PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona is expected to have at least two competitive U.S. House races in November while Democrats will be defending their seats for governor, attorney general and secretary of state.

Yet so far, it’s been the office running elections in the state’s most populous county that has commanded much of the spotlight.

kAm#6AF3=:42? yFDE:? w62A 😀 2? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^>2C:4@A2\4@F?EJ\C64@C56C\2C:K@?2\6=64E:@?D\>:D:?7@C>2E:@?\de_d43b635f3d2e4f7ah5gbeca7df73_Qm6=64E:@? D<6AE:4k^2m H9@ H:== 36 @G6CD66:?8 9:D 7:CDE DE2E6H:56 6=64E:@? 😕 |2C:4@A2 r@F?EJ] w6 92D 366? 6?82865 😕 2 3:EE6C =682= 76F5 H:E9 E96 4@F?EJ 3@2C5 @7 DFA6CG:D@CD @G6C 6=64E:@? AC@465FC6D[ 92D AFE 😕 A=246 2 4@?EC@G6CD:2= DJDE6> 7@C 4964<:?8 D:8?2EFC6D @? >2:= 32==@ED 2?5 92D CF? G@E6C C64@C5D E9C@F89 2 7656C2= DJDE6> E@ 4964< 7@C ?@?4:E:K6?D 56DA:E6 BF6DE:@?D 23@FE :ED 244FC24J] w62A 2=D@ 92D >256 @G6CEFC6D E@ E96 %CF>A 25>:?:DEC2E:@? 😕 :ED BF6DE 7@C G@E6C 2?5 6=64E:@? C64@C5D]k^Am

kAmw:D 24E:@?D 92G6 5C2H? 962E65 4@>>6?ED 7C@> >6>36CD @7 E92E 3@2C5[ H9:49 DA=:ED 6=64E:@? @G6CD:89E H:E9 w62A’D @77:46[ 2?5 C63F<6D 7C@> E96 2EE@C?6J 86?6C2= 2?5 D64C6E2CJ @7 DE2E6] k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^2C:K@?2\>2C:4@A2\4@F?EJ\C64@C56C\=2HDF:E\6=64E:@?D\ggf4_`5g4d3fab3g2fe44afc7cfhehfdQmp CF=:?8k^2m E9:D H66< 😕 E96 =682= 42D6 H:== 8:G6 w62A >@C6 2FE9@C:EJ @G6C 6=64E:@? @A6C2E:@?D]k^Am

kAm%96 EFC>@:= 92D 4C62E65 2? 2:C @7 F?46CE2:?EJ 23@FE 9@H E96 >:5E6C> 6=64E:@?D H:== 8@ 😕 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^AC@;64ED^>2C:4@A2\4@F?EJ\6=64E:@?\a_ac^Qm2 4@F?EJk^2m E92E 92D 366? 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^2C:K@?2\>2C:4@A2\>:D:?7@C>2E:@?\E9C62ED\a_ac\6=64E:@?\gca3`g`aa3hhb__2352g36hgc7535hfaQmC68F=2C E2C86E @7 6=64E:@? 4@?DA:C24J E96@C:DEDk^2m 2?5 😀 A:G@E2= 7@C 564:5:?8 DE2E6H:56 C246D 😕 @?6 @7 E96 ?2E:@?’D >@DE :>A@CE2?E A@=:E:42= 32EE=68C@F?5D]k^Am

kAm$E2E6 $6?] {2FC6? zF3J[ 2 s6>@4C2E H9@ D:ED @? 2 =68:D=2E:G6 6=64E:@?D 4@>>:EE66 2?5 C6AC6D6?ED A2CE @7 !9@6?:I[ D2:5 E96 5:D4@C5 36EH66? E96 C64@C56C 2?5 4@F?EJ 3@2C5 😀 D@H:?8 4@?7FD:@? 2?5 5:DECFDE]k^Am

kAm“(6’C6 @?6 @7 E96 3:886DE 4@F?E:6D 😕 E96 4@F?ECJ[ 2?5 H6 92G6 2== @7 @FC 6=64E:@? 25>:?:DEC2E@CD 7:89E:?8 C:89E ?@H[Q D96 D2:5] Q$@ x :>28:?6 :7 J@F’C6 2 G@E6C[ J@F’C6 AC6EEJ 4@?7FD65 2?5 H@CC:65]”k^Am

kAm%96 |2C:4@A2 r@F?EJ #64@C56C’D ~77:46[ H9:49 w62A CF?D[ 5:5 ?@E AC@G:56 2 C6DA@?D6 E@ BF6DE:@?D 56DA:E6 >F=E:A=6 C6BF6DED 7@C 4@>>6?E] w62A 5:5 :DDF6 2 DE2E6>6?E 😕 C6DA@?D6 E@ E96 4@FCE CF=:?8[ D2J:?8 :E “C6DE@C6D 3@E9 E96 2FE9@C:EJ 2?5 E96 C6D@FC46D ?646DD2CJ 7@C >J @77:46 E@ 5@ :ED ;@3]”k^Am

