/ Modified aug 1, 2014 2:14 p.m.

7 Republicans, 1 Democrat File for Gubernatorial Primary

2 minor party candidates seek governor's post; filings for 6 other state offices, Congress, Legislature.

Editor's note: This is an updated and corrected version.

Seven Republicans, one Democrat and two minor party candidates met the Wednesday deadline to file nominating petitions for Arizona governor.

The Republicans will face off in the Aug. 26 primary election, with the winner going up against Democrat Fred DuVal, Libertarian Barry Hess and Americans Elect candidate John Lewis Mealer in the November general election.

The Republicans are Secretary of State Ken Bennett; state Treasurer Doug Ducey; Christine Jones, former legal counsel to GoDaddy, a Phoenix-based web domain name company; state Sen. Al Melvin; former California Congressman Frank Riggs; former Mesa Mayor Scott Smith; and former Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas.

Libertarian Hess filed for his fourth straight run for governor, and Mealer filed for the Americans Elect party, which was formed in the 2012 presidential campaign.

Nominating petitions also were due Wednesday for five other statewide executive offices, two seats on the Arizona Corporation Commission, the state's nine congressional seats, 90 seats in the state Legislature and numerous school boards.

The gubernatorial candidates are seeking to succeed termed-out Gov. Jan Brewer, a Republican who ascended to the office upon the resignation of Janet Napolitano in January 2009. Brewer, who had been secretary of state, was elected to a four-year term as governor in 2010.

Besides the governor's race, the hottest statewide contest is expected to be for attorney general. Incumbent Republican Tom Horne, beleaguered by legal and campaign finance issues for the last two years, will seek a second term. He is being challenged in the GOP primary by Mark Brnovich. Democrat Felecia Rotellini, who lost a close race to Horne in 2010, is the lone Democrat in the race.

For secretary of state, former Attorney General Terry Goddard is the only Democrat running. For the Republicans, businessman Wil Cardon, state Rep. Justin Pierce and state Sen. Michele Reagan are in the race.

Also filing for the ballot were candidates for state treasurer, superintendent of public instruction and mine inspector.

In congressional races:

  • 1st Congressional District incumbent Democrat Ann Kirkpatrick will face the winner of a three-way Republican race featuring rancher Gary Kiehne, state Rep. Adam Kwasman and state House Speaker Andy Tobin.

  • 2nd Congressional District incumbent Democrat Ron Barber also will face the winner of as three-way GOP contest among Shelley Kais, Martha McSally and Chuck Wooten.

  • 3rd Congressional District incumbent Democrat Raúl Grijalva will face Republican Gabriela Saucedo Mercer in a rematch of their 2012 contest and Libertarian Miguel Olivas, who ran in the Congressional District 1 race in 2012 as a Democrat.

In Southern Arizona legislative races, Democratic incumbent Sen. Steve Farley and Republican incumbent Sen. Gail Griffin are running unopposed. Democratic Sen. Olivia Cajero Bedford is being challenged in the primary by long-time political activist Salomón Baldenegro.

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