Attorney General Tom Horne has lost his seat to challenger Mark Brnovich in Tuesday's primary election.
Earlier, figures bounced back and forth with Horne in the lead, but ultimately casted Brnovich as winner with more than half of voters' support at about 53 percent or nearly 224,000 votes. Horne had 47 percent of votes, or about 199,000.
The Republican primary for attorney general was cast as a David v. Goliath race. Goliath in this case was incumbent Horne and political newcomer Brnovich played David.
Attorney General Tom Horne.
Mark Brnovich.
Horne spent most of the primary defending himself against charges he illegally used his state office as a de facto campaign headquarters. The Arizona Citizens Clean Elections Commission is investigating those charges, as is the Maricopa County Attorney's Office.
Horne has flatly denied the allegations. He also had to defend himself against charges that he illegally coordinated campaign ads with an outside group during his last run for office. An administrative law judge said there was not enough evidence to prosecute those claims.
Brnovich continually brought those allegations up, trying to paint Horne as unfit to hold the top legal office in Arizona.
Horne said part of his problems stem from not being liked by the Republican establishment, and also a witch hunt on the part of what he calls the "liberal media."
Brnovich argued that Horne missed opportunities to attack President Barack Obama. Horne countered, saying he twice took the federal government to the U.S. Supreme Court and won.
Gov. Jan Brewer got involved in the attorney general race earlier, when she threw her political and financial capital behind newcomer Brnovich.
Brnovich will face off against Democrat Felecia Rotellini in the November general election.
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