Trump-backed candidate wins in Arizona primary race

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Former President Donald Trump made sure his favored candidate won in the western suburbs of Phoenix — by endorsing the two front-runners in the heated congressional race.

With Trump’s blessing, Abe Hamadeh beat a crowded field in the Republican race for Arizona's 8th Congressional District, according to a race call by The Associated Press late on Wednesday. Having won, Hamadeh is now heavily favored to win the GOP-leaning district in November and replace retiring Republican Rep. Debbie Lesko.

Hamadeh secured 29.8% of the vote compared to his chief rival, venture capitalist Blake Masters, who had 25.3%, the AP reported, though votes are still being counted.

But Hamadeh’s victory was far from assured after Trump issued a dual endorsement the weekend before Tuesday's election. The former president first pledged his support to Hamadeh, who narrowly lost a race for Arizona attorney general in 2022 and has, like Trump, promoted baseless claims of election fraud.

But the Republican presidential candidate also gave Masters a last-minute endorsement on Truth Social Saturday night. Masters had lost the U.S. Senate race in Arizona in 2022 to Democrat Mark Kelly.

On social media, Trump said voters in the West Valley suburbs have "two spectacular America First Candidates" to choose from.

Polling had ranked Masters and Hamadeh neck and neck in a bitter race defined by each candidate's fealty to Trump. It also featured sharp attacks among the former allies, particularly Masters' barbs regarding Hamadeh’s personal and religious background.

Arizona has become a key swing state in the presidential contest, meaning even primary races have attracted high-profile