Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz., has defeated her Republican challenger Rep. Martha McSally in their race to represent Arizona in the U.S. Senate, after a new tranche of ballots from Maricopa County were counted Monday evening.
According to the Arizona secretary of state’s office, Sinema received 49.68 percent, or 1,097,321, of votes while McSally received only 47.96 percent, or 1,059,124 votes. The Associated Press called the race at approximately 7:43 p.m. EST.
McSally conceeded shortly thereafter, saying in a video shared on social media that she had called Sinema to congratulate her for her victory.
“Congrats to @kyrstensinema. I wish her success. I’m grateful to all those who supported me in this journey. I’m inspired by Arizonans’ spirit and our state’s best days are ahead of us,” McSally tweeted Monday evening.
[Related: Kyrsten Sinema hailed as first openly bisexual senator]
Congrats to @kyrstensinema. I wish her success. I’m grateful to all those who supported me in this journey. I’m inspired by Arizonans’ spirit and our state’s best days are ahead of us. pic.twitter.com/tw0uKgi3oO
— McSally For Senate (@MarthaMcSally) November 13, 2018
After election night last week, it appeared that McSally was in the lead. But on Thursday, Sinema started to pull ahead, prompting Trump and McSally supporters to blame “election corruption.”
“Just out — in Arizona, SIGNATURES DON’T MATCH. Electoral corruption – Call for a new Election? We must protect our Democracy!” Trump tweeted Friday.
Outgoing Sen. Jeff Flake, a Republican, pushed back on Trump’s claim on Twitter and said there was no evidence of electoral corruption. “Thousands of dedicated Arizonans work in a non-partisan fashion every election cycle to ensure that every vote is counted,” he said.
Sinema will be Arizona’s first female senator and limits Republicans to a 52-48 majority in the Senate.
