The 2018 United States Senate election in Arizona took place on November 6, 2018. Incumbent Republican Senator Jeff Flake did not seek a second term. The election was held concurrently with a gubernatorial election, other elections to the U.S. Senate, elections to the U.S. House of Representatives, and various other state and local elections.
Primaries were held on August 28, 2018, three days after the death of longtime U.S. Senator John McCain. Martha McSally won the Republican nomination, while Kyrsten Sinema won the Democratic nomination. Green Party candidate Angela Green was also on the ballot, but ended her campaign and endorsed Sinema before Election Day.
The Associated Press called the race for Sinema on November 12, 2018, and McSally conceded that day. Sinema became the first Democrat to win a U.S. Senate seat in Arizona since 1988. McSally was subsequently appointed by Governor Doug Ducey to the other vacant Senate seat in Arizona, left open after McCain's death and then held on an interim basis by Jon Kyl.
The 2018 United States Senate election in Arizona took place on November 6, 2018. Incumbent Republican Senator Jeff Flake did not seek a second term. The election was held concurrently with a gubernatorial election, other elections to the U.S. Senate, elections to the U.S. House of Representatives, and various other state and local elections.
Primaries were held on August 28, 2018, three days after the death of longtime U.S. Senator John McCain. Martha McSally won the Republican nomination, while Kyrsten Sinema won the Democratic nomination. Green Party candidate Angela Green was also on the ballot, but ended her campaign and endorsed Sinema before Election Day.
The Associated Press called the race for Sinema on November 12, 2018, and McSally conceded that day. Sinema became the first Democrat to win a U.S. Senate seat in Arizona since 1988. McSally was subsequently appointed by Governor Doug Ducey to the other vacant Senate seat in Arizona, left open after McCain's death and then held on an interim basis by Jon Kyl.
Background
Arizona, located along the United States border with Mexico, has a unique political history. Upon its admission to the Union in 1912, the state was dominated by Democrats who had migrated there from the South, and aside from the landslide victories of Republicans Warren G. Harding, Calvin Coolidge, and Herbert Hoover, the state voted for Democrats until 1952, when Dwight Eisenhower carried it, and began a lengthy streak of Republican victories interrupted only by Bill Clinton's narrow victory in 1996. Since then, the state had remained Republican, and was won by Donald Trump with a 3.5% margin in 2016, although Trump's margin of victory was much smaller than that of past Republican presidential nominees.
Incumbent Republican Senator Jeff Flake announced in October 2017 that he would retire at the end of his current term instead of seeking reelection for another term in 2018. Flake had previously indicated his intent to run for reelection in March 2017. However, he was considered vulnerable due to persistently low approval ratings, a poor relationship with President Trump, and the threat of a primary challenge from former state senator Kelli Ward, who promised to run on a more pro-Trump platform. Additionally, he had won his first term in 2012 by only 3 percentage points, even though Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney won Arizona by 9.
Republican primary
Candidates
On the ballot
Joe Arpaio, former Maricopa County sheriff
Nicholas N. Glenn (write-in candidate)
William Gonzales (write-in candidate)
Martha McSally, U.S. representative from Arizona's 2nd congressional district and retired U.S. Air Force Colonel
Kelli Ward, former state senator and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2016
Failed to file
Craig Brittain, owner and co-founder of the revenge porn website IsAnybodyDown?
Christian "C.J." Diegel, financial advisor
Michelle Griffin
Shawn Redd
Nicholas Tutora, pharmacist
Withdrew
Jeff Flake, incumbent U.S. senator
Declined
Andy Biggs, U.S. representative from Arizona's 5th congressional district (ran for re-election)
Jan Brewer, former governor of Arizona
Mark Brnovich, attorney general of Arizona (ran for re-election)
Jeff DeWit, treasurer of Arizona (nominated as NASA chief financial officer)
Trent Franks, former U.S. representative
Paul Gosar, U.S. representative from Arizona's 4th congressional district (ran for re-election)
Robert Graham, former chair of the Arizona Republican Party
Christine Jones, former GoDaddy executive, candidate for governor in 2014 and candidate for AZ-05 in 2016
