Diné candidates fare well in Arizona primaries

Posted by Cindy Yurth | Aug 5, 2020 | News, Politics |

Courtesy photo
Debbie Nez Manuel, who ran for the Arizona House of Representatives in Dist. 26, holds up a campaign sign in the Navajo language.

WINDOW ROCK

Barring a major sea change in Arizona District 7’s political climate, it looks like all three Diné state legislators will keep their seats next year.

State Sen. Jamescita Peshlakai and state representatives Myron Tsosie and Arlando Teller all ran unopposed on the Democratic ticket, which usually wins the day in the heavily blue district.

The primary election was held Tuesday and, with some districts yet to report as of Wednesday morning, the Arizona Secretary of State released unofficial results.

“We have so much work that needs to be done, together we will continue to educate on behalf of our constituents and all of Arizona, most importantly Indigenous communities,” Tsosie posted on his Facebook page.

“Okay Rep. Myron Tsosie … I think we can do this!” posted Teller.

In a close District 26 Democratic race in which all three contenders were women of color, Navajo candidate Debbie Nez-Manuel made a strong showing with 24.92 percent of the vote compared to 33.88 percent for incumbent Athena Salman and 25.85 percent for Melody Hernandez.

The race is close enough that her campaign was awaiting final results Wednesday morning.

Deborah Ann Begay will be the Democratic candidate for justice of the peace in the Moon Valley neighborhood of Phoenix. (Arizona is one of a handful of states with partisan elections for justices of the peace.)

In Congressional District 1, which includes some of the Arizona portion of the Navajo Nation, both the Democratic and Republican races were close.

Incumbent Tom O’Halleran beat Eva Putzova by just 8 percent of the vote, while on the GOP side, Tiffany Shedd edged out Nolan Reidhead by about the same margin.

In District 2, incumbent Ann Kirkpatrick logged a decisive victory over Peter Quilter with 77.4 percent of the vote.

On the Republican side of that race, Brandon Martin emerged victorious with 43.46 percent of the vote over Noran Eric Ruden (32.86 percent) and Joseph Morgan (23.68).

For U.S. Senate, Mark Kelly got the nod over write-in candidate Bo Garcia on the blue side with incumbent Martha McSally claiming the lead over Daniel McCarthy on the red.