k9amp A@H6C DECF88=6 2?5 962E65 244FD2E:@?Dk^9am

kAmw62A E@@< @77:46 27E6C k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^>2C:4@A2\4@F?EJ\C64@C56C\2C:K@?2\6=64E:@?\fb2g4hg7hffdeg6eff55dffb42bc`4`4Qm56762E:?8k^2m E96 :?4F>36?E 😕 E96 a_ac #6AF3=:42? AC:>2CJ] w6 BF:4<=J 3682? 492==6?8:?8 E96 3@2C5 @7 DFA6CG:D@CD[ H9:49 😀 >2;@C:EJ #6AF3=:42?]k^Am

kAmw6 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^2C:K@?2\>2C:4@A2\4@F?EJ\6=64E:@?D\=2HDF:E\cf_7e5aafehefge7225ced46`3f_`f5dQmDF65k^2m E96> 😕 yF?6 a_ad H:E9 E96 324<:?8 @7 p>6C:42 u:CDE {682=[ 2 4@?D6CG2E:G6 8C@FA 7@F?565 3J $E6A96? |:==6C[ ?@H 2 56AFEJ 49:67 @7 DE277 😕 E96 (9:E6 w@FD6] %96 =2HDF:E 244FD65 E96 3@2C5 @7 ?68@E:2E:?8 2? 28C66>6?E H:E9 w62AVD AC65646DD@C E@ EC2?D76C >@?6J[ :?7@C>2E:@? E649?@=@8J DE277 2?5 46CE2:? 6=64E:@? 7F?4E:@?D 2H2J 7C@> 9:D @77:46[ :?4=F5:?8 >2?286>6?E @7 32==@E 5C@A 3@I6D[ AC@46DD:?8 @7 62C=J 2CC:G:?8 32==@ED 2?5 A=246>6?E @7 D:E6D FD65 7@C 62C=J G@E:?8]k^Am

kAmp |2C:4@A2 r@F?EJ $FA6C:@C r@FCE ;F586 6?565 FA =2C86=J D:5:?8 H:E9 w62A 😕 E96 42D6] %96 3@2C5VD 492:C[ z2E6 qC@A9J |4v66[ D2:5 E96 3@2C5 H:== 4@?D:56C 2? 2AA62=]k^Am

kAmq67@C6 E96 CF=:?8[ DFA6CG:D@CD 925 42==65 w62AVD =2HDF:E 7C:G@=@FD 2?5 “7F== @7 72=D69@@5D” 2D A2CE 2 A@H6C DECF88=6 E92E 2E E:>6D 92D 3@:=65 @G6C] p 3F586E >66E:?8 😕 y2?F2CJ 56G@=G65 :?E@ 962E65 244FD2E:@?D[ H:E9 $FA6CG:D@C %9@>2D v2=G:?[ 2 #6AF3=:42?[ D2J:?8 w62A “4@?E:?F6D E@ =:6 @G6C 2?5 @G6C 282:?]” x? 2 DE2E6>6?E :DDF65 27E6CH2C5[ w62A 5:D>:DD65 E96 :?4:56?E 2D 2 “;FG6?:=6 E6>A6C E2?ECF>]”k^Am

kAm%96 3@2C5 AC@A@D65 2 D6EE=6>6?E 62C=:6C E9:D J62C 3FE 5:5 ?@E C646:G6 2 4@F?E6C@776C 7C@> w62A]k^Am

k9am}6H H2J E@ 4964< G@E6C D:8?2EFC6Dk^9am

kAm~?46 😕 E96 ;@3[ w62A 492?865 E96 AC@46DD 7@C 4964<:?8 G@E6CD’ D:8?2EFC6D @? E96:C >2:= 32==@E 6?G6=@A6D]k^Am

kAm%96 ?6H AC@465FC6 :?G@=G6D H@C<6CD @7 3@E9 A@=:E:42= A2CE:6D C6G:6H:?8 D:8?2EFC6D 2?5 >@C6 H@C<6CD 4@?5F4E:?8 255:E:@?2= C6G:6HD @7 D:8?2EFC6D 566>65 E@ 36 BF6DE:@?23=6[ w62A E@=5 E96 3@2C5 5FC:?8 2 >66E:?8 =2DE 72==]k^Am

