Pearce wins in District 18
34 commentsby Paul Davenport - Sept. 2, 2008 10:34 PM
Associated Press
Rep. Russell Pearce, an Arizona lawmaker who has gained national attention for crusading against illegal immigration, easily captured a Republican Senate nomination that likely will allow him to stay in the Legislature.

Pearce defeated immigration attorney Kevin Gibbons, 5,717 votes, or 68.8 percent, to 2,587 votes, or 31.2 percent, with all 51 precincts reporting in results Tuesday from the Republican primary for the Senate seat from Legislative District 18 in Mesa, a Phoenix suburb.

Term limits barred Pearce, a four-term representative, from running for re-election to the House.
In other closely watched legislative races:

- Senate Majority Leader Thayer Verschoor defeated term-limited Rep. Eddie Farnsworth in the Republican primary for the Senate seat from District 22 in Gilbert, another Phoenix suburb. With 68 of 70 precincts reporting, Verschoor had 6,003 votes, or 41.8 percent, Farnsworth had 5,593, or 38.9 percent and Joe Bedgood had 2,767 votes, or 19.3 percent.

Verschoor is regarded as a strong contender for Senate president if Republicans retain control of the chamber.

- Moderate Republican Sen. Tom O'Halleran of Sedona trailed conservative challenger Steve Pierce, a Prescott businessman, in early results in the GOP primary in District 1 in Yavapai and Coconino counties. With 94 of 110 precincts reporting, Pierce had 11,833 votes, or 53 percent, while O'Halleran had 10,501 votes, or 47 percent.

- Rep. Trish Groe of Lake Havasu City trailed in a three-way Republican primary for two seats in District 3 in northwestern Arizona as she tried to put a 2007 misdemeanor DUI conviction behind her. With 68 percent of 83 precincts reporting, Rep. Nancy McLain had 6,826 votes, or 37.8 percent, Doris Goodale had 6,124 votes, or 33.9 percent, and Groe had 5,095, or 28.2 percent.

- Liberal Rep. Pete Hershberger of Tucson faced conservative challenger Al Melvin in the Republican primary race for an open Senate seat now held by a Democrat in District 26 in southern Arizona.

The District 18 Senate race saw several independent groups target Pearce, with some mailings raising questionable charges related to a decades-old allegation of domestic violence and Pearce's past ties - since disavowed - with a white supremacist.

Pearce drew opposition from business interests for his stance on the immigration issue as farmers and others poured money into the race. In turn, Republican Party activists rallied behind him.

Pearce said he triumphed over "gutter politics" because of voters' familiarity with him and his record of defending taxpayers and family values.

"These are folks who put profit over patriotism," Pearce said of independent expenditure groups which attacked him. "They went after me because I think we ought to obey the law, and it was shameful."

Gibbons said he expected Pearce to do well in a low-turnout primary. He said he counted on support from casual voters who often don't turn out for primaries but who would consider the immigration issue's complexities.

However, "it looks like they did not even show up," he said. "The issue came down to a three-word sound bite from the Pearce side - secure the border,' enough is enough,' cheap labor crowd,' profits over patriotism' - that type of thing."

Pearce was the chief sponsor of Arizona's groundbreaking 2007 law to lift the business licenses of employers that knowingly hire illegal immigrants. Pearce also has championed measures to deny some public services to illegal immigrants and to require crackdowns by state and local law enforcement.

Democrat Judah Nativio ran unopposed for his party's nomination, but the winner of the GOP primary was virtually assured of being elected in November in the heavily Republican district.

The Senate seat is being vacated because Republican Karen Johnson is retiring.




http://www.azcentral.com/news/election/ ... ry-ON.html