PHOENIX — Bolstered by a decided advantage in early ballots, former Vice-President Joe Biden and California Senator Kamala Harris took an early 8-point lead against President Donald J. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence in Arizona Tuesday night.
Ninety minutes after the polls closed, FOX News Channel called Arizona for Biden. Fox's call prompted a tweet from Governor Doug Ducey who said, "it's far too early to call an election in Arizona. Election day votes are not fully reported."
It’s far too early to call the election in Arizona. Election Day votes are not fully reported, and we haven’t even started to count early ballots dropped off at the polls. In AZ, we protected Election Day. Let’s count the votes — all the votes — before making declarations.
— Doug Ducey (@dougducey) November 4, 2020
If Biden's lead holds, it's a stunning defeat for the President, who visited the state seven times this year, including four times in the final two weeks of the campaign. The margin of victory may tighten, but in the end the President needs to win nearly 70% of the election day vote to win.
Fox News Channel also called the Senate race. Former astronaut Mark Kelly's lead over Senator Martha McSally mirrored Biden's over Trump. Kelly met with supporters Tuesday night, and while he didn't come out and say he won, he sure sounded like it. "This mission does not end when the last vote is counted," Kelly said. "Now the work starts. And we desperately need Washington to work for Arizona."
The dominance of the democrats in early voting is having an effect in other races. In Congressional District 6, Republican incumbent David Schweikert is losing to Democratic challenger Hiral Tipirneni by 4 points 52%-48%. In the battle to win control of the state legislature, Democrat Christine Marsh has an 8-point lead over incumbent state senator Kate Brophy McGee in LD 28. In LD 17 (D) challenger Ajlan Kurdoglu leads incumbent (R ) J.D. Mesnard, but that lead has narrowed. In LD 20 (D) challenger Ervin Douglas leads incumbent (R ) Paul Boyer but that race also tightened as the evening wore on. If Democrats win sweep those races, they will take control of the state senate.
On the House side, Democrat Judy Schweibert leads the two Republican incumbents Shawnna Bolick and Anthony Kern by 6 and 8 point respectively in LD 20. A district that represents west Phoenix and Glendale. In the northwest Valley, Democrat Kathy Knecht is trying to unseat incumbent (R ) Kevin Payne for one of the LD 21 two seats. (R ) Beverly Pingerelli is the leading vote getter so far.
The biggest potential gains for democrats are in County Government. Whitney Walker and Jevin Hodge hold leads over Bill Gates and Jack Sellars respectively. Democrat Julie Gunnigle leads Alister Adel for County Attorney and (D) Daniel Toporek leads (R) John Allen for County Treasurer.