kAmqFE D@>6 6=64E65 @77:4:2=D 2?5 @3D6CG6CD D2J E96J 2C6 4@?46C?65 E96 ?6H A@=:4J 4@F=5 =625 E@ @E96CH:D6 6=:8:3=6 32==@ED 36:?8 C6;64E65] v2=G:? D2:5 E96 C6;64E:@? C2E6 😕 E96 }@G6>36C a_ad =@42= 6=64E:@? H2D “9F86” C6=2E:G6 E@ A2DE 6=64E:@?D]k^Am

kAmw6 92D D2:5 96 H@CC:6D E96 ?6H D:8?2EFC6 G6C:7:42E:@? AC@46DD 😀 2 “=@@>:?8 5:D2DE6C” 2?5 6IAC6DD65 4@?46C? E92E >2?J A6@A=6 “H9@ =682==J 2?5 G2=:5=J G@E65 =2DE }@G6>36C D2H E96:C 32==@ED 36 C6;64E65 7@C 2C3:EC2CJ C62D@?D]”k^Am

kAmw62A D2JD E96 ?6H A@=:4J 😀 72DE6C 2?5 >@C6 D64FC6] “x? E96 6?5[ E96 D:8?2EFC6D 6:E96C >2E49 @C E96J 5@?’E[” 96 E@=5 E96 3@2C5]k^Am

k9amr964<:?8 4:E:K6?D9:A[ 3FE 244FC24J 😀 2 BF6DE:@?k^9am

kAmw62A 92D AC@>@E65 9:D @77:46’D FD6 @7 E96 &]$] s6A2CE>6?E @7 w@>6=2?5 $64FC:EJ’D $p’t DJDE6> E@ :56?E:7J A6@A=6 @? E96 G@E6C C@==D H9@ >2J ?@E 36 4:E:K6?D]k^Am

kAm%96 @77:46 D2:5 E92E E9C@F89 E96 DJDE6>[ :E 7@F?5 “`bf C68:DE6C65 G@E6CD H9@ 2C6 ?@E &]$] 4:E:K6?D” 2?5 E92E e_ @7 E9@D6 “G@E65 😕 AC:@C 6=64E:@?D]” %96 |2C:4@A2 r@F?EJ 2EE@C?6J’D @77:46 92D D2:5 :E C646:G65 a_f ?2>6D 7C@> E96 C64@C56C’D @77:46 E@ C6G:6H 7@C G@E:?8 6=:8:3:=:EJ]k^Am

kAm’@E:?8 3J A6@A=6 H9@ 2C6 ?@E &]$] 4:E:K6?D k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^?@?4:E:K6?\G@E:?8\C6AF3=:42?D\AC@D64FE:@?D\a_ac\6=64E:@?\@9:@\26h527663cf62ghc`37ga7dhgg3aeh67Qm:D C2C6k^2m[ 2?5 E96 $p’t DJDE6> 92D 366? 4C:E:4:K65 3J D@>6 6=64E:@? @77:4:2=D 2?5 6IA6CED H9@ D2J :E 7C6BF6?E=J :56?E:7:6D 6=:8:3=6 G@E6CD 2D ?@?4:E:K6?D] pC:K@?2VD D64C6E2CJ @7 DE2E6[ s6>@4C2E p5C:2? u@?E6D[ D2:5 😕 2? :?E6CG:6H E92E E96 AC@8C2> 😀 F?C6=:23=6]k^Am

kAm“%96 $p’t DJDE6> 😀 ?@E@C:@FD=J :?244FC2E6[” 96 D2:5] “*@F 42?’E 56A6?5 @? E92E E@ E2<6 D@>63@5J @77 E96 G@E6C C@==D @C E@ DE2CE E96 C6>@G2= AC@4665:?8]”k^Am

kAm%96 C64@C56C’D @77:46 2??@F?465 :ED FD6 @7 E96 $p’t DJDE6> E96 D2>6 52J w62A 2EE6?565 2 ?6HD 4@?76C6?46 @FED:56 !9@6?:I[ H96C6 E96?\sw$ $64C6E2CJ zC:DE: }@6> H2D AC@>@E:?8 2 4@?8C6DD:@?2= 3:== E92E H@F=5 C6BF:C6 5@4F>6?E65 AC@@7 @7 4:E:K6?D9:A E@ C68:DE6C 2?5 G@E6]k^Am

kAmu@?E6D D2:5 9:D @77:46 92D ?@E C646:G65 2?J 255:E:@?2= :?7@C>2E:@? 7C@> E96 C64@C56C 23@FE E96 2==6865 ?@?4:E:K6? G@E6CD 2?5 E92E E96 E:>:?8 @7 E96 2??@F?46>6?E >2<6D :E D66> =:<6 “>@C6 @7 2 9625=:?6 8C23 E92? 2?JE9:?8 H:E9@FE >@C6 :?7@C>2E:@?]”k^Am

