Races to watch: US Senate tops today's AZ primary

PHOENIX - The Republican primary race for the U.S. Senate seat held by four-term incumbent Republican John McCain is one of the big attention-getters in the Arizona primary election today as Democrats also pick their nominee for the office.

Turnout was expected to be between 20 to 25 percent of registered voters, the range seen in Arizona's recent primary elections, Secretary of State Ken Bennett said.

Polling places are now closed. Results are expected to start coming in by 8pm.

GET RAW RACE RESULTS AFTER POLLS CLOSE

ABC15 will also offer live election coverage from 8pm - 10:30pm on GoAZ (Cox Cable 95, Digital 15.2) and streamed on ABC15.com.

Arizona permits independents to vote in the state primary, but they can vote on races for only one party.

McCain, the 2008 Republican presidential nominee, is challenged by former U.S. Rep. J.D. Hayworth, who has sparred with McCain over immigration and congressional spending. Contractor and Navy veteran Jim Deakin also is on the Republican ballot.

Four Democrats are seeking their party's Senate nomination: former reporter John Dougherty, former Tucson City Councilman Rodney Glassman, former union leader Randy Parraz and Cathy Eden, an ex-legislator and former director of the state Department of Health Services.

Nominations for all eight of the state's U.S. seats also are on the ballot, with multicandidate fields of Republicans competing to run in the general election against incumbent Democratic Reps. Gabrielle Giffords, Ann Kirkpatrick and Harry Mitchell.

Meanwhile, the open House seat being vacated by retiring Republican Rep. John Shadegg has attracted 10 Republican hopefuls.

The Republican primary in the governor's race lost much of its sizzle when State Treasurer Dean Martin withdrew and fellow Republican Buz Mills, a Yavapai County businessman, stopped active campaigning after spending more than $3 million of his money.

That left only little-known moderate Matthew Jette still challenging Brewer for the nomination, though Mills' name remains on the ballot. Martin withdrew too late to keep his name off the ballot but votes cast for him won't count.

Attorney General Terry Goddard is unopposed for the Democratic nomination for governor.

Former Maricopa County Andrew Thomas and Tom Horne, the state superintendent of public instruction, are vying in a hot race for the Republican nomination for attorney general. Democrats Felicia Rotellini, David Lujan and Vince Rabago are seeking their party's nomination.

There also are contested primaries for one or both parties for secretary of state, superintendent of public instruction and treasurer.

Bennett said voter turnout in the primary could be boosted by dissatisfaction with incumbents and with the political structure in general.

On the other hand, dampening effects could include some races turning out to be less competitive than expected and the state's holding its primary election earlier by one week, Bennett said. "There may be a few residents who are away for the summer."

Early voting reportedly is down, perhaps because some voters may be waiting to decide choices in several hot races, he said.