Republican Steve Gaynor elected as Arizona secretary of state

PHOENIX — Republican Steve Gaynor has edged out Democrat Katie Hobbs in the race for Arizona secretary of state, after beating out incumbent Michele Reagan in the August primary.

Gaynor won Tuesday’s election with 51 percent of the vote to Hobbs’ 48 percent.

Gaynor, who owns a printing plant in Los Angeles, beat Reagan in the Aug. 28 primary with 67 percent of the vote.

But Hobbs’ campaign indicted in a statement on Tuesday that she would challenge the call made by The Associated Press.

“The Associated Press has incorrectly called the secretary of state race in Arizona with a razor-thin margin and hundreds of thousands of ballots remaining to be counted,” campaign manager Niles Harris said in a statement.

“This decision by the Associated Press is head-scratching, but Katie Hobbs will not stop until every Arizona citizen’s vote has been counted.”

He campaigned on running a more efficient office, focusing on elections division.

The secretary of state’s office handles record keeping and business services in addition to responsibilities involving voter registration and candidate filing as part of the Election Services Division.

The person also serves as acting governor when the sitting governor leaves the state.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

KTAR News 92.3 FM brings you complete election coverage all day Tuesday, including post-election coverage until 10 p.m.

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