k9amu62CD @7 F?56C>:?:?8 4@?7:56?46 😕 6=64E:@?Dk^9am

kAmw62A’D AC6D6?46 2E }@6>’D u63CF2CJ ?6HD 4@?76C6?46 H2D ?@E E96 @?=J :?DE2?46 H96? E96 C64@C56C 92D 2AA62C65 4=@D6 H:E9 E96 %CF>A 25>:?:DEC2E:@?]k^Am

kAmr@CC6DA@?56?46 @3E2:?65 7C@> E96 C64@C56C’D @77:46 E9C@F89 2 AF3=:4 C64@C5D C6BF6DE D9@HD 2 H:==:?8?6DD E@ 5676C E@ E96 &]$] s6A2CE>6?E @7 yFDE:46] %9:D J62C E96 56A2CE>6?E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^H9J\73:\D6:K6\86@C8:2\32==@ED\7F=E@?\4@F?EJ\gfb__653b62gehe`4eh`ba6e2a575e6gQmD6:K65 32==@ED 2?5 @E96C C64@C5Dk^2m C6=2E65 E@ E96 a_a_ 6=64E:@? 7C@> v6@C8:2’D uF=E@? r@F?EJ[ H9:49 :?4=F56D pE=2?E2]k^Am

kAm|62?H9:=6[ E96 uqx k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^2C:K@?2\a_a_\6=64E:@?\ECF>A\C64@C5D\73:\hh2g`ce75655`d4c5ahg22`e77hg4_3eQmDF3A@6?265 D:>:=2C |2C:4@A2 r@F?EJ C64@C5Dk^2m 7C@> E96 DE2E6 $6?2E6 AC6D:56?E]k^Am

kAmw2C>66E s9:==@?[ H9@ @G6CD66D E96 56A2CE>6?EVD r:G:= #:89ED s:G:D:@?[ HC@E6 E@ u@?E6D[ w62A 2?5 4@F?EJ @77:4:2=D 😕 $6AE6>36C D66<:?8 AC6D6CG2E:@? @7 4@F?EJ 6=64E:@? C64@C5D] w62A C6A=:65 E96 ?6IE 52J[ DEC6DD:?8 😕 9:D =6EE6C E92E 9:D @77:46 😀 “4@>>:EE65 E@ 7F== 4@@A6C2E:@? H:E9 E96 s6A2CE>6?E @7 yFDE:46 2D :E 4@?5F4ED :ED :?G6DE:82E:@?[Q 367@C6 255:?8i “(6 D92C6 J@FC 8@2= @7 D2768F2C5:?8 6=64E:@? :?E68C:EJ]”k^Am

kAmpD :E 92D 5@?6 😕 @E96C DE2E6D[ E96 56A2CE>6?E k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^2A?6HD]4@>^2CE:4=6^;FDE:46\56A2CE>6?E\DE2E6\G@E6C\52E2\=2HDF:ED\4ae2ac57bb4g5_dfhb34h5a6a725“a5QmDF65 pC:K@?2k^2m >@?E9D =2E6C 7@C 72:=:?8 E@ 4@>A=J H:E9 :ED C6BF6DE 7@C 56E2:=65 G@E6C :?7@C>2E:@?]k^Am

kAm%96 DE2E6’D 2EE@C?6J 86?6C2=[ s6>@4C2E zC:D |2J6D[ E@=5 2 =@42= >65:2 @FE=6E E92E w62A 😀 “ECJ:?8 E@ F?56C>:?6 pC:K@?2?D’ ECFDE 😕 @FC 6=64E:@? DJDE6>” 2?5 H2C?65 9:> ?@E E@ AC@G:56 G@E6C =:DED E@ E96 7656C2= 8@G6C?>6?E]k^Am

kAm(:E9 E96 DE2E6’D yF=J AC:>2CJ 2AAC@249:?8[ D@>6 @3D6CG6CD 2C6 4@?46C?65 E92E w62A’D 76F5:?8 H:E9 E96 3@2C5 2?5 @E96C 24E:@?D 4@F=5 F?56C>:?6 AF3=:4 4@?7:56?46 😕 6=64E:@?D]k^Am

kAm“%96 G@E6CD ?665 E@ 92G6 2 D6?D6 E92E E9:D 4@F?EJ 😀 H6==\CF?[ E92E E96 C64@C56C 2?5 E96 3@2C5 @7 DFA6CG:D@CD 92G6 E96 36DE :?E6C6DE @7 6G6CJ G@E6C[” D2:5 !:??J $96@C2?[ DE2E6 25G@424J 492:C H:E9 E96 {628F6 @7 (@>6? ‘@E6CD @7 pC:K@?2] “p?5 E92E 😀 7C2J65 H:E9 E9:D 5:D4@C5]”k^Am