PHOENIX — The winner of the Democratic primary that led to a recount for an open congressional seat in Arizona will be announced Tuesday.
Former Phoenix City Councilman Yassamin Ansari led former state legislator Raquel Terán by 42 votes in the July 30th primaries race for Arizona’s 3rd District. Arizona law automatically requires a recount if the margin between candidates is 0.5 percentage points or less — and the contest fell into that category.
Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Jennifer Ryan-Touhill will announce the results of the primary election in a downtown Phoenix courtroom on Tuesday.
Whoever wins, he or she will face Republican Jeff Zink in the November general election.
The recount process began on August 12 after the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors certified the results of the primary election. Because Ansari and Terán are separated by only 42 votes, Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes filed a petition in court to start the recount.
Ansari, a daughter of Iranian immigrants who previously served as Phoenix’s vice mayor, campaigned on a platform of progressive policies, promising to protect democracy and reproductive rights from what she called “MAGA extremists.”
Terán had touted her work as a community activist who prevented Joe Arpaio from winning his bid to become Maricopa County sheriff again. She had also highlighted her experience as a former chair of the Arizona Democratic Party.
The Democratic-leaning 3rd District includes parts of Phoenix. The seat became available when U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego announced his campaign for Senate, where he will face Republican Kari Lake.
Arizona is already expected to be one of the most hotly contested states in the November U.S. presidential election, and experts expect more close races to come. Ballot measures affecting abortion And immigration This is also expected to boost turnout in the crucial state.
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Gabriel Sandoval is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on under-reported issues.
