In an apparent stride towards victory, Pima County Attorney Laura Conover holds a significant lead over her challenger Mike Jette in the Democratic primary, per the latest results. With votes still being counted, Conover has currently secured 67% of the vote, while Jette trails at 33%. Her lead, sizable as it stands, suggests an easy path to the November elections where she will confront a Republican opponent, as reported by AZPM News.
During the primary season, Conover and her campaign have been quick to highlight the influence of outside spending. "We came to realize eventually that we were having a general election in a primary because we realized finally that all of the outside and dark money influence, all of it's Republican, in our Democratic primary, and that’s the first time for us here locally," Conover told AZPM News. This sentiment reflects a belief that much of the financial backing for her opposition within the Democratic contest came from partisan sources traditionally aligned with the opposing party.
Focused on a platform advocating for reform, Conover's stance includes the protection of legal access to abortion, support for restorative justice measures, and the creation of diversion programs. These initiatives, she believes, have contributed to a decrease in violent crime rates under her tenure. "Because every marker of violent crime is down, meaning we brought in reform and public safety," she said in an interview with AZPM News. Her commitment is also evident in her support for the Right to Abortion Initiative, aiming to squarely place it on the November ballot as a constitutional amendment.
Conover has openly criticized the strategy employed by her opponents and expressed gratitude to her supporters for withstanding the financial onslaught. "You went up against Republican money and dark money and one of the most negative and brutal primary campaigns we had seen in decades and you stayed the course and kept our promise," she conveyed to her campaign staff and dedicated voters. Her first plan of action post-primary is simply to extend thanks throughout her office, as she pledged to "work twice as hard," according to a statement obtained by AZPM News.
As the counting continues and her lead solidifies, Conover's focus looks to pivot rapidly to the general election. She will need to swiftly switch gears to prepare to face a Republican adversary who managed to wage a write-in campaign during the primary, marking the next major challenge in her bid to maintain her position as Pima County Attorney.
