The 2018 Arizona secretary of state election took place in the U.S. state of Arizona on November 6, 2018, to elect the secretary of state of Arizona, concurrently with the election of Arizona's Class I U.S. Senate seat, elections to the United States Senate in other states, elections to the United States House of Representatives, and various state and local elections.
Incumbent Michele Reagan was first elected in 2014 and ran for re-election. She was defeated in the Republican primary by Steve Gaynor. State senator Katie Hobbs defeated Gaynor in the general election by a small margin, becoming the first Democratic secretary of state since Richard Mahoney was elected in 1990.
The race was rated "Likely Republican" by Governing.com, but this did not come to fruition as Katie Hobbs pulled off an upset win which, alongside Democrats' victory in the concurrent Senate election, established Arizona's role as a key battleground state.
Republican primary Candidates Nominee Steve Gaynor, businessman
Eliminated in primary Michele Reagan, incumbent secretary of state
Declined Kevin Gibbons, home loan officer Steve Montenegro, former state senator and candidate for in 2018
Results
Democratic primary Candidates Nominee Katie Hobbs, minority leader of the Arizona Senate
Not on the ballot Leslie Pico, businesswoman
Withdrew Mark Robert Gordon, attorney
Results
General election Predictions SourceRankingAs ofGoverningOctober 11, 2018
Polling Poll source Date(s)administered Samplesize Marginof error SteveGaynor (R) KatieHobbs (D) Other UndecidedData Orbital (R)Data Orbital (R) October 1–3, 2018 550 (LV) ± 4.2% 41% 31% 3% 24%OH Predictive InsightsOH Predictive Insights October 1–2, 2018 600 (LV) ± 4.0% 50% 36% – 14%Gravis MarketingGravis Marketing September 5–7, 2018 882 (LV) ± 3.3% 45% 40% – 15%OH Predictive InsightsOH Predictive Insights September 5–6, 2018 597 (LV) ± 4.0% 42% 39% – 19%
Results
By county County Katie HobbsDemocratic Steve GaynorRepublican Others Margin Total # % # % # % # % Apache 17,029 68.33 7,889 31.65 4 0.02 9,140 36.68 24,922 Cochise 18,721 41.66 26,204 58.31 17 0.04 -7,483 -16.65 44,942 Coconino 34,120 63.21 19,851 36.78 8 0.01 14,269 26.43 53,979 Gila 7,524 37.01 12,804 62.98 2 0.01 -5,280 -25.97 20,330 Graham 3,476 32.99 7,061 67.01 0 0.00 -3,585 -34.02 10,537 Greenlee 1,084 43.00 1,437 57.00 0 0.00 -353 -14.00 2,531 La Paz 1,608 32.06 3,408 67.94 0 0.00 -1,800 -35.88 5,016 Maricopa 713,045 50.72 692,690 49.27 85 0.01 20,355 1.45 1,405,735 Mohave 18,775 26.56 51,900 73.43 5 0.01 -33,125 -46.87 70,675 Navajo 16,930 47.06 19,040 52.93 3 0.01 -2,110 -5.87 35,970 Pima 226,034 59.24 155,501 40.75 23 0.01 70,533 18.49 381,535 Pinal 49,756 42.90 66,211 57.09 7 0.01 -16,455 -14.19 115,967 Santa Cruz 9,497 71.81 3,729 28.19 0 0.00 5,768 43.62 13,226 Yavapai 38,259 36.66 66,088 63.33 13 0.01 -27,829 -26.67 104,347 Yuma 20,526 47.91 22,319 52.09 2 0.00 -1,793 -4.18 42,845 Counties that flipped from Democratic to Republican Greenlee (largest city: Clifton) Navajo (largest city: Show Low)
County that flipped from Republican to Democratic Maricopa (largest municipality: Phoenix)
References