Bill Montgomery, Maricopa County Attorney
Ben Quayle, former U.S. representative and son of former Vice President Dan Quayle
Matt Salmon, former U.S. representative and nominee for governor in 2002
David Schweikert, U.S. representative from Arizona's 6th congressional district (ran for re-election)
John Shadegg, former U.S. representative
Endorsements
Kelli Ward
U.S. Senators
Rand Paul, U.S. senator (R-KY)
U.S. representatives
Paul Gosar, U.S. representative (R-AZ)
Steve King, U.S. representative (R-IA)
Dana Rohrabacher, U.S. representative (R-CA)
Local officials
Sylvia Allen, state senator
Nancy Barto, state senator
Sonny Borrelli, state senator
David Farnsworth, state senator
Mark Finchem, state representative
Travis Grantham, state representative
Gail Griffin, state senator
Al Melvin, former state senator
Becky Nutt, state representative
Russell Pearce, former senate president
Warren Petersen, state senator
U.S. military personnel
Jessie Jane Duff, retired gunnery sergeant of the U.S. Marine Corps and activist
Individuals
Steve Bannon, former White House Chief Strategist, executive chairman of Breitbart News
Mike Cernovich, alt-right media personality and conspiracy theorist
Sebastian Gorka, former Deputy Assistant to President Donald Trump
Sean Hannity, conservative talk radio host and host of Hannity on the Fox News Network
Laura Ingraham, conservative talk radio host and host of The Ingraham Angle on the Fox News Network
Tomi Lahren, political commentator
Austin Petersen, candidate for U.S. Senate in Missouri in 2018 and Libertarian candidate for president in 2016
Organizations
Citizens For Trump
Great America PAC
Gun Owners of America
Democratic primary
Candidates
On the ballot
Deedra Abboud, attorney
Kyrsten Sinema, U.S. representative from Arizona's 9th congressional district
Failed to file
Bob Bishop, pilot
Matt Jette
David Ruben, physician
Chris Russell, attorney
Richard Sherzan, retired administrative law judge, former Iowa state representative and candidate for the U.S. Senate in 2016
Withdrew
Jim Moss, businessman, activist and former teacher
Declined
Randall Friese, state representative
Mark Kelly, astronaut, scientist, U.S. Navy captain and husband of former U.S. representative Gabby Giffords (later elected to Arizona's Class 3 Senate seat in 2020)
Ann Kirkpatrick, former U.S. representative and nominee for the U.S. Senate in 2016 (ran for U.S. House)
Greg Stanton, Mayor of Phoenix (ran for U.S. House)
Endorsements
Deedra Abboud
Kyrsten Sinema
Federal officials
Joe Biden, 47th Vice President of the United States and former U.S. Senator (D-DE)
U.S. senators
Cory Booker, U.S. senator (D-NJ)
Catherine Cortez Masto, U.S. senator (D-NV)
Dennis DeConcini, former U.S. senator (D-AZ)
Tammy Duckworth, U.S. senator (D-IL)
Dick Durbin, U.S. senator (D-IL) and Senate Minority Whip
Kirsten Gillibrand, U.S. senator (D-NY)
Kamala Harris, U.S. senator (D-CA)
Mazie Hirono, U.S. senator (D-HI)
Amy Klobuchar, U.S. senator (D-MN)
Patrick Leahy, U.S. senator (D-VT)
Jeff Merkley, U.S. senator (D-OR)
Chris Murphy, U.S. Senator (D-CT)
Patty Murray, U.S. senator (D-WA)
Gary Peters, U.S. Senator (D-MI)
Chuck Schumer, U.S. senator (D-NY) and Senate Minority Leader
Ron Wyden, U.S. senator (D-OR)
U.S. representatives
Ron Barber, former U.S. representative (D-AZ)
Ruben Gallego, U.S. representative (D-AZ)
Joe Kennedy III, U.S. representative (D-MA)
Harry Mitchell, former U.S. representative (D-AZ)
Tom O'Halleran, U.S. representative (D-AZ)
State and local politicians
Lela Alston, state representative
Kelli Butler, state representative
Andrea Dalessandro, state senator
Coral Evans, Mayor of Flagstaff
Randy Friese, state representative and assistant house minority leader
Francisco Heredia, Mesa city councilmember
Daniel Hernández Jr., state representative
Katie Hobbs, state senator and Senate minority leader
Robert Meza, state senator
Mark Mitchell, mayor of Tempe
Joel Navarro, Tempe city councilmember
Lynne Pancrazi, Yuma County supervisor
Laura Pastor, Phoenix City Councilmember
Rebecca Rios, state representative and house minority leader
Regina Romero, Tucson councilmember
Jonathan Rothschild, mayor of Tucson
Anna Tovar, mayor of Tolleson
Daniel Valenzuela, Phoenix City Councilmember
Individuals
Jon Favreau, co-host of progressive political podcast Pod Save America and former chief White House speechwriter for President Barack Obama
Jason Kander, former Missouri Secretary of State, nominee for U.S Senate in Missouri in 2016, host of podcast Majority 54 and founder of Let America Vote
