SAFFORD —The local 2020 election season officially gets underway Wednesday, July 8.
Voters may cast an early ballot at the Graham County General Services Building for the Aug. 4 primary.
Contested races in the Republican primary are incumbent PJ Allred and challenger Greg Brown seeking to become Graham County Sheriff and three — Preston Alder, Aaron Allen and John Howard —running for Graham County Supervisor in Dist. 2
There are also primary challenges in the Congressional district that serves Graham County. On the Democratic side, incumbent Tom O’Halleran is being challenged by Eva Putzova, while Tiffany Shedd and Nolan Reidhead are going head-to-head to see who will be the Republican candidate in November.
To fill the final two years of the U.S. Senate seat made vacant by the death of John McCain, Martha McSally — who was appointed to the position by the governor — faces Daniel McCarthy in the Republican primary, and Mark Kelly and Bo Garcia and battling in the Democratic primary.
The contested nonpartisan races are in Safford, with incumbents Mike Andazola and Richard Ortega, and challengers Patrick Anderson, Dusti Brantner, Brad Hemphill and Mike Marble vying for three seats on the Safford City Council; and incumbent Jason Kouts and challenger Chris Gibbs seeking to be Safford’s mayor.
Uncontested races include Thatcher Town Council; Pima Town Council; and Graham County Recorder, Treasurer, Assessor and Supervisor in Dist. 3.
Graham County Supervisor in Dist. 1 will be decided in November, with Democrat Nick Nordgran-Tellez seeking to defeat incumbent Republican Danny Smith.
That’s also the case with the state House, where Democrats Ronnie Maestas-Condos and Kimberly Moschetti and incumbent Republicans Gail Griffin and Becky Nutt running for the two seats, and state Senate, where Democrat Bob Karp is challenging incumbent Republic David Gowan.
Also being decided in November is the race for Arizona Corporation Commission. Six are running for three seats — William Mundell, Shea Stanfield and Anna Tovar on the Democratic side; and incumbent Lea Marquez Peterson, James O’Connor (write-in) and Eric Sloan for the Republicans.
Graham County Recorder Wendy John said ballots for those who requested to be on the permanent vote by mail list are being mailed out Wednesday and should be hitting homes later this week.
The last day to request a mail-in ballot is July 24 and the last day to vote early in person is July 31.
To hear interviews with the candidates in the contested races in the primary, go to https://gilavalleycentral.net/category/voice-of-the-valley/.
