s going to happen next,” he added.
“So of course we’re going to talk about the record we have, but we’re also going to talk about the work that still needs to be done in the governor’s office and that’s why I’m running.”
