Dr. Kelli Ward is out with a long list of Arizona legislators supporting her primary challenge to five-term U.S. Senator John McCain.
Ward — a recently former state Senator in her own right — counted 17 endorsements from legislators and state leaders in the first major endorsement list of her campaign. That list includes almost a third of State Senators that have chosen to back Ward over the establishment candidate McCain.
“Arizona needs strong and consistent leadership that can be counted on,” Ward says. “What we have right now is a track record of broken promises and a laundry list of failed policies that are hurting Arizona and its people- this needs to end. I am happy to have the support of my colleagues as we work together to change the direction of Washington.”
Arizona Senate President pro tempore Sylvia Allen and Majority Whip Gail Griffin are among the list of five senators supporting Ward, along with state Senators Steve Smith, Nancy Barto, and David Farnsworth.
Arizona State House of Representatives Members endorsing Ward include: Rep. Mark Finchem (R-Tucson), Rep. Anthony Kern (R-Glendale), Rep. Jill Norgaard (R-Phoenix), Rep. Vince Leach (R-SaddleBrooke) and Rep. Warren Peterson (R-Gilbert).
Joining in the list of new endorsements are:
Former Senator Al Melvin
Former Senate President Russell Pearce
Former Rep. Carl Seel
Former Rep. John Fillmore
Sheriff Richard Mack
Gilbert City Council member Emilena Turley
Former AZGOP Chairman Tom Morrissey
These endorsements come in addition to early December news that the second amendment defending group Gun Owners of America endorsed Ward over McCain.
An August poll showed Ward beating McCain by nine percent. Then In October she released monumental fundraising numbers, bringing in over half a million dollars for her first quarterly report. As of that same report the campaign also still had $320,000 of that in the bank.
While in the Arizona state Senate Ward served as chair of the Education Committee. She was first elected in 2012 and resigned to dedicate her full attention to overtaking U.S. Senator John McCain in the 2016 primary and going on to win the seat in November.
Follow Michelle Moons on Twitter @MichelleDiana
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