Blake Masters wins Arizona Republican Senate primary in battleground state primary

The Associated Press has called Arizona’s Republican Senate primary for venture capitalist Blake Masters, who will face Democratic Sen. Mark Kelly in November in a key battleground state race that could determine whether the GOP win back the Senate majority.

Masters was the frontrunner in the latest polls for Tuesday’s primary. The field of contenders also included solar entrepreneur Jim Lamon, who raised millions of his own money behind his bid.

Also in contention was Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich. Retired U.S. Air Force Gen. Mick McGuire, who until last year served as adjutant general of the Arizona National Guard. and Arizona Public Utilities Commission member Justin Olson.

Master’s lead bid was backed and heavily backed by tech billionaire Peter Thiel, his former boss. Thiel put $15 million of his own money into an outside super PAC that supported Masters’ campaign.

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Republican senatorial candidate Blake Masters speaks at a rally headlined by former President Donald Trump on July 22, 2022 in Prescott Valley, Arizona.
(Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Former President Donald Trump, who remains the most popular and powerful politician in the Republican Party, endorsed Masters two months ago. Masters has strongly supported Trump’s unproven claims that his 2020 election loss to President Biden was due to massive voter fraud. Arizona was one of the key states where Biden narrowly trailed Trump two years ago.

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Former President Donald Trump stands with Republican Senate candidate Blake Masters at a Save America rally in support of Arizona GOP candidates in Prescott Valley, Arizona on July 22, 2022.
(Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Trump held a rally in Arizona a week and a half ago on behalf of Masters and the other GOP candidates he supported in the state’s primary.

Masters will now face off in the November midterm elections against Kelly, a former astronaut who the GOP considers one of the most vulnerable Senate Democratic incumbents up for re-election this year.

Former President Donald Trump applauds at a rally in support of the Arizona GOP candidates he endorsed in the state’s primary. The rally was held on July 22, 2022 in Prescott Valley, Arizona.
(Mario Tama/Getty Images)

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But beating Kelly won’t be easy, as the first-time senator is a ferocious fundraiser and can count on a huge campaign war chest.