Jenny Wilson, Salt Lake County Councilwoman; candidate for U.S. Senate in Utah (D-UT)
Labor unions
Arizona Building and Construction Trades Council
Arizona Education Association
Arizona State AFL–CIO
Communications Workers of America
International Association of Sheet Metal, Air, Rail and Transportation Workers Local 359
National Education Association
United Food and Commercial Workers Local 99
United Mine Workers of America
Organizations
Chandler Chamber of Commerce
Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee
EMILY's List
End Citizens United
Equality PAC
Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund
Human Rights Campaign
League of Conservation Voters Action Fund
Let America Vote
LPAC
Mesa Chamber of Commerce
National Organization for Women
Planned Parenthood Action Fund
Stonewall Democrats of Arizona
Libertarian primary
Candidates
Declared
Adam Kokesh (write-in candidate), anti-war activist and U.S. presidential candidate in 2020
Removed
Doug Marks, veteran and write-in candidate for IL-14 in 2010
Green primary
Candidates
Declared
Angela Green (write-in candidate)
Removed
Eve Reyes-Aguirre, activist
General election
Debates
Complete video of debate, October 15, 2018
Endorsements
Martha McSally (R)
U.S. executive branch Officials
George W. Bush, 43rd president of the United States
Betsy DeVos, United States secretary of education
Mike Pence, 48th vice president of the United States
Condoleezza Rice, former United States secretary of state
Donald Trump, 45th president of the United States
U.S. Senators
John Boozman, U.S. Senator (R-AR)
Susan Collins, U.S. Senator (R-ME)
Joni Ernst, U.S. Senator (R-IA)
Lindsey Graham, U.S. Senator (R-SC)
Jon Kyl, U.S. Senator (R-AZ) and former Senate Minority Whip
Mitch McConnell, U.S. Senator (R-KY) and Senate Majority Leader
David Perdue, U.S. Senator (R-GA)
U.S. representatives
Liz Cheney, U.S. representative (R-WY) and daughter of former vice president Dick Cheney
Newt Gingrich, former House speaker
Governors
Jan Brewer, former governor of Arizona
Doug Ducey, governor of Arizona
Mitt Romney, former governor of Massachusetts and Republican nominee for president of the United States in 2012
State officials
Betsey Bayless, former secretary of state of Arizona
Karen Fann, state senator
Jay Heiler, treasurer of the Arizona Board of Regents
Steve Pierce, former state senator
Tony Rivero, state representative
Kelli Ward, former state senator
Local-level officials
Jim Lane, Scottsdale mayor
Bill Montgomery, Maricopa County attorney
Individuals
Rudy Giuliani, former mayor of New York City
Kimberly Guilfoyle, television news personality
Donald Trump Jr., businessman and son of President Donald Trump
Organizations
Citizens Against Government Waste
Maggie's List
National Border Patrol Council
National Federation of Independent Business
RightNOW Women
Students For Trump
Newspapers
The Daily Courier
National Review
Kyrsten Sinema (D)
Former U.S. executive branch officials
Joe Biden, 47th vice president of the United States and former U.S. senator (D-DE)
Barack Obama, 44th president of the United States
U.S. senators
Cory Booker, U.S. senator (D-NJ)
Catherine Cortez Masto, U.S. senator (D-NV)
Dennis DeConcini, former U.S. senator (D-AZ)
Tammy Duckworth, U.S. senator (D-IL)
Dick Durbin, U.S. senator (D-IL) and Senate Minority Whip
Kirsten Gillibrand, U.S. senator (D-NY)
Kamala Harris, U.S. senator (D-CA)
Mazie Hirono, U.S. senator (D-HI)
Amy Klobuchar, U.S. senator (DFL-MN)
Patrick Leahy, U.S. senator (D-VT)
Jeff Merkley, U.S. senator (D-OR)
Chris Murphy, U.S. senator (D-CT)
Patty Murray, U.S. senator (D-WA)
Gary Peters, U.S. senator (D-MI)
Brian Schatz, U.S. senator (D-HI)
Chuck Schumer, U.S. senator (D-NY) and Senate Minority Leader
Ron Wyden, U.S. senator (D-OR)
U.S. representatives
Ron Barber, former U.S. representative (D-AZ)
Ruben Gallego, U.S. representative (D-AZ)
Joe Kennedy III, U.S. representative (D-MA)
Conor Lamb, U.S. representative (D-PA)
Harry Mitchell, former U.S. representative (D-AZ)
Tom O'Halleran, U.S. representative (D-AZ)
State and local politicians
Lela Alston, state representative
Kelli Butler, state representative
Andrea Dalessandro, state senator
Randy Friese, state representative and state Assistant House Minority Leader
Daniel Hernández Jr., state representative
Katie Hobbs, state senator and Senate minority leader
Robert Meza, state senator
Lynne Pancrazi, Yuma County supervisor
Rebecca Rios, state representative and House minority leader
Jonathan Rothschild, mayor of Tucson
Anna Tovar, mayor of Tolleson
Grant Woods, former attorney general of Arizona (Republican)