Arizona Republican voters largely undecided on down-ballot primary races

PHOENIX – Uncertainty reigns in Arizona’s statewide down-ballot Republican primary races with the election just weeks away, new polling found.

At least two-thirds of respondents were unsure about their preference for secretary of state, attorney general, treasurer and superintendent of public instruction, according to results released Tuesday by OH Predictive Insights.

The findings were based on a survey conducted June 30-July 2, one month before the Aug. 2 primary election. Early voting started last week.

The poll of likely Republican voters has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.3%.

“The governor and Senate primary is taking up much of the oxygen (and airtime) away from these down-ticket races,” Mike Noble, chief of research for OH Predictive Insights, said in a press release.

Last week, the Phoenix-based research firm released GOP primary polling results showing 21% unsure about their vote in the governor’s race and 35% unsure in the U.S. Senate contest.

The attorney general race is the most muddled Republican primary contest, with six candidates polling from 3% to 7%, and 67% unsure.

Mark Finchem (secretary of state), Kimberly Yee (treasurer) and Tom Horne (superintendent of public instruction) are the only GOP down-ballot candidates polling in double digits, but none of them are above 20%.

Yee is the only incumbent in any of the Republican primary races.

“With voters predominantly undecided in these races, their respective campaign efforts will be critical as they chase ballots, get out the vote, and spend their hard-earned campaign dollars leading up to Election Day,” Noble said.

Here are the results released Tuesday by OH Predictive Insights (percentages from April polling in parentheses):

Secretary of state

• Mark Finchem: 14% (13%)
• Michelle Ugenti Rita: 6% (9%)
• Beau Lane: 5% (2%)
• Shawnna Bolick: 3% (3%)
• Unsure: 72% (73%)

Attorney general

• Abe Hamadeh: 7% (3%)
• Rodney Glassman: 6% (5%)
• Andy Gould: 6% (5%)
• Dawn Grove: 5% (3%)
• Tiffany Shedd: 4% (4%)
• Lacy Cooper: 3% (4%)
• Unsure: 67% (75%)

Treasurer

• Kimberly Yee: 19% (21%)
• Jeff Weninger: 5% (7%)
• Bob Lettieri: 5% (3%)
• Unsure: 71% (67%)

Superintendent of public instruction

• Tom Horne: 18% (16%)
• Michelle Udall: 9% (8%)
• Shiry Sapir: 7% (2%)
• Unsure: 66% (66%)
• (Note: Two candidates withdrew from the race since April polling was conducted)

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