Trump praises, but doesn’t name, McSally after Tuesday’s election
Nov 7, 2018, 10:37 AM | Updated: 5:35 pm
Arizona Republican senatorial candidate Martha McSally, speaks with voters, Tuesday, Nov. 6, 2018, at Chase's diner in Chandler, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)
(AP Photo/Matt York)
PHOENIX — A winner has not yet been named in the hotly contested U.S. Senate race between Republican Martha McSally and Democrat Kyrsten Sinema, but that did not stop President Donald Trump from praising McSally — without naming her — on Wednesday.
“Arizona is looking very good. Really very good,” Trump told reporters during a press conference.
“She’s done a terrific job. That was a tough race and she’s done a fantastic job.”
The race between McSally and Sinema was too close to call by the end of the day on Tuesday, and continued to be too close to call on Wednesday.
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According to the Arizona Secretary of State’s office, McSally is leading the race by less than one percent — 850,043 votes to Sinema’s 834,135.
Garrett Archer, the senior analyst with the office, told KTAR News 92.3 FM early Wednesday that it could be several days until the results in the race are in due to the number of ballots that still need to be counted.
“We’re expecting approximately 500,000 to 600,000 (early ballots to be counted), most of them being in Maricopa County,” Archer said.
“It’s not unheard of for a general election … to take seven to 10 days to get through all the early ballots and provisionals,” he added. “We should start seeing results (by Thursday).”
McSally is looking to take the seat being vacated by Jeff Flake, who was also mentioned by Trump during the Wednesday press conference.
“In Jeff Flake’s case, it’s me, I retired him,” Trump said. “I’m very proud of it. I did the country a great service. Jeff Flake, that’s another beauty.”
